#tangletooth

Gatherings were tricky these days. Not only did Goldenstar have to worry about balancing the amount of cats left to guard camp with the cats who would attend which was harder with the Clan’s small size, but there was always the fear that the gathering would lead to another outbreak which made attending at all a serious decision. It had been three moons since a gathering had even been held and longer still since Pantherhaze had been able to attend and he couldn’t help but get his hopes up now that the healers had given everyone the go ahead. 

Goldenstar led him, Nightfrost, Sagetooth, Smokyrose, and Songdust through the shrubbery, her tail held high. Pantherhaze could already hear and smell SkyClan and FallenClan cats mingling in the clearing ahead and he felt his tail fluffing up at the infectious energy. 

“Easy there,” Smokyrose rasped with a chuckle and he ducked his head shyly. “It’s not going to be that exciting, mind you.” 

“That’s easy for you to say, Smokyrose,” Songdust said. “You got to see the other Clans during your mediating. We’ve barely scented them since Leaf-fall.” Pantherhaze nodded, hoping to add weight to Songdust’s argument. 

“I suppose you have a point,” Smokyrose relented graciously. “Just keep in mind that we’re not the only Clan who lost a lot of cats this Leaf-bare. It will likely be a very small, unimpressive gathering.” 

“Right,” Pantherhaze frowned, effectively chastened. Even Songdust went soberly quiet. The patrol emerged from the foliage to behold the Cornerstones, the mossy ruins of a long abandoned twoleg nest that had mostly crumbled. Only one corner of the nest remained, sides sloping up to a point where two cats sat, quietly conversing. 

Pantherhaze gasped. 

“Oh, no,” he whispered. “What happened to Lionstar?” Snowstar, he recognized, their white pelt glistening in the moonlight, but instead of the pale ginger figure of Lionstar, his deputy Flightgaze was perched on top of the Cornerstones. The sleek blue tabby turned his gaze towards the RisingClan cats as they entered and he frowned. 

“I imagine he died,” Sagetooth remarked. “Same as Sunstar.” Pantherhaze fell silent, realizing that the other Clans probably hadn’t heard about Sunstar’s death, just as he hadn’t heard about Lionstar. They had only learned about Thrushstar’s death in EarthClan because Stormwhisper had come begging for Sagetooth’s help in treating him when he lost two lives in as many days. It was terrifying to think about. Not only could the plague chew through all nine of a leader’s lives, but it had claimed three of the four cats who had stood atop the Cornerstones this time last year. He whispered a prayer of thanks to StarClan for allowing it to pass him over. 

Looking over the gathered cats, it seemed many had not been so lucky. Including leaders, deputies, and healers, neither Clan had brought more than six cats - not that RisingClan was much better with their seven. It also seemed that despite arriving at the gathering neither SkyClan nor FallenClan were comfortable mingling amongst each other like they used to. 

Goldenstar looked back at her Clan and said, “Best behavior, yeah?” 

“Of course!” Pantherhaze said, straightening his posture. Goldenstar chuckled and winked at him, causing his face to flush a little under his fur. She glanced at Nightfrost and the two of them split from the group to head to the Cornerstones. Nightfrost meowed a greeting as she approached the other deputies and Goldenstar bounded up the sloped side to join Snowstar and - Patherhaze suddenly realized - Flightstar. Sagetooth headed over to sit apart from the other Clans and without thinking, the rest of RisingClan followed. 

“Wait,” Pantherhaze thought out loud as they settled down, “if Flightgaze is Flightstar now, who’s deputy?” 

“You have eyes, don’t you?” Sagetooth grumbled, flicking her tail towards the deputies gathered on the rubble below the Cornerstones, where a young white and grey cat was stiffly giving a nod to Nightfrost. 

“Pigeoncover?” Songdust frowned. “They haven’t even finished training their first apprentice.”

Smokyrose hummed thoughtfully. “I think she became Tumblefang last moon.” 

“Still,” Songdust huffed. “Last moon? Pigeoncover must be barely two years old! There are other warriors much more qualified to be deputy.” 

Pantherhaze shifted uncomfortably and leaned in to whisper conspiratorially. “Isn’t Flightgaze- uh, Flightstar their father?” 

“Mhm,” Smokyrose’s whiskers twitched. An uneasy quiet settled over the little group until, several minutes later, the bushes rustled and Orangestar came out of the trees with five cats in tow. Much like RisingClan, the EarthClan cats picked up on the strange energy and settled down away from the others while the leader and deputy took their places on the Cornerstones. 

