TurtleCrawl awoke to the first rays of dawn illuminating her gold fur. She looked around wearily, eyelids heavy with sleep. Was my dream of PenguinScar real...? Of course. It had to be! She sat up, her forepaws wobbling slightly. She finally noticed the den was empty. Nobody had woken her for patrols! She rose to all four paws, legs still a bit shaky. She decided to go and visit the medicine cat, FalconTalon.
She padded out of the warriors den, blinking to get used to the harsh sun in her eyes. Starclan help me! It's as hot as the hottest day in Greenleaf! She settled into a quick pace, although faltering at the tremble in her legs. She finally made it to the medicine den. FalconTalon was crouched on the dirt floor, currently wrapping a herb bundle. His apprentice, WavePaw, was nowhere to be found. Possibly gathering herbs.
FalconTalon eventually looked up at her, only just noticing her. He sat up, giving a quick lick to his pale brown chest fur. `TurtleCrawl.` He lowered his head in greeting to the lower-ranked cat. `What can I do for you?` The shecat swallowed, before speaking back. `Theres... Two things. I hope you don't mind.` A petite smile crossed FalconTalon's maw. `Of course not! Ask away!`
`My legs are really wobbly. I was hoping you'd have something for that.` She told him. He nodded, turning to his herb pile, and pausing, before picking out a clump of slightly grassy scented roots. `Put these comfrey roots in your nest before you sleep. It should help. Would you like some poppy seeds too?` He offered kindly. TurtleCrawl shook her head subtly. `Ill be fine, thankyou.` FalconTalon nodded, accepting her choice. She took the roots, and sat them beside her. `Now... The other thing.`
`So... Starclan sent... YOU... A prophecy?` FalconTalon asked after she had told him, seemingly dumbfounded. TurtleCrawl nodded slowly. `I'm pretty sure, yes.` FalconTalon pressed his lips together tightly, pondering something. `We must tell RockStar. Come on. You should come too.` Before TurtleCrawl could protest, FalconTalon was already slinking out of the den.
TurtleCrawl padded after the brown tabby, before she set into a slow walking pace beside him. As they reached the tunnel-like den, FalconTalon turned to her. `After you, m'lady.` He purred smoothly. She eyes him suspiciously, but moved to walk into the den. Her claws gripped the unstable surface of the dirt slope, as she walked into the den. FalconTalon walked behind her. He didn't seem to struggle to keep his footing. RockStar looked up, his pale blue gaze setting upon his two visitors. `FalconTalon. TurtleCrawl.` He lowered his head. `What can I do for you both? Assuming your both here about the same thing.` TurtleCrawl looked over at FalconTalon, uncertain. He looked back, nodding. She began to speak. `I had a dream.`
`A... Dream..?' RockStar repeated susceptibility. He swerved his furled grey head to look at FalconTalon. The medicine cat nodded slowly. `From what I have heard, yes, RockStar. It is true.` Rockstar thought for a moment. `Have you personally had any signs from Starclan, FalconTalon?` FalconTalon shook his head. `No. I could go to Mothermouth tonight though` FalconTalon suggested. RockStar purred, somewhat happy. `TurtleNeck will go with you. Would you like SingedSnarl to accompany you both?` He suggested the clan deputy. Before TurtleCrawl could politely decline to her leaders question, FalconTalon did for her. `That will be lovely. Thankyou, RockStar. Riverclan is lucky to be lead by you. We will leave at dusk.`
TurtleCrawl traced out of RockStar's den. FalconTalon had already trotted off to collect travelling herbs.
Sunhigh was nearing, and patrols had been sent out. She later found SingedSnarl, sitting in the sun, mingling with his mate, MallowStripe. The pale tabby she gave a few licks to her chest fur, looking up and noticing TurtleNeck.
TurtleNeck watched as SingedSnarl followed his mates gaze. He exhaled in a surprised breath. Caught off guard. `TurtleNeck!` MallowStripe purred, not giving SingedSnarl a chance to speak, though it being his duty.
