Another chappie...R&R!
Foreststar of WindClan- Thank you :)
Lynxtail- Oh no! I am so sorry! I have just not been in the mood...Thanks for being a loyal guest! (one day get a fanfiction account kay?) Hopefully this chapter is 'up to standard'. 1907 words without the Author Notes! whoop! I also tried to get more details in. Continue the comments! I like knowing how I can improve :)
Chapter 18
Blinkbird rose from Poppysong's side. The dead warrior's body was cold, and the numerous snowflakes that had come to settle on Poppysong's groomed pelt gave the dead cat a frozen look. Pineheart was sprawled by Poppysong's side, face buried in her ex-mentor's ginger fur. Blinkbird laid her lumpy tail on the young cats shoulder. Pineheart did not notice the gesture; she was too deep in mourning. Blinkbird stroked the gold-and-cream she-cat's flank gently. Pineheart looked up at the scruffy elder. Sympathy so unlike the usually harsh elder flickered in her amber eyes.
"It is time for Poppysong to be put to rest," Blinkbird rasped.
PIneheart drew away from Poppysong. There was a flash of anguish in her eyes, but Pineheart did not show it. Blinkbird understood perfectly. Burial meant never seeing that cat again, which could be hard for younger cats. Blinkbird had lost too many of her loved ones, the feeling of grief was just second nature to her.
"Would it be okay if I come with you?" Pineheart whispered. "She helped me along every step of the way, I want to do the same for her."
Blinkbird laid her muzzle on Pineheart's forehead. "Poppysong would love that."
Blinkbird turned to the body. Shrewstripe and Spottedfall were already there. Blinkbird swore she could saw a glimmer of malice in Spottedfall's eyes, but she dismissed it quickly. The former leader was so unpredictable nowadays. Shrewstripe pulled Poppysong onto his shoulders, and Spottedfall and Blinkbird supported him from the side. Pineheart wavered just behind them, eyes wide with grief. A single fat tear rolled down her cheek.
The small procession moved through the camp slowly. Cats trailed after it, trying to get a last glimpse of the ginger warrior. The strong scent of lavender, laced with the smell of death choked Blinkbird. Even the multitudes of the herb rubbed into Poppysong's fur did not cover up the death scent. Blinkbird hated these burial processions. It made her realize that every time she brought the bodies out, she was bringing out a valued member of the Clan. She was taking out a part of LionClan. The old she-cat blinked rapidly, trying to hold the tears back. The LionClanner's clustered at the exit, before dispersing as the elders shuffled out.
The elders moved along silently, immersed in the moment. Shrewstripe would have complained of pains in his back, but this time his mouth was shut. If only it was like this every time, Blinkbird thought. Pineheart was not bouncing this time, instead plodding along, head bowed and ears flatted. Spottedfall was the only one who looked happy. Her ears were tilted forward attentively, her eyes were gleaming with anticipation and there was a spring in her step.
"Spottedfall, show some respect to Poppysong." Blinkbird hissed.
Spottedfall stared at the greyish-white elder. "Why should I?" She drawled. "The whole Clan is going down anyways."
Blinkbird felt unnerved by the comment. Did Spottedfall know more than what Blinkbird thought she knew? Spottedfall was sly, true, but Blinkbird had decided she was mentally unstable a long time ago. But something told her that Spottedfall was still the brilliant cat who led LionClan in its glory days. Blinkbird glared at the she-cat. Was Spottedfall being underestimated? Blinkbird had the strangest feeling that they were.
The elders rounded the corner, and the gravesite came into view. Shrewstripe lowered his body, letting Blinkbird drag Poppysong off of his back. Spottedfall held Poppysong by her legs, keeping her off the ground. Slowly, the side-stepped to the hole in the ground. Dustflame and Waterwhisker had come out just after Poppysong's death. Blinkbird's heart ached as she spotted the shallow scrapes in the ground next to the gaping hole where Poppysong would be placed. They were preparing for more bodies. Shrewstripe grabbed Poppysong's scruff gently, and lowered her into the hole. Pineheart looked down at her mentor for the last time. The ginger she-cat looked so small and vulnerable, no longer the strong and proud warrior she was.
