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Rosepaw stared critically at the brown tabby kit at her paws. His little talons were unsheathed, and he was flaying them about.
She was trying to concentrate on little Raykit, and nurse the poor kit back to health – and out of the terrible pain he was in.
But Applefur's warning kept ringing in her ears. Applefur had backed down from killing Rosepaw before – maybe out of guilt or loyalty to her Clan, but something in Applefur's eyes told Rosepaw that the she-cat wasn't bluffing this time.
Luckily, Raykit's mews of pain often rescued her from her fearful thoughts about Applefur. Rosepaw would just have to avoid her. Never leave camp alone – request that a warrior accompany her. Or two. Or six. Blackshadow seemed to be a good friend to her, and now that he seemed to understand Rosepaw's predicament, he would be useful. And Sandpelt had always been friendly to her, and so had Furrytail and Shrewtail.
Rosepaw gently placed a poppy seed into Raykit's mouth, and tapped his forehead with her tail to calm him down a little bit. The sandy-colored kitten's cries of pain stopped after a few moments, and he was much more comfortable. And bearable.
Rosepaw was glad he was able to sleep. The poor kitten had come down with a disease Rosepaw had never seen before. Or at least, she hadn't ever been taught it. Raykit's eyes, which were usually dirty-brown, were now almost red, and bloodshot. In the mouth, Raykit was bleeding profusely, and he was having trouble holding his mother's milk, and certain herbs Rosepaw had given him down. So Rosepaw wasn't sure how well the poppy seed would work – or how long. What's more, Raykit's nose was as wet and watery as the river. Not with the muck that usually came when a cat had a cold. But with blood. Raykit was bleeding. In his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Yet he had no wounds.
Rosepaw would never forget Turtlefeather's terrified eyes, when she ran into Rosepaw's den – scaring Applefur out – and announced that something was wrong with her son. Rosepaw did hope she could help Raykit. Raykit's sister, Morningkit, was abnormally close to her brother, and Rosepaw couldn't – well, didn't want to-imagine Morningkit's expression if Rosepaw told her that her brother had gone to StarClan early.
Rosepaw wanted, more then anything, to be able to heal Raykit. Not only to save him and the grief that Morningkit and Turtlefeather would definitely feel, but also the Clan's faith in Rosepaw. Rosepaw was well aware that the Clan didn't believe that Rosepaw could even cure a cold, because she wasn't fully trained, and had no mentor – in the Clan, at least. But if Rosepaw could save Raykit, these doubts would disappear like the moon did when the sun rose.
But she didn't know how to cure Raykit! She hadn't ever seen it before! Rosepaw had contemplated going to see Blueherb in RiverClan for advice, but then she'd have to leave Raykit. And Rosepaw wasn't sure if Raykit would be alive when she returned.
Suddenly, it clicked.
"I know!" she purred to herself, getting to her paws. "I can send a messenger. A messenger, who will go to RiverClan, get Blueherb, and bring her here!" Duststar, RiverClan's leader, was on good terms with ThunderClan – especially after Thorntail had pointed out to him how WindClan was stealing their prey.
Rosepaw rushed from her den on winged paws, and scanned the camp for a suitable cat.
The first warriors she saw were Applefur and Dawnshimmer. Next.
She just caught a glimpse of Thorntail's gray tail disappearing into the apprentice's den – most likely to get Scornpaw. Thorntail was too busy. Next.
Rosepaw's eyes lit up, when she saw Sandpelt. Good strong she-cat, who she was on good terms with.
Sadly, Rosepaw realized with a pang, Sandpelt was now a queen. She had to take it easy, so her kits would be born safely.
Suddenly, hope arrived. The dark ginger deputy, Robinwing just appeared in the gorse tunnel, with fresh kill in her powerful jaws. Beside her, was her daughter Scarface, chatting away about some gossip – that Robinwing seemed surprisingly into.
"Robinwing!" Rosepaw gasped rushing towards the deputy.
Robinwing passed the fresh kill to Scarface, who took it to the fresh kill pile, and flicked her tail for Rosepaw to go on.
"I need," Rosepaw took a breath. "To send a messenger. To RiverClan."
Robinwing looked at her like Rosepaw had just ordered her to murder Streamstar to become leader, and then have ThunderClan turn away from StarClan and to some other Mythic Aura. It wasn't a look Rosepaw much enjoyed.
"Raykit's sick. And I don't…I don't know what to do! So could you send a cat to RiverClan to get Blueherb?"
Robinwing's eyes suddenly glowed with understanding. "Of course." Robinwing's eyes scanned the camp, and finally rested on, who else, but Applefur. Robinwing flicked her tail for Applefur to approach, and Rosepaw scrunched down, either in fear, or with the hope that Applefur wouldn't notice her.