“Alright,” Snowstar called, rising to her feet, “now that everyone is here, let’s begin!”

“First of all, let me just say, it’s good to be here tonight, under the sight of StarClan with all of you. It’s been too long. However, I’m proud of everyone for taking the Red Gut contagion seriously and taking the necessary precautions. It’s thanks to those safety measures, the hard work of our healers, and the guidance of StarClan that we have managed to come out the other side of this plague with our heads held high.” She glanced down to the clump of SkyClan cats and said, “I’d like to give some time to Tangletooth who has a bit to say about anti-plague precautions.” 

Tangletooth, an elderly, speckled ginger tom, rose to his paws, licked his whiskers, and nodded to his leader. “Thank you,” he said, voice rough and dry. The little noise the crowd was making diminished as all the cats strained to hear what he was saying. “I want to echo everything Snowstar has said and… give an additional warning. While it is understandable to be excited to put the plague behind us, I would urge you not to become blinded by relief. Every cat must stay vigilant for signs of Red Gut - sneezing fits, fever, headaches, running eyes and nose, upset stomach… and especially retching or liquid dirt.” 

He paused to take a few breaths and collect his thoughts. “Stay vigilant. Watch for these signs in both yourselves and your clanmates and report them to your healers immediately if you find them. If it is Red Gut, you will be put into isolation and it is of the utmost importance that you respect this quarantine. If you are ill, follow the direction of your healer and stay away from your clanmates. If you are well, do not attempt to visit the ill. Doing so risks the destruction of your entire Clan.” 

Pantherhaze looked down at his paws, remembering his sisters who had succumbed to the disease in two days. He had listened to Sagetooth and stayed away and because of that he had survived but he had never been able to say goodbye to them. He flinched, roused from his stupor by Smokyrose’s tail resting gently against his side. He smiled through tight lips at her and leaned closer, grateful for the unspoken comfort. 

“Uh… Thank you.” Tangletooth finished, slightly distant, and settled down again. SkyClan’s mediator, Heatherfuzz, leaned in to check on him, whispering in his ear as he nodded, muttering absently.

Snowstar dipped her head to her healer before lifting her posture again to address the crowd. “All of that said, SkyClan is officially free of disease and looking forward to the rest of Newleaf.” She took a small step back and glanced to either side to offer the stage to one of her fellow leaders. Goldenstar hesitated for a beat before starting to step forward. Flightstar beat her to the punch, standing up suddenly and drawing the crowd’s attention with a lash of his whip-like tail. 

“Last week,” he began, “Red Gut claimed Lionstar’s remaining lives, but with his death, we have finally left the sickness in the past. FallenClan stands strong as we leave Leaf-bare, returning to our full glory day by day. As leader, it is my first priority to oversee our Clan’s efforts to rebuild. We have already named a new warrior, Tumblefang,” he gestured with his chin towards the young white and grey tabby in the crowd below. She puffed up her chest proudly, letting her gaze fall cooly over the assembled cats. Pantherhaze grinned widely at her and waved his tail in congratulations, but if she noticed, she didn’t give any sign. 

“And,” Flightstar continued, “we have another apprentice who is close to graduating herself.” He gave a small trill of pride and sat back down folding his tail neatly over his paws. Goldenstar cast him a glance as if to make sure that he wasn’t about to interrupt again and then stepped forward. Her gaze panned the crowd and Pantherhaze made sure to give his best encouraging smile to her. He was certain it was stressful to be on top of the Cornerstones in front of everyone and hoped that he could somehow reassure her from below.

She took a deep breath and began to speak. “Likewise, I must sadly report that Sunstar was claimed by Red Gut last moon. While her absence will surely be felt, I am certain that RisingClan will recover quickly in the coming days. In the wake of this tragedy, I want to ask everyone to remember that it was cooperation and unity that got us through. Let us carry those things forward into a new season of prosperity for all.” Flightstar’s ear twitched. Pantherhaze glanced at him, reading disdain on the tom’s pointed muzzle. He wondered if Flightstar would say something but if there was something on the leader’s mind, he didn’t speak it. Goldenstar watched him for a moment and, when she was satisfied he wasn’t going to interrupt again, she turned her gaze to Orangestar on her other side, face softening just a bit. 

