Chapter 9

Leafpaw was back! So were Cloudtail and Brightheart! Squirrelpaw had found out where they were and she and Sorreltail went to get them.

But the hunger was still killing the cats. Hollykit, Ferncloud's daughter, had died the day after.

Leafpaw had brought a kittypet with her from Twolegplace, a she-cat named Cody. Cody was taking care of Ferncloud and Birchkit after Hollykit died.

"Cody?" Darkpaw asked as she entered the nursery.

"Yes?" Cody asked as she came up to Darkpaw, Birchkit hobbling behind her.

"Here," Darkpaw pushed a plump thrush to Cody. "That's for you and Ferncloud. And these," she grabbed a small bundle from behind her, "Are poppy seeds for Ferncloud. Give her two when you think she needs them." Darkpaw ran out of the den. She was about to go back out for more prey when she felt a cramp in her stomach.

"Cinderpelt?" she asked as she nudged the fern curtain away so she could walk in.

"Yes?" she heard Leafpaw's mew.

"Got anything for stomach aches?"

"You're probably hungry. Grab something and we can share it."

"No, it's not hunger! I'm fine!" Darkpaw was about to continue when her stomach cramped again.

"Not hunger!" she heard someone mumble from the entrance of the camp. She turned to see Cinderpelt holding water mint. She grabbed a leaf and dropped the mint on it. "I can see every bone in your body! When was the last time you ate?"

"Almost a moon ago. Unless you include when the elders made me take a bite of their fish, which was a quarter-moon ago."

"Where did you get fish to give them?" Leafpaw asked.

"Probably from Stormfur or Mistyfoot – they are about the only two cats in RiverClan that care about other Clans. Or maybe from Mothwing, she gave me this water mint." Cinderpelt said.

"Water mint helps bellyaches right?" Darkpaw said as she took a step toward the herb.

"Yes, but you should be eating fresh-kill. I would like to save the mint for serious cases. And your bellyaches will be at bay for longer." Cinderpelt pointed out.

"Fine, just let me get something for the elders first." Darkpaw said.

"No, if you haven't eaten for so long then you need to eat – now." Cinderpelt said with force.

"I don't think I can move!" Darkpaw coiled her tail around her waist as she felt another hunger pang.

"Leafpaw, go get her a mouse or a vole. Then get something for us." Cinderpelt mewed as Darkpaw saw her making some kind of poultice. Darkpaw looked at the pile of water mint on the ground, as Cinderpelt grabbed a bunch and suddenly most of the pile was gone.

Leafpaw came back with a thrush and a very plump vole. "I can't eat that!" Darkpaw cried.

"Why?" Leafpaw said.

"That is way too much!" Darkpaw nudged it away.

"And to think, we thought she would want to destroy the Clan." Cinderpelt mewed.

Leafpaw stared at her with her head cocked with curiosity. "Yeah, and now she's willing to starve for her Clan."

"C'mon, we need as many warriors as we can get, and you and Squirrelpaw are almost warriors." Cinderpelt mewed.

Darkpaw took a bite of the vole and mewed, "That's what queens tell their kits." Darkpaw looked at the vole and added, "I think I'll share that with Squirrelpaw." She picked it up and was on her way – until her stomach clenched again. "Or… maybe not."

"You're eating that whole thing – other wise you'll be stuck with me and Leafpaw. For a very long time." Cinderpelt mewed as she took her new poultice out. She had Leafpaw grab some water-soaked moss. Cinderpelt chewed some of the leaves so they mixed with the water in the moss.

"Drink that, it'll help the bellyache." Leafpaw said as she took a bite out of the thrush she shared with Cinderpelt.

"I just wasted all that water mint. At least let me find some juniper or chervil." Darkpaw mewed as she drank the soaked moss.

"Go ahead." Leafpaw mewed.

"Tomorrow," Cinderpelt hissed.

"Why?" Darkpaw mewed.

"Twoleg monsters are around at sun high, you'll have stomach cramps, or you'll have stomach cramps and causing you to stop so will be hit by a monster. I don't think we want to take our chances now do we?" Cinderpelt mewed.

"I don't care; I'm willing to die for my Clan." Darkpaw got up and left, Leafpaw and Cinderpelt stared at her with worried looks.