Chapter 12: Down with the Sickness
In was getting near sundown when the three of them arrive back at camp. Fireheart helped Spottedleaf carry some medical supplies back as he kept watch over his good friend. He is still angry of the fact that Graystripe claim that Silverstream, the RiverClan leader's daughter is the love of his life. He said no words since they left Sunningrocks. Spottedleaf felt the tension between him and Graystripe, but was afraid to speak out. She knew that Graystripe had a point, of Fireheart breaking the Code as well. He question is, is her and Fireheart's relationship so obvious to others, or how did her own nephew found out about it.
Fireheart, Graystripe and Spottedleaf all entered the camp the way Graystripe snuck out of the camp. Spottedleaf just entered through the tunnel near the nursery where she heard an angry voice shouting nearby.
"Graystripe, you should be resting, not hanging around here. That cough of yours has already begun to spread. We don't want it getting into the nursery!" Whitestorm approaches with his ears flatting. He did not look please. The is green eyes turns on Fireheart. "And you. Shouldn't you be training your apprentices?"
Fireheart was about to speak when Spottedleaf spoke up first, "I needed him for a moment Whitestorm. Since Yellowfang went off on a journey, I needed all the help I could get. Fireheart was helping me gather more herbs to help calm this cough that is spreading throughout the camp. I found some feverfew, and was about to go and find some more lavender when he spotted Graystripe out of camp. Graystripe insist that he should be out hunting, but I told him he needs to rest." Spottedleaf looks at the senior warrior hoping he would buy her tale. His eyes searches hers and then sees the pile of herbs beside her paws.
Whitestorm sighs, "Alright, go and help out Spottedleaf, but then back to mentoring, and bring back some fresh kill. It's leaf bare, we can't have young warriors hang around the camp doing nothing!"
Fireheart nods, "Yes Whitestorm." Fireheart helps out Spottedleaf as she carries the herbs to her den. Fireheart sets the herbs aside as she goes to the cubbies to restock the herbs. Fireheart came to her, "You didn't have to do that."
"Do what?" Spottedleaf asks as she eyes him.
"Cover for me." Fireheart stated.
"I wanted to…besides, its not a full lie." Spottedleaf smiles.
"Yeah….but it wasn't the truth either. You could've gotten into trouble." Fireheart meows.
"I know. But as he stated that whitecough has already started to go through camp. He sees you are being productive and helping me. " Spottedleaf stated.
Fireheart nods. Then he looks at her with hurt and anger still lingering in his gaze. "Is he right? Am I a hypocrite?"
"Who are you talking about?" Spottedleaf asks.
"Who do you think….Graystripe. I mean….he is in love with a RiverClan she-cat…and not just any…the RiverClan Leader's daughter. I mean….I can see traitor being spelled out from the Clan if anybody finds out. I don't want to lose him, but how can he be so stupid!" Fireheart lets out his worries.
Spottedleaf sighs, "Fireheart…"
"Well….am I?" Fireheart searches Spottedleaf's gaze.
Spottedleaf was about to speak when a horse sound camp from the fern tunnel, "Speckles….Speckles?"
Spottedleaf turns her attention off Fireheart and goes to the entrance to the den, "Patch? Patch! What…"
Dappletail was with him, "He started coming down with it earlier this afternoon. I told him to come here sooner, but you know how stubborn your brother can get."
"It's nothing…sis…honestly. Just give me something to knock it down." Patchpelt stated.
Spottedleaf eyes her brother and then to the old warrior beside him. Then she spoke to her brother, "Let me examine you."
Patchpelt's tail twitched, "I'm fine Speckles really."
"Patchpelt, if you were really fine you won't have a sick look on your face. Let me examine you." Spottedleaf calmed insisted.
Patchpelt was about to refuse when he got a sharp hiss coming from Dappletail. "Let her examine you Damn It!"
Patchpelt hoped up on the rock as Spottedleaf looked him over. It took her a few moments then she stepped back, "Just as I figured."
"What?" Patchpelt asks.
"You have whitecough." Spottedleaf stated.
"That's ridiculous. I do not have…." Patchpelt couldn't finish his sentence as his coughing started.