"What is it, Robinwing?" Applefur asked cheerfully, flicking her tail curiously.
Robinwing brought Applefur up-to-date on Rosepaw's news about Raykit. Applefur looked thoughtful for a moment, and it was a moment before she spoke.
"Does Streamstar know?"
"She's out on patrol," Robinwing explained. "Streamstar would understand. Applefur, you have to hurry. Raykit's life…no, not just Raykit's life." Robinwing's next words made shivers crawl down Rosepaw's spine. Robinwing had realized something Rosepaw had failed to. "The disease might spread to other cats. If Rosepaw can't heal it, or at least figure out what prevents it…StarClan will be accepting many warriors into their ranks."
Applefur nodded, and turned to Rosepaw. "Don't worry, Rosepaw." She purred, giving Rosepaw a playful lick on the ear. "I'll be back faster then you can even SAY 'epidemic.'"
Rosepaw stared at Applefur like she had declared that Silverpelt was just giant balls of gas burning countless fox-length away. It was one thing to be friendly to cover up your treachery, but Applefur was too friendly.
Wait, no.
When Rosepaw stared into Applefur's eyes, they were brimming with more hatred and disgust then Streamstar's had held, when Streamstar had accidentally dunked her paw into some cat-droppings that some apprentice had snuck into her den. Rosepaw liked it better when she was overly friendly.
"Where is Applefur going?" the voice that interrupted the conversation – and Applefur taking her leave, was Streamstar's, and the cats instantly turned to see her bounding towards them, apparently back from leading a patrol.
Robinwing gave her leader the information, clearly feeling the same prickly feeling that time was running out as Rosepaw.
"Well, I don't want Applefur going."
Rosepaw and Applefur both jerked their heads towards their leader, as surprised as if StarClan themselves came down, and told all the medicine cats to stop annoying them on New Moons, so they could catch up on their beauty rest.
"Why not?" Rosepaw and Applefur both burst out, their words melting into one – much too both their distain.
"Who's who?" Streamstar asked jokingly, referring to the fact that Rosepaw and Applefur both looked so much alike, and now were acting so similarly too.
But this was no time for jokes! Why did Streamstar have to be so childish?
"Anyways," Streamstar mewed her words coming out of her mouth like a waterfall, "Applefur is fine, but what if Blueherb knows of the disease and has herbs for it? It would be pointless for us to bring her here, see the disease, and then have her treck all the way back to camp." That made sense, but how could that be avoided? Rosepaw let her leader go on. "A cat with some experience as a medicine cat should go, to be able to give Blueherb a proper description."
"That makes sense and all," Robinwing growled, the fur on her neck bristling. "But Rosepaw has to stay here with Raykit. We can't spare her."
"But we can spare Spottedlight." Streamstar pointed out. "She trained as a medicine cat for a little bit. Blueherb will know her, and trust her more then they would a regular warrior, like Applefur."
"But Spottedlight is a traitor!" Applefur burst out. Rosepaw rolled her eyes. Like Applefur was any LESS of a traitor.
"That was before, this is now." Streamstar growled, the hair on the back of her neck bristling. "Robinwing, just don't have her go on the Sun high patrol, have her replaced. Applefur, you can go tell Spottedlight about her mission."
Robinwing and Applefur both looked at their leader as doubtfully as if Streamstar had declared she had seen a WindClan warrior fly to the moon, and steal fresh kill from a group of Clan cats up there. But in the end, both of them carried out their orders. Applefur trotted over to Spottedlight and gave her the news – to Spottedlight's joy – and Robinwing put Bearmoon on the patrol instead.
"Rosepaw," Streamstar murmured, once the pair of she-cats were out of hearing range. "I was thinking about the prophecy – you know the Spottedlight Glory one, right?"
Rosepaw nodded, and stared at her leader in wonder as she went on. "I think it means what you thought. Spottedlight will bring glory to ThunderClan. You got it in the ThunderClan camp – right when the sun was rising on us." Streamstar sighed heavily. "Spottedlight comes from a strong line. Spottedlight's Grandfather- Robinwing's father- was leader before me – Hollowstar. And Robinwing's mother was a highly respected warrior – by all the Clans. She still is. You know Heatherpelt."
Rosepaw nodded as she flashed a glance over towards the Elder's den, where she saw Heatherpelt lounging outside of it. Rosepaw also discouragingly noticed Swiftfoot hiding Morningkit and Onekit in his den with Heatherpelt in Blindeye, while Turtlefeather looked through the camp high and low for her children. So, the elders were hiding kits from their mothers. Elders had too much time on their paws.