"It is awful how sickness can just take a great cat and diminish that cat to nothing," Spottedfall commented.
Blinkbird nodded. "It is a sad thing indeed." Blinkbird looked up at the former leader. Spottedfall's eyes gleamed with unreadable emotion.
"Just like you."
Blinkbird blinked. "What do you mean?"
Spottedfall scanned her surprised face. "I mean, you are like a sickness."
"I don't understand what you are talking about, Spottedfall," Shrewstripe growled. "If you are implying we are evil…"
"No, of course not," Spottedfall tilted her head to one side. Her mouth curved into a snarl. "LionClan took a great cat, me, and brought me down to the rank of an elder! You are like sickness, and all sickness has to be gone. Mark my words, like greencough, LionClan will be gone by new-leaf!"
Spottedfall whirled around, and started off in a run. Blinkbird dashed after her, trying to catch up, but it was in vain. Her old bones were too stiff. Pineheart raced past her in a flash of gold-cream fur. Shrewstripe stopped at Blinkbird's side.
"Oh, Blinkbird," he murmured. "LionClan is in trouble."
Blinkbird watched as Spottedfall was nothing more than a speck. Her heart yearned to help Pineheart. All the pressure of saving LionClan was on Pineheart's shoulders now. If she did not manage to catch Spottedfall…the future was evident.
Rowankit bounced out of the nursery, ready to play, but his heart dropped when he smelt the fear in the air. He did not understand what had happened. Rowankit scanned the camp. Cats were in clusters, heads together, whispering urgently. Fallingstar was crouched by his den, discussing something with Dustflame and Rockstorm. Rowankit bounded over to Pineheart, who was lying by Redwhisker's den, face buried in her paws. Pineheart was nice, she would tell him what happened.
"Pineheart," he meowed. "What happened? Everyone is really sad looking."
Pineheart looked up at him wearily, amber eyes sparkling with anguish. Rowankit edged away. "I couldn't catch Spottedfall. Now she is going to lead an attack against LionClan!"
Rowankit fluffled up his fur. "Spottedfall is a traitor! I knew she was no good; she never told us any stories! All she ever did was hiss at us."
Pineheart smiled weakly. Her tail draped over Rowankit's shoulders. "Why don't you tell your siblings. We all need to be prepared."
Rowankit obliged. Perhaps, he would be an apprentice by then! He skipped over to the nursery, and was almost run over by Leopardstorm. He squealed as her paw almost rammed into his flank.
"Oh, sorry, Rowankit!" Leopardstorm licked Rowankit's cheek roughly. "Are you OK?"
Rowankit nodded tensely, "I'm OK."
"Come with me, I will get something for the shock from Rockstorm."
Rowankit padded after his mother. His nose wrinkled as the sharp smell of sick cats greeted him upon entering the medicine den. Rockstorm hurried over from Fallingstar's side.
"Yes, Leopardstorm?"
"I just need something to help Rowankit; he got a bit of a fright…"
Rowankit padded away from his mother. His grey eyes were wide with shock as he looked at the sick, moaning cats. He gasped as he recognized Cinderkit. She was barely recognizable; she was pretty much a bag of skin and bones. She looked up at him with watery green eyes.
"Hello Rowankit," she croaked. "Could you get me some water?"
Rowankit's gaze slid to Mistwinter, who was sprawled across the nest next to Cinderkit. Her breathing was fast and shallow.
"Water?" Cinderkit repeated painfully.
