Chapter 27

Time had passed and my life had certainly not gotten better. In good new though both Pineclaw and Skyfang had recovered from greencough. Which that left Songheart as the only one still sick. She was improving very slowly, a bit too slowly. It was obvious everyone was getting worried she wouldn't make it. I felt bad for her, but I wasn't really emotionally attached to her as most of my friends were. Lightstar was still trying to convince me this was a good thing, but the only deaths that are good are those of cats who deserve it, such as her own death. I had managed to refrain from saying that to her face.

Patrols had become a miserable thing for me. Silkshade and Silentstorm were lucky as Silkshade's blindness was a great excuse for them to be together constantly. Boulderfang was less lucky as Flurrytail managed to keep him away from everyone. I was the least lucky. Flurrytail was starting to go on the occasional patrol and would leave her kits in the elders den and every time I got stuck with her. And when I wasn't stuck with her I was still without my friends. Her being deputy was pretty awful.

As for right now, I happened to be on a patrol with the deputy herself. I did my best to ignore her, but it wasn't so easy.

"Too bad you didn't die one of those many times you should've. Then you wouldn't be here being blamed for murdering the cats who died instead of you," Flurrytail said with a fake sigh.

I chose to focus on a squirrel. It was at the base of a tree so I'd have to be careful. I crept up on it slowly. I was so close. I was about to pounce when Flurrytail made a random noise, scaring the squirrel. It ran up the tree.

"You lost the prey. Go after it," Flurrytail told me. It was an old dead tree, it could crack under me and send me falling to my possible death. I hesitated. "Do you want me to tell Wingstar about your little nighttime visits?"

I sighed and began to climb. I kept going up, keeping an eye out for the squirrel. I was a ways up when I felt my front paw go through the bark. I fell through. I landed on my front right paw first and it twisted. I lay on the ground. That's one way to learn a tree is hollow.

"So long!" I heard Flurrytail shout from outside.

I could probably manage to climb out of this. I went to stand up, but my ankle severely protested. I laid back down. Fox-dung. I was stuck. Crying for help was pretty useless as most cats wouldn't bother to help. Why do trees hate me so much? I don't think I've ever had a good experience climbing one. I just have to hope my friends notice so I don't die of starvation in a hollow tree with some ankle problem. I don't think I broke it at least.

I lay there for what feels like forever, but was probably not near as long. I then heard voices.

"This is where her scent seems to stop," Silentstorm stated.

"Her on patrols with Flurrytail was a bad idea from the start. Something was bound to happen," Silkshade said.

"You don't think Flurrytail outright killed her, do you?" Boulderfang asked.

"Guys!" I shouted.

"Deathfire? Are you okay?" Boulderfang asked.

"Oh you know, I'm just chilling," I answered. "Flurrytail made me climb after this squirrel she purposely scared off. I fell into this hollow tree and I hurt my ankle. I could use a little help."

"It's a little to tough at the base," Boulderfang said.

"I'm not sure digging would be any use either. I guess we climb," Silentstorm said.

"I can probably get her out, but someone should be there to grab her so I can get out myself," Boulderfang said.

"That's a good idea," Silentstorm said. "Silkshade, you stay here."

"Got it," Silkshade said. "I'll get help if this goes horribly wrong."

"Hopefully it doesn't go horribly wrong," I said.

"It was more or less a joke. Don't worry," Silkshade said.

I saw Boulderfang enter the tree and carefully climb down to me.

"I'm sorry for the trouble," I apologized.

"It's not your fault," Boulderfang said. "I'm sincerely considering keeping you from climbing trees though."

He grabbed my scruff and began to climb. The climb up was certainly harder than the fall down, although that hit harder. When we reached the hole he passed me to Silentstorm. He got out of the tree and Silentstorm gave me back to him. They both climbed down. I was set down.

"I'm really sorry about all this," I apologized again.

"You didn't mean to, it's okay," Boulderfang told me.

"You just had us all worried," Silkshade said. "Flurrytail is the real problem."

"Definitely," Boulderfang said, sounding about ready to murder his sister. Judging by the expressions he certainly wasn't the only one.

"Let's get back to camp," Silkshade said.

I stood up and put weight on my ankle. I winced and took it off the ground.

"You shouldn't put your weight on that," Boulderfang said. "I could carry you."

"I'm fine," I said.

"At least lean on me and let me help you a bit," he bargained.

"Fine," I sighed.

I leaned my weight against him allowing my three functional paws to support me better. I tried to ignore the butterflies associated with being so close to my crush. We walked back to camp in silence.

When we got back it was impossible not to notice Wingstar's disappointed look when I walked into camp and Flurrytail's annoyed expression. I also noticed Tallblaze's relieved one though and decided to focus on that. I saw his gaze fall on my paw. He walked up to us.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Deputy made me go chasing a squirrel up an old, hollow, dead tree. I fell into it and landed wrong," I told him.

"Come on, Frostbite should probably have a look at that," Tallblaze said.

At this point everyone had either beat greencough or was probably not getting it so not a big deal was made in trying not to spread it. I walked into the medicine den. Frostbite noticed us and turned his attention. I laid down and he checked out my ankle.

"Just a sprain," Frostbite said. "Not a big deal. It'll heal really quickly as long as it's rested. And by that I mean you aren't to move a muscle without permission for a little while."

Just great, sitting around in the medicine den. Songheart slept farther away. Tallblaze was getting a nest situated for me and wasn't looking particularly happy about it, I'm pretty sure I heard him mumbling something about apprentice chores. He helped me get situated.

"Well, looks like you'll be in here for a little bit," Tallblaze said.

"Unfortunately," I added.

"Resting is a part of life sometimes, Shorty. It may not be fun, but your health comes first," he told me.

"I don't like sitting still," I told him.

"Everyone knows you don't," Tallblaze said. "Literally everyone. You don't exactly keep quiet about it."

"At least I won't have to patrol with Flurrytail," I sighed.

"That's the spirit!" Tallblaze said. "And I can help keep you somewhat entertained."

"I guess," I said reluctantly.

"On a more serious note, I'm going to warn you first. Frostbite doesn't think Songheart is going to make it. He doesn't think she's strong enough to handle childbirth. The kits might live, but she probably won't," Tallblaze said. "I figured it would be useful to be prepared when everyone's upset about it. We're telling family soon so I figured I'd give you a heads up."

I looked over to Songheart. She's going to die? I don't want that. A small voice whisper 'yes, you do'. I ignored it. She didn't deserve this. Her kits were about to be left without a mother. I thought back to my kithood. Boulderfang wouldn't be anything like Duskpelt was, I'm sure of it. He'll be a great father, even if Songheart dies.

"Thanks for the warning," I told Tallblaze. At least I'd be expecting the talk now. It wouldn't help me much, but enough.

"No problem," he said.

We chatted for a bit. Later on he said, "It's getting late, I'm going to get some sleep."

I settled down myself. So much was going on. Why couldn't everything settle down for a moment? Just one thing after another, not even sleep was a break with Lightstar. I wasn't sure how much I could take.

"What good news, wouldn't you agree?" Lightstar asked. "Songheart is going to die!"

StarClan, if you're even listening, please help me.