"Plenty of horsetail," Honeyflower continued, picking up the green stems and placing them into the small pile beside her golden paws. "I'll add some marigold too."
"Thank you, Honeyflower," Spiderpaw purred, picking up the pile in his jaws. "Oceanfur is going to be really grateful."
"Tell him he's fine," she meowed. More firmly, she added, "We have plenty to store us for the upcoming months, so we are ready for whatever faces us this leaf-fall."
Spiderpaw nodded, bending down to pick up the herbs. He wasn't sure if he was ready to experience life in a whole new Clan, even if he wasn't going to be there for long. Simply being in the Clan where Rocktail guided as a deputy made his belly churn.
Honeyflower wrapped her fluffy tail around him as she walked him out of the medicine den. He noticed that outside the leaf tunnel, his kin were ready to see him off. He purred lightly as he bounded across the clearing over to them, pressing close to Briartail's muzzle and accepting a comforting lick on the ear from his brother Aspenclaw.
Echostar was among the cats. Her green eyes were blazing and her pelt was bristling, as if she was trying to hide her anger. "Muskstar has the luck of StarClan to be receiving our help." She let out a small hiss and stared at the ground, her claws lightly unsheathed. "After what that mange-ridden Clan did to us, I want nothing more to do with them."
She turned to Spiderpaw, and he instinctively took a step back. "When you're back safely," she began, "We shall have nothing with those crow-food eating cats. They live like rogues, and so I'm ready to treat them like rogues."
Aspenclaw snorted besides her. "I'm surprised I'm okay with letting my brother see to those ratrumps."
"It wasn't your choice," Echostar snarled. Her eyes narrowed, but she still licked Spiderpaw politely on the ear before turning away and heading towards her den. "May StarClan light your path," she growled behind her.
Honeyflower dipped her head softly besides Spiderpaw. "Don't worry about Echostar," she whispered, looking over his shoulder to make sure the she-cat was far away enough not to hear him. "I had a tough time convincing her, but she has good intentions. She's still not over the loss of Stonekit, and she probably won't ever be. If you were going to SunClan, she would be fine. But know she cares deeply, no matter how closely she holds her hate."
Briartail nudged him. "I wish you luck," she meowed. Aspenclaw, more lightly, added, "They better give you the cosiest nest in all of CedarClan."
"Lined with sparrow feathers," Briartail added.
Ryepelt dipped his head. "You'll do fine," he meowed, brushing his head softly against Spiderpaw's before taking a brisk step back.
"I'll see you all soon," Spiderpaw meowed through his herbs. "And thank you for seeing me out."
Everyone seemed to acknowledge his words. "I'll tell Echostar you thank her too," Ryepelt meowed. "Or maybe I'll ask Cometcloud to tell her."
Honeyflower nudged him lightly. "Watch yourself."
The cats watched as Honeyflower guided him through the leaf tunnel and out beyond the camp borders.
The walk within the land of his Clan was peaceful, the weather was warm and there wasn't enough wind to blow away his herbs. Honeyflower did well to comfort him, muttering sweetness whilst flicking her golden tail in the air. Spiderpaw knew he should have been excited for the visit. Honeyflower did tell him that this would be excellent medicine cat experience, but every time he thought of the place he was going, his heart dropped. He was caring for Rocktail's son. What if he made a mistake?
He was so grateful that Oceanfur was so kind to him. Without the CedarClan medicine cat, Spiderpaw would have been too frightened to go.
"I sense your worry," Honeyflower meowed softly, turning her head to him as they padded through the grass. "I know you'll do fine."
"I hope so."
"Remember that his fate is in StarClan's paws," Honeyflower continued. "Oceanfur needs you to make Ashpaw comfortable, even if you can't save him from what could be coming."
Spiderpaw's head sunk. Even though the CedarClan apprentice did nothing except complain, he felt slightly sorry for him. After all, he never seemed to get his way. He was forced to become a medicine cat when his only interest was most likely to become a warrior, all because of an injury he couldn't prevent himself from having.
The air grew thicker and mustier as the two cats left ThornClan land. With every step he took, Spiderpaw could notice the trees becoming darker and thinner, and the scent of fresh woodland began to fade. He began to hear his footsteps become louder and louder as they thumped gently against the dried mud.
