Chapter 29

Hey, bros!

Laptop's not here yet, but I saw I had some new followers. I didn't want you guys to got too long without storytime, so new chapter! Yay!

I woke up panting. I hissed as the sunlight hit me, bright light on my sore eyes. I groaned and rubbed my head trying to remember what that she-cat, Silverpelt, had wanted. However, I was interrupted by a shadow at the entrance of the warrior's den. I looked up to see who it was.

"It's time for you to go," Lionblaze said gruffly. I nodded silently, renumbering that today was the day the sick cats would move to the old abandoned house. It would do me good to spend some time in a manmade structure again.

"Right," I grunted. I tried to stand IP, but found it difficult. My legs were very sore; whether from sleep or sickness I could tell. I thought I saw a hint of pith in Lionblaze's eyes and immediately got angry at myself.

As he made a move to help me, I stuck a paw out to stop him.

"No," I growled. "I can do this". However, I promptly proved myself wrong by faceplanting into the ground.

"Or not," I grumbled. Lionblaze helped me up, and we made our way to the thorn tunnel.

At the entrance to the camp, I was quarantined with the other sick cats as the preparations were made for our farewell. I spotted Brambleclaw talking to Firestar and Graystripe was pacing around frantically. I could hardly blame him; if someone special to me was sick like this, I would be worried too.

Finally, the time came for us to depart for the house. Firestar shook out his coat, and marched out of the camp. We followed without so much as a whisper.

As we paraded past all the healthy cats, Lionblaze reached out to me. "Try to come back," he said, and i saw true fear in his eyes.

I smiled weakly. "Hey, don't worry. I'm the Fourth, I still have a lot of fight left in me."

Jayfeather was next. "Take care of yourself, okay? We need you." I looked into his eyes for any emotion. I couldn't find any. I nodded and moved on.

I passed a few cats on the way, nodding at me like I was some sort of hero. I didn't feel very heroic, with my weak legs and burning eyes. However, I let them think as they pleased.

As I got nearer to the end of the line, I saw someone waiting for me. Hollyleaf tried her best not to shed tears, but it appeared that she had failed. Her face was strained with tears, and it took all my effort not to follow in her footsteps. She tried to rush to me , but I stopped her with a glare.

"No," I growled. "The sickness spreads to fast. I can't let you get opened her mouth to protest, but just before she could, a bloodcurdling screech tore through the air.

"NO!"

I whipped around to see Graystripe going for Mille. I had to hold in a gasp as I saw the poor state she was in. You could count each of her ribs through her pelt, and her eyes were closed and crusted over. I wasn't even sure if she was conscious.

Lionblaze ad Birchfall held Graystripe back as he scratched at them.

"Let me through!" He growled. "I need to see her!"

Suddenly, like a phantom, Firestar was there. He stepped between Graystripe and Millie, making sure he couldn't get through.

"Graystripe, she is too sick. You cannot go near her; you'll get sick too."

Graystripe didn't seem to hear him. "I don't care! I need her!"

Firestar stayed calm. He didn't yell, just kept going on in that calm voice of his, that no other Clan leader had been able to replicate. "Graystripe, if anything happens, I will send for you."

Graystripe finally began to calm down, and Lionblaze and Birchfall released him. "I'll hold you to that, Firestar," he growled.

I let out the breath I had been holding. "Just promise me you'll stay safe." I looked into Hollyleaf's eyes, deep, emerald spheres of sadness.

She nodded in defeat. As I turned to walk away, I heard her whisper an almost inaudible "I love you".

I turned back. "I love you too," I said. And with that, our little caravan turned and made it's way into the forest.