Uh-oh! Well, at least it's just been roughly a week since updating, instead of a month.
I was wondering if you guys could guess the two cats on the cover for this story. Whoever gets the correct answer first receives a virtual cookie (::) and a hug (^.^) (Sorry, filter blocks out the arms D:)
Enjoy~
The ginger tom's heart hammered against his chest. He felt so nauseous, like snakes were slithering in his belly, their devilishly forked tongues tickling his guts.
Why wouldn't Ratpelt let him in? Was it really that bad? The thought of her, in a haze of unimaginable, interminable pain nearly brought him to his knees.
Brownpaw was with him, the little- or big- saint. And, if Harescar wasn't in his own world known as Worry About Brokenstar My Beautiful Mate, he would most certainly be tuning in to the apprentice's comforting words.
After eons of pacing, and anxious murmurs from his Clanmates making the deputy's head spin, Ratpelt materialized from his den, long whiskers twitching. "Harescar, I'd like to have a word with you-"
There was no need for the medicine cat to complete the request. Harescar shoved past him, determined to see Brokenstar. But when he had entered the dim den, he found she wasn't in the usual place patients were kept. He whirled around and practically screeched, "Where is she?"
"In the back with my herbs, which is usually soundproof from outside noises. But ferns can't shelter her from inside sounds," Ratpelt replied pointedly with a flick of his tail toward a small barrier of ferns off to the left. From behind it came raspy breathing.
Harescar stiffened, working his claws into the smooth floor. "So? W- what's wrong with…" He couldn't even bring himself to choke out the question. How could he ask What's wrong with her? She should be fine. She recovered over a half-moon ago.
Ratpelt had a deep crease in his forehead. "I'm going to be totally honest with you here, Harescar, no sugarcoating at the least. I don't know."
"You don't know?" Harescar demanded in disbelief. Ratpelt had been the medicine cat since he was born, and not once had he ever heard the older tom sound and appear so doubtful and confused.
"She's the most puzzling patient I've ever had to deal with. Healthy her whole life- excluding the minor incident as an apprentice with the thorn in her paw, and battle wounds- and then two bouts of illness with zero evidence as to the reason for it. My only guess is the changing season. Maybe she isn't adapting well, or…" Ratpelt trailed off, sighing.
Harescar pursed his lips. "She's lived through leaf-fall before. It's still greenleaf right now, though. Rarely any cat ever gets sick during the warm weather. It must be something about her." All his claws were embedded in the earth now. "But what?" He pulled them out, wincing at the thought of chewing out the chunks of grass from his claws later. As if that was his biggest problem.
Ratpelt lowered his voice significantly and murmured, "I checked to see if she is expecting kits. So, if that's what you're thinking, that's a negative. I checked her for any internal issues that wouldn't be noticed from the outside. Cats have been known to get hard lumps in their belly or side, which can be malignant. But I didn't feel any of those either. I just don't get it. There is a half-moon meeting in a few nights, so I will confide in the other medicine cats then. But for now she is in StarClan's paws."
"What have you been giving her?"
"Mainly poppy seeds, since I don't want to give her anything she doesn't need. Some thyme, for shock from the pain. She's dealing with a lot right now, so I suggest you don't disturb her constantly."
Harescar managed to convince the russet tom to allow him to visit Brokenstar right then. He slid past the ferns, barely noticing how the wispy strands tickled his flanks.
The bold, snarky leader of ThunderClan was stretched out in her nest, shivering but tongue lolling like she was both cold and hot. Her long fur hung in limp clumps, and even her whiskers looked a bit crooked. Her eyes were glazed over, as if she was dead. For a split heartbeat, Harescar feared she was, but then she heaved a sigh and rasped, "Well, this is embarrassing."
"Still the most gorgeous cat I've ever seen," he assured her, settling down beside her and ignoring the sickly stink of her breath.
She just groaned.
Harescar stroked her lumpy flank. "Look, I know you hate this question, but how are you feeling?"
Brokenstar snorted. "Still a better question than 'are you okay?' because I'm obviously not okay. But, well, I'm not feeling too great. Honestly, I was hoping there would be something behind this, but just like last time there's no rhyme or reason. You know, there's nothing worse than having no idea why you feel the way you do."
Wistfully he murmured, "I've felt like that before. When I first started feeling attracted to you. I didn't know what it was I was feeling. And later I found out it was-"
"Love," Brokenstar cut in. Then she suddenly closed her eyes, and let out a long exhale. Harescar was comforted by her peaceful silence, until he realized that she wasn't breathing.
He scrambled to his paws and burst back through the ferns, to where Ratpelt was soaking bundles of moss in his pool of water.
"Birdspring is a little dehydrated, and Smokypaw is a bit overheated. I'll bring water to them," the medicine cat mumbled. Harescar pushed his way in between the medicine cat and the pool.
