Chapter 14

            Crazyheart was guided into a small area that RiverClan had turned into a makeshift camp. A thin Reedstream trotted by and gave them a questioning look, but said nothing. There was a gap large enough for a cat to squeeze through in the roots of one tree. Inside, Tigerstep looked up from where she was sorting herbs and stared at the visitors, then returned to her duties. Some cats couldn’t even be bothered to give the ShadowClan and ThunderClan guests any attention at all, and the few who did were mostly eyeing the fresh-kill they had with jealousy. Crazyheart saw an apprentice named Deerpaw looking as if she was about to snatch it out of their jaws.

            She recognized the Fallen Oak with its rotting bark. The tree had toppled over last leaf-bare in a storm with particularly strong gusts of wind and now leaned heavily against another oak. The tree had been coined the Fallen Oak and all four Clans now knew about the tree’s history after Pebblestar reported it at a Gathering. The Fallen Oak and the other tree which supported it created a small shady area which it appeared that RiverClan were using as the warriors den. Then, Crazyheart noted Deerpaw pad into the den as well. I guess the warriors and apprentices are sharing that tiny area. Poor RiverClan.

            Crazyheart noticed crude, uncomfortable-looking nests made of bracken on the ground of the warriors/apprentices den. “You aren’t using moss?”

            Lionpelt shook his head. “We don’t have enough and we’re saving what we have for Silverstream in the nursery because she is expecting kits.”

            As Crazyheart was about to reply, Whitepaw pointed with her paw towards Tigerstep, clearly having scented the herbs, and asked, “Is that the medicine cat?”

            “No, it’s a flying hedgehog,” Crazyheart said, thoroughly annoyed with the white-furred she-cat.

            Whitepaw scampered off. “Hey! Do you have an apprentice?”

            Crazyheart rolled her eyes and returned her attention back to Lionpelt. “We can bring you some moss if you want.”

            “No, that’s fine,” Lionpelt meowed. “We’re just grateful that you and ShadowClan brought us food. We can’t thank you enough.”

            Crazyheart looked for a place to put her thrush. “No problem. Where’s the fresh-kill pile?”

            Lionpelt looked embarrassed. “We don’t exactly have one since we can’t catch anything…”

            “It’s fine.” Crazyheart went and put her thrush in the center of the camp, watching as the other ThunderClan cats followed her example.

            A scrawny gray tom staggered into camp. “What are THEY doing here?”

            Crazyheart dipped her head respectfully even though she knew Pebblestar couldn’t drive them out if he wanted to, considering that they probably couldn’t hurt a mouse in their current state. “We brought food to help RiverClan out. We may be enemies on the battlefield, but no Clan wants to see another starve.”

            “Tell that to Fernstar,” Pebblestar muttered. “I’m sure WindClan would celebrate if we all just died of starvation.”

            He’s right. Fernstar only cares about herself. I hate her so much. I wish Flamestar would just break our stupid alliance with that fox-hearted Clan. We don’t need WindClan for anything.

            Crazyheart shot a glance in the direction of the new fresh-kill pile as Redfeather and Rainpaw dropped their offerings as well. “We put the prey over there if it’s okay…”

            Pebblestar followed her gaze and his eyes bulged as they stopped on the fresh-kill pile. “Wow…just wow. RiverClan is forever indebted to both of your Clans and we can never thank you enough.”

            Redfeather gave a formal nod. “No problem. Just don’t think it means ShadowClan is weak.”

            “How can we ever repay you?” Suddenly, Pebblestar’s eyes darkened. “Wait…of course. You want something from us in return! We don’t have anything to give you. Leave, and take your worthless fresh-kill with you!”

            Rainpaw narrowed his eyes. “Good riddance, you mangy…”

            Redfeather cuffed him on the head. “Ignore my apprentice.”

            “There’s nothing we want from,” Crazyheart told the RiverClan leader. “Both of our Clans just wanted to help.”

            Pebblestar studied them for a moment. “Very well. We will never forget this. We give both of your Clans our best wishes.”

            Crazyheart prepared to leave, knowing that the RiverClan leader didn’t really want them to stay any longer. “May StarClan light your path!”

            “StarClan is dead as far as RiverClan is concerned,” Pebblestar hissed as he slunk off.

            Redfeather and Crazyheart exchanged glances. Pebblestar…how can he lose his faith in StarClan? But…if ThunderClan was slowly starving to death, would I lose my trust in them too? I’m not sure.

            Whitepaw bounced excitedly out of the medicine cat den, eyes as bright as if she had just been given infinite fresh-kill courtesy of StarClan. “Oh my StarClan, oh my great StarClan! Crazyheart, guess what?”

            Crazyheart sighed, knowing she would regret asking. “What?

            “RiverClan doesn’t have a medicine cat apprentice!” she screeched in Crazyheart’s ear.

            Crazyheart rolled her eyes. Some things never change.

A/N: I know it's shorter than usual but I needed to update! My computer wasn't working for about a week or two weeks and then when I got it back I had lost the two chapters I wrote that I was going to update with...

Well, I've re-written both of them now! Once I get two comments I'll upload the next one! :) Sorry for being that pushy author that forces you to comment but I really love hearing your feedback! Thanks for reading hope you enjoyed!