`MallowStripe.` She meowed in reply. SingedSnarl stiffled a yawn, his tail tip brushing against his muzzle. `If your here about the... "Quest"... At dusk, I've been informed. FalconTalon told me on his way back to the medicine den. News travels quickly through Riverclan.`
TurtleCrawl nodded politely. `Good. Just had to make sure.` She smiled to the black tom. His eyes showed a friendly malice, not returning the joyous mood in the air.
TurtleCrawl moved away awkwardly, sitting herself down in the clearing. She looked around. A border patrol had come back. Which one? Were they patrolling the Thunderclan border? No. TurtleCrawl's friend, MinnowPatch was on that. He didn't seem to be back yet. It must've been from the Windclan border. Yes. That would make enough sense.
She caught herself staring at the group, who had now formed a gossiping circle to the edge of the clearing. She quickly averted her gaze to the gravely earth below.
Her ear angled toward he sound of footsteps before she could recognise the scent. IT was MallowStripe. The albino warrior sat right beside her, fur-to-fur, invading her personal space. She looked over at the white cat, was smiling politely staring at her. `Uh... Hey?` She greeted, confused. MallowStripe didn't seem to take her hint about her invaded space, and shifted closer. `Hey!' Her voice came out strained. Almost as if she was forcing herself to sound happy. `Listen.` She began, not letting TurtleCrawl weave her way out of the conversation.
`I am SO sorry about SingedSnarl.` She told her. Her mew was apologetic. Possibly on he deputy's behalf. Maybe? `I promise, his attitude has been taken care of.` TurtleCrawl shuddered at the thought. MallowStripe wasn't the small, fragile warrior she looked to be. She one saved two young apprentices from a fully grown fox. By herself!
TurtleCrawl's heart pounded in her chest. `I-It's fine. Attitude never hurt nobody.` She replied, hoping for the deputy to at least be fit to travel tonight after MallowStripe's idea of a punishment.
MallowStripe nodded curtly. `Thankyou for understanding. He was simply in a mood.` She apologized again. TurtleCrawl's mind continued to race, hoping for the well-being of the black tom. `I should go meet with FalconTalon and SingedSnarl.` TurtleCrawl told MallowStripe, attempting to get out of the situation. MallowStripe's tail tip flicked. Annoyed? Surely not. She rose to her paws, slowly walking away, giving one last quick glance to MallowStripe, to see if she would follow. MallowStripe didn't. She sat there, watching her with cold eyes.
The sun soon lowered in he sky, the breeze becoming cooler and more frigid. TurtleCrawl shivered as she peered into the medicine den. WavePaw was there. He was sleeping in a nest beside the herb storage, a clump of borage at his paws. The poor medicine cat apprentice must've fallen asleep while working.
TurtleCrawl shook her head, mentally telling herself to turn around, instead of put the borage into a pile for the tom. No. That isn't my job. She thought sternly, ears pinned against the top of her head. She forced her limbs to move again, her front legs faltering slightly from earlier. She marched away from the den. Perhaps they are all in RockStar's den. The idea was possibly true. Except, when she arrived to the small underground den, it was empty.
Where in Starclan's name are they!? Surely they didn't leave without me! She hissed in her head, whipping her head around. `What!?` She snarled, only to realise FalconTalon was there. Her tail immediately dropped. `FalconTalon! I'm so sorry! So sorry!` She repeated like a mantra, voice getting softer and softer with each already said sentence.
The pale brown tabby placed his muzzle on her shoulder, seemingly soothing her. `Its fine. No harm done.` She nodded, pressing her maw into his cheek. After a few seconds, they both retracted. `Anyways. We are leaving now.` His voice came out of a soft purr. Now? It was hardly dusk! No. She couldn't argue with the medicine cat. `Of course.` SingedSnarl peered his head past a bush. `Are you coming? Were wasting precious time.` He scoffed. FalconTalon whipped his head to look at the black cat. `Quiet, youngster.` He snapped. `Youngster!?` SingedSnarl complained. `Your A FEW moons older than me!` TurtleCrawl sighed, inaudible over the arguing going on Infront of her.
`Find the undying flame...` PenguinScar's voice echoed throughout her head.