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“Oh and comfrey too! It helps stop the swelling in infected wounds can you imagine a little plant with white puffs being able to do so much, I still can’t believe Mudfur let’s me follow him around on his walks to collect herbs. I can’t help but see the world differently now, the way the sunlight bounces of the water highlighting a growing stalk of thistle weed, the way the air shifts to point my nose towards a sharp scent of goldroot, the way my paws carefully-“ Mothwing paused with a shy downward twitch of her golden ears her plumed tail coming up past her loafed position next to Hawkfrost to cover her mouth “I’m talking far too much aren’t?”
Hawkfrost snickered, his sister retreating herself deeper into her tail like a trout dipping deeper into a coral burrow. “Come now don’t hide, I didn’t tell you to stop did I?”
Mothwing poked her head up hesitantly “Well no I suppose not… but still. I’m sure you’d rather be off patrolling or something than listening to me rambling.”
Hawkfrost scoffed “If I wanted to be somewhere else I’d be there, now we are kin are we not. Be proud in that and sit properly.” he ordered lightly puffing his own chest out his sister to mimic after a few hesitant moments she followed. “So is that what you want?”
Mothwing titled her head to the side “Is what?”
”To be a medicine cat of course?” He asked, truly his sister may be smart but she certainly wasn’t like him when it came to conversation. Most implication was lost on her.
Mothwing huffed dragging her paws across the ground picking up stalks of grass between silver claws as she sighed “Mudfur would never, I’m not even clan born…”
”I didn’t ask if Mudfur would, I asked if you wanted it.” Hawkfrost asserted in a gruff tone, as if he’d care what any cat but her thought.
Mothwing gave him one last shy glance before staring head on her golden eyes wide reflecting the skyline ahead. “More than anything.”
Hawkfrost nodded happy with her confidence before sitting himself up with a determined nod “Then leave it with me, dear sister, I’ll get done.”
Mothwing snickered “What are you going to do?” a doubt edging her tone that made Hawkfrost glower. She outa learn not to question him so much.
Hawkfrost lifted his head pridefully stalking around his sister. “I’m quite resourceful you know? Some day soon my name will be Hawkstar triumphant leader of Riverclan, and yours shall be Mothwing faithful medicine cat of Riverclan.”
Mothwing’s ears pulled back skeptically “You need to stop joking so much Hawkfrost, some day soon someone will believe you.”
”Come now sister, have faith. When have I ever not got what I wanted before?”
Hawkfrost stalked among the reeds, the dawn gray sky to his back as he searched for something that would bring his ever doubting sister and clan to its rightful place. He’d already found one, but it was green and frail, when he tore it’s wing of it simply cracked and broke apart. That superstitious medicine cat would probably take it a premonition of doom rather than the guiding light towards Riverclan’s bright future Hawkfrost was rather intending. No he had to be particular with this item, it couldn’t be good enough he had to be meticulous in his deliberations ensuring that of so fickle whim of “fate” bent to his will once more.
Hawkfrost snickered thinking of that old fool looking upon his omen, his gift stricking him with a crafted thought. A thought spawned entirely through Hawkfrost’s careful movements, he imagined his entire clan working like that. A sympathy designed to fit his own tone, a raging river or a calm stream controlled entirely by a single word from him. That’s why he needed this, wanted this. Picking the right deputy would come but choosing a medicine cat, now that needed expert preparation.
He thought of gatherings he’d sat at before, the way that murmurs and even growls of suspicion all drew to a complete silence at the single word of a medicine cat having a vision. Loyalty to something tangible like a leader was so easily swayed, no cat for instance spoke Tigerstar’s name without an aura of unease or indignation but starclan, no THAT the clan’s faith that rested eternal. None would dare question it, especially not when it came through the voice of a medicine cat. A voice like his sister, whom he cared for as deeply as he could of course but was more than willing to bend to his will.
They were kin after all, what wouldn’t he do for his sister? She said she wanted more than anything for this to happen, so why not repay such a large favour with the smallest movement of her tongue. Truly she’d be getting the better end of the deal.
Then light the guiding light he desired his sign to be, a glowing golden moth sprouted forth out of the undergrowth. Hawkfrost smirked and pounced forward on the creature without hesitation, tearing apart its pretty golden wings with a swift sharp bite.