Orangestar sat up sharply, realizing it was her turn to speak, and stood up, fluffy ginger tail swishing side to side. “Right.” She said, almost to herself. “Likewise, EarthClan was hit hard by the plague. I’m sure you’ve all heard about Thrushstar’s untimely passing by now. In the months since then, I have been working tirelessly to ensure the safety of my clanmates. I am proud to announce not only that EarthClan is also free of disease, but that we have two new apprentices with us.” Pantherhaze’s ears perked. Red Gut had been particularly fatal for kits and had spread through the nurseries like wildfire. To have two new apprentices was surely a testament to the Clan’s dedication to following their healer’s guidance. 

“Dawnpaw has been apprenticed to Sprucespeckle and I have taken Toadpaw as my own apprentice.” Everyone looked to the apprentices in question, a pale blue and ginger torbie and a speckled brown tom sitting at the back of the crowd. The tom looked nervously around while his sister sat taller, eyes fixed on Orangestar with a fondness tinged with anxiety.

Orangestar nodded to her with a smile and continued. “We are all looking to the future with hope and courage, as exemplified by these two young cats.”

Pantherhaze tilted his head to whisper to Smokyrose. “They look more nervous than courageous.” 

“Those things aren’t opposites,” she shrugged. “I would be nervous too. The hopes and dreams of a Clan are a lot to pin on two orphans.” 

“Oh.” Pantherhaze’s stomach dropped. He looked forward again, tail curling around his paws as that solemn thought weighed upon his mind. 

Orangestar looked around, not sure what to do, and eventually said, “That’s all.” 

Snowstar nodded and declared, “Then with that, the gathering is over. Feel free to mingle for a while. It’s been a long time since we’ve had the opportunity to talk amongst ourselves.” The crowd was hesitant at first, shifting and murmuring, but seeing Snowstar leap down to speak with Nightfrost, cats slowly began to break from their Clan groups.

“Why don’t we go say hello to the new apprentices?” Smokyrose suggested and Pantherhaze nodded, a smile spreading on his face.

“Yeah, alright,” he agreed, leaning down to help support her as she stood. The older she-cat thanked him and together, they padded to the back of the clearing to greet the young cats and wish them well.

---------

“Who?” Sagetooth tilted her head as she and Oddstripe settled down next to him. Was this perhaps one of Tangletooth’s elders, someone he used to know? Soberly, she wondered if he was starting to lose his grasp on time.

“The kittypet,” he replied brightly to her surprise. “Charredbranch found a kittypet in the mountains and he’s decided to stick around. His name is Couragecry.” 

“Really,” Sagetooth frowned. “Whatever for?”

“Pardon?” asked Tangletooth. Oddstripe pursed his lips.

Sagetooth caught herself and changed course. “I meant, what was he doing in the mountains?” 

“Oh!” Tangletooth nodded and licked his lips. “Yes, well, apparently there’s a lake just over them and he used to live there with his Twolegs but they seem to have disappeared. He went looking for them and found us instead.” 

“I see,” Sagetooth hummed. She supposed that was alright then. If his Twolegs were missing then there was nothing for him to go back to. And, she rationalized, it suited her just fine if SkyClan’s warriors weren’t very good fighters or hunters. 

“Well, I hope he’s settling in alright,” Oddstripe said shyly. 

“I think he’s doing alright,” rasped Tangletooth. “He’s taught Pebblefall and Greyvoice a thing or two about fishing at least.” Behind them the sound of gentle pawsteps sounded in the tunnel and they turned to look as a pair of grey eyes and fluffy grey ears poked out of the darkness. 

“Stormwhisper,” Sagetooth addressed him sternly. He flinched but straightened his posture under her gaze.

“Yes?” he asked, feathery tail swishing, “I’m not that late, am I?” 

Sagetooth shook her head. “No, I wanted to ask if you had any word about Blazingbrush. She’s missed three meetings already, this will be the fourth, and you still haven’t said if she has Red Gut or not. I’m starting to think I need to make the trip to FallenClan to sort the whole thing out myself.” Stormwhisper’s fur bristled subtly and he stiffened, eyes wide, which only made Sagetooth frown deeper. Something was off here. 

“Oh, no, it’s not Red Gut,” he said, glancing at Oddstripe briefly, “But she’s isolating nonetheless. She says she doesn’t want to take any risks, that’s all.” 

“Is that so?” Sagetooth narrowed her eyes. 

“Um, yes?” replied Stormwhisper with a nervous grimace. 