"She's not breathing," he croaked.
Without a word, Ratpelt gathered some herbs that were unknown to Harescar and slipped back through the ferns. Harescar was on his heels.
The russet-orange tom was crouched by the Clan leader, not seeming the least bit worried. But then, with a furrowed brow, he twisted up to look at Harescar. "She's losing a life," he announced calmly. "Luckily, it seems to be painless for her, unlike the… last two times."
Harescar didn't even want to think about the damage the ShadowClan leader, Coldstar, had done to her a few moons ago at the battle in their camp. She still had the scar on her neck, but it was barely noticeable now since her fur had grown back. All he said was, "Six."
Ratpelt nodded grimly. "Yes, six lives left now."
The ginger male released a short-lived hiss. "Six! She should still have nine. She's a young leader." He gulped and squeaked, "What if she loses more lives from this?"
The medicine cat looked at his paws, then at Brokenstar's slender face, pressed against the cold floor. Soundlessly, Ratpelt left and then returned moments later with a fresh bundle of moss. He nudged it under her head so that it was cushioned as well, then mewed without looking up, "That is not for me to answer, dear Harescar, because I am afraid I do not know."
OoOoO
Harescar stumbled out of the den. Beechflight and Brownpaw were right there waiting for him. "How is she?" Beechflight asked immediately.
The ginger tom moaned. "She lost another life."
They were quiet as stone. Harescar just tried to swallow over the lump in his throat and bounded across the clearing to the Highledge.
Usually when he was atop the great ledge, he didn't feel dizzy, at least not anymore. But now, as he gazed down at his Clanmates, all clearly concerned as they clustered beneath him, he couldn't ever picture himself as leader, in charge of ThunderClan without Brokenstar here. He could never stand up here with –star at the end of his name and be expected to act like all was normal.
"Cats of ThunderClan," he wheezed before swiftly clearing his throat. "Our leader is not doing well. Ratpelt cannot determine the cause for her illness, but it appears to be the same one she had almost a moon ago, which she recovered from within a quarter-moon. This way, we can face the bright side and hope she bounces back just as fast as last time." He hesitated, and then added. "She has lost another life, however, and is now down to six." He heard a muffled cry undoubtedly from Willowberry, Brokenstar's mother. Harescar forced himself to look at his mate's parents, and glimpsed the gray she-cat with her face buried in Shorthaze's shoulder fur. Brokenstar's brother, Birchfur, along with his mate Cherryfur and their daughter Sparklekit, all looked thoroughly shaken as well. He knew he had to end this on a more positive note. "But again, we all know how Brokenstar is. She's not just an extraordinary and brave leader, but a strong one too. She wouldn't let herself surrender to this mystery disease. She will fight it, just as fiercely as we face opponents in battle! Who agrees with me?" Harescar raised his tail, and relaxed as, one by one, cats raised their tails and cheered in a somewhat subdued tone. All except for one. Why wasn't Harescar surprised?
Minnowcloud rose to his full height and stared up at the deputy brazenly. "So," the gray tabby stated. "What if she doesn't get better…" Gasps right away began to erupt from the heart of the crowd and wash out to the edges. Every cat glared accusingly at him. "… for a while?" Minnowcloud finished, ignoring them all. "You should act as leader, and if you're going to be a smart leader, you'll appoint someone to help you."
Harescar stifled a laugh. Minnowcloud had a smug look on, like he believed Harescar would actually choose him to help out. Never in a million seasons would he pick that snide tom. "You're right, Minnowcloud," the ginger tom said. Then he transferred his glittering amber eyes to his best friend. "Beechflight, you wouldn't mind helping me out, would you? Brokenstar needs time to rest, and we can easily control the Clan while she's getting better."
Beechflight beamed and stood tall. "Of course, Harescar!" he purred.
OoOoO
The next morning, Harescar squeezed himself onto a border patrol with Beechflight and Firetail. When Firetail was up at the other end of the WindClan border to mark it, Harescar rolled his eyes and meowed, "Remember when you were having trouble deciding between Rainsnow and Hopepuddle?"
Beechflight flattened his ears, and glanced nervously up the stream. Firetail couldn't even be seen over the top of the short hill. "Why do you bring that u- up?" he stuttered.
"Oh, I don't know," Harescar mused. To get my mind off of Brokenstar. But aloud he said, "I guess it's just that it's hard to believe only a few moons ago, we were still bachelors, and now we've settled down, and you're starting a family."
For a while Beechflight didn't say anything. Firetail was starting to make his way down the slope when the light tabby said, "You and Brokenstar would make great parents."
Just who I was trying to get my mind off of. Harescar muttered just as Firetail reunited with them, "How could we ever have kits?"
Until the next chapter, adios!