Rosepaw ignored this odd behavior of the elders, and listened to Streamstar. "And Spottedlight's mother, Robinwing… she's one of the greatest cats this forest has ever seen. I'm honored to have her by my side. And her Spottedlight's father…Howlingheart," Streamstar chuckled. "He's my brother. And his actions speak louder then his linage." Rosepaw rumbled an agreement. That was true, Howlingheart was legendary – his deeds were told to kits in all the Clans. But what did a cat's family history have to do with the cat here and now?
Streamstar went on. "Maybe we were putting too much pressure on Spottedlight, and that's why she did what she did."
"But that's no excuse to sell out your own Clan to WindClan!" Rosepaw burst out. She instantly regretted that she had acted so disrespectfully to her leader, so she backed up her sentence. "And I mean, you're my mother. I get a lot of pressure put on me, because I'm the only medicine cat in ThunderClan. And not to mention, I'm always caught wondering if I deserve to be a medicine cat after…" from Streamstar's horrified gaze, Rosepaw didn't finish her sentence, but swept on to something else: "You don't see me running over to WindClan and telling them our battle plans!" And if Rosepaw WAS going to go to another Clan, which she wasn't, it certainly wouldn't be WindClan. Not with that…piece of fox-dung, Runningstar, as leader.
"No." Streamstar meowed. "But you and Spottedlight are different cats."
Rosepaw hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. She couldn't argue with that. Streamstar continued: "I think she's suffered enough for what she's done. She's been shunned enough. It's time for her to be a normal ThunderClan warrior, and be surrounded by her Clanmates, who won't claw her eyes out for a couple of mouse-tails. And StarClan approves of her too, don't forget, Rosepaw." Streamstar's eyes glowed, and as Spottedlight brushed past them to go on her quest, the leader's eyes looked at Spottedlight like she was a piece of fresh kill waiting to be eaten. "Robinwing will be retiring soon." She mewed, sounding more cheerful then Cheerypaw, when the elder apprentice was able to get even a single 'Nice going' from her hard-going mentor, Furrytail. And that was too cheerful to Rosepaw's liking. "In the next season or so, I'm sure." Streamstar chuckled to herself, and wrapped her tail around Rosepaw. "Spottedlight will become popular with her Clanmates in that time-frame," Streamstar meowed, her voice sounding as sure as Rosepaw was sure that she was a cat. "Spottedlight will become a popular deputy." Rosepaw stared at her leader like she had just declared that she would make a cat who would betray her Clan in a blink of an eye, deputy.
Wait a second! That's exactly what Streamstar was going to do! Rosepaw knew better then to argue with the silver leader, but…Spottedlight? Was Streamstar completely mouse-brained? Had Rosepaw inherited her stupidity? Rosepaw hoped not! If she had, the whole of ThunderClan would be warriors in StarClan by the end of the moon!
Rosepaw shoved the thought of her mind. That was a very probable account, considering Raykit's disease. "Why?" Rosepaw asked, sounding exactly like a kitten on a string of the question why, to simply drive the parent nuts. But Rosepaw was genuinely curious if Streamstar truly was intellectually-challenged. She could ask that without being disrespectful.
"StarClan approves of her." Streamstar explained. "Spottedlight will bring glory to ThunderClan."
Rosepaw rolled her eyes. Yeah, she might. But how much? Saying Spottedlight would bring glory to the Clan was like saying Rosepaw could fight. Rosepaw could hold her own for a little while if ThunderClan was randomly attacked by an organized group of angry squirrels, but she couldn't exactly charge into battle, and take on the ShadowClan deputy without getting her ears clawed off. Just like Spottedlight could probably take on the ShadowClan deputy, and maybe even win, sending her to StarClan. But that didn't mean Spottedlight could lead ThunderClan out of ashes of despair, and not get too cocky when ThunderClan was prosperous, as leaders have to do.
"Don't you think you're rushing into this?" Rosepaw asked curiously, stepping away from her mother to go check on Raykit.
"No," Streamstar meowed as if she were telling Rosepaw that she couldn't eat that piece of fresh-kill before hunting, stopping the apprentice in her tracks. "StarClan have shown that they approve of her. And besides, it'll be quite a few moons before that day comes. If Spottedlight proves to be disloyal before then, then my decision will change."
Rosepaw nodded. That seemed logical. If Rosepaw had Streamstar's intellect, only half of ThunderClan would be in StarClan by the end of the moon. All right. Population control. ThunderClan wouldn't have to worry about starvation.
Hopefully, Streamstar would come to her senses by the time Robinwing retired.
Rosepaw flashed the deputy a glance. 'Please,' she begged silently. 'Stay strong, Robinwing. Stay deputy, until…' Rosepaw felt guilty for thinking this about her own mother, but it needed to be thought, in her silent plea to Robinwing. 'Until Streamstar dies,'
…
"Rosepaw,"
Rosepaw perked her ears up, and turned towards the voice. Raykit, who lay in the moss-nest a few paw-steps away from her, thankfully, was able to hold the poppy seed down, and was sleeping soundly.
