Yellowfang’s Secret полностью

But before she fetched the herbs, Yellowfang poked her head into the warriors’ den to make sure Frogtail was resting, and beckoned to Amberleaf, who was gathering up soiled bedding. “Come with me,” Yellowfang ordered. “It’s time I renewed that dressing on your ear.” Amberleaf had torn her ear in a training exercise and the wound had been reluctant to heal.

Amberleaf sighed as she rose to her paws. “Okay, Yellowfang. When can I return to warrior duties?”

“When I’m satisfied that ear isn’t infected,” Yellowfang retorted.

When she peeled off the wrapping of cobweb and goldenrod leaves, she was pleased to see that Amberleaf’s wound looked clean and healthy. “You don’t need another poultice,” she commented as she rubbed the scratch with marigold. “You can go back to your duties tomorrow provided it’s no worse.”

“Great!” Amberleaf meowed. “I think if I have to take one more tick off the elders I’ll go mad as a fox in a fit.”

Yellowfang sent her away and collected the daisy leaves and the poppy seed for Poolcloud. At the entrance to the elders’ den she met Runningnose, staggering under the weight of a huge bundle of dripping moss.

“I don’t want the elders to get their paws wet by the stream,” he explained, mumbling around his burden. “Their bedding needs changing, too.”

“Hasn’t Brokentail put any cat on apprentice duties?” Yellowfang asked.

Runningnose shook his head. “No, they’re all out battle training. Except for Amberleaf, and she’s stuck doing the warriors’ bedding all on her own.”

Yellowfang sighed. Runningnose shouldn’t have to work so hard when he’s no younger or less experienced than the other warriors. “Never mind,” she meowed. “I’ll help you with the elders’ nests as soon as I’ve taken care of Littlebird.”

Once Littlebird was dosed and comfortable, Yellowfang went into the forest again, her pleasure in the bright day dimmed by her anxiety about using so many herbs. She was carrying a bundle of moss and feathers across the clearing when Raggedstar padded up to her.

“Have you seen any hunting patrols?” he asked her.

Yellowfang shook her head. “As far as I know, they’re battle training first.”

The Clan leader’s amber eyes grew troubled. “There are hungry bellies in the Clan,” he mewed. “Elders, kits, and warriors all need feeding.”

You should talk to your deputy about that, not your medicine cat, Yellowfang thought. “Well, I have some traveling herbs that could take the edge off the worst hunger,” she suggested, “but I’m not sure I should use them up so soon before leaf-bare.”

“I don’t want my Clanmates eating your herbs!” Raggedstar’s eyes widened in shock and anger. “They should have fresh-kill!”

As he was speaking, movement by the entrance caught Yellowfang’s eye, and Brokentail plunged into the clearing. Blood spattered his muzzle and his eyes shone with triumph.

“Excellent training session,” he announced, bounding up to Raggedstar and Yellowfang. “Rowanberry and Stumpytail cornered the dogs before they were halfway to the border!”

The two dog-hunters had followed him into the camp, panting and exhausted but clearly very pleased with themselves. The other three warriors staggered into the camp; Yellowfang was shocked to see how bedraggled and battered they looked. Deerfoot was limping, Blackfoot’s shoulder was bleeding, and Tangleburr had a lump of fur missing from her side.

They must have been the dogs, Yellowfang thought. They’ve certainly had the worst of it.

“Next time, you’ll run faster!” Brokentail told them. “Now, clean yourselves up and get back to the training area. I need you to practice your defense moves.”

“They can rest first, I think,” Raggedstar meowed.

“And I ought to check those wounds,” Yellowfang added.

Brokentail stared at Raggedstar. “Rest?” He sounded surprised. “We can’t stop a battle just because we get tired! I said they can clean themselves up; then we’ll continue.”

“What about the hunting patrols?” Raggedstar prompted.

“Don’t worry,” Brokentail assured him cheerfully. “I’ve sent some cats off to find fresh-kill. That’s if they haven’t scared all the prey into hiding!”

Yellowfang gazed at Brokentail. You have so much ambition, so much drive to make your Clanmates as strong and fearless as you, she thought. I wonder where your spirit comes from. Is it partly from me?

Yellowfang was putting away a fresh supply of dock leaves when Runningnose padded up behind her and touched her shoulder with his tail.

“Have you forgotten it’s the half-moon? We should be on our way to the Moonstone.”

Yellowfang blinked at him in confusion. “There’s so much to do here, it slipped my mind,” she confessed.