Chapter 10

                                    

                                          
The screeching of a monster roared in Hollypaw's ears. A yowl of pain and a flash of triumphant, cold green eyes flickered in her mind. 
                          
Gasping, the apprentice woke with a start. Her heartbeat was hammering away to the point where it was the only sound she heard. Her paws were trembling along with the rest of her body. 
                          
She began scanning her surroundings and frowned. She was in...the medicine cat den? How on earth had her Clanmates managed to find her? 
                          
"You're awake."
                          
She realized the sound of her own heart thumping against her rib cage had ceased and she was able to hear the familiar voice of Icerose, the medicine cat of PineClan. She remembered the old she-cat was kin of hers even if she never had a close relationship with the white feline. 
                          
Her black-rimmed blue eyes were staring down at Hollypaw curiously. "How do you feel?"
                          
Hollypaw swallowed. Her throat felt dry as if she hadn't had water in moons. "O-okay," she croaked out. She suddenly remembered what happened. Duskflight was dead. The thought crashed over her like a tsunami. Turning her head away, she gazed at the den wall. 
                          
"Icerose? Does Hollypaw need anything?" came the voice of Shadespot, the medicine cat apprentice. 
                          
Hollypaw glanced over at the spotted tom and saw him staring at his mentor anxiously. He cast a look at Hollypaw and blinked at her rather reassuringly. 
                          
"No," Icerose replied. "But I'd like you to take some of this catmint to Squirreltail. He's been coughing up a storm recently." The elderly feline crossed her den and scooped up a cluster of small green leaves in her mouth. She handed them to Shadespot and he dipped his head obediently, backing out of the den with the herbs clamped in his jaws. 
                          
When he had completely left, Icerose turned back to Hollypaw. She padded over to where the apprentice was still curled up in her nest. 
                          
"Look, I know this hurts," Icerose rasped. "Duskflight was my niece. We found her body at the edge of the Thunderpath last night. And you were passed out not very many tail-lengths away." She sighed, flicking the tip of her snowy-white tail. "Hawkflight will probably come see you soon. I know what you need right now is rest. So settle down, little one. Stormstar has scheduled your warrior ceremony for later today."
                          
Hollypaw gaped up at the medicine cat. "M-my warrior c-ceremony?" she stammered. She wanted to feel more excited but her body seemed to be numb. 
                          
Icerose nodded in confirmation. "You heard me," she meowed. "Now sleep. You need your strength."


                          
It felt like Hollypaw had only just closed her eyes when suddenly she was being prodded awake. Icerose was standing over her, her frail body illuminated against the setting sun outside. "Stormstar has just called the Clan together," she told her softly. 
                          
Hollypaw gulped, suddenly feeling anxious. It wasn't because she was about to be a warrior. It was because she didn't want to face all those cats. They knew about Duskflight. They knew she would be sad and she didn't want them to see the miserable expression on her face. 
                          
Another cat popped their head into the medicine den suddenly. Hollypaw recognized the familiar fiery gaze of Hawkflight. The tabby tom looked worn-down. Clearly he too was very devastated by Duskflight's death, especially since she'd been his sister. 
                          
Hollypaw clambered to her feet. She shook out her sleek white and black pelt and trotted over to the entrance. Hawkflight draped his long tail over her shoulders as they walked towards the big pine tree. 
                          
"You okay, Hollypaw?" he asked. 
                          
She glanced up at him and nodded. She wanted to speak but her jaws felt stuck together. That definitely wasn't going to help in her warrior ceremony.