Spottedleaf rolls her eyes at him and dashes past Fireheart to the medicine stash. She pulls out some herbs as well as some blue liquid. She brings them back to where her brother is on the rock as she gives him a leaf full of medicine. Then she turns to Dappletail, "Make sure, he takes this twice a day. From sunhigh to sundown. Got it!" Dappletail nods to Spottedleaf's words. Then Spottedleaf looks at him.
Dappletail leads Patchpelt out of her den and back to the elder's log, just before she left she turns to her, "You might want to check on Speckletail's kit. He too is coming down with the same thing your brother is."
"I will." Spottedleaf calls out.
Fireheart came to the entrance way to her den. Spottedleaf looks at him. He looks at her as he felt his heart pulled two ways. Spottedleaf smiles to him, "Fireheart, I don't.."
"Forget it….it's probably just me trapped with my own emotion." Fireheart stated.
"Fireheart what I meant to say was, I don't think you are a hypocrite. I don't agree with what Graystripe is doing and it's obvious that nothing with change his mind, but at the same time, he does have a point." Spottedleaf confesses.
"What do you mean?" Fireheart asks eyeing her.
"What I mean is, who are we to judge him for breaking the Warriors Code when we are doing the exact same thing ourselves. I mean….I'm a medicine cat Fireheart….I can never be involved with someone…but yet….I want to be. You can't help who you love Fireheart. I love you, and I always will…." Spottedleaf looks at him. "Same thing with Graystripe and Silverstream."
"What? He is violating everything that is being a warrior!" Fireheart stated.
"Well….hate to break the news to you Fireheart, but so are you, by being in love with me." Spottedleaf stated. "Look….I don't want to fight about this. What's done is done for the day. You have your duties to the Clan, and I got to attend some sick cats. Just….think about what I said Fireheart….you are gifted warrior, and loyal one, and that is all that really matters." Spottedleaf brushes past him as her tail rubs up against his side. As she goes to examine Speckletail's kit.
Spottedleaf went to the nursery as she watches Fireheart leave the camp. She hopes that her words didn't hurt him too bad. She hates the rift between him and his best friend. Maybe Graystripe is right. Maybe we are being hypocrites to him, by saying he shouldn't be in love with Silverstream. I mean…he didn't judge us for being in love…he didn't persecute us saying we are wrong because it violates the Code. The hell with the code. But yet, that code was there for a reason. So it keeps the Clans in balance and away from disaster. Spottedleaf shakes her thoughts out of her mind as she goes into the nursery. There she sees Brindleface and Goldenflower near Speckletail.
"There you are! Where the hell have you been?" Speckletail hissed.
"Sorry…been quite an eventful day. Was out getting more meds for the spread through of whitecough." Spottedleaf stated.
"Yeah…no thanks to your nephew who started this whole thing." Goldenflower growled.
Spottedleaf's ears flatted, and was about to snap when Brindleface beat her to it, "Lay off Goldenflower! It could have come from anyone in camp. In case you haven't notice lately, it is Leaf Bare. You know ho easily sickness spreads through during this time of season."
Goldenflower's eyes crossed at the queen, "Yeah…well if a sick cat knows he is sick, he should be staying in his own nest instead of walking in and out of camp all the time and spreading it to everyone else!"
The a loud hiss came from Speckletail, "Oh will you two just shut to hell up already! My baby is sick!" Speckletail looks at Spottedleaf who is examining the young kit. "Sorry about that sweetie, Goldenflower is just getting really testy, since her next litter is about to come."
"Oh you're the one to talk Speckletail." Goldenflower stated.
Speckletail ignored Goldenflower's comment. "How is he?"
Spottedleaf looks at the queen with fear in her eyes. "I think you better take him to my den."
Brindleface looks up from her nest same as Goldenflower. For once Goldenflower's angry went away, and fear took over, "Is it Greencough, Spottedleaf?"
Spottedleaf didn't want to say in front of the other queens, "Come on Speckletail." The rain swept through the camp, by the time they reach the den. Spottedleaf brings the tiny kit to her examining stone under a thick branch of pine. This is the most secure dry area in her den besides the fallen log and the stone. Speckletail is beside her kit as she looks at Spottedleaf, 'Well….what is it?"
"I didn't want to alarm the other queens, but it looks like your kit is showing close signs of Greencough. " Spottedleaf stated.
"Oh no….no…no…no….is there something you can do…please. Help my son…I can't loose another kit to Greencough! Please help him.." Speckletail pleas.