“Are you asking me or telling me?” she huffed, tail starting to twitch. “You’re being incredibly strange.”

“Sorry,” he shook his head, forcing a smile. “I’m just out of sorts. Everything has been tense since Toadpaw was taken.” He stepped up to sit between Oddstripe and Tangletooth. 

“Oh, no,” Oddstripe fawned, causing Sagetooth’s ear to twitch. “I can’t imagine…” 

“Yeah,” he swallowed. “Orangestar is considering stepping down.” 

“What?” snapped Sagetooth, causing both of the younger healers to flinch. “She can’t do that!” 

“She just doesn’t see how she can lead a Clan when she couldn’t even save her own apprentice.” Stormwhisper looked at his paws. “I can’t say I blame her.” 

“Leaders can’t do everything,” Tangletooth said. “It’s important for her to learn that.”

“Yes,” agreed Sagetooth definitively. “You need to advise her, Stormwhisper. You’re her Healer, you bring her StarClan’s wisdom. Make sure she knows that they chose her for a reason and that she has a duty to her Clan to uphold their decision.” 

“Yeah,” he nodded, mostly to himself it seemed. “I’ll try.”

“Don’t try,” Sagetooth huffed, “Do.” 

“Your dreams tonight will guide you,” Tangletooth rasped, bumping his muzzle against Stormwhisper’s shoulder. “Come, let us drink.” 

~~~

After the meeting, the Healers said their goodbyes and Sagetooth and Oddstripe began making their way through the canyon back towards their camp, but something wouldn’t stop pulling at Sagetooth’s brain. She didn't know what was going on but something about Stormwhisper and Blazingbrush kept drawing her attention and she couldn’t put the thought away. She paused as they reached the river and Oddstripe stopped to look back at her.

“Is everything alright, Sagetooth?” he asked, big blue eyes blinking in the moonlight. 

“I’m fine,” she flicked an ear dismissively. “I think I’m going to head to FallenClan and check on Blazingbrush though.”

“Do you think she’s okay?” 

“I don’t know,” she shrugged, “but I think I need to speak with her anyway.” 

Oddstripe shuffled. “Do you want me to come with you?” She could tell by the way he spoke that he didn’t want to. He probably wanted to get back to camp and eat his fill like he did after every meeting. Even now that the kits weren’t nursing anymore he still wasn’t quite used to the empty stomach the half moon gatherings demanded. 

“No,” Sagetooth sighed. “Go back home, see your kits. I should be back before the sun is up.” 

“Okay,” smiled Oddstripe, clearly relieved. “May StarClan light your path.” Sagetooth smiled. He was a quick study and a good apprentice, if a naive one. 

“Thank you,” she purred, “I’ll see you back at camp.” With that, she turned westward and set off across the rolling hills. Eventually the foothills turned to forests which turned thick and dark and wild. Somewhere in the night an owl hooted to her mate and little things scuttled through the underbrush temptingly. Sagetooth stomped down on any desires to catch them. Even a Healer had no right to hunt in another Clan’s territory. 

She found and then followed a well worn trail until she finally came upon a scattering of large stones, the leftovers of an ancient landslide, overgrown by brambles that had been shaped and woven into the walls of the FallenClan camp. As she approached, she gave a soft meow to declare her presence and was quickly met by the marbled blue face of the camp guard, Ryestripe.

“Who goes there?” he asked firmly, voice soft. 

“Sagetooth, Healer of RisingClan,” she said, stopping where he could see her and offering a slow blink. 

Ryestripe shifted, swallowed, and glanced over his shoulder before replying. “How can I help you, Sagetooth?” 

“I’m here to speak with Blazingbrush,” she said. “I’ve heard she’s unwell.” 

“She is,” he said, a bit too quickly. Her eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry, you can’t see her right now.” 

“I know how to handle myself around disease, boy,” she huffed. “If there’s a sickness in FallenClan I have every right to know.” 

“I’m sorry,” he said again, squaring his shoulders to fill the hole in the bramble wall. “You can’t come in, Flightstar’s orders.”

“Flightstar’s-” she cut herself off with a scoff and shifted her weight on her aching hips. She hadn’t walked so much in a long time and her age was not having it. “On what basis has he made those orders?” 

Ryestripe shifted, clearly uncomfortable. “Look, I don’t-” 

“It’s alright, Ryestripe,” said a gentle voice behind him, warm and sweet like honey. “I’ll speak to her.” 

The warrior glanced back and whispered, “Are you sure, Poppybird?” 

“I’m sure.” 

“Alright.” Ryestripe shuffled to the side, allowing the mediator to pass. Her black pelt glimmered under the moonlight that made its way through the trees, its dappling mixing with the dappling of ginger in her fur. She smiled sympathetically as she walked out to meet Sagetooth. 