Time had passed before Honeyflower and Spiderpaw reached CedarClan's land. Spiderpaw had felt a tingly quiver down his back as he passed the scent border, but he knew he would have to put on a brave face for these rough wildcats. He clenched his herbs tightly and took several deep breaths as he stepped forwards.
He had never imagined CedarClan's land to look so different from ThornClan's. The light around him had faded as he entered the shady woodland, and he knew that wasn't because sunfall was near.
"I'm sure they'll make you feel welcome," Honeyflower meowed, her voice trembling only slightly as she clutched her tail around her son's back. Together they marched through the darkness, taking each step at a time.
"Where do you think their camp is?" Spiderpaw whispered cautiously.
"Oceanfur told me that..."
She was cut off by a sudden rustling in the bushes. Instinctively, Spiderpaw leaped backwards and unsheathed his claws, suddenly remembering he hadn't been trained as a warrior. "What was that?"
Honeyflower was silent. The two cats eyed the bush carefully until a large, green frog leaped from the leaves. Spiderpaw let out a huge sigh of relief, letting his eyes roll to the top of his head.
"Let's keep going," Honeyflower meowed. Spiderpaw could hear the insane relief in her voice as she spoke.
Spiderpaw went to step forwards, but yet again a sound cut him off. He swung his head around at the approaching pawsteps to see a ginger and white feline accompanied by a brown she-cat who appeared to be limping. Spiderpaw was silent. He didn't like the scent they carried, but he knew they had to be from CedarClan - he was sure he had seen them before at Gatherings.
The cats were silent. The ginger and white she-cat narrowed her eyes.
Suddenly, the limping she-cat came bounding up to the two cats, nearly falling over her footsteps twice as she leaped. The ginger and white she-cat followed close behind, much quieter and cautious.
"Spiderpaw? Honeyflower?" Spoke the limping she-cat. Her voice was raspy and croaky, but she seemed to have a lot of brightness in her voice despite the pitch.
Spiderpaw reluctantly nodded, and he noticed Honeyflower tensing up besides him.
"My name's Jaggedclaw," she meowed. "We've been sent on a patrol to find you and bring you in."
Spiderpaw said nothing for a moment. He watched, digging his claws into the ground with fear as the ginger and white cat approached them and took a seat besides Jaggedclaw, wrapping her slim tail around her. "Good to see you both," she spoke blankly, not a spark in her face to prove herself. He noticed that she scanned Honeyflower quickly, looking upwards and downwards before turning her solid gaze back to Spiderpaw. "I see you've brought herbs."
Spiderpaw nodded. "I've got marigold and horsetail in here, with a few poppy seeds."
The ginger and white cat raised an eyebrow. "I don't know what any of that means," she meowed, suddenly slightly brightly with a satisfied look to Jaggedclaw. "But I'm sure Oceanfur is going to be pleased."
Honeyflower seemed to notice she was overstaying. She dipped her head to the she-cats and turned to Spiderpaw. "Now is time for me to leave since we have found our way," she meowed blandly. Spiderpaw could feel shaking in her voice, and he felt guilty that she worried so much about him.
"Safe travels," Jaggedclaw meowed. The ginger and white cat dipped her head politely, shutting her eyes momentarily. Honeyflower glanced around her and gave him a lick on the ear before turning around and walking off at a quick, steady pace.
"She's your kin?" asked the ginger and white cat, a dull pitch to her voice. She sounded as if she wanted to make conversation, but perhaps didn't want to appear too friendly towards a stranger.
"Yeah," Spiderpaw meowed through his herbs.
Mothspring dipped her head, and nobody spoke for s few moments until Jaggedclaw raised her head. "Let's take you back then," she meowed. "The Clan is going to be delighted to see you!"
'Delighted? Yeah, right.' Spiderpaw thought.
Spiderpaw followed the she-cats for a few minutes through the trees. Although the ginger and white cat made him feel uneasy, he felt welcomed by Jaggedclaw's easygoing attitude. She continued to speak to him on their short walk, whilst her companion seemed to enjoy simply listening. The ginger and white cat turned around to Spiderpaw, raising her eyebrows and dipping her head. "I suppose you didn't catch my name," she began. "Rude of me. I'm Mothspring."
"Nice to meet you," Spiderpaw meowed, swallowing back the shake at the back of his throat.
"Oceanfur tells us you're nearly a full medicine cat," Jaggedclaw continued brightly.