Rowankit nodded, quickly dipping a wad of moss into the pool of water at the back of the den. He held the moss over Cinderkit's mouth, and dripped the water in. Cinderkit sighed happily. Rowankit laid the wet moss by Cinderkit's side. He gave her a quick lick on the ear before going back to his mother. Rockstorm was searching around his store of herbs. Dried herbs clung onto his ruffled pelt.
"Thyme, thyme, thyme, where are you," he muttered. "Ah ha!"
Rockstorm emerged from the herbs with a stalk of a nice-smelling herb.
"Eat this," he instructed. "It will make you feel better."
Rowankit chewed the herb noisily. He tried not to stare, but could not take his eyes off the sick cats. He suddenly felt scared. How could greencough just turn strong cats into moaning bundles of fur just like that? His heart ached for Cinderkit. It must be horrible to not be able to move around. Leopardstorm shooed him out of the den.
"Stay here, I am going to talk to Mistwinter. I was going to bring her some prey. Get some for me, will you? Come to think of it, get a mouse for Brightnose too!"
Leopardstorm edged into the medicine cat den. Mistwinter reached out at the sight of her. Leopardstorm touched her nose to Mistwinter's.
"It's okay," she meowed kindly. "Don't strain yourself."
Mistwinter stared at Leopardstorm sadly. "I will have to go soon," she whispered.
Leopardstorm blinked. "No, don't say that."
"I know my own fate, Leopardstorm. My time has come." Mistwinter choked out.
"Mistwinter, you don't have to accept it. There have been miracles." Leopardstorm mewed pleadingly. In her time in the nursery with Mistwinter, she had grown close to the grey-and-white she-cat.
"There will be no such miracle in my case," Mistwinter meowed slowly, every word a pain for her to say.
"Mistwinter…"
"Take care of my kits, Leopardstorm," Mistwinter continued. "But never let them forget their real mother."
"I won't," Leopardstorm promised. "In the eyes of your kits, I will never be as good as you."
"Thank you Leopardstorm." Mistwinter meowed softly. She closed her eyes for a few heartbeats. "Could you please call Ashblaze? I want…to say goodbye."
Rowankit came in at that moment, carrying prey. Leopardstorm took the squirrel from him, and laid it by Mistwinter and Cinderkit. Mistwinter took a bite from it, and heaved a sigh of happiness.
"Rowankit, fetch Ashblaze." Leopardstorm meowed. "Tell him Mistwinter wants to see him."
Leopardstorm licked Mistwinter's forehead. "You are a good cat, Mistwinter. LionClan is honoured to have had you as a warrior."
"StarClan light your path, Leopardstorm. I was proud of being your mentor, even if it was for such a short time."
Leopardstorm turned away from her ailing friend. She held back a sob. She scanned the den for Brightnose. A brown tail waved in the air.
"Leopardstorm, here."
Leopardstorm felt relieved to hear that Brightnose did not sound as bad as Mistwinter. Her eyes were alert, and her breathing was strong. Leopardstorm dropped the mouse at her paws. Brightnose pushed it back.
"I just ate. You have it."
Leopardstorm took a bite. She chewed slowly, savouring the taste of food on her tongue. Brightnose watched her with pride.
"You have grown into a wonderful warrior, Leopardstorm," she meowed happily.
"Thank you, Brightnose. You were a great mentor." Leopardstorm looked out. "How are you?"
"Good. Rockstorm says I can leave the medicine cat den soon. Skyfur is estatic."
Leopardstorm grinned. "Skyfur is a good cat. You are lucky to have him."
Brightnose smiled. "He is lucky to have me."
Leopardstorm paused. She sensed a darker meaning to Brightnose's words. It struck her. Brightnose had almost died in that monster accident in her apprenticeship. Skyfur was lucky to still have her.
"Brightnose, I wish you happiness." Leopardstorm rose from the eated mouse.
"The same to you."
"May StarClan light your path."
"May StarClan light LionClan's path." Brightnose corrected.
/I do not own Warriors/
Hope you enjoyed this chapter :)
-Cloud(y)