“I’m sorry about that,” she said, curling her tail around her white paws as she sat. “He means well.” 

“What’s this about Flightstar’s orders?” grumbled Sagetooth. “If I want to speak with Blazingbrush he has no right to forbid me to do so.” 

“I agree,” nodded Poppybird, “but I have a feeling you’ll understand his reasoning once you hear it.”

“Well, what is it then?” 

“Blazingbrush has committed an… indiscretion,” said Poppybird carefully. “And I’d like to tell you, but we’re all quite determined to keep this quiet. Can I count on you to handle the information with care, Sagetooth?”

“Yes,” Sagetooth said, tail twitching. “Come on, out with it.” 

“Blazingbrush has had a kitten,” Poppybird said softly and Sagetooth immediately understood. “We don’t know the father or how she met him, but she’s decided not to keep him. The kit, I mean.” 

Sagetooth sighed and shook her head. “Oh, that fool of a girl… She always did have her head in the clouds. I’m glad she’s decided to do the right thing though.” Giving the kit up was for the best, she thought. The kit could live his life without being attached to the shame of his mother’s broken vow.

Poppybird’s smile tightened for a moment, face the picture of sympathy. “You can see why we’ve been keeping things quiet. I trust you’ll do the same?” 

“Yes, of course,” nodded Sagetooth. “I’ll speak to her about it some other time. She’s alright though?” 

“Yes, yes, she’s fine,” nodded Poppybird immediately. "She just doesn’t want to be seen while she’s forced to nurse."

“Understood. Thank you for sating my curiosity,” Sagetooth said, getting to her feet. 

“Thank you for your understanding,” nodded Poppybird as she likewise stood. “Safe travels home.” 

Was it her? Was it because she was an outsider? She had been puzzling for the last two weeks over whether or not there was something she needed to do to gain their favor. Sagetooth had gently laughed at her suggestion of a prey sacrifice, dashing Oddstripe’s hopes of some sort of mystical solution to her problem. The older Healer had assured her that the fast would be sufficient to bridge the gap between her and StarClan’s hunting ground. Still, Oddstripe couldn’t help but worry it was her fault somehow, that she wasn’t made for this sort of thing, that she was built wrong. That had to be the reason right? Why else would four other cats swear they spoke with the dead when she dreamt only of darkness. 

Sagetooth must have smelled the distress coming off of her because she turned around as they reached the mouth of the cave and frowned sympathetically. 

“Are you doing alright, Oddstripe?” she asked. “We can stop if this is too much for you.” 

“Oh, no!” Oddstripe blurted immediately. “No, I’m fine. Just… nauseated.” She looked down at her paws guiltily. 

“That’s alright,” Sagetooth said, laying her tail against Oddstripe’s flank. “You learn to tune it out eventually. It’s normal to feel sick the first few times.” 

“That’s good,” sighed Oddstripe, although she didn’t feel comforted much at all. 

“Try to clear your mind of worry,” Sagetooth advised. “If you meditate and empty your thoughts, you’ll be more attuned to StarClan’s guidance when it comes, okay?” She smiled and Oddstripe forced herself to do the same. 

“Okay,” she said. 

“That’s the spirit,” purred Sagetooth. She turned and led the way into the dark and winding tunnel ahead of them. Oddstripe took a deep breath and followed into the terrible unknown. 

Eventually, the dark tunnel opened up and Oddstripe was once again astonished by the sight of the glimmering cave before her, its glowing blue ceiling reflected in the water making a replica night sky. It filled her with wonder. Just like last time, she was struck with the unquestionable sensation that this place was deeply magic. 

The feeling that she didn’t belong here wasn’t far behind.

Tangletooth was waiting for them already. The ginger tom sat by the water, staring at the reflections with a foggy look on his face. Sagetooth cleared her throat as they entered and he straightened with a sharp inhale. 

“Ah, Sagetooth!” he smiled, turning to face them. “And your new apprentice!” He looked Oddstripe over with a frown of confusion before asking, “What was your name again?” 

“Oddstripe,” she supplied with a warm smile. 

The elderly tom nodded, body bobbing heavily with the movement. “Yes, that’s it. Oddstripe. Glad to have you joining us again. How are your kits doing?” 

“Oh, very well!” she purred, worries disappearing for a moment. Sagetooth sat down and folded her tail over her paws with a small smile on her face while Oddstripe continued. “Floodkit got a few scrapes trying to play around the Stoneperch but he’s recovering smoothly. Oh, and Sparrowkit has been bringing me flowers trying to help me with my work, he’s so sweet.” 

