[Author's Note: Ello! I'm back with Chapter Four! I haven't updated since...Friday, right? So I figured I'd add another chapter to bump this back up to the front page and maybe get some more people to read it. Also, I'd like to give a shout-out to xXxGoldenwingxXx for the nice review! Thank you and I'm glad you like my story! Also, nice catch with Startail's name (I didn't even think anyone would read the allegiences, lol) but I'm going to keep it the way it is because in my slightly AU version of Warriors that this story is set in, 'Star' is allowed to be used in a name. Anyway, enjoy Chapter 4! Please please please read and review!]
"Twigleaf." Reedfur ordered. "Make your report." He was sitting on one of the twisted branches that jutted from the fallen tree. It wasn't a comfortable place to sit, but it would be disrespectful to Stonestar to stand on the smooth middle of the log where his leader was positioned.
The brown tom stepped forward, his fur spiked and damp. Two other cats, Appletail and Fernwillow, scrambled after him. He took a breath and began.
"We checked all of the other side of the river, all the way up to the Gorge. No sign of her. Not even a whiff of scent or a tuft of fur. She's either trying incredibly hard to have us not find her, or she learned how to fly." He reported. Stonestar bristled.
"You didn't check hard enough!" He spat. "She's out there somewhere, obviously! Incompetent mouse-brains!" Reedfur bristled and leaped for Stonestar.
"Show respect." He hissed. "They did their best." Stonestar wheeled on him, hackles raised. He shot out a paw, slashing Reedfur's face. Reedfur stumbled, shocked. Even with seathed claws it had still been a stinging blow. The cats gasped in shock. Reedfur shook his head and sauntered back a few tail-lengths before sitting down. Stonestar, fur unruffled, acted as though nothing had happened and looked back at the cats.
"Reedfur belives," Stonestar began, saying the deputy's name bitterly. "That we should cease looking for Rainfeather. Does anyone else agree?" He snarled.
"Just for now," Reedfur said quickly. "A storm is coming and it's too cold to swim." Stonestar silenced him with a glare. Cats murmured and shuffled below the log. Finally they began to mew in approval, then yowl.
"Reedfur's plan is good!"
"I don't want to freeze to death swimming now!"
"No way I'm letting my kits swim in a storm!"
"Rainfeather's gone! Accept it!"
As the yowls died down, Reedfur glanced at Stonestar.
"The clan has spoken." He mewed evenly. Stonestar spat and growled and lashed his tail. He dug his claws into the wet bark.
"Of course you mouse-brains don't want her back." He hissed. "You were the one's that drove her off in the first place!"
Cats screeched in protest, but Stonestar continued to rant. "You worthless mouse-dung accused her of disloyalty! You drove her away! Kicked her out! Fox-dung! Traitors! You mangy, flea-bitten rogues!" Stonestar paused and hunched over, bursting into a fit of hacking. Wheezing, he stumbled off the log and trotted towards the entrance to his den.
"I've said all I need to say." He rasped. He paused, coughed, and continued. He slid into the den and disappeared. Inside, loud coughs could be heard. Willowgale raced forward with a bundle of herbs in her jaws. She disappeared into his den. The clan stayed silent and frozen, watching the den.
Reedfur lashed his tail. "Off with you lot." He meowed to the clan. "Go on. This meeting is over. You all have things to do. The camp walls need to be reinforced to prevent flooding. Rocks need to be built up around the river banks. Dens need to be fixed. Prey needs to be stocked up. Move along!"
Slowly, muttering, the clan went off. Reedfur watched them go before bounding towards Stonestar's den. He squeezed through the entrance and slammed into Willowgale. Bits of plants fluttered up around them.
"Sorry." He meowed, helping her gather up the herbs, sneezing several times at their sickly sweet scent.
"Sorry. They're strong." She meowed. "Catmint and tansy. And coltsfoot."
"What's wrong with him?" Reedfur meowed, sneezing again before he handed the herbs to Willowgale.
She shrugged. "I don't know. I'm hoping for just a cold, or even whitecough. But if he got greencough, in this weather, with the small amount of herbs I have, and with everyone sick..." She trailed off.
Reedfur felt the fur on his back prickle. "He could lose a life, couldn't he?" He whispered. Willowgale nodded.
Reedfur shot a nervous glance at his leader's den, then leaned in and whispered to Willowgale, "How many lives does he have left?"
Willowgale looked at him sadly. "Only two. If greencough were to kill him twice... he'd be gone."
Reedfur nodded sadly. Despite his leader's recent behavior, he knew Stonestar was an honerable cat who was deeply loyal to his clan and his cats. He looked up to him more than the old tom would ever know. He still remembered the day he became deputy...
[Author's Note: Ooooh, cliff-hanger. Sort of. I promise the next chapter will be long and I'll add it soon! Until next time, please review! Seeya! Love, Sagethorn]