His head hung low and facing his paws, Spiderpaw trotted alongside his brother. With an overwhelming sense of sadness, Spiderpaw watched him from the corner of his eye. Aspenclaw wouldn't even turn towards him.
Spiderpaw thought the best thing he could do at this point was to say nothing. Instead he continued to walk forward, although his legs ached with tire.
He couldn't express how much he wanted to lay in his nest and relax. But as tired as he was, he knew that wouldn't be happening yet. Even after the journey was made, he still had to return and treat his sister. Spiderpaw sighed. Sunrise would have probably started by the time he was relaxing - if he would be as honoured as to get the chance to.
"How much further till the moor?" Aspenclaw grunted, his voice cold as he looked directly forwards.
The medicine cat looked to his side. "Shouldn't be far now," he spoke.
He hoped he was right. After all, the two had been journeying for half the night. Spiderpaw really had never realised how big the forest was until now. Although, knowing he was going towards SunClan, his worries tangled him. He didn't want to think about seeing Slatestripe. He wouldn't want to imagine him seeing his brother in such a torn up state.
Spiderpaw couldn't help feeling angry with himself for waking up. He could have gotten to the bottom of why the cats were going there. He knew training wasn't a reasonable answer.
And now, would he even see Redshade again? He didn't want to return to the Place of No Stars. Even thinking about the damp and icy forest forced a shake through his legs.
Aspenclaw made Spiderpaw snap out of his thoughts. "There's the tree opening," he meowed. "We're at the moor."
Spiderpaw let out a breath of relief. The travelling had been exhausting, although he couldn't have imagined how Aspenclaw had felt carrying Vinetail too. After all, he was a bully warrior - probably about his size. Aspenclaw must have been struggling with the SunClan cat's wounds on him, too.
Spiderpaw lead the way through the exit of the trees. He could see the moon shining over the long and vast grassy field before him. Spiderpaw let the cold air fill him. He hadn't been on the moor for a long time.
He let his paws sink into the grass as he continued to walk. He could see the strange black and white creatures again, making strange and loud sounds as they made eye contact with him. He had found Slatestripe amusing when he had told him that such things were called 'cows.'
He would have brought up the fact to Aspenclaw if he wasn't in such a foul mood. Nevertheless, he didn't want his brother to ask how he knew. He didn't want him to think he was still meeting with Slatestripe.
The journey up the field was long and tiring. The field was nearly as big as ThornClan's land, and Spiderpaw almost felt envious for the amount of space to roam that the SunClan cats had. But he didn't like the lack of coverage and trees. He knew that he could never thrive in such a place.
He continued along until in the distance, he could make out the far corner of the field in which the camp was located. He could see the leafy dens the cats lived in, built from scratch and kept well. However they were hidden by bushes, and if Spiderpaw hadn't been there before, he probably wouldn't have known there were cats thriving in such a place.
He let his paws stretch out further with the large amount of space he had. Trees were dotted around the sides of the fields, although none within a quick sprinting range. He could tell that Aspenclaw wasn't too comfortable. He kept on looking upwards, as if he felt intimidated by the lack of overgrowth surrounding them.
Spiderpaw could see a rabbit in the corner of his eye. He watched carefully, although didn't disturb the creature. Not only wouldn't he try and hunt on another Clan's space, but he knew that the prey would be too quick for him anyway.
Every time the medicine cat looked back to Aspenclaw, his heart sunk. Even though he barely knew Vinetail, he didn't like seeing cats in such a harmed position. And he admired Vinetail, too. Not for anything in particular - just for helping to take care of Slatestripe and helping him grow and train.
"How do we get in?" Aspenclaw questioned once too long had passed and the two felines were seated only a few fox-lengths away from the surrounding bushes.
"I'm not sure," Spiderpaw lied. "There must be an entrance somewhere."
Aspenclaw beckoned his head and Spiderpaw stayed behind him as he circled around the bushes. Finally, after making his way to the back, he found a hole in the bushes which lead to the clearing. Carefully, he slipped inside. Spiderpaw followed him nervously, nudging Vinetail on top of Aspenclaw to make sure that he didn't fall.
Once he felt his paws hit the grass on the other side, he scanned around the unfamiliar clearing. "Don't they have a cat on guard?"
"They're just as organised as we are," Aspenclaw retorted.
"Should we wait for a patrol?"
Spiderpaw shook his head. "SunClan shall understand why we went into their camp," Spiderpaw hoped.
"Well, we have got to do something," Spiderpaw meowed. "Should we wake someone up?"
Aspenclaw looked to him, however he tilted his head for a second before replying. "That sounds sensible if we go to Sedgepool," he meowed.
Spiderpaw nodded, although upon looking across the clearing again, he came to the realisation that he had no idea which den was the one that belonged to the medicine cat.
"I don't know," Aspenclaw mumbled. "Use your nose."
