Communications [c]

Tucked behind the pairing of Riverclan's deputy and medicine cat was the frame of a tiny gray and white-furred tom. He peered ahead curiously with excitement shining in the depths of his vibrant green eye. Across his pelt were fragments of various herbs that he had yet to learn to groom away. The little apprentice's mind was on far greater things than a shining pelt, instead he marveled at the idea that he was trotting after the clans high ranks as if he was one of them. Littlepaw was no stranger to the concept that his new position held great weight. In the nursery, elders told stories of great clan leadership that has helped to shape the forest. One day he hoped to be in an elder's tales.

Littlepaw couldn't wait to tell the other apprentice how during one of his first expeditions out of the camp walls was to meet Shadowclan leadership. Knowing the gravity of the circumstances, he tried to keep his maw fixed in a neutral expression. However, the melting patches of snow kept numbing his pads and causing his face to screw up. Maybe it would have been better to keep his gaze on the ground rather than Poppyshine and Sandyshell's pelts. He couldn't help it.

Finally, the dark-furred pelts of Sablestrike and Heatherberry came into view. I had no idea they really were made of  shadows, He tipped his head noiselessly, I thought it was just a name. Almost colliding with Sandyshell's flank, Littlepaw stopped abruptly. He hadn't realized that her gait had slowed at all as they approached. Quickly, his head dipped in due respect. Wanting to make a good first impression had likely gone to the wayside with his awkward halting but regardless of how his ears heated, the medicine cat apprentice tipped his head back up to greet them, "It's nice to meet you both."

Littlepaw looked at them after glancing at his clanmates, waiting for some signal he'd said the right thing.

Anxiety clawed at her belly as one of ShadowClan's medicine cats neared the new RiverClan border alongside her deputy. It was Sandyshell and Poppyshine who greeted them first, two cats she expected to see. "As well as we can, I suppose." The one that caught her by surprise was the small ears that matched the tiny body of a gray and white tom who peeked out from between the two molly's. For a fraction of a heartbeat, all anxiety seemed to disappear in the presence of what she had thought was a kit. Innocence and eagerness dancing around in rounded green eyes. "It is nice to meet you! Who might you be...?" She hesitated as she glanced between Sandyshell and Poppyshine, unsure if she had just missed the little toms name or not.

Poppyshine took over, her assumption that this meeting across borders was due to the sickness was correct. "Yes. We didn't see Sandyshell at the meeting, so we thought that someone should come and relay what we have discovered and the... Another message from StarClan." Her paws shifted under her as she dared to glance at Sablestrike. Heatherberry had been truthful to the her fellow medicine cats in telling them the cause of this sickness, but to face another clans deputy at the same time made her feel sick. One way or another, RiverClan would also hear of it. She thought it best to be bearer of both good and bad news, instead of giving them the chance to ever say they lied or withheld information. She bowed her head respectfully, a silent beg to RiverClan's deputy to not rip into her for their failure of catching the culprit before things had spiraled out of control. "Before talks even started about leaving the forest, ShadowClan camp was swarmed by rats; dozens of them. It must have been when the famine had started, but they were hungry for flesh, and they tried desperately to use us as their next meal. They destroyed everything in their wake, and still continue to do so: the bites they left behind have gone beyond festering and have spread a sickness. The sickness that followed us here. Had we known... Believe me when I say ShadowClan would never have followed the rest of the forest here. Not a single sign had shown up until it was too late."

Raising her head, she continued on. "The cure, however, is within reach. Each of us at the meeting went over which herbs had the most effect on which symptom, and we've narrowed it down to seven: Burdock Root, Ragweed, Wild Garlic, Lavender, Lamb's Ear, Coneflower, and Tormentil. The others have already agreed on swapping herbs they didn't have for another clans. Which leaves ShadowClan and RiverClan as the last ones. We have six of the seven required, the last one needed being Ragweed... If you have any to spare, we will trade whatever it is that you need in return. I would say we need... eight Ragweed for our most severe. We can give eight of whatever you don't have in return. Please. And I urge that this be done today... Because StarClan has given us another vision."

