The Life Of Cinderleaf

Exile (Chapter 19)

~~ Leafbare (winter) ~~

Snow was covering the ground outside. It was Leafbare which meant snow, cold, and frozen water. It was freezing to some cats that had thin pelts but the cats with very fluffy pelts were warm. Everyone was either hunting, patrolling, or trying to warm their selves up in the dens.

"Cinderleaf," Yellowclaw called for her daughter once she entered the Med Den. "Where have you been going to at night?"

"Starclan...as always." Cinderleaf said. "Are you sure? 'Cause I have been getting reports from Starclan that you have not been showing up for a while." Yellowclaw said as she sat in front of Cinderleaf. "W-what?" Cinderleaf asked, confused. "That's right. Featherlife is telling me that you have not been showing up for a while. What's really going on?" Yellowclaw asked

"N-nothing! F-featherlife is making up stories as usual," Cinderleaf stuttered. Yellowclaw sighed. Featherlife, a Starclan warrior, was known to make up stories from time to time. Cinderleaf then bounded out of the Med Den. Yellowclaw sighed and started putting away the herbs that Cinderleaf had gotten out earlier.

 ~~ Time Skip ~~

Cinderleaf slowly padded to the Fresh-Kill pile to get a mouse until she saw Honeyflight, who was glaring at Cinderleaf, over there. Cinderleaf slowly backed away until she bumped into something. She turned to look at what she bumped into only to see Thunderclan's new and young leader,. He was originally know as Hawktail until he got his leader name a few weeks ago. "Oh, hello Cinderleaf. Nice to see you again." Hawkstar smiled at the young Medicine Cat. She politely smiled back.

"Oh, hello Hawkstar," Cinderleaf greeted the leader. " S-sorry for bumping into you!" Cinderleaf apologized. "No, no. Its ok," Hawkstar dismissed the apology with a smile. "Anyways, I noticed that you were backing away from Honeyflight. Is something wrong?" He asked. "W-well, she is kind of mean to me but n-no one would believe me if I tell them that." Cinderleaf sighed. "Why didn't you tell me sooner, Cinderleaf? I could've reported it to the last leader," Hawkstar said. "But since I'm the leader now I'll go talk to her."

"Y-you will? Th-thank you, Hawkstar!" Cinderleaf gave him a bright smile as she thanked him. "No problem, Cinderleaf. You go and finish up what you were doing, and I'll go and talk to Honeyflight. Sound good?" Hawkstar asked, tilting his head. Cinderleaf nodded, still smiling, and limped away. Hawkstar then padded over to Honeyflight, who was still at the Fresh-Kill pile now eating a squirrel. 

"Honeyflight, may I speak to you?" Hawkstar asked the female warrior. "Sure, what is it?" Honeyflight asked in a sweet voice. "Have you been mean to Cinderleaf lately?" Hawkstar asked. "What?! No, I have not! Why in the name of Starclan would you think that?!" Honeyflight snapped, her sweet act gone. "Watch your tone missy! I'm the leader here not you! I'm the one that has the authority to raise my voice at you. You, however, do not!" Hawkstar spat. This made Honeyflight shut up and shrink just a bit under his sharp glare. Hawkstar sighed and softened his mood.

"I'm sorry, Honeyflight. I shouldn't have snapped at you, but that doesn't mean you didn't deserve it. You did snap at me first and you were the one that was being mean to Cinderleaf. You will get a punishment." Hawkstar sternly said. Honeyflight stayed quiet, not wanting to make the punishment worse. "You will have to clean the Elders' Den and you will go back to apprentice training for a moon." Hawkstar said.

"Wait... I can handle the Elders' Den, but going back into apprenticeship? I can't do that!" Honeyflight hissed, surprised. "Do you want to make it worse by adding another moon or two to it?" Hawkstar hissed. "N-no sir." Honeyflight looked down at her paws and shut up. "Good." Hawkstar said, nodding in approval and padding back over to Cinderleaf, who was now talking with Owlfang. 

"Cinderleaf, I have given Honeyflight punishment for two things." Hawkstar said as he approached the two. "T-two things?" Cinderleaf asked. "Wait...punishment?" Owlfang asked, confused. "Yes, punishment and yes, two things. She was being mean to you and she snapped at me. This made me make her clean the Elders' Den and made me put her back into training." Hawkstar said. "W-what? Back into apprenticeship?" Cinderleaf asked. "Is that even possible?" Owlfang asked, confused. Hawkstar nodded, silently saying 'yes'. "W-well, anyways, thank you for helping me!" Cinderleaf thanked the leader. "No problem, Cinderleaf. As leader I will do my job right. Not like Hollystar did." Hawkstar said then padded away into his den. Honeyflight angrily stomped over to Cinderleaf, who was still by Owlfang, once Hawkstar was out of sight. 

"You snitch! You told on me?! How dare you! That monster should've killed you when it hit you back then!" Honeyflight harshly and loudly hissed making everyone turn to look at her, Cinderleaf, and Owlfang. "Better yet, why don't I kill you now?!" Honeyflight angrily suggested as she unsheathed her claws. Cinderleaf's eyes widened as she backed away, scared of what was going to happen. Honeyflight raised her claws and struck, aiming for Cinderleaf's throat.

Fortunately for Cinderleaf, Yellowfang and Owlfang quickly stopped Honeyflight before she could slice Cinderleaf's throat open. Hawkstar came running out of his den to see what was going on. All he saw was Yellowfang and Owlfang pinning an angry Honeyflight on the ground, a scared Cinderleaf, and others who were watching the whole scene. 

"What is going on here?!" Hawkstar asked, his voice booming over the shocked gasps and whispers that left the clan. "Honeyflight should be exiled, Hawkstar! She tried to kill Cinderleaf!" Owlfang told the leader while still pinning Honeyflight. "Is this true, Yellowclaw?" Hawkstar asked the older Medicine Cat. "Yes. Yes, it is." Yellowclaw said sternly, not taking her narrowed eyes off of Honeyflight. "Then it's settled. Honeyflight, you are exiled from Thunderclan for attackinga clanmate!" Hawkstar announced. "W-what?!" Honeyflight gasped in shock. "You can't do this! I'm one of your best warriors!" 

"Not anymore. I'll get a few other cats to escort you to the border. If any of us see you on Thunderclan territory then you will either be killed or injured." Hawkstar said as he jumped onto the High-Rock. He started naming the few cats that had to escort Honeyflight to the border. Yellowclaw and Owlfang kept Honeyflight pinned as they waited for the cats to come get Honeyflight. Once Honeyflight was taken away, Yellowclaw and Owlfang hurried over to Cinderleaf's side. Cinderpaw was shaking with fear. She has never been in a situation like that before so it was terrifying to her. 

"Cinderleaf, are you ok?!" Owlfang asked the slightly younger Medicine Cat. Cinderleaf shook her head and Yellowclaw brought her to the Med Den to calm her down. Yellowclaw soothed Cinderleaf and gave her some Poppyseeds to help her sleep. Until Cinderleaf was in a deep sleep, Yellowclaw stayed with her daughter. When someone called for Yellowclaw she had to go, so Owlfang padded into the Med Den and settled beside a sleeping Cinderleaf. Owlfang made sure she was comfortable and finally laid down. He soon fell asleep beside Cinderleaf with only one thing on his mind.

'I hope Cinderleaf is ok.'


(Pic is Hawkstar)