Rosepaw had hoped that maybe the cat coming it was Blueherb, even know it was doubtful that Spottedlight had even entered RiverClan territory yet, let alone tear the medicine cat away from her Clan and get Blueherb over.
And it wasn't.
"Hello, Blackshadow." Rosepaw purred. "Back from patrol?"
The black tom nodded, and stared at Raykit for a moment. "Poor scrap," he muttered. "I heard that he was sick…do you want me to take a run and restock your herbs?"
"I'd like to accept that offer," Rosepaw sighed. "But I have no idea what herbs I need. And I'm pretty well-stocked anyways. But thank you." Rosepaw purred.
Blackshadow nodded, and twitched his whiskers. "Well, to drown out the bad news about Raykit," he meowed calmly, "Furrytail's apprentice is going to be made a warrior soon."
Rosepaw purred. That was good news. "Furrytail must be pleased,"
"Furrytail isn't pleased about anything," Blackshadow reminded her, and Rosepaw purred. True, true. Very true. "Well," Blackshadow went on turning his back on her. "I'll go make myself useful in other ways then. Want me to bring you some fresh-kill later?"
"I'm in the mood for a thrush," Rosepaw told him.
"I'll catch one just for you." Blackshadow purred, and licked her ear. Rosepaw's eyes widened at Blackshadow's display of affection, but his amber eyes were glowing with amusement. The tom was only playing. To Rosepaw's surprise, she felt a little put-out.
"See 'ya, Rosepaw." Blackshadow purred as he started to pad from the den. "I think I might go scare the heck out of Scornpaw and his apprentice."
"Uh…" Rosepaw stared at the tom curiously. "Scornpaw's the apprentice."
"According to Streamstar, maybe." Blackshadow pointed out, flicking his tail lazily. "But according to me, Thorntail's the one learning."
"And you're going to scare them?" Rosepaw asked doubtfully. "I thought you were going to do something useful."
"This is useful." Blackshadow mumbled before padding from the den. "If I don't, Thorntail will get bored and leave Scornpaw in the middle of nowhere." Blackshadow was gone.
Rosepaw looked down at her paws. Blackshadow. Thorntail. What was that feeling that had run through her when Blackshadow had licked her?
Rosepaw shook her head violently. Thorntail! She liked Thorntail. And she shouldn't even like Thorntail the way she did! Let alone his best friend!
Rosepaw sighed heavily, and turned her attention back to the kit.
…
"Rosepaw, Rosepaw!"
Rosepaw blinked her blue eyes as her name was repeated. From the sound of the voice, it wasn't very good news.
Rosepaw pricked her ears, as she saw the golden she-cat, Spottedlight leap into the den, her emerald eyes dark with sorrow. Uh-oh. That wasn't good news.
"What is it, Spottedlight?" Rosepaw asked. She looked around, expecting to see the blue-gray she-cat that was RiverClan's medicine cat pad up behind the spotted she-cat. "Where's Blueherb?"
"In the RiverClan camp." Spottedlight meowed, her eyes flashing about for a reason Rosepaw couldn't understand.
In the camp? Why in the name of StarClan was Blueherb still in her Clan? Rosepaw was tempted to claw Spottedlight's spotted ears off, but decided against it. Don't kill the messenger yourself. You get someone else to do that.
"RiverClan couldn't spare her. They…they have the same problem as us…" Spottedlight murmured, digging her claws into the ground. "They already lost two kits and an elder from it."
Rosepaw took in a breath. That wasn't good. Her sapphire eyes burned into Spottedlight's. "Does Blueherb know anything about it?"
"Nothing," Spottedlight meowed, lowering her head, probably to avoid Rosepaw's fierce gaze. "They've been calling it The Blood. Blueherb says nothing seems to work…"
Rosepaw's eyes strayed towards Raykit, who was currently sleeping soundly. In other words, Raykit was going to die.
Rosepaw tore her gaze away from him, and back towards Spottedlight. One question remained.
"Is it contagious?" Rosepaw rasped, each word hurting her.
Spottedlight didn't speak for a moment. "Very. You…uh…get it from licking the blood up, according to Blueherb."
Rosepaw sighed with relief. Well, nobody had licked Raykit. Rosepaw hadn't – Medicine Cat Training 101 there, and nobody else had…
Rosepaw suddenly realized. Turtlefeather had most likely cleaned her kit off when he first stared bleeding. And she probably had given her kits some of her milk…maybe spreading it to them.
"StarClan," Rosepaw breathed. "Why have you brought this upon us?"