AN: It's here. The next chapter. Read it. Wish me a happy birthday.
Yes I'm 13 now, finally :P
It was time for the journey to the moonstone. Sparrowsong made her way to the medicine den where Bubblecloud would give her the traveling herbs, and then the two would depart to speak with Starclan. She stepped into the den and dragged her claws against the ground to make a scraping noise that would get the medicine cat's attention.
"Oh, you're here," Said Bubblecloud absently, "Take these," And she nodded her head at a bundle of herbs. Sparrowsong bent over and gave each a questioning glance. "What are they?" She asked. Bubblecloud took her own and swallowed them quickly. "Let's see, there's sorrel to help us stay hungry so we eat rather than get tired, daisy to help with any body aches, chamomile to keep yus awake, and burnet for strength."
Sparrowsong nodded and lapped up the leaves. She wrinkled her nose at their bitter taste, and she found it hard to make them go down. When she finally swallowed, Bubblecloud was pacing at the threshold of the den. Sparrowsong nudged her sister gently. "Don't be worried," She assured. Bubblecloud looked anxious. "But what if we don't make contact with Starclan?"
"We will, I'm sure of it," Sparrowsong wasn't sure if she believed herself, though. The medicine cat let out a sigh. "I suppose you may be right, I presume we should go now?"
"Yes," Sparrowsong meowed, already leaving the cozy den into the cold air outside. She could tell leafbare was just around the corner, a bad time to have kits, she knew, but she hoped they would all be fine. Bubblecloud followed and they both were greeted by an icy wind howling against them, making Sparrowsong shiver with cold.
"Are you sure you want to go to the moonstone now?" Bubblecloud asked once more, worry edging her voice. Sparrowsong growled with frustration. "For the last time, I'm fine. My kits won't come for another half-moon, and my thick pelt will protect me from the cold."
Bubblecloud still looked uncertain, but nodded, and they both padded up to the leaders den. "We're leaving now, Pricklestar!" Bubblecloud called out for both of them. The leader came from the other side of the rock. "Good luck," He mewed, and added more silently, "Be safe."
"Thank you," Sparrowsong meowed, dipping her head courteously, "we will."
Bubblecloud already turned away and was padding off, and Sparrowsong trotted up to join her. "How far to the moonstone?" She asked, knowing the medicine cat would know, considering she went every half-moon with the other medicine cats. Bubblecloud was keeping a steady gait as they walked through the trees. "Pretty far, about a day's journey," She answered knowingly, "We have to pass fourteens, go through Windclan, and cross a Thunderpath to get there."
"Oh, that's even further than I thought…"
"Yeah, but don't worry, the traveling herbs will keep our strengths up."
"What about hunting?"
Bubblecloud stopped. "I didn't think about that…" She sounded unsure of herself, "But I think we can hunt enough for a couple of days."
"I guess so." Sparrowsong mumbled, and she kept walking. Bubblecloud caught back up to her. "Slow down a bit, we need to save our energy."
"Sorry."
…
They were still walking. Sparrowsong and Bubblecloud had made it past fourtrees and were now entering Windclan territory. The exposed ground reeked of Windclan scent, and Sparrowsong found herself frightened at the thought of being spotted by a patrol. The sun had fully risen and was now at its high-point, signaling the day was half over, and Sparrowsong was already getting very tired as well as weak.
The queen tried to focus on moving, her steady pawsteps, and taking deep breathes, but her belly was weighing a ton and she couldn't help but regret wanting to go on the journey, especially without eating first. She found herself wheezing, and Bubblecloud turned with concern. "Are you alright?" She asked. Sparrowsong kept padding onward, though her legs and paws were sore and burning from all the walking. "Yes, I'm fine, just a bit tired."
"Maybe we should stop," Bubblecloud suggested. Sparrowsong couldn't help but agree, she felt as if her paws would burst if she took anymore steps. They both stopped for a moment, and Bubblecloud got up onto her paws. "You stay here and rest, maybe I can try to find us some prey, a rabbit maybe."
"Are you sure that's alright? Windclan won't be pleased if-"
"Medicine cats aren't part of the no-crossing-boundaries law, and plus we're going to the moonstone."
"Fine, I suppose it won't hurt." Sparrowsong murmured.
"I'll be right back." Bubblecloud told her, and she padded off. Sparrowsong didn't care to watch after her, and so she carried herself to a hollowed out bush and settled inside, closing her eyes to let herself fall into a light doze. Resting to get her strengths up was smart, she knew, and she let herself fall into a steady rest.
…
It felt like only a couple of heartbeats had past when Sparrowsong woke to her body shaking as a fit of coughing erupted from her. Her throat felt scratchy and rough, and she looked around for Bubblecloud for help. Great, she still isn't back yet… how am I supposed to help myself?
