The Dream
"the sickness began in the two leg place. street cats were dying slowly and throw up blood and mucus, and their eyes bleed. their death is slow and painful, it is more merciful to kill them before they bleed from the eyes." Brambles face was sad. 'Thats.. thats what I had to do to Echo and Tawny." His voice cracked and he lay down, Firestar was astonished, this was Bramble, formerly Brambleclaw, son of Tigerstar… on of the most powerful cats he knew, broken and full of pure grief.
"It won't be long before it spreads to the clans… Firestar, please.. i beg you care for Feather and Blaze? there the only thing left of Echo…" Bramble begged.
"Of course I will Bramble. they will be clan cats here, remember, they have Thunderclan blood." Firestar touched his nose to Bramble head, "You have to stay here over night though, help your kits transition into the clan."
"Alright, Firestar." Bramble sat up, and regained his composition, "The sickness is known as Bloodcough.
"Thank you, we will relay that to Jayfeather… we will have a little celebration to welcome Feather and Blaze, and then we will give them their names. how old are they?"
"Four moons, each." Bramble returned.
Lillybright and Foxpaw lead the two kits into the nursery, it was empty now, except for Daisy who stayed there all the time.
'oh you poor little scraps.. lets find you a nest there…"
"Daisy, are you pregnant again?" Lillybright asked
"Oh well… yes actually I am." She said nervously. Lillybright thought a moment to whom she had been spending time with.
"Spiderlegs?" Foxpaw asked
'Well... yes." She replied. she fidgeted nervously so Lillybright decided to drop it. they fixed up a nest for the two, and Lillybright began to groom Blaze. the small silent kit began to purr softly. Feather squeaked and jumped up
"Oh me next!" Lillybright purred with amusement, and began to groom Feather.
"Do you plan on having kits Lillybright?" Daisy asked "You would make a magnificent queen." Lillybright eeped and felt her fur grow hot with embarrassment, she stole a quick glance at Foxpaw, who was sitting with Blaze but had his ears strained.
'I- erm to say… yes actually someday." she shifted. Bramble entered the den then, Daisy stood and glared at Bramble, and Lilybright watched him apprehensively,
"Are you Squirrelflight's daughter? I had heard she and Ashfur had a litter?" he asked, he sat down and his kits ran over to him, he was very thin, she noticed, but purely muscle.
"Yes… four of us." She sighed , "Raventhorn, Nightstorm Myself, and Skystrike…" her voice cracked and trialed off at the mention of her sister.
"Where is the rest of them?" he asked.
"Well, Raventhorn is the Mottled red and black tom that was laying with Squirrelflight and Ashfur, Nightstorm is the tortoiseshell tom that was standing with me.. and Skystrike tied a few days ago."
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that, how?" Bramble asked.
"A Windclan apprentice named Breezepaw overpowered her in a battle and killed her. they had come to kill Crowfeather because he joined Thunderclan." Lillybright shook her head sadly "I don't blame him though."
"I see. My sister is in Shadowclan, do you know Tawnypelt?"
"I've met her."
"Yeah she's my sister, we watched our father die nine times in front of us." Bramble winced at the memory Lillybright could feel his echoing sorrow.
"Thats harsh."
"He was an evil brute though. still hard to watch." He watched his kits with loving amber eyes.
"let all cats.." Firestar's Call sounded through the clearing. Foxpaw and Lilybright left, soon followed by Bramble and his kits. Foxpaw and Lilybright lay in the sun with Nightstorm and Raventhorn.
"We welcome two kits into Thunderclan today, so I will start our meeting off with their naming ceremony." there were no cheers, there were some uneasy grumbles, but the two kits looked thrilled anyway. Firestar jumped down and beckoned Bramble and the two kits. he smiled down at Feather, "Feather, do you wish to become apart of Thunderclan?"
"Yes!" she squeaked,
"Blaze?"
"Yes." he was more solemn, this had been the first time he spoke, his voice was very quiet, Lilybright had to strain her ears to hear him,
"Then until you are named Apprentices, you will be known as Featherkit and Blazekit!" Firestar cAlled. there was silence for a moment, then Lillybright began calling their names, the rest of the clan joined in.
"Now, I have some news, Bramble has brought news of a new sickness spreading through the twolegplace and the furthermost reaches of the forest, a sickness known as Bloodcough. we know nothing except that every cat who gets it dies. so, we will start measures to get us protected, Hunting patrols will increase so that our cats stay fed, Jayfeather can use any apprentice at any time to collect herbs." there was silence, fear scent began to wash over the gathers cats, "Thunderclan has survived everything, and we will continue." The cats seemed to relax at this, "Now, this evening, Lilybright, myself and Ashfur will be traveling to the Moonpool for a meeting with the other three leaders. Jayfeather will you prepare the correct herbs?"
"Yes, Firestar." Jayfeather ducked into his den,
"Sandstorm will be acting leader till I return."
"Yes Firestar." Sandstorm nodded,
"Until then, I suggest you two sleep, i will be doing the same." Firestar said to Ashfur and Lilybright. Lilybright nodded, and stretched
"I think I will nap in the sun…" she looked to her father, who was sliding into the warriors den. Fox paw padded up to her,
"Would you mind… sharing tongues with me before you sleep?"
"Sure, Foxpaw." she purred. she went and found a warm spot of sun, and lay down with Foxpaw, they groomed each other, until Lilybright fell asleep.
Lillybright ran through the forest, she was chasing a white rabbit, she would be almost upon it when it would escape her outstretched claws. She came closer and closer to it, she didn't quite catch the smothering smell coming off its snow white fur.
She was almost upon it when the animal turned on her, blood spewed from its beady black eyes, and leaked from its gaping jaws, screams of pain emitted from the pure animal. She screeched in fear, it came closer to her, she could feel the pain rolling from the animal, it rammed itself into her prone body, over and over, "Lillybright!"
She awoke, finding Foxpaw over her, he was pushing on her with his paws, trying to wake her.
"Great Starclan!" He sighed in relief, 'What on earth is wrong?" he asked.
"I-I don't know." she shuddered remembering her dream,
"What was it about?" he asked, "You were thrashing and moaning like her had all of Shadowclan on your tail!"
"I-I don't know…" She looked up, the moon was beginning to rise, "I think I should go get my herbs from Jayfeather…" She got up shakily and walked to Jayfeather's den, where Ashfur was leaving, he looked at her astonished,
'L-Lilybright? are you ok? you look like you've seen Brokenstar…"
"N-No, I'm alright. i just need to speak with jayfeather."
"Alright," he licked her forehead "I will see you in a little bit." Lilybright entered Jayfeather's den, he raised his head
"Lillybright, I just finished your herbs. Are you alright? you smell funny."
"Yeah, Im not sick or anything, I just had a funny dream…" She explained the dream. he nodded
"I'll think on this… the blood, thats what Bramble said the victims of Bloodcough had. eat your herbs and I'll tell you what I come up with when you get back." Lilybright nodded and lapped up the bitter leaves. she left and found firestar and Ashfur waiting, she hardened herself and pushed the haunting dream to the back of her mind, and they set off to meet with the other leaders.
Another long wait. so sorry, I just got a burst of inspiration. so what do you think of Bloodcough? I guess its like the cat version of Ebola...
-Ari The Fox