Ever since Spottedleaf was a kit, she wanted to become a medicine cat. Her mother, Speckletail told her stories of them, how they saved lives and were in good contact with StarClan. She constantly went to visit the current medicine cat, Featherwhisker, Spottedkit learned a lot for an early age. But when she was five moons old, tragedy struck for Spottedkit. It was leaf-bare, that dreadful evening, "Mother, I have a bellyache and a sore throat!" complained Spottedkit. " Oh no, I hope it isn't the greencough that is going around! Lets see Featherwhisker!"
The stench of sickness filled the roof of Spottedkit's mouth, she saw Featherwhisker mixing together cures for the many sick cats. "Featherwhisker?" urgently meowed Speckletail, "I think Spottedkit has greencough!" Featherwhisker opened the kits mouth and examined her throat. She gave a sad mew and said, "She has caught greencough, I'm so sorry!" Spottedkit felt panicky, Featherwhisker had told her dreadful stories of greencough epidemics. Some had killed so many cats, even great warriors! She felt sick, and then a gagging sensation. Spottedkit pitifully vomited. She heard Speckletail Yowl in despair. "Featherwhisker, help!" she mewled.
Spottedkit felt the medicine cat lift her by her neck and carry her into some bedding, she fed the kit some of the mixture and poppy, and so she could sleep. Spottedkit drifted off, but woke up in the middle of night, just to fall asleep again. In the morning, she felt weaker than ever. She had coughing fits and was trembling a lot.
That night, she heard Featherwhisker whisper to her mother that she probably won't survive. Spottedkit didn't feel like she would live. She murmured a last plea for StarClan before she slept again. She was in the forest, near two-legged place, sickness gone. Another cat was leading her. She couldn't see who the cat was, or what he or she looked like. Then she scented something, catmint!
Spottedkit
woke up, "Featherwhisker!" she mewed feebly, as she regained her
senses and felt sick again. "What is it, Spottedkit?" she
asked,
"I had a dream, catmint is growing in twoleggedplace!"
she mewed excitedly.
"It must be a sign from StarClan! I'll go look for it!" the medicine cat dashed off, and returned a little while later, with the precious herbs clutched in her teeth. Featherwhisker chewed it and gave it to the sick cats, including Spottedkit. The next morning, she felt better and could stay awake longer. And in less than a week, Spottedkit, along with some other cats was cured!
Spottedkit was no more, she was now Spottedpaw, but the greencough epidemic was still running, there hadn't been enough catmint to cure all the cats. As a medicine cat apprentice, Spottedpaw was learning a lot by doing. Her knowledge as a kit was helping a lot, but this was the biggest greencough epidemic since her grandmother was a kit. And the lack of prey didn't help either. Featherwhisker was constantly giving up her rations to kits and elders.
After a moon, another devastating thing happened, spottedpaw's mentor, Feathertail, became sick herself!