Part 80

                                    

                                          
Emma
Emma still protested "I hate the Clan!"
                          
Mottledheart
"It shouldn't be a question of how fondly we think of it. If you hate it so much, we'll be in and out as soon as both of us are patched up. Especially you. You won't be able to last long here with wounds like those," she replied, glancing at Emma's bloodied flank.
                          
Emma
She huffed and stayed where she was even though there was one large scrape along her belly felt awful

                          
Mottledheart
Mottledheart flattened her ears against her head. She glanced in the direction of camp, noting how far away it was from where they were currently at. She turned back to Emma. "If you can't walk, I'll bring you there. But you cannot be out here alone."
                          
Emma
"Nuh uh," she shook her head

                          
Mottledheart
"Come on, we need to get you patched up. Who knows how long you'll stay out here. You can get infected, we can't risk it," she retorted. It was odd having this kind of conversation with a kit she had just met the same day. But something inside of her was urging her to do what she was now. She needed to convince Emma to come with.
                          
Emma
The yellowish kit still just sat there plainly
                          
Mottledheart
                          
Mottledheart took a few steps over to the kit. "Let's go." She stuck out a paw and gave a hopeful yet gentle push.

                          
Emma
"Hey!" She growled after the paw had hit a dislocated shoulder
                          
Mottledheart
She drew her paw back quickly. She couldn't have pushed her that hard.
                          
Emma
The kit gritted her teeth and stared at the she-cat before nuzzling into her fur suddenly, the pain too overwhelming now
                          
Mottledheart
Mottledheart looked around for anything that would be able to get Emma something to help. Getting Sleetstorm would be of no use. He ran off to Willowshard with Sparrowsky and neither Ivypaw nor Cassie were around. Could she bring Emma with her? Just carrying her? It wouldn't be that bad, she'd just have to be careful.
                          
Emma
"It hurts." She wailed Into the warriors fur
                          
Mottledheart
"I know, I'm taking you to the camp where you'll be taken care of," Mottledheart meowed, trying to hide the slight exasperation in her voice.
                          
Emma
"Fine."
                          
Mottledheart
"Can you walk?" she asked, whiskers quivering. The camp was pretty far away and Emma didn't look to be able to walk for long. "If you need to, you can have periodic rests."
                          
Emma
"N-no." She whined, her left shoulder seemed to droop
                          
Mottledheart
"I'll carry you. It will be near impossible for you to climb onto my back and hold on, but you can either lean on me or I just take you by the scruff."
                          
Emma
"Carry!" She mewed quietly and stumbled forwards
                          
Mottledheart
"On my back?" Mottledheart asked. "Alright. It won't be that comfortable."
                          
Emma
"I don't care."
                          
Mottledheart
"Well then." She bent down in front of Emma so she would be able to climb on without much trouble.
                          
Emma
The kit bit her tongue as she weakly dragged herself onto the warrior
                          
Mottledheart
Mottledheart waited patiently as the kit clambered on. "Tell me when you're ready to go."
                          
Emma
"Okay." She whimpered and pulled in her paws
                          
Mottledheart
She nodded and slowly got to her paws. Emma was a little heavy on the back but it was bearable. She flicked her tail and cast one more look around the forest for any more foxes before padding off in the direction of camp.