Disclaimer: I do not own the Warriors books or their main characters. Copyright is Erin Hunter.
Wow. The story has more followers than reviews ;). Anyway, I am glad you like it. Enjoy the next Chapter and please review.
Leaf-bare leaves the ThunderClan cats hungry and weak. What will happen if sickness strikes?
Leaf-fall had come early this year. The storm that killed Thornclaw was only the beginning of an uncomfortable time for the Clan. Cold winds and rain had griped the land by the lake. Jayfeather and Briarlight were busy treating cats with colds, but so far no severe sickness had spread. The gray tabby tom had asked Leafpool to help collect herbs in preparation of a bitter leaf-bare that promised to come. Leafpool was about to decline his request when her son reminded her that Brightheart was still in the nursery with her kits. The white she-cat had helped out with medicine cat duties many times before and had gained a good knowledge of herbs.
Leafpool returned from the medicine den and was running towards Crowfeather. "Jayfeather wants me to collect some more catmint from the abandoned twoleg nest. Do you want to come with me? We could bring back more that way, too. Jayfeather is worried the Clan might get sick with whitecough or greencough before long." Crowfeather flicked his ears in understanding and the two cats headed out of the camp.
"Don't worry Leafpool, Jayfeather is a skilled medicine cat, he will keep the Clan safe."
"I know. But it has been colder than usual. The Clan is getting weak; it's getting more difficult the feed all the cats and leaf-bare hasn't come yet." Her voice was filled with worry.
They walked on silently until they reached the old, long abandoned stone nest. Leafpool led her mate to a grassy area where large patches of catmint grew. "Bite through the stalks like this", she explained. The two cats set down to work and soon had collected enough to take back to camp.
They dropped the herbs in the medicine clearing and Jayfeather sniffed at them pleased.
"There are still plenty of plants growing in the twoleg nest. It was a good green-leaf for them to grow. Do you want us to fetch more?" Leafpool told him.
"I need coltsfoot and borage, and I am running low on juniper berries. There are more and more cats complaining about some ache or another."
"Okay, we'll take care of this." Crowfeather and Leafpool were rushing toward the camp entrance again when Squirrelflight stopped them.
"Crowfeather, I need you for a hunting patrol. Prey is getting scarce."
"I am helping Leafpool gather herbs."
"I need you for hunting. You are too good a hunter to carry herbs.", the deputy mewed. "Icecloud", she called over to a white she-cat, "I want you to help Leafpool collect herbs. Bring Lilypaw." The white warrior bowed her head, signaling that she had understood. "And now you get your hunting patrol ready. The Clan needs to be fed." The deputy looked at the dark gray tom again, who bowed his head and dashed towards the warriors' den to fetch Berrynose, Graystripe and Millie.
Icecloud and her dark tabby apprentice walked over to Leafpool and mewed a greeting. Soon the three cats left camp.
xxx
Leafpool had spent the last few days collecting herbs with Icecloud and Lilypaw. Crowfeather wondered whether there were any left to pick. The medicine den must be loaded with herbs, but whenever he saw Jayfeather, the tom looked troubled.
"Cinderheart is sick.", Leafpool mewed sadly. "I have given her coltsfoot and borage." She sighed. "Hopefully she recovers before her kits are born."
Crowfeather saw Lionblaze coming out of the nursery, his tail dragged on the ground. Cinderheart was his mate. "How is she?" Leafpool's mew was anxious.
"I think she's a bit better, but she is still coughing." The golden tabby's amber eyes were clouded with worry.
"Have trust in your brother's skills. He will make sure she recovers.", Crowfeather mewed to his son. Lionblaze looked at him grateful. "Let's go out and hunt. Cinderheart needs something to eat to stay strong."
Lionblaze nodded, thanking his father for trying to cheer him up. The two toms rose to their paws and made their way into the forest.
xxx
The first snow had come last night. Now it would be even harder to find enough prey for the Clan. Thankfully, Jayfeather had managed to keep the Clan healthy. The only sick cat now was Purdy. The elder had complained about a sore throat and moved to a nest in the medicine clearing. Briarlight sat beside him to keep him warm. The dark-brown she-cat was happy she could serve her Clan in that way, if she couldn't hunt anymore.
Suddenly the brambles that shielded the medicine cat's den quivered and Jayfeather was running out fast. He scrambled up the rock slide to Bramblestar's den. Crowfeather wondered what had happen. Maybe the tom had an urgent message from StarClan for their leader? Moments later the two toms and Squirrelflight jumped down the slope and headed to the medicine den. What's going on?
Not long after, the brambles quivered again and the Clan leader and deputy emerged. They looked troubled. Bramblestar jumped up on the Highledge and called for a Clan meeting. Cats around Crowfeather were asking themselves what their Clan leader wanted from them so early.
"Jayfeather has just informed me that Purdy and Briarlight have gotten greencough over night. He is treating them now and hopes they will recover soon, but to stop the sickness from spreading every cat who feels unwell has to see Jayfeather or Leafpool right away." Leafpool was about to reply that she wasn't a medicine cat anymore, when Bramblestar added, "There are too many cats in the Clan for Jayfeather to handle by himself." He looked at his mate's sister sternly until she bowed her head.
"We need to keep the Clan strong. With prey hiding from the cold weather, two additional hunting patrols are going out from now on."
