_____________________________________________

Taking a moment to settle himself in, Moosepaw missed Blackpelt hiding his bloody paw. "I jumped at a rabbit that Duskwing and I were hunting together. I may have been a bit overzealous because after I jumped and caught the rabbit I tumbled on the ground a bit and that's when I hurt my paw. I managed to catch the rabbit though so that should fill our bellies for awhile." Taking a moment to gaze at the medicine cat, Moosepaw thought to himself. Blackpelt has always made me really curious about what being a medicine cat is like... Maybe I could ask him some question. "So Blackpelt, I was wondering what it was like being a medicine cat?"

Gazing at Blackpelt, curiosity shined through Moosepaw's eyes. He had always wanted to know all aspects of clan life and so far all he knew about was being a warrior. I wonder what it would be like to be a medicine cat, or even a deputy... Oh well. Hopefully I'll find out in the future. While he waited for Blackpelt's response he gazed around the medicine cat's den. This was the first time he could remember actually being inside the den with nothing to do...

Duskwing came to a stop as Spidernose ran up to her, "Great Starclan! Get him back to camp as quickly as possible, a snake is nothing to trifle with." She glanced back towards Maplestream and the border patrol quickly before looking back towards Spidernose, "I sent Moosepaw ahead with the rest of the prey we caught, he twisted his paw while we were catching a rabbit, so that's already been taken care of." She looked in the direction the other she-cat had indicated both Sunfur and the prey was, "I'll grab the prey and then meet you back at camp." She bounded off with Spidernose concern prickling across her pelt, if the snake was venomous Sunfur might not have much time. She shook her head, quickly banishing those thoughts, and made her way to collect the snake and vole.

_______________________________________

________________________________________

Sunfur winced as he flopped down onto the cold floor of the medicine den and his injured paw pressed against the ground. He glanced around the medicine, drawing in the smell of herbs and berries he knew nothing about. I hope Blackpelt has the right herbs for my paw. I couldn't tell if that snake was poisonous. . . After catching his breath, he noticed that Moosepaw was also being treated, holding his paw cautiously above the ground waiting for Blackpelt to retrieve the correct herbs. His paw was swollen and he could feel a warm stinging sensation in his foreleg. As painful as the bite had been, he was glad he had caught the snake; if it was going to bite him, his Clanmates could bite into it now. Despite the dangerous situation with the border patrol, and the two injuries, the hunting patrol had managed to bring back multiple pieces of prey and the Clan would not go hungry tonight. After his paw was healed, he would have to make it a point to bring a piece of fresh kill to Spidernose. He would never have made it back to camp if it weren't for her.

Turning his attention to Blackpelt, he seemed. . . distant? Maybe that was just the medicine cat way. Twitching his ears he sat up in his nest and meowed amusedly, "Hey Blackpelt, should I expect to be treated before I expire and walk among StarClan?"

_______________________________________

Duskwing placed the snake and vole onto the fresh kill pile, she felt a small flash of pride at the amount of prey they were able to collect, especially during leafbare. She turned and headed towards the medicine den to check on both Sunfur and Moosepaw. Sticking her head through the entrance she saw the two other members of her patrol as well as Blackpelt. "Everything alright? The injuries weren't too severe I hope," she meowed while looking around the medicine den. She never really could get a grasp on what all of those plants were used for, but Blackpelt seemed to have little trouble remembering what he needed. She turned her attention towards Moosepaw "How's the paw? Think you'll be ready for battle training soon?" looking towards the leaves that were wrapped around the swollen paw. "Good work bringing the prey back as well."

____________________________

Upon emerging from the elder's den, she was pleased to see her warriors had returned from their patrols. Maplestream and Blackpelt were able to help her complete most of the work in padding the dens, and glancing over at the fresh kill pile, she let out a purr of amusement, it looked like her Clan would not grow hungry while she was away. But as she neared the medicine den, she spotted Spidernose and Duskwing outside, looking concerned. Padding towards them, they told her about Moosepaw's twisted paw and Sunfur's snake bite. Although she was confident in her medicine cat's abilities, she still felt the need to go check on her injured cats. Quietly brushing through the den's entrance, she sat down next to Moosepaw and glanced at his paw, which he was holding above the ground cautiously. "Catching that rabbit isn't something just any apprentice could do. I take it your hunting training is going well. The only thing you have left to learn is how to stay steady on those big paws of yours." She grinned at Moosepaw as she padded towards Sunfur laying in another nest a few tail lengths away. "How bad is the bite?" She said flattening her ears with concern. "You're one of our strongest warriors and our hunting patrols can't be short right now." Not wanting to seem insensitive, she ran her tail over Sunfur's shoulders comfortingly and sighed. "I hope it heals soon. Let me fetch you something from the fresh kill pile, you deserve it." Grasping the groundhog Sunfur had caught in her jaws, she padded back into the medicine den and laid it next to his nest. Giving him one last reassuring grin, she turned and padded out of the den and towards the center of camp. I have to address my Clan. . .