Spiderpaw rolled his eyes, not liking how Aspenclaw's idea was sensible.
Carefully, he placed his paws on the ground and lowered his nose as he made his way through the clearing. The first den which came to him smelled just like prey. But too much prey for one cat.
He stumbled along until the next den came face to face with him. There was the scent of fur and prey mixed together to form an unwelcoming scent.
Spiderpaw huffed and went to the other side of the camp, as quietly as he could. The third den he smelled had a familiar taste. He could pick up the freshness of goldenrod. Carefully, he looked at Aspenclaw before walking inside,
The interior of the medicine cat den wasn't like how he was used to. The CedarClan medicine cat den was huge, and the ThornClan one wasn't small, but this one felt cramped and tightened.
However, as Spiderpaw's eyes had adjusted to the lack of light, he could see small holes in the leafy bushes that surrounded him. He assumed that there were different parts to the den, and he couldn't help but think he was impressed.
He let himself go inside and kept quiet as he scanned around for the medicine cat. To his relief, he recognised the brown tabby spread out across the ground, the stripes on his back standing out. He carefully sat down besides him and whispered.
"Sedgepool?"
No answer came.
"Sedgepool?"
This time, the cat grunted before opening his eyes. A second passed and Sedgepool jolted back. "Intrud—."
Spiderpaw didn't know if there was anything he could do to calm him down, but the medicine cat flicked his tail around himself and sat up when he recognised Spiderpaw.
"What are you doing here?"
Spiderpaw looked down. "May Aspenclaw come in? He guarded me here."
Sedgepool grunted and glanced towards the light. He narrowed his eyes and his jaw dropped as he noticed he had an unconscious cat on top of him. "Of course," he breathed. "Come in."
Aspenclaw made his way in, seeming anxious before gently lowering Vinetail down towards the ground.
Sedgepool stared at the cat for a moment before looking back up towards the cats. "There's blood on your pelt."
Spiderpaw stood shocked as he noticed a growl in the cat's voice.
"We carried him here, thank you," Aspenclaw retorted. "Maybe you should be grateful that Spiderpaw found him in time, came to me and persuaded me to come all the way here so we could bring him to safety."
Spiderpaw turned to Aspenclaw and narrowed his eyes. He turned back to Sedgepool, who still didn't seem certain. "Why were you in our land?"
Spiderpaw shook his head. "I smelled the scent of blood and followed until I found him collapsed on the forest floor," he murmured.
Sedgepool took a brisk step back. "I see."
He paused and picked up Vinetail with a heave before hurling him onto his back and turning towards the gap in the leaves. "Follow me," he meowed.
Spiderpaw followed his orders and followed Sedgepool through the leaves, appreciating how soft they were on the pads of his feet.
"I apologise for accusing you," he grunted, not meeting Spiderpaw's eyes. But he looked back down to the warrior before immediately turning around and scrambling through his supplies. "I just can't see why he was on your land when the journey is so far."
"I'm not accusing him of anything," Aspenclaw admitted. "I didn't smell any prey when Spiderpaw came to get me."
Sedgepool turned around with some blue herb in his jaws. "Was there a border fight?"
Spiderpaw shook his head. "Not that I'm aware of," he lied, knowing that there was no border fight at all. "I'm just glad I was able to find him."
Sedgepool dipped his head before placing the herb to the side and peeling off the cobweb Spiderpaw had placed on Vinetail previously. "I see you patched him up," he murmured. "Appreciated."
Spiderpaw dipped his head, slightly irked by the medicine cat's attitude.
"Can I trust you to stay here while I alert Talonstar?"
Spiderpaw meowed. "We're happy to wait outside."
Sedgepool raised an eyebrow, as if considering his offer. "No. Stay here and lie down. You must be freezing and tired."
Spiderpaw felt beyond grateful. He watched as Sedgepool beckoned the two to sit before turning around and making his way out of the den. Spiderpaw turned around contently, to already see that Aspenclaw's eyes were closing and his jaws were dipping. Spiderpaw realised how exhausted he must have been after the journey.
But something distracted him. He heard footsteps outside which shocked him, but not in a way in which he felt intimidated. He smelt a familiar scent and was washed over with the shadow of the striped brown tom he had spent so many nights with.
Carefully watching around, Spiderpaw snuck outside, and was overwhelmed to see Slatestripe standing before him.
But the warrior didn't look happy. He was gazing down at the ground, as if he was stuck for words.
"I can't thank you enough for saving my brother."
Spiderpaw lifted his face up with his own and brushed his cheek. "Of course," he meowed quietly. "But we don't have time to talk."
Slatestripe sighed again. "I know, but there's something I really need to speak to you about, Spiderpaw."
The medicine cat narrowed his eyes cautiously. But he could see the desperation within him, something he wasn't sure he had seen in Slatestripe before. "Half moon? By the small Thunderpath?"