Chapter 13

Owlpaw poked his head into the medicine cat's den. The stench of sickness and disease overwhelmed Owlpaw, and he had to stick his head back outside to catch his breath.

"Are they going to be okay?" asked Owlpaw.

Amberpaw shrugged, while Grayfeather didn't respond.

"Sorrelstorm! Sorrelstorm! Are you okay?" Owlpaw jumped as a pale blur rushed by him and into the medicine cat's den.

Brackenclaw burst into the den, panting. Grayfeather shoved him out. "You can't go inside. We don't know if the sickness is contagious or not."

"But my daughter's in there!" he protested angrily.

"She's doing fine," soothed Grayfeather.

"I want to see Sorrelstorm!"

Grayfeather shook her head. "Nope."

Brackenclaw roared, "I'm her father! I want to see Sorrelstorm!"

"You know what, Brackenclaw?" said Grayfeather gently. "Why don't you get some water from the lake for them?" Owlpaw could tell she was only trying to distract Brackenclaw from Sorrelstorm.

"O-of course." Brackenclaw picked out a wad of moss and sped away.

"Get some for me too!" called Amberpaw.

Owlpaw sighed. "Is Hawkpaw doing any better?"

"No," murmured Grayfeather.

"What have you given him? Borage? Feverfew? Tansy?" Owlpaw stared pleadingly at Grayfeather and Amberpaw.

"We tried," sighed Grayfeather.

"We even tried catmint," added Amberpaw. "It didn't work."

"Nothing's working?"

Amberpaw shook his head. "The juniper berries soothe their stomachache, but only a little, and it's back the next day. Borage and feverfew don't work at all, and the poppy seeds that put them to sleep make them wake with nightmares."

Owlpaw was impressed by how much his brother knew about herbs, but he pushed that feeling away. He had to concentrate on finding a cure for the sick cats.

"What about honey? Watermint? Lavender?" Owlpaw pressed.

Grayfeather sadly shook her head. "We've tried almost all the herbs. It's not helping."

"Could it be an infection of some sort?" suggested Amberpaw. "Maybe from a rat bite, since Sorrelstorm fought the rats?"

"No," said Grayfeather. "Hawkpaw wasn't in that battle."

Owlpaw sighed. "What do Hawkpaw and Sorrelstorm have in common?"

Amberpaw sighed. He looked more tired than Owlpaw had ever seen him. "I don't know-" Amberpaw began. He was interrupted as Brackenclaw ran into the medicine cat's den.

"Got...got the water..." he panted. Water dripped from the piece of moss he was carrying.

"Oh, good!" meowed Grayfeather. She took the moss and nudged it toward Hawkpaw and Sorrelstorm. Hawkpaw attempted a few weak licks. Sorrelstorm didn't move. The only thing that told Owlpaw that she was still alive was the rise and fall of her flank as she breathed.

Hawkpaw pushed the moss away. "Can't...swallow..."

Amberpaw looked at him, worried. "He has to drink some water."

Grayfeather sighed. "Well, at least now we can take the moss to the kits. Brackenclaw, could you do that?" Owlpaw saw that she was trying to distract Brackenclaw from Sorrelstorm again.

Brackenclaw nodded and picked up the moss. He sped off to the nursery.

Owlpaw glanced uneasily at Hawkpaw and Sorrelstorm. Will they ever get better?

(Later that night)

Owlpaw moaned as he rolled over in his sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about Sorrelstorm and Hawkpaw, and the disease. What if Hollypaw, Amberstripe, Thorntail, Amberpaw, or Rosepaw caught the sickness? What if the clan did? Or Lizardfang, the deputy, or Pinestar?

Owlpaw sighed. What if he caught the sickness?

And that's when he started coughing.