Yellowfang’s Secret полностью

“That bedding is so dusty!” the ginger warrior exclaimed with another exaggerated cough. “Can’t you do that somewhere else where it won’t bother the warriors?”

Yellowfang tried to ignore her, but Foxheart hadn’t finished taunting her. “That’s such a boring job!” she went on with false sympathy. “I wouldn’t go back to being an apprentice, no way! Will you have to check the elders for ticks, too?” When Yellowfang didn’t reply, she added, “After all, there are no warrior apprentices in the Clan now. Wow, you are going to be busy!” She flicked her tail at Yellowfang and ran off.

Burning with indignation, Yellowfang dragged the old bedding out into the forest, where she shoved it under a clump of brambles. As she stumbled around in the undergrowth, collecting fresh moss and dried bracken, she felt more and more resentful.

Sagewhisker just wanted someone to do all her dirty work! I never thought my destiny would include this kind of thing! I hope StarClan has a word with Sagewhisker and makes her treat me with more respect!

Puffing under her load of new bedding, Yellowfang returned to camp. Her heart sank when she spotted Lizardstripe standing near the fresh-kill pile.

“Hey, Yellowfang!” the tabby warrior called out to her. “Could you clean out my nest, too? I’d like some more feathers in it, please. And I think the elders would like some fresh-kill brought to them.”

Yellowfang was too tired and cross to answer. She tried to stalk past with her head held high even though she was carrying such a huge bundle. Then she spotted Stonetooth standing outside the warriors’ den.

“Lizardstripe, what are you doing?” he called, his voice annoyed. “You’re supposed to be on a hunting patrol. Frogtail is waiting for you.”

With a hiss of annoyance, Lizardstripe bounded off.

Stonetooth padded up to Yellowfang. “You’re doing great,” he meowed. “Don’t worry, these mouse-brained warriors will get used to this in a couple of days, when something else catches their attention.” He let out a rasping purr. “I think you’ll make a fine medicine cat, Yellowfang. And remember this—when your apprenticeship is over, cats like Foxheart and Lizardstripe will be coming to you for help.”

Yellowfang felt soothed by the deputy’s kind tone and the twinkle in his eyes. “Thanks, Stonetooth,” she mumbled, struggling on with her burden toward the medicine cat’s den.

When she had arranged the bedding into two cozy nests, Yellowfang sat down to take a breath. The huge decision she had made began to sink in. This would be her life from now on. She would be separate from her Clanmates, isolated by her knowledge and her connection with StarClan, and yet she would be the cat they would come to first if they were sick or injured. She began to look around the den, really noticing it for the first time and wondering if there was anything she might want to change. Her gaze traveled over the herb stores. I wonder if we could make a hollow somewhere to store moss for soaking. That would be much quicker than going outside the camp. And we could keep the cobwebs dry if we hung them on the thorns over there.

“Oh, StarClan,” she whispered, “if you can hear me, I think I’m okay with this. I can be a medicine cat, if that is what you want.”

For a heartbeat, she felt that cats with herb-scented pelts were brushing against her, receiving her into the long line of medicine cats who had cared for her Clan for season upon season.

Paw steps sounded behind her as Sagewhisker bustled back into the den. “What are you doing?” she scolded. “Why haven’t you got the herbs out yet?”

“I was just about to,” Yellowfang defended herself.

“Well, you need to work faster.”

Biting back a sharp retort, Yellowfang padded over to the herb stores. With Sagewhisker looking on, she began pulling out the herbs and sorting them into piles.

“No, that’s borage,” Sagewhisker corrected her. “It goes with the other herbs for fever, like dandelion.”

“Okay.” Yellowfang moved the leaves from one pile to another.

“And be a bit gentler with them,” Sagewhisker warned. “Most of this stuff is so dry, it’ll fall apart if you go at it with rough paws.”

Yellowfang’s paws tingled with a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment. She went on sorting herbs, acutely aware of Sagewhisker’s alert gaze.

“How would you use those daisy leaves for back pain?” Sagewhisker asked after a while.

“Er… give them to the cat to eat, and—”

“No!” Sagewhisker interrupted. “Chew them up and make them into a poultice, then fasten it on with cobwebs.”

Yellowfang’s irritation spilled over. “Stop rushing me!” she snapped. “I’ll learn, but you have to give me a chance.”