"I'm going to do all I can Speckletail. I'm hoping it is just whitecough." Spottedleaf soothes the old queen. "Look…why don't you go back to attend your other kits…they need you now more than ever okay. I will look after your kit."
Speckletail looks at him and nuzzles him as he squeaks and coughs. "Mommy will be back soon okay." She turns and looks at Spottedleaf and Spottedleaf nods to her that he is in her best care. Then the old queens and dashes out into the rain and back to her den.
The next morning Spottedleaf has been trying to feed him herbs to make the sickness calm down, but each time the kit refuses. "Come on….it will make you feel better?" the kit sniffs and whines as he scotches away from the herbs. Spottedleaf tried for many hours still was unsuccessful to get him to eat them. Just then she heard someone enter her den she looks up and standing there was Fireheart. She eye him as he drops a mouse by her feet, "Whitestorm told me you were in hear all evening. So he made me give this to you."
"Thanks." She smiles to him.
"is this?" Fireheart asks.
"Speckletail's son. I've been trying all evening to get him to eat these herbs but he won't budge. He needs to eat them before his symptoms turns into Greencough." She eyes him. "Can you persuade him to take his medicine?"
"Me?" Fireheart asks.
"Yes you…if he won't listen to me, maybe he will listen to a newly appointed warrior." Spottedleaf stated.
Fireheart then looks at her and then for the first time that day a smile broke upon his face. He then looks at the tiny kit as Spottedleaf goes over to the mouse and begins to eat it. Fireheart gently approaches the tiny kit as he meows to him. "If you want to be a warrior, you'll have to get used to swallowing these things."
Spottedleaf looks up from her meal as she was in awe of the tom cat before her. She smiles to him as he talks to the tiny kit. In that moment she sees Fireheart not only a warrior, but a father too. She slowly moves towards him and Speckletail's son.
"You see, when you get to be an apprentice and you get chosen to travel to Moonstone, you have to eat special herbs like theses. And the traveling herbs are far worst than these. Even though they taste awful, in the end they are really worth it, because, it keeps up your strength as you travel. Come on give it a try. Think of it as practice. Practice for when you become a warrior." Then he lifts his gaze to Spottedleaf. There was love shining in them as eh stated his next phrase to the tiny kit, "You don't want to go against a doctor's advice. See her over there. She is a really well gifted cat. You'll be lucky to have her as your caretaker. She is really good at taking care of sick cats." Then he looks down at the kit, as he took bits out of the herbs before him. Fireheart purrs his praise to him.
Spottedleaf came near him and smiles to him, "Thank you." She gave him a look that it wasn't for getting the kit to eat it was his words he said to her. Her gaze melted into Fireheart's when all of sudden Frostfur came barging in.
"Spottedleaf, you got to come quick, it's Bluestar." Frostfur painted.
Spottedleaf turns away from her romantic moment with Fireheart as she follows Frostfur to Bluestar's den. Fireheart follows after her as she heard the two she-cats talking. "Yellowfang warned Bluestar to stay away from the sick cats, and now she has gotten worse over the last few days."
Spottedleaf stepped inside Bluestar's den as Frostfur waited outside. Spottedleaf goes over to her leader she never seen her look so weak a frail before. Spottedleaf heard the old cat as she wheezed. Spottedleaf closed her eyes as she knows what Bluestar has. She doesn't even have to be close to examine her. Spottedleaf looks at her and the wise leader looks into the depths of Spottedleaf's eyes, "I have Greencough do i."
Spottedleaf nods, "yes."
Bluestar nods as she coughs out mucus. Spottedleaf turns from Bluestar and goes to Frostfur, "Frostfur, go to my medical supplies and give me rosemary, feverfew and some Eucalyptus. And hurry." Frostfur dashes off and Spottedleaf goes to attend her priory patient. Moments later Frostfur returns with the medical herbs that Spottedleaf requested. Spottedleaf rips off some of the leaves and pushed them to her leader.
Frostfur looks at Spottedleaf, "Is it what we feared?"
"Tell Fireheart who is standing by to keep everyone away from Bluestar. No one comes in and sees her, expect me and Yellowfang when she returns. Got it!" Spottedleaf ordered. "And yes….Bluestar has Greencough…I don't want another repeat what happen last leaf bare. I want her to be my only case of Greencough."