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join in the center of camp for a Clan meeting!" She jumped to the top of the tree stump in the center of camp and waited for her Clanmates to gather underneath it. To her surprise, Moosepaw and Sunfur made their way to the medicine den entrance, their gaze intent and sharp despite their injuries. After all cats had gathered, she shook out her pelt and continued with a strong meow, "Something of great importance has been called to my attention, and it is something that you all should know. Blackpelt, come stand with me. Tell your Clanmates about your vision, and what has to be done next."

_______________________________________

"You're welcome." Duskwing meowed to Spidernose as she watched Fernstar pass by into the medicine cat's den, "I'm sure Blackpelt will take good care of them." She could hear their leader talking to both Sunfur and Moosepaw before she walked back out of the den and jumped onto the stump she used to address the clan. As Fernstar called the meeting Duskwing went to sit nearby her apprentice as Moosepaw walked to the front of the medicine den to listen. She felt a flash of pride for her clan as Blackpelt hopped onto the stump and told them what he had seen. We're a real clan, Starclan has accepted us...she kept her gaze firmly fixed on their leader waiting for whatever other news would come with this announcement.

Stormheart joined up with the rest of the clan as they sat and listened to Fernstar make the announcement. So that means that she and Blackpelt will have to leave soon. He felt slightly nervous, but Brambletail would be in charge while they were gone, and he was certainly capable. Traveling all the way in leafbare wouldn't be pleasant; Stormheart definitely didn't envy his leader, but he certainly respected everything she did to form the clan and keep everyone together. He came back out of his thoughts and continued to listen for any other orders they might be given for their leaders absence.

___________________________________

Making sure to stay off of his injured paw, Moosepaw limped his way over to the entrance to the medicine den to listen to Fernstar's speech. Moosepaw thought to himself So we weren't a real clan before? We've always felt like one... I wanna learn more about Starclan... Also what's a nine lives ceremony. Shaking those thoughts out of his head Moosepaw looked at his mentor Duskwing and said "Whats a nine lives ceremony? and why does that mean Star-clan's validated us? Hadn't they already done that?"

Duskwing looked towards Moosepaw as he asked about the nine lives ceremony. She didn't exactly understand what it entailed for their leader, but she'd heard enough of the stories from Fernstar to at least give her apprentice an answer. "In the old clans the leaders would receive nine lives from Starclan," she looked back towards Fernstar, "if they didn't then they weren't truly meant to lead." She felt thankful that they hadn't somehow lost Fernstar before she could speak with Starclan. "It's true we've been a clan, but with Blackpelt's dreams it means we've been noticed and accepted by them." The only question was how far they would have to travel to speak with them, but if it was something the clan needed to know, Fernstar would tell them. For now they would just have to wait.

Lifting her head, Fernstar purred as she addressed her Clan. "Blackpelt has had a vision of the Moonpool and we begin our journey a dawn. Brambletail will be responsible for organizing patrols and daily camp activities in my absence. The highest priority is to make sure no one gets hurt while Blackpelt is away, as we do not have a medicine cat apprentice. I do not know how long the journey will be, and I will ask StarClan to watch over the camp." Glancing back at Blackpelt as she jumped down from the tree stump, she padded towards the fresh kill pile, grabbed a mouse and headed towards her den. She needed to get all the sleep she could before her journey. Her paws were itching with excitement and her mind was racing as she imagined what her visit with StarClan would be like. As she drifted off to sleep, she re-ran through all the normal camp tasks to make sure everything would be okay while she was away. Among all the excitement, leaving her Clan behind without a medicine cat make her pelt prickle. . .

____________________________________