"I wouldn't say nearly," Spiderpaw replied, a rush of relief that the CedarClan cats - at least one of them - was trying to make conversation. "My littermates are already full warriors, but I started training as a medicine cat later than they started training as warriors, so I've still got a lot to learn before I take on my full name."
"What made you want to become a medicine cat?" asked Mothspring, sounding as if she was only half engaged in the conversation. Spiderpaw's heart skipped with anxiety as he rapidly scanned his brain for any sort of excuse. "Just like herbs," he meowed, before realising how mouse-brained he sounded before he corrected himself. "I like to be able to use herbs to heal my Clanmates. I find that interesting."
To his relief, Mothspring still didn't seem at all bothered. Their conversation seemed to slow down over the last period of the walk, but before Spiderpaw knew he was outside a tunnel of sharp thorns which seemed to border the CedarClan camp.
"Don't worry," Jaggedclaw meowed. "The thorns won't poke you as long as you're careful."
'You're all used to doing this.' he thought to himself. He didn't want to make a fool out of himself to the CedarClan warriors, so he beckoned Jaggedclaw politely to go first, watching her movements carefully only to see that if she stayed very still and didn't sway to the sides of the tunnel, she wasn't to get pierced. He turned to Mothspring, but she dipped her head, allowing him to go first. He grunted audibly, but tried to cover his annoyance up with a pretend sneeze, which only got him a confused look from Mothspring. Not wanting the situation to be awkward, he stepped forwards and took deep breaths as he entered the thorn tunnel. He took one step at a time and made sure he didn't begin to sway off centre - but he was out the other side before he had expected to be halfway.
He couldn't help but let out a gasp of amazement when he saw the CedarClan camp. The clearing was huge, and there were many cats spread out around him. He saw a black and white tom eating with a brown tabby, as well as several other figures. Your dens are made out of rock!" he called. Jaggedclaw nodded besides him. "StarClan blessed us with them many moons ago."
"You mean, you didn't have to make them?"
Mothspring snorted. "I take that as a compliment to our kind, but I don't think any cat is strong enough to make nests out of boulders."
Spiderpaw heard her snicker, and felt relief wash over him. He looked up and saw two piercing eyes gazing at him with interest from the far end of the clearing, and before he even noticed the figure began to walk up to them quickly. He realised with sudden tension that this cat was Muskstar, CedarClan's leader who had rowed with Echostar at the previous gathering!
He felt his body tense as the slick she-cat approached him. She dipped her head and seemed to be very polite towards him, which gave him a great feeling of reassurance. "Greetings," the she-cat meowed as she sat down in front of him. Her grey fur glittered in the light of sunfall that poked through the trees. "We're delighted to have you here. Are you hungry?"
Spiderpaw was surprised that the offer of prey had come so soon. "Only if your Clan has been fed," he meowed politely, careful with his words that he didn't mess up anything accidentally. He wanted anything except to offend the CedarClan leader - the one who ThornClan believed to have sent her deputy on the mission to end the life of Stonekit.
He had to wash away the welcoming atmosphere she was passing over to him. He had to remind himself that this cat did horrible things, whether she seems to regret them now or not.
"I'll fetch you something," Muskstar meowed. "I suggest you aren't too keen on marshland prey so I'll get a squirrel for you."
Spiderpaw was at ease for a second, relieved he wouldn't have to try frog in this new Clan. "Thankyou," he meowed. Jaggedclaw and Mothspring seemed to see that everything was under control, so went their separate way out of the camp together. He followed Muskstar quickly towards the prey pile which was centred in the clearing, admiring each huge structure as he passed them individually. Muskstar seemed to notice his sudden astonishment. "I'm sure Oceanfur is going to be all ready to tell you every story about the rock dens," she meowed humorously. He watched gratefully as the slim grey she-cat bent down and picked up a juicy squirrel, putting the creature down at his paws. "I'll carry your herbs," she meowed. "Thank you for bringing them."
Spiderpaw was shocked he got a word of gratitude from the she-cat. He dropped the herbs at her feet thankfully and picked up the squirrel, muttering his thanks between his jaws.
"I'll take you to the medicine den," Muskstar meowed, flicking her grey tail behind her as she turned around and started walking to the far end of the clearing. Spiderpaw felt much less nervous now that he was here - although everything was a lot more different than he had expected. He didn't like the lack of sunlight in the camp, but the leaves above gave the area a gorgeous green glow.