Unfortunate News

The morning was bitter cold. The snow was now muddy slush that squished uncomfortably beneath Dewstar's heavy paws, and she hated every step of the way to the medicine den. Disgusting. I can't wait for this StarClan-forsaken season to end. A low growl rumbled in her throat. "Swiftnose! You wanted to talk?" She yelled into the den and then walked in without waiting for an answer. He looked up just as she shook the dirty slush from her hind paws.

"Ah, yes. Just a moment; let me get Nightpaw." He padded further back into the den, looking for his not-so-little helper.

Nightpaw continued to sort through the herbs, sorting them each one-by-one. He had grown to know most of them, by name and by use, but not all of them. He finished separating one and put it in its proper place, continuing with the next assortment. He looked up to Swiftnose, who had been taking care of him the whole time during his injury. He heard the last of his words of getting him. Was he ready to get back into training, even though he still was limping? Even though he wasn't as excited as he thought he should be, he got himself up and limped near the entrance of the den, noticed Dewstar there. "Whats going on?" he mewed, curiosity in his amber-ice blue eyes.

Dewstar didn't answer the question. She didn't know, Swiftnose just asked her to come. "Well, then?" she looked pointedly at the medicine cat, who shuffled a little bit.

"Dewstar, you're both Nightpaw's mentor and ThunderClan's leader. I thought it'd be best if I told you this, too." Her tail tip flicked impatiently and he looked at the apprentice. "Nightpaw, your wounds were too serious. I have doubts that you'll ever be able to walk normally again, and if you do, you won't be able to carry on without your tail. Cats just can't live normally without them." He hesitated a moment. Swiftnose never wanted to say the words he was about to say again. "You can't be a warrior, Nightpaw."

"W-ait what?" Nightpaw looked between both Dewstar and Swiftnose. "I don't know what to say." he choked up on his words and just looked down. He no longer felt like arguing about it, he really had nothing to say. He didn't even seemed that fazed about it, he already knew in the back of his mind, that without tail, even if his legs healed, he couldn't work without it. "Thats fine, but what else will I do?" he whispered.

The leader's eyes narrowed in anger and her claws slid in and out, clearly frustrated. She'd seen a lot of potential in Nightpaw, and to lose a warrior-in-training so carelessly was stupid of her. If I had just been a better mentor, then he wouldn't have gone near that stupid path! It wasn't her fault, but she felt like it was. Maybe if she had taken him out to refine his battle moves instead of letting him rest that morning, this whole accident wouldn't have happened. Still, she didn't say anything. It was moronic of her to have hope that he'd ever heal from such a traumatic occurrence. She didn't really care what Nightpaw did anymore, as he would be of no real use to the Clan now.

"I'm sorry, Nightpaw, I really am." The medicine cat was upset. Like Dewstar, he felt that he could've prevented the outcome. That it was his fault the tom wouldn't become a warrior with his siblings. "You don't have to go to the elders' den, though." Dewstar stared at Swiftnose, questioning him without words. "You've been really useful, and I think I'd like to keep you around." The medicine cat gave a sort of sad smile, and Dewstar nodded.

"That might not be such a bad idea. From what I've seen, you've done well for Swiftnose. Would you be opposed to being his apprentice?"

Nightpaw looked back between Dewstar and Swiftnose, seeing a slight rage in Dewstars gaze. He looked back to Swiftnose. "I wouldn't mind being a medicine cat, nor being Swiftnose's apprentice." he gave a weak smile back to Swiftnose. "I have quite taken to his presence and the herbs anyway."

"Good. Swiftnose, take him to the Moonstone the next chance you get." She didn't ask his opinion, she just new he would gladly take on Nightpaw.

"Very well, Dewstar. We might have to wait until his hind legs have healed as much as they can." He dipped his head to her as she stood up to leave.