Tangletooth chuckled and the conversation continued this way, the two of them talking about nothing back and forth. Every now and then Sagetooth interjected with a short correction or addition, but for the most part, Oddstripe chatted pleasantly with the SkyClan Healer. She’d always enjoyed the conversations she’d had with older cats. There was something so sweet about the way they plainly spoke their minds. She was enjoying herself so much, she was startled when another cat emerged from the tunnel.

“There you are,” Sagetooth said, tail twitching. “I was starting to wonder if we should start without you.” 

Stormwhisper, the handsome young EarthClan Healer licked his whiskers nervously and said, “Apologies, I got held up treating a bee sting.” His eyes flickered over Oddstripe before purposefully fixing themselves on Sagetooth’s face. Oddstripe felt her empty stomach twist.

Sagetooth shook her head with a scoff (at whom, Oddstripe wasn’t sure) but Tangletooth said, “Where’s Blazingbrush?” and looked around as if she were hiding somewhere in the cave. 

“Oh,” Stormwhisper swallowed, “She won’t be coming. She has a stomach ache and is isolating, just in case. I sent her some herbs yesterday.” He licked his whiskers again and shuffled his paws. Sagetooth squinted. 

“Mm,” hummed Tangletooth, “That’s for the best then. StarClan willing, it isn’t Red Gut.” Oddstripe’s ears perked. She’d heard a lot about this deadly plague from both of her teachers and the thought that it had returned was frightful to say the least. 

Clumsily, she echoed the prayer. “Y-yes, StarClan willing.” Sagetooth and Stormwhisper both glanced briefly in her direction and her ears flattened shamefully. Was that wrong? She shouldn’t have said anything at all.

“Well, in that case, let’s get started,” Sagetooth said. “I have no major updates to share. A few of our herb stores have been ruined by the heat but I don’t think we’ll need any assistance in replacing them.” 

“Likewise,” Tangletooth nodded, “Nothing of note in SkyClan.” 

“And my only news was about Blazingbrush,” concluded Stormwhisper.

“We should make sure to be ready if it is Red Gut,” Sagetooth said. “Have you made any arrangements with her if it is?” 

Stormwhisper blinked in surprise and quickly said, “Uh, no, but I’ll talk to Poppybird about it. I’ll send an apprentice to spread the word if it’s Red Gut.” Sagetooth huffed in what Oddstripe recognized as irritation at incompetence. Despite knowing it wasn’t aimed at her, she straightened her posture and tried to comport herself with dignity. 

“Good,” said Sagetooth curtly, “Make sure you get that handled promptly, yes?” 

“Of course,” Stormwhisper nodded hastily, looking thoroughly chastened.

“Alright,” she said, looking around at the others, “Shall we then?” 

“Yes, I think we shall,” nodded Tangletooth, turning back to the river. Oddstripe felt her chest tighten. The moment of truth was upon her and she suddenly had a desperate need to find more excuses to delay the inevitable. Sagetooth stepped up beside her and put on a smile.

“You’ll be alright,” she said softly, “Just let go of your thoughts and put your soul in StarClan’s paws.” Oddstripe didn’t understand how she was supposed to ‘just’ do that, but she nodded anyway. She just had to trust in StarClan. How hard could that be? One by one, the four Healers bent to drink from the icy cold river and then settled down in the well worn places where Healers had slept for generations. Stormwhisper settled down on the other side of Oddstripe from Sagetooth, his eyes lingering on her. 

Oddstripe quickly looked away and curled up, closing her eyes to avoid meeting his gaze. Soon, she could sense Sagetooth’s breaths slowing beside her and Tangletooth’s snores started to echo across the slick cave walls. Oddstripe tried to will herself to sleep but couldn’t seem to get out of her own head. She shifted, repositioned, tried to find a more comfortable place, but nothing seemed to work. She groaned. Why couldn’t she do something as simple as falling asleep?!

Suddenly, Stormwhisper’s voice pulled her back from the precipice of a spiral. 

“Can’t sleep?” he asked in a hushed voice. She turned to look at him, large ears flicking forward. He had an awkward smile on his face, not what she had expected to see. 

She let out her tightly held breath in defeat. “Yes. I hope I haven’t kept you awake.” 

“Oh, not at all,” he said, glancing past her to Sagetooth’s slumbering form briefly. “I was actually hoping to talk with you one on one.” 

“With me?” she asked, completely blindsided. 

“Yeah,” he said, smiling as he shuffled closer. “Sagetooth said you were taught by a Clan Healer. Did she ever tell you her name?” 

