Chapter 25

HOWSITGOINBROS

So, I know I haven't updated this in a while, but I will finish it. I just don't have a normal schedule. So always check to make sure the story is updated!

As always, read and review!

LIONBLAZE POV

I looked back in resentment. Whatever Jaggedscar knew, we had a right to know as well! We were part of the Three as well! I watched as he went over to the fresh-kill pile, wracked by coughs along the way. I almost felt some pity for him. I turned away and walked over to Hollyleaf.

"Any luck?" She questioned. I shook my head bitterly.

"No," I growled. "He's stalwart as the earth. He'll never give it up."

Hollyleaf wrapped her tail around my shoulders. "Don't worry, he'll tell us when he's ready. Don't forget, he's sick too." I looked again at Jaggedscar, coughing as he tried to keep the food down. This time real pity clawed at my heart.

"I know," I sighed. "But it's hard."

Hollyleaf purred in amusement. "Isn't everything worth finding?"

I growled playfully and swiped at her ear. She growled back and ducked under my blow. Suddenly a voice sounded from the thorn tunnel.

"Hollyleaf, you're to go on patrol with us," Ashfur yowled. Berrynose and Sorreltail waited with him at the entrance.

"Sorry, I've got to run," Hollyleaf apologized. She turned and raced out the tunnel after Ashfur's patrol.

JAGGEDSCAR POV

Damn, I thought. I feel like crap. Greencough had finally begun to take it's toll on my body. Firestar had thought about my proposal, but hadn't made a decision yet. I hoped he would decide on it soon. Most of the cats in Thunderclan were now sick, and it would only be a matter of time before the rest were also infected with the deadly disease.

"Here, you have to keep your strength up," a voice sounded near my ear. I looked up, and saw Jaypaw leaning down with some leaves in his mouth.

"No, give them to someone who needs them more than me," I said. "I'll be fine."

Jaypaw looked doubtful. "But you're part of the prophecy. If you die-"

"I won't," I reasoned. "I've been sick countless times. I doubt this will be any different."

"Let all those cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" I swung my head up to see Firestar coming out of his den on the Highledge. His body looked frail; he had caught the sickness two days ago.

"I have an idea," Firestar announced, before falling into a series of coughs. When it was over, he held his head up high.

"The sick cats, myself included, will make a home in the old Twoleg nest. We will stop it from spreading that way." I almost jumped up in joy when Firestar announced that we would be inhabiting the abandoned house. It had been only about two months since I had been turned into a cat, but it had seemed like years. The last time I had been in a house was when I had been catnapped!

Firestar continued. "We will need the help of all cats to make the nest habitable. Remember, this is for the good of the Clan!" Firestar leaped down from the Highledge, and paddded over to the medicine den to talk to Leafpool. I stood up and stretched, fighting the urge to cough. I would finally be able to make myself useful and do some work!

Hollyleaf came up beside me, and I swore that the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

"Are you going to be okay?" She murmured in my ear. I turned to reply, but suddenly I froze. the world was slowly losing color, but instead of turning gray, this time it slammed me into darkness. Scenes began flashing over my eyes, filled with blood and screeching, and finally ending with hoarse coughs, followed by more screeching and finally silence. I looked up again, trembling with fear, and saw Yellowfang staring me down.

LOOK OUT.

I gasped, and suddenly I was pulled into the real world again. I was still shaking, the vision had been incredibly brief and strange. Hollyleaf was nudging me.

"Hey, Jaggedscar, are you okay?" She sounded concerned.

I turned over to her. "Something's coming. Something bad." I saw the look of fear in her eyes, and I didn't blame her.

"What could it be?" She asked.

"I don't know," I admitted. "I'm not that good at interpreting visions. I've never had any to think about."

Hollyleaf looked skeptical. "Maybe it's just the greencough... I mean, it makes you see things, so..."

"Yeah, maybe..." I pondered. I would have loved to believe that it was just a hallucination, but for some reason, the vision seemed all too real. Especially since Yellowfang had appeared at the end... along with that warning...

Hollyleaf shrugged. "I hope it's nothing."

I turned away. "So do I." I padded over to the thorn tunnel, ready to scout out the old house. Hollyleaf turned towards Firestar, asking if there was anything she could do to help. Brambleclaw was issuing orders to every cat, telling them what to do. Most of the sick cats had left, hunting or looking at their new home.

I bounded out of the thorn tunnel. Immediately I was greeted by the forest, all shades of green and brown enveloping me in calmness. I remembered the way to the house from the Great Battle, and padded their at my own leisure. A mouse scuttled under my paws, but I didn't feel like hunting right now. I strolled down the old, worn path until I detected a scent. I pricked my ears and listened for voices.

..."Mouse dung!"

I chuckled when I recognized Lionblaze's voice. I quickly slunk over to his position and watched as he attempted to hunt a mouse. The little thing kept on scurrying away from him. He looked kind of out of it.

I sprung out of the bushes and hissed at the mouse. It squealed and scurried right into Lionblaze's paw, where he bit it's throat.

"What was that?" I asked. Lionblaze may not have been the best hunter, but that was ridiculous.

Lionblaze looked sheepishly on the ground. "I was thinking about something else."

If I had eyebrows, I would have raised one of them. Lionblaze didn't meet my gaze, instead staring all around.

"Fine, carry on," I huffed. I bounded back into the forest towards the house, leaving Lionblaze to his fantasies.

I reached the abandoned wreck soon after. The concrete walls still stood proud, towering over most of the trees. The door frame was covered in ivy. I looked around. No other cat was inspecting the house. Most of the patrols were still being organized.

Stifling a cough, I moved into the house. Even though it was long abandoned, it had a certain aura that made me comfortable. I padded around, until something caught my eye.

A small wooden chest, almost completely rotted, was sitting in the corner. I walked over to it, wondering if anything was inside. I hooked a claw underneath the frame of the lid, and threw it open. What I saw inside made me shiver.

It was about nine inches long, gleaming silver. There were grooves all along the side, and a small notch at the top. A handle split out of the main frame, with a smaller lever sticking out under it. I began to breathe heavily, even though no one I knew would have been able to use it.

I quickly covered the pistol, hoping that I could keep it hidden until it could be moved somewhere else. The gun had brought back memories of what had happened the day before I had come to Thunderclan. I had to keep everyone safe from the terror it could ignite.