Reedstalk

*"Somehow, Reedstalk felt like caring for the injured kits had been something she had always done... or something she was always meant to do."*

## Reedstalk

### Ranks

StarClan Resident (Current)RiverClan Medicine Cat (Formerly)

RiverClan Apprentice (Formerly)

## **Appearance**

Reedstalk is a deceased (StarClan) she-cat with a gray-and-white pelt with turquoise eyes, and was formerly RiverClan's medicine cat. She is played by Flamestar (Daniel Zhou).

## **Names**

RiverClan Apprentice: Reedpaw

RiverClan Warrior: Reedstalk

RiverClan Medicine Cat: Reedstalk

StarClan Resident: Reedstalk

## **Early Life**

When training, Reedpaw's brother ,Wavepaw, injured his leg. The injury proved to be serious, so Wavepaw was confined to his nest. Time went on and there he still remained. It was the medicine cat ,Icepelt's, detached and uncaring way of looking after him that finally erased his hopes of becoming a warrior. Icepelt barely gave him any attention. When the medicine cat did finally encouraged him to start trying to move and stretch again, Reedpaw watched helplessly as Wavepaw was driven further into depression and hopelessness--thinking that Icepelt was only trying to cheer him up. In reality, Wavepaw could have recovered if he had strengthened his leg, but he believed that all hope was lost. When an infection set in, he was too weak to fight it off. Reedpaw would spend hours crouched next to her brother, pressing herself close to him in an effort to enhearten him. Eventually, he succumbed to the illness and died. In the midst of her grief, she vowed she would never see another young kit or apprentice robbed of their chance to be a warrior, not while she could do something.

## **Becoming a Medicine Cat**

Reedpaw became Reedstalk. She lived a somewhat low-profile life in the Clan, helping wherever she was needed. Until finally, she awoke one morning to find two kits (Minnowkit and Puddlekit) seriously injured, and Icepelt nowhere to be found. Her clanmate, Minnowstream, believed that they would have to retire to the elder's den and could never become warriors, but Reedstalk hotly protested. The last time someone had said something like that, it caused her brother to die. Finally, her moons spent in the Medicine den alongside her brother came in handy as she treated the kits' injuries, remembering the previous medicine cat's doing. Her clanmates eventually came to trust and respect her as she worked to ease cats' pain in the mysterious disappearance of Icepelt, who was never seen again. She treated Hawksoar's wounds (caused by Adderfang and Blackpaw) and developed some feelings for the tom, but never shared them with him and soon pushed them away. She wanted to focus on caring for her clanmates. With RiverClan needing a new medicine cat, StarClan chose her. She took on an apprentice a few moons later, Berrypaw, who learned quickly. She and Reedstalk cared for Starlight, a cat seeking refuge from BloodClan, and helped Puddlekit and Minnowkit continue to recover.

## **Fatigue and Demise**

Reedstalk contracted a cough about one moon after taking Starlight in and believed it was because she was overworked. Despite treatment of juniper berries, it persisted and grew steadily worse. Berrypaw advised her to rest for a bit and Reedstalk followed her advice. But only a couple days later, Reedstalk had a violent fit, coughed up blood, and went unconscious for a few minutes and slipped away to StarClan. Flamestar, Berrypaw, Puddlekit, and the rest of the Clan mourned her passing.

## **Message From The Stars**

Although part of her spirit stayed in RiverClan where it sadly watched Berrypaw try in vain to arouse Reedstalk's body, most of her spirit went to StarClan. Silverstream, Clouddust, and other StarClan cats were discussing the prophecy--a message to the Clans which would tell them that they must work together to unblock the Moonpool. The StarClan cats suggested that they send the prophecy to one cat from each clan. They were thinking of choosing Driftpaw of RiverClan to receive it. Reedstalk protested, stating that they shouldn't waste time on an apprentice, but rather she should appear to Flamestar and Berrypaw (currently the sole RiverClan medicine cat). Part of her spirit was already there anyways, she said. After securing the approval of the StarClan cats in the meeting, her spirit fully went to the RiverClan medicine den--where Flamestar and Berrypaw were. She made herself visible as she delivered the important message. She told him that Adderfang had blocked the Moonpool by blood--cutting off the Clans' access to StarClan through the Moonpool, and that AdderClan grew ever larger. Reedstalk continued by saying that RiverClan must unite with the other Clans to fix the Moonpool and destroy the rebel group. That would be the only way the problems could be really solved, she said. To her relief, Flamestar readily accepted the message. But Reedstalk had one more thing she wanted to do. Before she went back to StarClan, she asked Flamestar's permission to perform one last duty as RiverClan's medicine cat. Upon his agreement, she performed a ceremony for Berrypaw, there in the medicine den, who became Berrywing, full medicine cat of RiverClan. Flamestar left the den as soon as the ceremony was over, summoned the Clan, and told them of the message.