Yellowfang’s Secret полностью

“I think every kit deserves to know where they come from,” Littlebird meowed. “I would have thought Raggedpelt would believe that more than most.”

Yellowfang suddenly grew tired of the hints and comments. “Well, it’s none of our business!” she snapped.

“You’re a medicine cat,” Littlebird commented in surprise. “Everything the Clan does is your business.”

“But perhaps some secrets are best kept,” Yellowfang whispered.

The half-moon appeared fitfully through scattered clouds as Yellowfang toiled up the last slope toward Mothermouth. The other medicine cats were already waiting for her in the entrance to the tunnel. Yellowfang approached them nervously, worried that their experienced eyes would be able to detect signs of her recent kitting. I wish Sagewhisker had been able to come instead of me. But Sagewhisker was suffering from pains in her legs and deep inside her belly, so severe that Yellowfang had to struggle to block them out. The journey to Highstones would be too much for her, and Yellowfang wondered if the old medicine cat would ever travel there again.

But there was no need for Yellowfang to feel nervous. When she padded up to her fellow medicine cats their greetings were friendly, except for Goosefeather, who was muttering into his chest fur as usual, hardly aware of his surroundings.

“You look tired,” Brambleberry mewed to Yellowfang. “Is there sickness in ShadowClan?”

Yellowfang shrugged, trying not to show how relieved she was that Brambleberry had given her an excuse for her weariness. “Just the usual leaf-bare stuff,” she replied. “Nothing we can’t cope with.”

“That’s good to hear,” Featherwhisker murmured, with that oddly curious look that Yellowfang knew well. “And everything else is going well for ShadowClan?”

“Everything’s fine,” Yellowfang told him. “Isn’t it time we were heading for the Moonstone?”

“We know that!” Goosefeather snapped at her. “Young cats, think they have to teach their elders to eat mice…” He lapsed into his mumbling again.

“Come on, Goosefeather,” Brambleberry meowed kindly, laying her tail on the old cat’s shoulders. “Let’s you and I lead the way.” She padded into the tunnel with Goosefeather by her side.

Wanting to avoid any more of Featherwhisker’s probing questions, Yellowfang fell into step beside Hawkheart, leaving the second ThunderClan medicine cat to bring up the rear.

“How are you finding life as a medicine cat?” Hawkheart asked her. “It took me a while to forget that I wasn’t a warrior anymore.”

“Me too,” Yellowfang agreed, remembering the battle with the rats.

“It helps if I remember that I’m more use to my Clan where I am now,” Hawkheart went on, his voice warm and friendly in the darkness. “Every cat has the potential to be a warrior, but only a few of us can be medicine cats.”

“That’s true,” Yellowfang acknowledged.

“When I look at a wounded cat,” Hawkheart went on, “I try to imagine how the wound was caused. That’s often a help in knowing the best treatment.”

“Oh, I get that!” Yellowfang meowed, beginning to relax and enjoy the talk. “Like, whether it was teeth or claws or a sharp bit of a branch.”

“Right,” Hawkheart agreed. “Sometimes—” He broke off.

Ahead of them, Goosefeather had halted suddenly, and Yellowfang had to take a pace back to avoid bumping into him. I’d never hear the end of it if I did!

Hawkheart stumbled into her, thrown off balance by the sudden change in direction. “Sorry,” he muttered, then added, “Is that parsley I can smell on you?”

Yellowfang’s belly clenched. She had forgotten that she might be carrying the scent of the herb she used to dry up her milk. Mouse dung! I should have rolled in some ferns or something on the way here to hide the scent.

“I’m surprised you still have stocks of that in leaf-bare,” Hawkheart continued as they set off again down the passage.

Yellowfang couldn’t think what to say. “I guess we’re lucky,” she mewed after a moment. “I found a sheltered clump just the other day.”

She sent a silent prayer of thanks to StarClan that they reached the cave of the Moonstone at that moment. The moon was already shining through the hole in the roof, waking a frosty light in the heart of the stone. There was no more time for talking. Yellowfang closed her eyes and leaned her muzzle against the cool surface of the crystal. Every muscle in her body ached with fatigue. Sagewhisker and I would never let a queen leave the camp so soon after kitting! Gratefully she sank into sleep.