Leafpool’s Wish

The moss beneath Leafpool’s paws crunched with frost as she slipped into Firestar’s den. One moon had passed since her dream of the three little stars, and leaf-fall was giving way to the coldest season. Leafpool fluffed up her fur and reminded herself to tell Whitepaw to bring fresh moss up to the Highledge. Firestar had to be kept warm and dry while he recovered from losing a life.

Leafpool shuddered as she recalled the blood-drenched events of the previous day, when she had found her father with a Twoleg trap around his neck, and Brambleclaw standing over the body of Hawkfrost, dead in the lake. It had been many moons since StarClan had sent her the strange, unknowable warning: Before there is peace, blood will spill blood and the lake will run red. That day had come when Hawkfrost tried to kill the leader of ThunderClan by luring him into a trap set for foxes. Brambleclaw had saved Firestar’s life by digging up the wooden stake that held the trap, and then fighting Hawkfrost to the death—his own half brother, another son of Tigerstar. Brambleclaw was the blood that spilled blood. Leafpool’s vision of a circle of thorns protecting ThunderClan, and Firestar’s decision to make Brambleclaw deputy in place of Graystripe, seemed to carry the weight of StarClan now.

“Is that you, Leafpool?” Firestar croaked from the shadows.

“Hush, don’t talk,” Leafpool ordered. She bent over her father’s nest and sniffed. There was no sign of infection, thank StarClan, and the wound left by the trap around Firestar’s neck was shallow and would quickly heal. His throat would be sore for some time, but Leafpool had brought her last stock of honey to soothe it, along with a poppy seed to help him rest.

“Eat this,” she meowed, unfolding the leaf wrap she had brought to reveal the sticky pool of honey topped with a tiny black seed.

“I’m fine,” Firestar protested. He propped himself up, his ginger pelt gray in the half-light. “Don’t fuss.”

“I’ll fuss as much as I have to,” Leafpool retorted. “You lost a life yesterday, don’t forget.”

Her father’s green eyes gleamed. “I won’t forget, don’t worry. But I have a Clan to lead. Our Clanmates need to see that I am okay, and there are patrols to organize.”

“Brambleclaw has already sent out the hunting patrols,” Leafpool told him. “I have told everyone that you’re fine, just resting. Now, lie down, or I’ll send Mousefur to tell you stories until you fall asleep.”

Firestar gave a faint purr as he curled up among the feathers that lined his nest. “The poppy seed can do that for me, thanks. All right, Leafpool, I’ll do what you say.” He blinked fondly at her. “I need to remember that you’re not just my daughter, you’re my medicine cat, too.”

Yes, thought Leafpool as she picked her way down the rocky slope after watching Firestar lap up the honey and poppy seed. I am ThunderClan’s medicine cat. Nothing else matters but my duty to my Clanmates. She started running through a list of late-season herbs she wanted to find before the frost nipped the delicate leaves, and wondered if there was any honey left in the old bees’ nest near the top of the ridge. A flash of white fur coming out of the apprentices’ den caught her eye.

“Whitepaw!” Leafpool called, stepping down to the solid earthen floor of the clearing. “Please could you fetch some more moss for Firestar’s nest? Make sure it’s completely dry.”

“Sure!” The apprentice nodded. “I can do that before training.” She whisked around and pushed her way through the thorns that protected the entrance to the hollow.

“Are you stealing my apprentice?” came a warm voice behind Leafpool.

She turned to see Brackenfur watching her. “Only for a moment,” she promised. “Firestar’s bedding is a little frosty this morning.”

The golden tabby narrowed his eyes. “How is he?”

“Fine,” mewed Leafpool. “But losing a life is a bigger deal than Firestar makes out, so I’ve told him to stay in his nest today.”

Brackenfur nodded. “Quite right. Brambleclaw can manage the patrols.”

Leafpool studied the warrior. “Do you think Firestar made the right decision to declare Graystripe dead and appoint Brambleclaw in his place?”

The warrior flicked his tail. “A Clan without a deputy is… an odd thing. I always felt that it made us vulnerable.” He bent down and touched his muzzle to the top of Leafpool’s head. “But there are some absences that leave us even more unprotected. I’m glad you came back, Leafpool. Without a medicine cat, I don’t think ThunderClan would survive.”

Leafpool was saved from having to reply by a flurry of paw steps from the nursery.