Chapter Five

Hot sunlight was streaming in through the cracks of the medicine den, which was packed with four cats. Loudkit opened his eyes. Where am I? The lush greenery outside was new to him. He had been in the medicine den since leaf-fall, which was the season he was born in. Where did all of the snow go? Is it already greenleaf? Saliva caught in his throat and he tried to swallow, but the pain in his throat startled him.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Loudkit was still half-asleep and couldn't decide who was talking to him. He let out a cough and layed back down. What happened to me? His throat was tight. He went to itch it only to find it smothered in cobwebs. He realized that he could hardly turn his head due to them. He tried to ask what happened, but only an odd sound came out and he began coughing very badly.

"Oh, no no no! Don't talk! Calm down. Here, I'll get you some honey. Ooh! Maybe some thyme, too." The cat turned towards the herb store. What? He finally remembered the night, however long ago, when the fox raided camp. The memory scared him fully awake. He looked around. He recognized Rabbitear, Moonwake, and Quietpaw.

Quietpaw was the one at the herb store, treating him. Moonwake was asleep in a nest next to him, her leg flexed out weird. It was also covered in cobwebs. Rabbitear was applying some type of goo to Moonwake's leg. "Good idea for the thyme. You might have to chew it up for him." What does thyme do? Why do I care? I'm not gonna be a medicine cat.

Quietpaw returned with a small bit of honey and some smelly leaves. She chewed up the leaves and mixed them into the honey, then fed it to Loudkit. The sweet and cool, minty flavors felt glorious to Loudkit's throat.

"I'll go tell Brightkit that you're up, finally." Quietpaw slid out of the den. Loudkit sniffed the air. The strongest smells were the herbs and the medicine cats. There was a faint trace of Brightkit, Orangepelt, Willowthorn, Dovepebble, and Whiskertail. I guess Dovepebble and Willowthorn keep visiting Moonwake. He severely wanted to request to know how long he had been in the medicine den, but he was even more terrified of coughing again. He kept opening his mouth to do something, but never could.

Rabbitear noticed him trying to get her attention. "Yes, dear?" Finally! He opened mouth again, but only a faint squeak came out, followed by a light cough. Rabbitear look at him, her eyes were full of pity.

"I don't think you can talk yet, well, ..." She looked like she was going to say more, but stopped herself. Well, what? He looked outside the den. Paw steps sounded outside.

"Loudkit!" Brightkit raced over and licked his ear. Maybe he can figure out what I'm trying to ask. He smiled at Brightkit and sat back down.

"How are you feeling?" Loudkit opened his mouth again, still not used to being unable to speak. Maybe if I squeak he'll understand what's wrong.

"Kw," What an odd sound.

"Wha- … What?" He looked at Rabbitear, confused.

"He can't talk, dear." She responded, finishing up with Moonwake. Brightkit stared straight back at him, wide eyed. Oh, no. Is he scared of me? Why is he looking at me like that? Am I a, ... a, ... freak?

Brightkit smiled at him. "Don't worry. We can find a way for you to talk." He started looking around for something. Loudkit eased. Yeah, we will. But it's not forever, is it?

"Maybe, ... try drawing something?" Loudkit looked at the dirt. This is soft enough, but I don't wanna draw in the medicine den.

"Oh, let's draw outside. Can he go outside?" he requested to Rabbitear.

"Where are you going?"

"Just right outside to camp."

"I don't see why not. If you start coughing, Loudkit, come back immediately." Brightkit led him out of camp. The full sun warmed his back as if he had been buried in snow for a moon. It hasn't been a moon, has it?

"Loudkit! How are you?" Fishpetal called over from where she was talking with Mistyfur. Umm.

"He's fine." Brightkit answered, leading him towards the river side of camp. The dirt should be easier to draw in, there.

Fishpetal and Mistyfur looked at each other oddly.

"Did I hear 'Loudkit?'" Thrushnose exited the warriors' den with Mousepelt and Sunstorm.

"He's awake! He's doing fine."

"That's still a lot of cobweb." Mousepelt looked at Loudkit's neck. Yeah, and it's really itchy.

"I'm only taking him out to get a good drink for Rabbitear." Why are you lying?

The kits ended at the river. Loudkit suddenly realized how thirsty he actually was. Brightkit drew a Pebble-Stones square in the mud.

"This mud is perfect!" He wiped it away. Maybe I could tell how long I've been in there by how much better he is at Pebble-Stones.

"Try something." What should I try? I wanna know how long I was in the medicine den. How do I draw that? He began to draw a moon, but he had no idea how to distinguish it from the sun. He dotted little stars around it.

"The sun? The sky? Stars? The moon?" Loudkit waved his tail.

"Stars or moon?" Loudkit placed his paw on the moon.

"Moon. Moon, ... do you want to go to the next Gathering?" Loudkit shook his head.

"No. How lund until sun-down?" Loudkit shook his head again.

"Oh, do you-"

"Loudkit!" Orangepelt raced over to them. He snuggled up to him and began washing him. I was so close ...

"What are you two doing by the river?"

"Loudkit wanted to draw."

"That's a silly thing to do. Before telling me that you're awake?" Loudkit shook his head no.

"He, er, can't ... talk." Brightkit looked sad.

"I know. Rabbitear told me. And he had such a handsome voice. Don't worry. We'll find a way to make it work." I'm not dying, my throat just hurts. I'll talk soon enough.

"What do you think his moon means? We were drawing so he could talk."

"What a clever idea." She licked Brightkit's forehead.

"He probably wants to know how long he's been away in the medicine den." Loudkit hopped up. How did she guess? Has it really been a moon? Brightkit's tail drooped. "I should've guessed that."