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Crowstar’s hiss barely hid her alarm. The stress of the sickness rode her emotions high to the surface. “What do you mean, she ran off?”
Applecliff shook his head. “She woke and left.”
“How do we keep losing medicine cat apprentices?” Crowstar balked.
“I’m sure we didn’t lose her,” Blazefire mewed staunchly. She turned her brown gaze to Applecliff. “What can we do to make up for her absence?”
His tail twitched in thought. “Any warriors who can go looking for coltsfoot and borage, all we can do is manage the symptoms. Otherwise it’s keeping the ill fed.”
“Done,” Crowstar mewed. “Blazefire, remain in camp. I’ll take the senior warriors for herbs. Have the younger warriors focus on fresh-kill. Let Icebreak coordinate them so Vinepaw gets the practice.”
“Yes, Crowstar. Any warriors in camp are at your service, Applecliff, myself included.”
Leader and deputy went to dole out tasks. Warriors stood in small groups or pairs, whispers falling silent as Applecliff passed by. Lightpaw had pelted out of camp in view of half the Clan. He kept his chin and tail level. Lightpaw had a determination all medicine cats needed, she wouldn’t run off for no reason.
He ignored that Snowpaw had been the same, and had only confessed his desire to leave the Clans because he’d been caught trying to sneak away in the dead of night. Applecliff wouldn’t train a cat against their will, and Crowstar had no tolerance for any who shirked their duties.
“We don’t need cats that run off when things get bad.”
A ferocious blur of yellow bolted to stand before Ratstripe. Chest puffed defiantly Vinepaw spat, “She never! LIghtpaw cares for every cat here! Even mouse-brained fleabags like you!”
Icebreak swept her apprentice away with her tail. “That’s right. So let’s make sure there’s fresh-kill waiting for her when she comes back. Sliverfish, take your group to the rock fall. Rockleap, go check the aspens. Mind to keep a distance from the border, we don’t want reason for DeepClan to mistrust us now. Those with me are going to the tree shelter.”
Vinepaw stuck her tongue out at Ratstripe with a nyeh. As the patrols filtered out of camp, Blazefire came to bump her shoulder against Applecliff’s reassuringly. “She just lost the first cat in her care. I’m sure she just needs some time to herself.”