Here's chapter 14. Back with StepStorm's point of view.
"SpiralClam! SpiralClam!" yelled StepStorm in fear. Her mentor was coughing up blood. What was the right thing to do in this situation? HealingWave. She needed to get the healer. "I'll be right back!"
She turned and ran towards the camp. It was like her journey moons ago, about her choice whether to stay in the tribe or not. Only this time she was running for SpiralClam's, not her own sake. "SpiralClam. Hold on."
This journey was not like her previous one however. This time she was stronger. Her body was ore adapted to the running she did everyday. She trained with StepClaw to help her running skills whenever she could. She wasn't even out of breath as she scrambled up the rocks and into the camp. The few cats that were still alive looked at her in confusion but she ignored them and raced to HealingWave's den.
"HealingWave!" she yowled as she ran inside.
"Shhh!" snapped the healer from the back where she was giving TumbleTail some herbs. "This is a healer's den."
"It's an emergency!" she cried. "SpiralClam…she's coughing up blood!"
The healer was next to her in an instant. "HerbRain," she ordered as she began gathering some herbs in a banana leaf. "Take care of TumbleTail and then grab some warriors and meet us-where is she-at the beach."
"Don't worry about me," spoke the old tom. "Just get on this one right away."
"Lead the way," said HealingWave before putting the banana leaf of herbs in her mouth.
StepStorm nodded and lead the way back to SpiralClam. The moonlight seemed to guide her way. It was like a beacon, telling her exactly where the older she-cat was. StepStorm wondered if this had anything to do with the Spirit Wind. Were they behind this?
Finally seeing her mentor in the distance she picked up her pace. When she was close enough she saw the blood splattered around her. SpiralClam must have coughed up more blood since she had been gone.
HealingWave opened her banana leaf and walked over to SpiralClam and began checking her over. "Fever," she whispered grabbing some herbs from the banana leaf.
StepStorm fidgeted as HealingWave continued on. She would say something and then try to feed SpiralClam some herbs.
"HealingWave!" called HerbRain running towards them. GrayShark and SwiftBreeze were right behind her.
"What's going on?" asked GrayShark pushing his way to the front. "Is she alright?"
It was only then that StepStorm remembered that GrayShark was SpiralClam's brother. Her only living family.
"I don't know," spoke HealingWave, getting up. "But we need to bring her back to camp. SwiftBreeze. GrayShark. Help me."
StepStorm watched as the two toms began gently lifting SpiralClam up and onto GrayShark's back.
"Get the sick end ready," ordered HealingWave to her learner. "Make sure there's enough water and herbs close by."
"Of course," spoke HerbRain before running off.
The three older cats began their slow trek back to camp. SpiralClam's breaths were coming out raspy and she wished they would hurry. Her mentor could be dying! She was about to follow when she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Turning to it she saw ShiningFeather, CrashingDark, SpiritCave and StepLight come out of the forest. ForestRose territory to be more exact. Why were they there?
"StepStorm!" StepLight ran over to her friend, her eyes wide in excitement. "Guess where I went!" She didn't wait for an answer. "I was in ForestRose camp! It was odd and weird but…" She trailed off noticing StepStorm's expression. "What happened?"
"SpiralClam was coughing up blood so I just got HealingWave to come help. They're heading back to camp now."
StepLight gasped. "Oh, I'm so sorry StepStorm."
"We should probably get back as well," said CrashingDark. The older cats had overheard them.
"Yes," agreed the old leader. "I am worried for SpiralClam."
SpiritCave didn't say anything. He just began the walk to camp. The leader and deputy were right behind him with the learners behind.
StepStorm was about to break into a run when something caught the corner of her eye. "Hey," she said loudly as she turned her head to see what it was. "There's somecat on the resting island."
CrashingDark, ShiningFeather and SpiritCave stopped to see what StepStorm was talking about.
"You're right," said ShiningFeather in surprise. "I wonder who it is."
"I'll check it out," said CrashingDark, before entering the ocean.
StepStorm stepped forward until her paws barely touched the moving water. "I wonder if it's a cat from OceanTide."
"It is," spoke SpiritCave stepping right next to her.
"Who is it?" asked StepLight.
"StepClaw."
"What's StepClaw doing out there at this time of night?" asked StepLight in surprise.
StepStorm saw ShiningFeather's head drop next to her. What was that about?
SpiritCave lowered his head; his body seemed to emanate sorrow. "It's SunTalon," he said carefully like if he said the wrong words something bad would happen. "He has now joined the Spirit Wind."