There had been no words spoken to them when the prophecy has played out in their dreams. With vivid detail, Heatherberry repeated it:

As the medicine cats settle down for sleep, they seem to not travel far as the base of the mountains loom before them. Howling from all directions rush past them, blowing them back several fox-lengths. It is clear this is not a normal wind that howls in their ears; it carries foreboding and the promise of death. Suddenly, it vanishes away, and the medicine cats startle awake, stunned by what rushed past them.


Heatherberry is requesting 8 Ragweed for 8 Coneflower.

ShadowClan's Herbs:
Golden rod x 19
Lavender x 16
Wild Garlic x 15
Tormentil x 19
Cobnuts x 22
Coneflower x 28
Burdock Root x 16
Lambs Ear x 15
Horsetail x 23

Riverclan Herbs:
Wild Garlic x 30
Lavender x 25
Ragweed x 26
Marigold x 16
Willow Leaves x 40
Cobnuts x 20
Burdock Root x 35
Lambs Ear x 32
Oak leaf x 21
Tormentil x 23

Sablestrike stood at his full height beside the tower that was Heatherberry, trying his best to look somewhat imperious to the Riverclan cats, though he was sure that effect was dulled when he was compared to his much taller friend. A golden gaze examined the assembled Riverclan leadership. Sablestrike immediately recognized Poppyshine and her medicine cat, though the younger of the three was completely lost to him. Riverclan should have had two medicine cats, but this one was new. Herbs intermixed with the tom's pelt as well as the absence of the other medicine cat told Sablestrike all he needed to know about this new arrival.

Dipping his head in return the deputy let out a curt "Likewise." He wasn't here to converse with the Riverclanners, that was Heatherberry's job. He was just here in case things took a sudden turn, and stars did he hope they would. Even with that hope Sablestrike knew nothing would happen though. This was destined to be a mundane trip, but at least it wasn't all bad. The tom caught his companion's gaze, giving her a quick nod of encouragement before turning back to Poppyshine and her entourage.

Sablestrike felt his skin crawl as Heatherberry began recollecting the rat swarm that had found its way to their camp. The fight had been a viscous one, claiming the lives of a few members of Shadowclan and leaving many more wounded. Snowfoot had been among those casualties. The topic at paw changed as they finally got down to business. Sablestrike's mind fell blank as Heatherberry spoke of all different kinds of herbs, not understanding the significance of anything the molly was saying until she mentioned a vision. He hadn't been privy to this information yet, though it sent shivers down his spine all the same.

Littlepaw was relieved when Sandyshell introduced him to the Shadowclan cats. It hadn't occurred to him that they might want to know his name. After all, he'd just been a kit only a few sunsets before and now he was standing with the leadership of two different clans. He held his tongue, both out of nervousness and a lack of anything else to say. As the medicine cats and deputies spoke, he watched with wide eyes. He blinked slowly as Heatherberry shared about the rats. This sickness had come from Shadowclan. His stomach churned. This was why his parents had died.

The tom thought he was going to hurl for a moment as a shocking wave of emotion coursed through his pelt. Cold seeped into his pads as his claws dug into the earth, steadying him. It was not something that he thought about often, especially knowing how faded their pelts had become in his memories. Cats like Cindersky, Egretswoop, and his clanmates around him in that instant had become his family in their wake. His tongue slid between his teeth and he bit down softly, unintentionally snapping himself from the stupor. Sandyshell hadn't said anything but looked at their deputy.

There wasn't anger boiling within, he'd determined that much. But standing there was harder with each fleeing second. Littlepaw's legs itched to sprint away in the opposite direction. He fidgeted uneasily. It was his duty to heal the clan now, he had to focus, push this away. Sandyshell would be able to focus on the message Starclan had shared, something he'd hardly caught in his stupor. Instead, he focused on the list of herbs that would heal his clanmates. Burdock root, ragweed, wild garlic, lavender, lamb's ear, coneflower, tormentil. The words repeated in his head, turning over and over, driving away thought that threatened to break his heart right where he stood.