The Apprentice's Quest/Chapter 13

==Chapter description==
:Sandstorm is leading the group through the woods, with Alderpaw and Needlepaw behind her, and the other ThunderClan cats bringing up the rear. Molewhisker asks why they had to leave so quickly, and Alderpaw, not able to tell the truth, says he wanted to get going. As they walk along, Needlepaw sidles up to Alderpaw until they're walking next to each other. She tells him that she overheard everything from his and Sandstorm's conversation. He starts panicking because she might now know about the real reason for their quest. However, he sees that she doesn't seem confident about her assertion, and so lies about their conversation. Needlepaw still asserts that she knows everything. In trying to cover up the situation more, he realizes he might have given away too much.
:Cherryfall interrupts Alderpaw's thoughts by pointing to the big yellow Twoleg den he spotted before. Sparkpaw suggests they explore it, but both Molewhisker and Sandstorm advise them to stay away. They continue walking, but are then blocked by a tall fence topped with spikes. Suggestions are offered but none of them seem to be viable. Needlepaw then announces that they'll have to go over it, and proceeds to climb the fence and leap to the other side. Everyone else follows suit, with Sandstorm being the last one. However, instead of jumping off, she falls, crashing to the ground. The group rests for a bit before setting off again. Alderpaw notices the elder's wound has gotten bigger, and asks if she caught it on the spike. She brushes off his concern, saying she's fine.
:At the barn, they continue walking, until the cow they spotted lets out a loud bellow, sending the cats into a panic. They run for a bit before realizing the animal has not moved, and relax. Alderpaw spots some chickens, although he doesn't know what they are, and his sister tries to hunt them, but she gets pecked at by one of them. Sandstorm says they're not worth hunting and reminds them they need to get going. As they walk, Needlepaw pokes around, annoying the ginger tom. He tells her to hurry along, but she retorts that he should keep his fur on. They approach a hedge, cross, and discover that there is a huge monster with spinning jaws moving towards them. To escape being eaten, all six cats run away, but encounter another fence with spikes on top. Before they climb it, Alderpaw tells Sandstorm they need to rest, ignoring her protests that she's fine. She promises she will as soon as they cross the fence.
:Sandstorm climbs the fence but falls again, and her wound is worse than before. Alderpaw declares that they must rest, and asks someone to find him cobwebs. Despite the cobwebs, the wound still is bleeding, and he is worried about it. After Cherryfall comes back, the elderly she-cat is given a mouse to eat, and he is relieved to see that the bleeding has almost stopped. The next day, the wound has stopped bleeding, but is swollen and red. Sandstorm herself does not realize she is on the quest, and thinks she is back in the ThunderClan camp. She refuses a blackbird, and Alderpaw proceeds to announce that the elder is sick, and that they need to stay there for a while until she recovers. Sandstorm protests once more that she is fine, but everyone else agrees with Alderpaw.
:He asks for herbs, and continues taking care of her. Needlepaw brings back moss, which Sandstorm drinks from, while Alderpaw plasters a marigold poultice to her wind. The young apprentice worries about her infection and wishes that Leafpool or Jayfeather were there to help him, but Sandstorm reassures him and says she will get better, because the others need them. Sparkpaw asks what she's talking about, and her brother hastily lies and states that she's feverish to cover up the secret. He tells the elder to rest and get better, but she has already fallen back asleep.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
fr:La quête de l'apprenti/Chapitre 13
Category:The Apprentice's Quest
Category:A Vision of Shadows arc
Category:Chapter subpages