“Um,” Oddstripe tried to pull her thoughts back into a manageable shape, “I think it was Redleaf?” Immediately, she saw Stormwhisper’s face light up. 

“Do you know where she is now?” he asked eagerly. “Where she might have gone?” 

Oddstripe frowned in thought and tried to seriously consider his question. “Maybe? I think she was planning to head into the mountains, or at least the foothills. Why? Did you know her?” At this, Stormwhisper blushed and looked down at his paws and Oddstripe realized her mistake. “Oh, of course you did! She must have come to these meetings, right?” 

“Yes,” he nodded, licking his whiskers again. “She was Sagetooth’s last apprentice. We were… good friends.” 

“Really?” asked Oddstripe. “Sagetooth hasn’t mentioned her at all. She hasn’t even asked about her.” She frowned some more. Why hadn’t Sagetooth been interested in her old apprentice?

“They had a falling out,” he said softly, glancing at Sagetooth again. “She cursed StarClan and Sagetooth doesn’t take that sort of thing lightly. She was fuming for at least two moons after it happened.”

“Oh, wow,” breathed Oddstripe, following his gaze. “Why would she do that? Redleaf, I mean.” She looked back to him, trying to remember the stubborn young calico who had taught her how to do more than deliver kits and pull out thorns. Suddenly, Oddstripe could see Sagetooth’s paw prints all over Redleaf; her short, confident instructions; her no nonsense demeanor; even the specific ways she organized herbs or wrapped cobwebs around a wound. She pictured the two of them in the Healer’s den, trading witty jabs and stripping branches of their leaves. It almost made Oddstripe smile before she remembered that they had parted on bad terms. 

“It was the Red Gut…” Stormwhisper said solemnly, head tilted in a sad look of remembrance. “Redleaf couldn’t believe StarClan hadn’t told us what was coming. They’d warned us of a dangerous disease, but Redleaf was furious that they hadn’t given us more specific instructions to avoid the worst of it. She told me that she finally saw StarClan for what it was, ‘a throne for fools who thought themselves gods.’” He shook his head and shrugged. “I couldn’t convince her to stay, especially not after the fight with Sagetooth.” Oddstripe’s heart went out to him. Clearly, Redleaf’s absence weighed heavily on his mind. 

“Anyway,” he said, shaking his fur a bit, “you said she was heading into the mountains?” 

“Oh! Yes, I think so,” replied Oddstripe. “I met her in the second moon of Leafbare and she stayed with me until the second moon of Newleaf. She said she needed to…” she paused to remember the exact wording, “see more of the world before she settled down.” 

“I see,” he hummed with a frown. 

“I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful,” Oddstripe winced. 

“Oh, no, you’re fine,” Stormwhisper said, suddenly looking up. “I’m just… thinking.” She sat quietly for another moment before adding, “Uh, please don’t tell anyone I asked you about her. Sagetooth would have my tail if word ever got back to her.” 

“Why?” Oddstripe asked, brow furrowing. “What’s wrong with worrying about your friend?”

Stormwhisper laughed anxiously and swiped a paw over one ear. “Uh, how to explain… I was maybe a little too close to Redleaf for Sagetooth’s liking. We’re not supposed to have mates, Healers, and we’re especially not supposed to be mates with cats from other Clans.”

“And you were mates?” Oddstripe breathed, enraptured by the detail. 

“No, no,” he blushed, waving a paw in front of him. “Sagetooth just thought I was trying to court her apprentice. She’s never really liked me much.” 

“Oh,” Oddstripe glanced back at Sagetooth, still sleeping peacefully beside her. 

“Like I said,” Stormwhisper said, “please don’t tell her I asked you.” 

“I won’t,” Oddstripe promised. 

“Thank you,” Stormwhisper sighed with relief. After a moment, he shifted, tucking his paws beneath him, and said,  “We should probably get to sleep before the others wake up.” 

“Right,” Oddstripe felt her stomach churn again. “You don’t have any tricks for getting there, do you?” 

Stormwhisper considered it and then smiled sympathetically. “Don’t stress it too much. They’re not gods or anything, they’re just cats who traded their earthly bodies for different gifts. You’ll fit right in.” 

“Right,” she said again, tone grimmer. “Thanks.” 

“Of course,” he said, settling down to sleep. “Good luck, Oddstripe.” 

Oddstripe nodded, ears pressed back, wishing she felt any more confident than before. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and let it out again. She curled her tail over her nose and tried to breathe deep and slow, counting as she did. Soon enough, sleep overtook her. 

