Chapter Sixteen
Trouble
CloudClan Camp Clearing
Nightstar and the others are greeted by the cats that remained in the camp. "How did the Gathering go?" asked Topazshine.
"I can't wait until I can go to a Gathering!" Eaglekit said happily.
"Well you only have two more moons to wait," the Medicine Cat pointed out.
"I will be the best Warrior that was ever in CloudClan!" said Poisonkit.
"Bouncekit, where are you?" asked Sunkit.
"In the Nursery with Crystalheart."
"Sunkit, Milkkit, let's go into the Nursery and get some rest." The Queens and her Kits go into the Nursery and lay in their empty nest.
"Tigerheart, Crowkit is sick!" said Shorttail scared.
"Sick how?"
"He isn't feeding…"
Nursery
Nightstar, Tigerheart, and Shorttail go into the Nursery to look at Crowkit.
"Where's Heatherkit?" asked Nightstar.
"She's right here," replied Smokysky.
"I'm scared, Nightstar," said Heatherkit whose ears are flattened back. Nightstar soothes the frightened she-Kit.
"Don't worry I'm right here."
"Nightstar I'm hungry," said Crowkit.
"Then feed." Crowkit crouches near Shorttail's belly to feed but he coughs savagely instead.
"There we go, he's sick, meaning he has Greencough from the foul smell that he is emitting," the Medicine Cat stated.
"What about the rest of the Kits?" asked the Leader.
"They're fine. I will take Crowkit to my den to look after him until he is better." Tigerheart picks up Crowkit by his scruff and heads to his den to treat him.
"My Kits are ready to become Apprentices and I can finally join the Elders," said Smokysky.
Clearing
"Shadowpaw and Graypaw are ready to become Warriors," said Princecloud. Nightstar is too frightened for Crowkit's safety to hear what Princecloud has said.
"I will hold the Ceremony tomorrow," Nightstar said distantly.
Medicine Cat's Den
Nightstar pads into Tigerheart's den and lies with Crowkit.
"Nightstar, you should go to your own den so you do not catch Greencough as well." Nightstar rises to her paws, licks Crowkit's forehead, and then leaves the den. "Crowkit eat this catmint and some of the honey, after that eat this poppy seed, it will help you sleep." Crowkit first eats the catmint, followed by some of the honey, lastly he eats the poppy seed that was set in front of him, and finally he settles down into his nest and goes to sleep. Tigerheart pads out of his den and goes to the Nursery.
Nursery
"Shorttail, can I see Heatherkit?" asked Tigerheart.
"Heatherkit?" Tigerheart looks at Shorttail.
"What's wrong?"
"Nightstar is going to hate me…"
"Why?"
"Heatherkit snuck out of the Nursery while you guys were at the Gathering. She ate something she wasn't supposed to." Tigerheart pads over to Shorttail's nest.
"Let me see her." Shorttail moves her forepaws out of Tigerheart's way. Tigerheart sniffs Heatherkit.
"What's wrong with her?" asked the calico Queen in a frightened mew.
"Either she drank poison-infested water or she ate a Deathberry, which would instantly kill a Kit of her size." Tigerheart pushes his nose into Heatherkit's sniffing for anything that will help him.
"Well?"
"She's in HeavenClan'spaws now; it's up to them to decide if she'll live or not." Shorttail gently licks Heatherkit's forehead.
"Take Heatherkit to your den with you so that you can check on her in the morning." Tigerheart picks up Heatherkit by her scruff and heads to his den.
Medicine Cat's Den
Once in his den, Tigerheart puts the gray she-Kit in an empty nest next to her brother. "Sleep well, Kits, you'll need your rest for your journeys," whispered Tigerheart as he heads to his nest, curls up with his nose tucked under his tail, and falls asleep.