Eclipse of Entropy

~ Chapter 5 ~

"I'll make sure of that...how about a race?" He purred, nudging her as he took off, laughing. Hollyheart blinked, before laughing as well, racing after her partner.

Both of them blissfully unaware of the yellow eyes belonging to a familiar calico tabby watching them from the bushes.

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Rosestar sighed as she padded back with the group, trying hard to ignore what Juniperstar had said. For a leader to damn StarClan-

There was something dreadfully wrong with her. And it scared her. I need to make sure Eclipse is within the cavern at all times.

She sighed, ears twitching as Whitestreak immediately ran down, tears in her eyes. "R-ROSE!" She sobbed, running as quickly as she could. Rosestar moved quickly, nudging her mate's cheek.

"Whitestreak!? What's going on!?"

"It- It's Eclipse! I-I woke up to check on him and- and he wasn't in his nest! I-I can't find him!" Rosestar paled, trembling.

"No..." She turned back, letting the apprentices sleep as she called out the warriors and stone speakers. "Eclipse has gone missing. Those at the gathering know that Juniperstar is feral and uncontrollable. I want patrol after patrol trying to find him! Now go!"

Rosestar swallowed, looking as Beechfrost divided the warriors into smaller groups, letting Whitestreak nudge under her chin.

Please StarClan...he's only a child...don't take him away...

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Eclipse groaned, moving his head slightly. It hurt, his throat burned, his side ached. He whimpered, ears dropped as he tried to open his eyes.

The first thing he was greeted with, was the pungent smell of herbs. Like usual, he was greeted with a stone wall, however this one was littered with conclaves of herbs, of stone that was free of the paintings he was used to from the markers.

He could hear the padding of paws beside him, the rustling of herbs. Eclipse coughed, trying to move, whimpering at the smallest movement.

"B-Brookwind...?" He whispered, his voice hoarse. Unlike the usual kind green gaze that he was used to seeing, there was a cold and calculating orange gaze. A tall, light grey silver she-cat stared at him, one of her ears entirely torn, the other tattered. She looked down at him.

"You're awake. I suppose that's good. Moonstar would have my damn head if not."

"Wh-Who...who are...?"

"Honestly-" The she-cat rolled her eyes, not even answering the tom's question- "you apprentices never bloody stay out of trouble. It's frustrating. I should be taking care of what is life-threatening instead of tiny scrapes and bruises."

Eclipse winced, finding himself shrinking away from this strange medicine cat. She had horrid nest-side manner. What sort of medicine cat would want her for an apprentice?