FLAMINGPAW
In a moonlit clearing, a huge vulture flew overhead. The predator let out a frustrated screech, impatiently circling the island that was home to a dark ginger tabby. All around him, the stench of death rose above. Undoubtedly that was what had attracted the vulture, who was gliding above the, waiting for a meal. The dark mackeral tom heard the pained coughing of a dying Clanmate besideh im, and he rushed over to assister her. He watched her fight for her life, sadness glistening in his jade eyes. Jaggedflower was one of RiverClan's finest warriors, but she was still struggling to inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. There was nothing more he could do. Jaggedflower had blackcough, an even more advanced form of the deadly greencough. He had given her feverfew and coltsfoot, but she was dying.
Flamingpaw rushed to his store of herbs and shook out a few poppy seeds from a dried poppy head. He mushed up the seeds into a fine powder. With his paws, he opened the warrior's jaw and placed the powder on her tongue. At least on her journey to StarClan, Jaggedflower would feel no pain. Flamingpaw realized, however, that it was too late as the dark gray warrior's body gave a sligth shudder and the last breath left her. Flamingpaw pushed his nose into her gray fur in silent grief.
A white tom padded in slowly, his fur streaked with mud and his green and blue eyes red-rimmed with exhaustion. Flamingpaw heard the sound of his approaching footsteps and looked up. His mentor had returned from burying Lamefoot, ablack-pelted RiverClan tom, and yet there were still many more graves to be dug. Just this morning, Spottedpaw, the deputy's apprentice, had died. Their leader, Darkstar, was losing another life to blackcough, and the apprentice prayed that soon StarClan might purge them of this sickness.
"Is she dead?" Skyfire meowed, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. Flamingpaw nodded numbly, still in shock from losing Jaggedflower. Skyfire touched noses with his apprentice in a rare gesture of affection, his oddly-colored eyes gleaming in understanding.
"I tried my best, but she died," Flamingpaw whispered hoarsely, hot angry tears threatening to spill over his hurt emerald eyes. He blinked them back, and meowed, "How is Darkstar?" Skyfire visibly flinched and looked away, eyes clouded.
"He lost another life, but StarClan have cleansed him from the sickness. He just needs rest," Skyfire responded calmly, though his eyes betrayed his frustration at not being able to preserve his leader's life. Both medicine cast knew now that only two lives remained. A painful cry reminded Flamingpaw taht he had work to do, and he grimly went to try to save the next victim of this plague, though often his efforts were in vain. As he scented even more coming death, he silently prayed,
StarClan, if you can hear me, don't let our Clan die. Please spare us...and keep Ivypaw safe...
A/N: Short, I know. I'm sorry! R&R please!