"But where are we going to look for prey? With so many patrols out in the forest we'll be stepping on each others paws." Cloudtail mewed at his leader. The white tom was always quick to voice his concerns.
"We could try exploring the territory beside the Moonpool." Birchfall's suggestion was met by a murmur of mews.
"We cannot travel that far for a hunting mission." Spiderleg put in, and a number of cats agreed with the long-limbed tom.
"But if we don't find enough prey closer to camp, what other choice do we have? Starve?", the light brown tabby defended his proposal.
"I think Birchfall is right. We should explore that territory and see if any prey lives there. ShadowClan have not claimed this part. But make sure to stay away from the Moonpool area itself. It belongs to all the Clans.", Bramblestar decided. "Birchfall, I want you to lead the patrol to explore the new area. Crowfeather, Sandstorm. You each lead the normal hunting patrols." With this he jumped down the Highledge and went to his deputy, talking urgently to her.
"Birchfall, I come with you. Have you decided who else is coming with us?", Squirrelflight mewed to the light brown tom.
"Can I come with you?", came Leafpool's mew, "I know the area around the Moonpool well. I can show you which part belongs to all the Clans."
"Okay, that makes sense", Birchfall agreed. "I want Sorreltail and Graystripe to come along as well." The two warriors mewed their consent and followed the younger tom out of camp.
Crowfeather called out to Hazeltail, Blossomfall, Foxleap and his apprentice Cherrypaw, and the group left camp.
xxx
Crowfeather's patrol didn't bring back much: a scrawny squirrel, a sparrow and two voles. He hoped the others had more luck. They dropped their catch on the fresh-kill pile and the dark tom saw Bumblestripe coming back from the medicine den. Had he become sick?
"I went to visit Briarlight. Jayfeather growled at me to get out. She is so weak." He confessed his worries to Crowfeather. The dark-brown she-cat was his sister. She had been weak for a while. Helping the medicine cat treat the sick cats, when she herself was not fully fit must have taken its toll on her.
Crowfeather was about to mew a reply when Birchfall's patrol retuned to camp. They were carrying plenty of fresh-kill. The new territory must be good for hunting. They dropped their catch, and the young tom went to report to the Clan leader.
"The forest is much denser there. We didn't scent mouse, but there are plenty of squirrels and birds. I think we should add it to our regular hunting places."
"Prey is running rich there, despite the cold weather. And we made the journey in good time.", Squirrelflight added. She was also convinced of the area's value for the Clan.
Bramblestar nodded. "I agree. Well done, Birchfall. That was good thinking." The young warrior's eyes shone at his leader's praise.
They started to share the prey, when Jayfeather was running out of his den again, tail down. He trotted to Bramblestar and mewed something to him. Their Clan leader looked solemn.
"Briarlight and Purdy are getting worse. They are in the paws of StarClan now."
"Don't go in there, Graystripe." Jayfeather headed towards to gray tom, "I don't want the sickness spread through camp." His sightless eyes pierced the older tom, who sighed and turned to his mate Millie.
Leafpool brushed her pelt to Crowfeather. "This is terrible. The catmint didn't seem to have worked.", she fretted.
"But Purdy and Briarlight were weak before, perhaps too weak to cope with greencough." He tried to lift her spirit.
xxx
The two sick cats didn't live to see the next morning. They joined the ranks of StarClan that night. The whole Clan mourned them. Fear gripped the cats in the hollow. Purdy and Briarlight had gotten sick so quickly that all help had come too late.
Leaf-bare had a strong grip on the land. Half a moon had past since greencough claimed its two victims. The nights were freezing cold and snow had been falling for days. Prey was scarcer than ever, leaving the cats weaker with every passing day. Crowfeather would be leading a patrol to the Moonpool area today, hoping to bring back some fresh-kill. He fetched the cats for his patrol and headed out of the tunnel.
The journey was difficult because of the snow that had piled high. Burrs of frozen snow hung from his pelt. Once they reached their destination the cats spread out. Crowfeather scented the air. He could smell squirrel, but it was stale. His heart sank. They had to bring back fresh-kill. He sniffed again; and could sense a pigeon. Carefully looking around, he saw the bird sitting on a low branch. The tom stalked it until he was close enough to catch it. With a quick sprint he drew a paw over the bird and killed it with a quick bite. Hiding his prey, he went on to find more.
The hunt went well, considering it was leaf-bare. They had caught two pigeons, a mouse, a thrush, and Millie managed to get a squirrel. They collected their catch and went back to camp.
"It's good to see that you brought back something.", Squirrelflight greeted the patrol as they entered the camp. "We will need it." The fresh-kill pile was almost gone. They dropped their prey. Crowfeather noticed that some of his Clanmates were glancing over to the medicine cat's den frequently. Did someone get sick? Cloudtail approached him.
"I will lead a hunting patrol to the Moonpool tomorrow. You need to warm up. Jayfeather is treating cats with colds. I am afraid the medicine clearing is too small for all the sick cats." The white warrior looked troubled. Did he think the sick cats had to stay in the medicine den?
"Maybe they could all stay in the elders' den. There aren't any elders in there right now." Crowfeather suggested.
"That could work. I tell Bramblestar." The senior warrior mewed and took off. Would the Clan really have to suffer this much? Crowfeather hoped that none of the sick cats would catch the deadly bout of greencough.
Continues soon...