Frostfur nods as she goes and tells the news to Fireheart. Then Frostfur goes back into Bluestar's den, "Is that going to be enough?"
"I don't know….This will only help temperately. I need…." Spottedleaf stated. "Catnip..."
"Catnip? But that's, that's in Twolegs nest!" Frostfur stated.
"I know…but it's the only thing that can keep it from getting worst until Yellowfang returns from Moonstones. She has the secret herb that can cure this disease by nightfall." Spottedleaf stated.
"Well….who is going to go to Twolegs place?" Frostfur stated.
Spottedleaf looks to her and then dashes out of Bluestar's den. When she comes up to Fireheart he was in an argument with Dustpaw. "Tigerclaw asked for Bluestar, not some kittypet pretending to be a warrior!"
"Bluestar can't leave the camp!" Fireheart growled.
Spottedleaf growled at the young apprentice, "Fireheart is right. Bluestar is under my care, until I can cure her sickness. Tigerclaw will just have to wait."
Dustpaw looked at her as he order out his concerns, "Tigerclaw has found evidence of warriors in our territory. They've invaded our hunting grounds!"
Spottedleaf dismisses Dustpaw's urgent news and turns to Fireheart, "Fireheart, do you know where you can get access to a couple of branches of catnip in twolegplace?"
"Catnip?" Fireheart asks.
"Yes….I need it for Bluestar, it might help her from getting worse until Yellowfang to return. I've used it on several cases last leaf-bare. It has soft leaves and an irresistible scent." Spottedleaf stated.
"Yes. It's near my old home." Fireheart stated.
"Good….I need you to go and fetch it for me fast!" Spottedleaf stated.
Dustpaw comes up near Spottedleaf, "But what about Tigerclaw?"
"Tigerclaw will just have to deal with it on his own…right now, Bluestar's life is on the line!" Spottedleaf hisses.
"Deal with it on his own, ShadowClan could be in our territory by now." Dustpaw stated.
Spottedleaf looks at him, "Where's Whitestorm?"
"Out patrolling Sunningrocks with Sandpaw and Mousefur." Dustpaw answers her.
Spottedleaf nodded, "With Bluestar sick and Fireheart fetching catnip, we can't risk anymore warriors out of camp. If ShadowClan is in our territory they will attack here. They did it once before, you bet, they will try it again."
Fireheart looks up at Spottedleaf's worried eyes, "If I'm quick, on getting the catnip, I could meet up with Tigerclaw afterward and bring back his message to Bluestar."
Dustpaw flashes his eyes at Fireheart, "But Tigerclaw wants Bluestar to see the evidence for herself. ShadowClan has left the remains of fresh-kill on our side of the Thunderpath!"
Spottedleaf growls at him, "Bluestar does not need to see the evidence! The word of her deputy should be enough. Go Fireheart….Now!"
Willowpelt comes up and looks at her sister then she eyes her, "I just heard, is it true?"
"Yes….Look, can I ask you to do me a favor. I need to monitor Bluestar every minute, until Fireheart returns. Can you look after Speckletail's kit, and Patch, and tell Dustpaw to do something to protect this camp in case there is an invasion from ShadowClan." Spottedleaf stated.
"Of course." Willowpelt stated.
"Thank you." Spottedleaf dashes back inside Bluestar's den as she waits for Fireheart.
The first rays of sunlight begins to poke through. Spottedleaf awaits for Fireheart to return as she cares for her leader. She stands watch at the entrance to Bluestar's den. She prays to her fellow warrior ancestors to keep her leader in their prayers. It was near sunhigh when she spotted Yellowfang returning from her long journey. Spottedleaf was relieved. She sprinted across the clearing to greet her.
"Yellowfang!" Spottedleaf shouted
"Whoa…I just got back from a long journey, young one." Yellowfang meowed.
"I need you to get to work on that strong medical herb right away." Spottedleaf stated.
"Why what has happened." Yellowfang looked into her worried eyes.
"Some of the cats in the clan have become very ill….Bluestar is one of them. I have sent Fireheart out to go fetch me some catnip. But I need that special herb you got from moonstone to give to Bluestar." Spottedleaf stated.
Yellowfang nods, "Let me guess…Bluestar has caught Greencough."
"That will be correct." Spottedleaf looks at Bluestar's den.
"Very well…..I will get the mixture ready…in the meantime, attend to Bluestar. She will need extra care." Yellowfang advises.
