Ivypaw got to her paws and began to make her way across the camp. She carefully wove around her distressed Clanmates, seeking out an glimpse of elusive white. "Frostpaw?" she called, struggling to make herself heard above the din. But the pretty white apprentice was nowhere to be found. Frustrated, Ivypaw instead sought out Smoketail, owner of a grating growl that quickly led her to him. "Smoketail, do you know where I can find Frostpaw?
"...the imbeciles that lead us..." Smoketail grumbled heatedly as he pressed crushed herbs into a pouring wound, not seeming to notice Ivypaw. "...an absolute waste...cost us perfectly good cats..."
"Smoketail, I need to find Frostpaw," Ivypaw tried again, trying to keep her tail from lashing with impatience.
Smoketail looked up, eyes narrow and unusually dangerous. "Treating that mother of yours, last time I checked. Should be around here someplace."
Already backing away, Ivypaw froze for an anxious heartbeat. Mother.
Then she soundlessly shook her head once and padded away stiffly, praying to all the inhabitants of StarClan that Frostpaw had switched patients since Smoketail had last seen her.
But instead of wandering around in another indefinite search, Ivypaw stumbled straight into a hurrying Frostpaw, with -Thanks for coming through, StarClan- no Brightclaw in sight.
"Hey, uh...your brother and I are going to take your sister to..." Ivypaw swallowed hard and went quiet, hoping she'd said enough.