hero

~~~

YELLOWLEAF WAS A STERN, yellow tom with grumpy green eyes. White fur was flecked around his muzzle, revealing his old age and years of wisdom. His voice, though, was sharper than any Violetpaw's ever heard. 

When Ravenpaw saw SkyClan's medicine cat, along with two other warriors, coming to transport Violetpaw to the medicine den, he flicked his tail a little in panic. 

"Violetpaw, Yellowleaf doesn't look like he messes around. He'll see right through you," he hissed quietly. "He-"

"Shut up," Violetpaw whispered back, despite her increasing heartbeat from anxiety. "They're coming. I'll see you after moonhigh."

The black tom's eyes narrowed, but he held his tongue. Thankfully, too, because that was the moment Yellowleaf swept in, Treefrost and Oakbounce on his tail.

They didn't say anything to Ravenpaw. It was quick. Treefrost helped maneuver Violetpaw onto Oakbounce's back, and the dark gray tom ducked out, carrying the ThunderClan apprentice over to the medicine den.  

Oakbounce must want me to wake up soon so that he'll finally be able to avenge his mother's death, Violetpaw found herself thinking suddenly. Too bad the Ghost Assassin is just a nursery tale.

But that struck the question, who did kill Ashbird? Even if the cats of ThunderClan claim that Ashbird slipped, Violetdust was murdered too, wasn't she? In a similar fashion to the SkyClan she-cat. 

Violetpaw's stomach churned uncomfortably at the thought. Maybe the Ghost Assassin was real.

"Over there." Yellowleaf's stern voice broke through the silence, and before long, Violetpaw felt herself drop onto a bed of moss. The foliage felt nice after nights of laying on the cold, hard ground. "Wet a moss ball and bring it over."

A low grumble came from Treefrost. "This is ridiculous."

Yellowleaf's ears didn't seem to miss a single thing. "What was that?"

Even Violetpaw knew that challenging the SkyClan medicine cat wasn't a good idea, but Treefrost spoke up again anyway.

"This entire thing is ridiculous. Housing these ThunderClan apprentices, feeding them - for StarClan's sake, we don't even know if this one"- he gave Violetpaw a harsh poke -"actually knows who the Ghost Assassin is!"

"But it's worth a try." Oakbounce's voice sounded quietly, a little further away. "If we finally avenge Mom's death, then Crowstar could finally be at peace."

"Yeah." Treefrost snorted. "He has gone a little crazy since his daughter died, hasn't he? Well, I guess you wouldn't have been old enough to remember. Ashbird would've just given birth to you then."

Violetpaw thought Treefrost's words were wildly insensitive, but Oakbounce didn't say anything.

Finally, it was Yellowleaf who shot the black tom down. "That's no way to talk about your leader. This is what Crowstar wants to do, and you have to respect it. Now get me that moss ball and get out."

More grumblings came from Treefrost, but the tom obediently followed the medicine cat's directions before he and Oakbounce shuffled out of the den. Then, Violetpaw felt Yellowleaf near her, his presence drawing closer and closer, until she could feel his green eyes staring into her soul.

Stay as still as possible, Violetpaw told herself, not daring to even breathe. Stay still, stay still...

However, the longer this went on, the more she felt herself slip into despair. Ravenpaw was right. Yellowleaf would see right through her. He'd get Crowstar now. This plan wasn't going to work.

Desperation started to seize her, and Violetpaw felt panic growing in her mind. What should she do if Yellowleaf called for Crowstar? Try to make a run for it? But what about Ravenpaw? They agreed on moonhigh, and-

The medicine cat's voice suddenly broke through her worried haze. "Featherpool is my friend."

Huh? Confusion struck Violetpaw, and it slowly started to billow over her anxiety. 

"Featherpool is my friend," Yellowleaf repeated, quieter now, "and what these warriors did to her isn't right. She had every right to come search for catmint."

Violetpaw was past confused now. Did Yellowleaf know she was faking? Was he talking to himself? Or was he talking to her?

Just in case, she made sure to keep still.

There was a pause. Then, the sound of Yellowleaf's pawsteps filled the den, growing quieter as he moved away. When he returned, he carried with him a delicious smelling scent, wafting into Violetpaw's nose. A small thud came as the yellow tom dropped the bundle he'd brought in front of the ThunderClan apprentice's nest.

"I know what you're really here for." The medicine cat voice was low. "Moonhigh's your best shot. Everyone will be asleep then." There was a break. Then, "I know I'll be."

Violetpaw remained motionless, refusing to twitch so much as an ear. She felt Yellowleaf stand there for a few heartbeats more, eyes boring into her pelt, before he turned and padded away. It was only once the white she-cat felt certain that he was gone that she cracked open one careful eye.

To her surprise, sitting in front of her, was a bundle of tall, leafy plants with hairy stems. Her heart skipped a beat.

Catmint.

~~~

THE REST OF THE DAY proved uneventful, only slowly gathering increasing anxiety and excitement as moonhigh neared. Yellowleaf dressed some more of Violetpaw's wounds, as per his job, but the pale she-cat couldn't help but feel he was putting more effort and care into it than he needed.

By the time moonhigh arrived, Yellowleaf was sound asleep in his nest. He was curled up into a ball and snoring quietly when Violetpaw slowly sat up, blinking to adjust her eyes to the darkness. She glanced down at the bundle of catmint in front of her, then at SkyClan's medicine cat.

"Thank you," she murmured, though she knew he wouldn't hear her.

Leaning down, she carefully picked up the herbs, and crept near the den's entrance. 

Snow had settled thickly onto SkyClan's camp, topping everything in a layer of white flakes. However, from the day's activities, countless paw prints had been indented into it, so Violetpaw needn't worry about leaving tracks.

What she did need to worry about was Ravenpaw. Tonight's guard wasn't Treefrost, who could be counted on to fall asleep, but rather Oakbounce. The dark gray tom sat in front of the den, and despite staring blankly into the distance, lost in his own thoughts, his green eyes sliced sharply through the night.

A small frown tugged its way onto Violetpaw's face. Oakbounce's eyes looked so familiar.

Behind Oakbounce, though, she spotted a shift in the shadows. Ravenpaw. The black tom's gaze cut across camp to the medicine den, his amber eyes meeting Violetpaw's pale green ones. A feeling of relief washed over both of them; good, everything so far was going as planned.

The only thing was that this was as far as Violetpaw's plan had gone for herself. Ravenpaw was supposed to climb up the tree - and he's halfway up now, carefully making his way upwards with Oakbounce's back facing towards him - but Violetpaw had no clue how she was supposed to get out.

She looked at Oakbounce, who was staring directly at the camp's entrance. Spirits, what should she do?

The white she-cat glanced over at Ravenpaw again. He'd safely made it to the first branch, and was looking to check where she'd gotten. When he saw that she was still in the medicine den, stuck, his gaze moved from Violetpaw to Oakbounce, pelt twitching with understanding. His eyes suddenly narrowed, focused.

It became instantly clear to Violetpaw what he was about to do.

"No," she whispered, shaking her head, trying to get Ravenpaw's attention and tell him to stop. But the black tom wasn't looking at her anymore; his eyes were pinned onto Oakbounce.

Then, with a mighty leap, Ravenpaw launched off the branch, claws unsheathed, landing squarely on top of the SkyClan warrior.