"Will do." Spottedleaf dashes off to Bluestar's den. But just before she reaches it, Fireheart comes through the gorse tunnel with catnip in his jaws. Spottedleaf went to greet him. "Thank you." Spottedleaf stated.
Fireheart panted as he tries to say his welcome. Spottedleaf took the leaves from him and dashes to Bluestar's den. When she arrives at Bluestar's den Bluestar has already begun another coughing fit. Spottedleaf worked as quickly as she could. She took a leaf that was full of water that Frostfur had brought to her, and took some of the catnip leaves. She places them in the water and tore some more up to give to Bluestar. Spottedleaf went near her leader as she inches the leaf to her leader. "Here…drink this. It will help calm that cough."
Bluestar inches her way to the water that Spottedleaf supplied for her. She drank it up quickly as she ate the catnip leaves. She then looks to her medicine cat and a small faint purr poured out of her. Spottedleaf smiles as she carefully licks her leader's ears. "Yellowfang has returned. She is making the special medicine for you."
Bluestar smiles, "Thank you…..everyone of you for this…I just hope that I didn't spread the case of Greencough."
"As far as I know. You are the only case with Greencough. I don't want another repeat what happen last season." Spottedleaf stated. Bluestar eyes her as she senses Spottedleaf's worries.
"You done a good job last season Spottedleaf. And you are doing fine now. Things like this happens." She stated as she wheezed.
"Yeah…but it should happen to you. I know that you are on your eighth life Bluestar." Spottedleaf whispers.
Bluestar didn't look shocked. She knows that medicine cats have a sixth sense about a leader's nine lives. Bluestar nods as she looks into the depths of her beloved medicine cat, "I know…I should have listen to your words more." She then looks at her and puts her weak paw on Spottedleaf's. "I trust in you Spottedleaf. I know that I will be fine, because I have the best care in a medicine cat that ThunderClan has."
Her leader's words of praise made Spottedleaf to reassure herself. She nods as she stays beside her leader until Yellowfang comes in with the special medicine. Yellowfang came in with the special herbal medicine for Bluestar. She looks at the young medicine cat as she stayed with Bluestar, "I will feed her this….you have Speckletail waiting for you outside the den. Apparently she doesn't trust me with her kit." Yellowfang stated as she rolled her eyes.
"I will be back shortly." Spottedleaf purred to Bluestar.
"Oh Bluestar doesn't need two doctors to look after her. I will stay until nightfall. And spend the night with her. In the mean time, you have your other patients to look after. And make sure that the whitecough causes doesn't turn into Greencough." Yellowfang hisses. "I don't have much of this special herbal for every cat in the Clan. I would like to store the rest in case of emergencies, much like this."
Spottedleaf nods to the old female as she leaves Bluestar's den. Frostfur was waiting anxiously outside. She padded up to Spottedleaf, "How is she?"
"She's doing better….but still is critical. Yellowfang will be with her for the reminding time. Besides I have others to attend to." Spottedleaf nods to her den where Speckletail awaits. Frostfur nods as she continues to pace.
Speckletail awaited impatiently as Spottedleaf approaches. "I'm sorry to pull you away, I know Bluestar is in need of more help than my son, but I still don't trust Yellowfang….nothing personal….but she just seems well….to out of the stone age for caring for my son…besides, I don't think she likes me all that much."
Spottedleaf smiles to her, "You know….Yellowfang is not all that bad. If you give her a chance, she is very caring. And Yellowfang has way more experience in medical practices than I do Speckletail."
"I know….but I've seen the work you done with my mate and I over the years, and I just want the best care for my son." Speckletail smiles.
Spottedleaf nods as she leads her into the den. She looks over both Swiftpaw and Speckletail's son. Spottedleaf looked over her son as he still had a huge fever still, but nothing serous. She stands up and looks at her, "He still has the same symptoms of this morning. I'll give him some more herbs and some feverfew. Maybe it will knock down his fever some."
Speckletail nods as she gives her son a good grooming. Spottedleaf goes into the back of her den to where the medical supplies are at. It took her a few minutes to find the herbs as she places them on the leaves. Then she carries her supplies back to where Speckletail and her son is at. When she arrives her heart sunk. There standing in the doorway of her den was Fireheart. In his jaws was his apprentice Cinderpaw.