How fortunate, perhaps starclan was on his side after all, perhaps not. Either way they better not dare challenge him
“Can you believe it!” Mothwing purred stepping back from the crowd and trotting over to where Hawkfrost and Blackclaw were sat, her paws practically bouncing off the ground as she moved with her head high. Hawkfrost purred he’d never see his sister so happy. “I’m a medicine cat apprentice.”
Blackfoot bowed his head “Well done Mothwing.” He praised before giving Hawkfrost a nudge “Don’t be late for patrol, we’ve got some trouble to find?” He smirked his spikey black fur rippling in anticipation that Hawkfrost quickly met with a flex of his claws, hunger for battle stirring within him as he watched the tom slink away.
”What’s that all about?” Mothwing eyed him skeptically.
Hawkfrost shook his head still questioning him, but he ignored it for now. She could have today, tomorrow she’d learn about his influence when her position was made permanent at the moonstone. Hawkfrost beamed at her “Nevermind that, Blackclaw and I are…finding some new methods of training is all. Anyway I’m so proud of you! You’ve earned it sister.”
Mothwing still looked a little uneasy but quickly nodded her caution slowly ebbing as she nodded “Leopardstar didn’t even have a problem with it, she said if the other clans even dared utter a word she’d remind the fox hearts Thunderclan has a former kitty-pet for a leader.”
Hawkfrost grinned “As she should, birth has nothing to do with ability. We’ll make every cat learn that someday!”
Mothwing sighed her head seeming somewhat exasperated “Whatever you say…”
Hawkfrost nodded sharply “Exactly, our destiny is going to be grand, just you wait.”
Hawkfrost perched himself near the prey pile, the dim half moon light above only granting him some sight as he flexed his claws in an anticipation awaiting a particular cat.
Finally after what felt like moons Mothwing’s fluffy pelt poked through the cattail guarding the entrance to camp trotting along the ground towards the medicine den until she blinked spotting Hawkfrost’s expectant glance. She waved Mudfur on with her tail before cautiously padding over to him “Why are you still up?”
”Waiting for you of course.” he meowed. "How was it? Did StarClan accept you?"
"I think so," Mothwing answered proudly. "I'm an official medicine-cat apprentice now. All the medicine cats were so nice to me. Especially Leafpaw, the ThunderClan apprentice. We're the only two apprentices."
"And now we really belong," Hawkfrost affirmed
Mothing paused pulling back slightly "Of course we do," she said uneasily. After a few moments of pressing her paws to the ground she continued in a cautious tone. "Hawkfrost, what's going on?"
Hawkfrost had to admit he was rather proud his sister was finally catching on, "I put the moth wing outside Mudfur's den." He explained
Mothwing stiffened. Shock striking her face like lighting and then she croaked, "What?"
"Shh," Hawkfrost shushed her. "You were meant to be a medicine cat. Any cat could see it. But just because we weren't born in the Clan, Mudfur insisted on waiting for some kind of sign. As if you weren’t good enough "
"But…StarClan didn't approve of me?” She borrowed into herself with unease and Hawkfrost rolled his eyes at her display of unease, really it didn’t matter so much why did she even care. He did this fore her she should be- “I should tell Mudfur."
Hawkfrost stiffened barely tamed furry brewing within him as he stared the she-cat averted gaze head and dropped his voice. “Don’t you dare.” He growled before controlling himself with a more practiced tone, he couldn’t let her run her fish-brained tongue. Angry or not, his sister was still useful pawn. "StarClan let it happen." He assured gently "If StarClan is real, they must think it's okay perhaps they even moved me to. Or maybe they don't exist. Either way it worked"
"Maybe..."She whispered
"I should tell Mudfur," she repeated again, less sure. Hawkfrost coiled around that uncertainty
"But you won't… because you said you’d do anything. I heard it clear and true, would you like for Leopardstar and Mudfur to hear it too?”
”You wouldn’t.” Mothwing whispered in horror shrinking back
“I won’t have too, because you know Riverclan is better off with you. So you’re going to go back to your nest tonight and awake tomorrow to the praise of your clan, to your fate as a medicine cat.” Hawkfrost backed off trotting away feigning apathy as he turned his back on her “But of course you’re free to prove me wrong. Just remember you said you’d do anything, and low and behold all you have to do is keep your mouth shut.”