Longshadow's curse

Chapter Three

The sun was setting outside the camp. The forest was quiet and peaceful. But, inside the camp, cats were confused and scared. The cats that were not on patrol or watching the camp entrance from the trees were huddled outside the medicine cat’s den, because Barkface had managed to escape, though he had a fair amount of new scars. Luckily, the warriors were only mildly hurt.
        Rippledpool, who was at her wits end, finnally cracked.
        “GET OUT OF HERE YOU LOT! YOU’RE TRAMPLING MY HERBS AND BLOCKING THE LIGHT!” Rippledpool hissed loudly. Stunned, the cats carefully backed off, trying not to trample her herb gardens. “Not you, Birchpaw.” Rippledpool mewed softly.
        “Phew!” Birchpaw sighed and went back into the den, where Stonepelt was lying on a bed of the softest moss they could find. “How’s he doing?” Birchpaw asked tentatively.
        “Not so great. Barkface, that idiotic piece of crowfood beat him up pretty bad. He’s got a torn face, a broken leg, and a ripped-up tail. Birchpaw, could you get me some feverfew and marigold? Also, get some chamomile and honey for Stonepaw, the poor dear was screaming and crying so much, and is in pieces after what happened to his dad.” Rippledpool meowed.
        “Yes Rippledpool!” Birchpaw mewed, and obediently turned around to go find the herbs and honey.
        “Oh, and some more cobwebs too!” Rippledpool added on. She turned back to Stonepelt, who was groaning on the floor. “Shh…” Rippledpool gave him the last poppy seed near her and waited for Birchpaw.
“Heeeeey! Rippledpool! I got the stuff!” Birchpaw meowed as he ran into the den, the herbs in a leaf and the honey was still in a honeycomb. He set down the herbs next to Rippledpool, then ran off with the honey and chamomile.
Rippledpool ripped off the petals of the marigold and began to grind it up with some horse tail and wild garlic to create a very good poultice for sores and open wounds. She applied the poultice and wrapped it in cobweb.
        “There!” Rippledpool smiled and nodded. “Stonepelt, yowl if you need something, okay? I’m going to go check on your son and Birchpaw. Rippledpool padded into the deeper part of the den and found Birchpaw telling Rockpaw to drink what seemed to be a mixture of feverfew, chamomile, dandelion leaves, and honey.
        “Nice job Birchpaw! You put a bit too much chamomile though.” Rippledpool mewed, her melodious voice filled with pride at her apprentice.
        “Aww, it’s nuffin’...” Birchpaw mewed shyly, scratching at his ear.
        “Though, about the extra chamomile…” Rippledpool gestured at Rockpaw with her tail. He was plumped out on the ground, asleep.
        “Ah! Sorry Rippledpool, I’ll-” Birchpaw was stopped by Rippledpool paw appearing in front of his mouth.
        “He needs his rest. And hopefully, when he wakes up, Stonepelt will be all better. Now come on, let’s go check on Stonepelt, speaking of him.” Rippledpool meowed, so the two cats, one blue-grey, the other a pale white with light-brown stripes, walked towards Stonepelt.
        “R, Rippledpool?” Birchpaw mewed, his voice light and shaky.
        “Birchpaw? What is it? Are you okay?” Rippledpool meowed, her voice worryful for her apprentice. She looked into his eyes and gasped when she saw that they were red! “Birchpaw! Why are your eyes red? Are you sick?” Rippledpool blabbered.
        Suddenly, Birchpaw unsheathed his claws and pounced on Rippledpool! He began to slash at her delicate face, causing a red gash to appear above her right eye.
        “BIRCHPAW! Stop!” Though surprised by the attack, Rippledpool managed to overcome the small apprentice and threw him onto the ground, pinning him to the floor. “Birchpaw! STOP!” Rippledpool spat at him. Birchpaw’s eyes blinked closed, then reopened to his normal brown ones.
        “R, Rippledpool? What happened? Why are you hurt? D, did you, did I, AH!” Birchpaw yowled when he looked at his claws, which were covered in fresh blood at the tips. He flexed them, and looked back up at Rippledpool, his eyes filled with tears. “R, Rippledpool… I’m, I’m, I’m, so sorry… I don’t, I,” Birchpaw spluttered, looking between Rippledpool and his claws, back and forth. “I’m, I’M SO SORRY!” He yowled, and ran outside into the fading light, crying as he ran away from the camp.
        “Birchpaw! No! Come back!” Rippledpool yowled after him, and began to chase him, calling for her sister Drizzletail to help.
        “What’s going on?” Drizzletail asked, running alongside her.
        “Birchpaw attacked me, and his eyes were all red, but then they turned back to normal and now I think he’s trying to run away!” Rippledpool meowed in distress.
        “We have to catch him!” Drizzletail replied, astonished.
        “I KNOW! That’s what I’m doing, mouse-brain!” Rippledpool hissed. “By Starclan, THAT’S IT!” And with a great burst of speed, Rippledpool sprinted up to Birchpaw and tackled him, knocking him to the ground. She spread her paws and gave him a lick on the ear to comfort him.
        “No Rippledpool, I’m dangerous! I could hurt you again!” Birchpaw mewled, his eyes filled with sadness.
        ‘It’s fine, I know it will be-” Rippledpool started to say, when she was shoved off and fell onto her back on the ground. “Oof!” Rippledpool gasped. She glanced up at Birchpaw and saw that his eyes were red like before! Before she could react Birchpaw had ran into the forest.
        “Birchpaw!” Rippledpool moaned. She grunted and sat up, staring into the forest.
        “Rippledpool…” Drizzletail mewed.
        “No, it’s okay. I’m certain he will return. I’m just so confused, why did he attack me? And why did run away?” Rippledpool sighed and put her head down. Drizzletail padded over to her and brushed her side.
        “Everything will be fine Rippledpool. We’ll explain it all to Sparrowstar in the morning. Come on, let’s get you back to your den.” Drizzletail supported her sister as they walked slowly up the glade back to the medicine cat’s den. Stonepelt was sitting up, licking the head of his son.
        “H-i-i-i, Rippledpool…” Rockpaw yawned. He curled up and fell asleep next to his dad. A small smile appeared on Rippledpool’s face, but it quickly disappeared.
        “I’m glad to see that you’re feeling better Stonepelt.” Rippledpool mewed in a dull tone. Her tail dragging on the floor, Rippledpool stumbled into her own private den area. She looked at the nest next to her and almost cried out when she noticed it was empty. She turned away and settled down on her cozy nest of moss and grasses.