~~~

A surprisingly warm and gentle breeze stirred Oddstripe’s fur. She tried to ignore it, but it seemed so out of place in the cold wet cavern, that she couldn’t help but peek one eye open to look for the source. The sight before her took a few seconds to register completely.

She was sat on a flat smooth stone that looked out over the grasslands of RisingClan but the landscape was dyed a deep indigo hue. Each blade of grass glowed with starry light and the stone beneath her paws was a bright shining white. Oddstripe sat up suddenly, eyes snapping wide open to take it all in. 

“I did it!” she gasped, looking around. 

“You did it!” cheered a cat sitting at the base of the rock. Oddstripe jumped, scrabbling to avoid falling to the ground, and the shining ginger she-cat giggled. 

Sagetooth frowned when she saw his gaze drifting over the stones vacantly. It felt like Tangletooth had always been there. He had been her idol when she was apprenticed, a dashing healer with a knack for interpreting StarClan’s will and a gift with herbs. She hated being reminded that one of these meetings, she might have to meet him on the other side of the River. 

Shaking the thought from her mind with a flick of her ears, she said, “Was there ever any doubt?” 

“Tangletooth said you had a sprained paw,” Blazingbrush said. 

“Mm?” asked Tangletooth, looking up at the sound of his name. 

“We were talking about Sagetooth’s sprain,” Stormwhisper said gently. 

Tangletooth licked his whiskers and nodded. “Ah, yes, how is your… paw, Sagetooth?” 

“Much better,” she said. “And I have more good news. RisingClan recently welcomed a new healer into the fold.” 

“A new healer?” Stormwhisper’s ears perked. “Why aren’t they here?” 

Sagetooth folded her tail over her paws and sighed. “She gave birth last week, I figured she might want a break before she made the trek up here.” The other healers shifted in surprise. 

“Birth?” Blazingbrush blinked. “As a healer? I thought that was forbidden.” 

“Well, she was pregnant when she arrived,” Sagetooth waved a paw. “I don’t see a point in punishing her for breaking a rule she never agreed to.” 

“How did she come to find you?” Stormwhisper asked. 

Sagetooth huffed a bit. This would be the hard part to explain. “Apparently,” she began slowly, “she was taught by a Clan healer.” The others stared. 

“A Clan healer?” Blazingbrush gasped softly. “Who?” 

“Redleaf,” Stormwhisper said grimly, staring at the ground. Sagetooth eyed him suspiciously, trying to gauge what kind of feeling was behind his sudden dark mood. He had been pretty close with her former apprentice, to the point where she had been close to giving him a talking to about professionalism and boundaries. Lucky for her, the situation had sorted itself out. Now, he watched his paws with a furrowed brow and a tight frown. 

“Redleaf?” Tangletooth echoed. “I thought she cursed us all and left to find greener pastures.” He scoffed and lashed his tail once or twice. 

“Yes, exactly,” Blazingbrush said, “We’re saying she must have run into this outsider and taught her how to heal.” Tangletooth nodded with a noise of understanding and Blazingbrush looked back to Sagetooth. 

“Her new name is Oddstripe,” she continued, “and she used to offer her healing to loners and rogues but now that she’s got kits she came looking for protection. Goldenstar agreed.” Unintentionally, her tail twitched as she thought about Goldenstar. 

“Well, that’s lovely,” Blazingbrush purred. “I can’t wait to meet her.” 

“Yes, I’m eager as well,” Tangletooth said. Stormwhisper continued to stare at his paws.

Sagetooth’s ear twitched dismissively. “She’s not going to be much to see. Enough about her, what news do you all have to share?”