Chapter 21
"Hollowfoot, don't leave me." Barkpelt pleaded uselessly. Nosewhisker shook her head sadly as the sickly old elder let out a rasping cough.
"There's nothing we can do for him now," Tinyfeather sighed.
Moonbeam watched as Hollowfoot took a small breath, laced with sickness, and let it out. He did not breathe again.
"No!" Barkpelt exclaimed as he crouched next to his denmate's still body. Moonbeam's heart ached for Hollowfoot. She turned and sadly left the elder's den with Nosewhisker. "How is Ridgepath?"
Nosewhisker sighed. "Not good. If we don't get more catmint soon, he'll join Hollowfoot and Stonecrack in StarClan."
Moonbeam's pawsteps felt heavy in grief as she remembered the death of Stonecrack, the recent elder, only 3 sunrises before.
It was greencough- the terrible sickness that made healthy cats crowding into the medicine den the next day. The damp weather and recent snow hadn't helped either.
It's new leaf, for StarClan's sake! There shouldn't be snow! Moonbeam thought.
Nosewhisker mewed "I have to go see Ridgepath now." Moonbeam nodded and watched the white and gray she-cat walk away.
Moonbeam walked under the Clanrock and sat down, trying to groom her filthy pelt of rain and mud. She pricked up her ears as she heard Buzzwhisker saying something to Wolfheart.
"I don't understand why she was chosen as deputy."
"I know! And she hasn't even had an apprentice yet! It's against the warrior code!"
So this was what her Clanmates thought of her.
"Ahg!"
Her had snapped around as she heard the shriek from the nursery.
"Swallowflight!" Archstorm hasped.
Nosewhisker appeared. "She's kitting."
"But its so early! And she has whitecough!" Moonbeam protested.
Archstorm shot her a worried glance.
"We'll have to make do," Nosewhisker announced, slipping inside the nursery.
"What's going on?"
Moonbeam turned to see Badgerfang and Shiftpaw at the camp entrance.
"Swallowflight is kitting."
"And is it true Hollowfoot has passed?" the tom asked.
Archstorm nodded.
StarClan, take care of Swallowflight! Do not take her!