Another fit of coughing came from Sparrowsong, and she instantly knew she was catching a cough, or worse- whitecough. She had to do something, and tried to remember what herb helped with coughs.
Oh yes, now I remember, Sparrowsong thought, It was that yellow flower, tansy I think it was?
She crawled out from the bush, first checking for any Windclan patrols, and looked around the exposed territory for any signs of the herbs. She was relieved to see some yellow flowers growing by a birch tree, and she figured it was the tansy she saw given to other cats.
The dappled queen padded up to the flowers and gave an experimental sniff. When she was sure it was the right herb, she gulped down three of the tansy flowers, ignoring their awful taste, and settled back in the bush, keeping herself hidden from any Windclan cats. She didn't feel tired anymore, so she lay herself down and kept watch for Bubblecloud, checking through the leaves of the bush every so often. She looked down at her swollen belly and gave it a few loving laps. Oh my kits, I can't wait until you come!
It wasn't much longer before Sparrowsong heard the voice of Thunderclan's medicine cat, calling her name softly. The queen got up, and brushed through the branches. "I'm right here!" She called back, and Bubblecloud turned around. In her mouth lay the scrawniest rabbit Sparrowsong had ever seen and she stared at it with hidden disgust.
"That's it?" She asked, staring at the rabbit, "You couldn't catch anymore?" Bubblecloud looked embarrassed. "It was all I could find," She meowed defensively, "And I'm a medicine cat, I'm not supposed to hunt as is, usually when I go to the moonstone I'm only hunting for myself or with another warrior"
Sparrowsong sighed, starting to feel self-conscious and humiliated that she couldn't hunt for herself. "Oh well, it's good enough, we will eat and continue with our journey."
Bubblecloud murmured her agreement and put the rabbit down in front of herself, down at her paws. "Come and share," the medicine cat invited, flicking her tail to beckon her littermate. Sparrowsong bounded over to the catch and took a large, juicy mouthful. It took no time for the two to quickly gulp down the little rabbit.
When it was gone, Sparrowsong swiped her tongue around her lips, feeling her hunger ebb away. Satisfied, she scrambled to her paws once more. "Okay, we're done," she meowed, "Now let's continue traveling, it's best not to run into any patrols."
A new voice spoke behind them. "It's too late for that."
They both turned to find a Windclan patrol, made up of two toms- one black and the other gray, a golden tabby she-cat, and young male apprentice. "Greetings, Nightbreeze," Mintwillow mewed kindly, and Sparrowsong wasn't sure how Bubblecloud knew who these cats were, "Sparrowsong and I are just passing through to go to the moonstone."
Nightbreeze tilted his head. "You're taking a pregnant queen with you to the moonstone?"
Sparrowsong drew her lips back in a snarl. "Who cares if I'm pregnant, we need to speak with Starclan for something quite important!"
The other tom stepped forward. "What do you need to talk about?" He asked menacingly, but was cut short by Nightbreeze who shook his head at him. Sparrowsong felt herself getting angry. "It's our business and not yours, so just let us pass."
The tabby she-cat whispered something to Nightbreeze, and he hissed another thing back to her. "Okay, we will let you pass," he agreed, "As long as you take no herbs or prey from out territory."
"We won't," Bubblecloud assured, and both Thunderclan cats exchanged glances. The other tom eyed the two suspiciously, but nodded along with his patrol. "We will be going now," Sparrowsong growled rudely, and she turned sharply and stalked off, soon being followed by Bubblecloud.
"What was that all about?" Bubblecloud hissed at her. Sparrowsong snorted with annoyance. "What was what about? We were just going to the moonstone."
"Yes but you can't act like that, it's their territory. We're lucky they let us pass now."
"Whatever, they're gone now, let's just keep walking."
Bubblecloud looked upset, but didn't criticize any further. The two walked in silence through Windclan territory.
…
They had left Windclan territory. The odor of Windclan was quickly replaced by the stench of monsters, which made them both winkle their noses with disgust. "We must be getting close to the Thunderpath," Bubblecloud commented and Sparrowsong mumbled her agreement, "Tell me something I don't know."
As they continued, the stench got stronger, and was accompanied by the vrooming sound as the monsters rushed across the Thunderpath. The big, colorful metal creatures were very capable of killing cats, foxes, and even badgers, and would crush anything that got in its way. Thankfully they never seemed to leave the path, but Sparrowsong knew she would have to be extra careful crossing, her kits could quite possible slow her down dramatically.
They stepped up to the path, staring as the monsters that rushed across the black trail. "Okay, Sparrowsong, we have to be really careful, especially you, kits and all."
Sparrowsong nodded and gulped nervously, nausea welling up inside of her at the thought of being crushed by one the monsters' huge black paws. "When I say go, run as fast as you can," Bubblecloud ordered. They stared at the path. One monster flew by, then another, and another. There was a pause, until Bubblecloud yelled, "GO!"
Without thinking Sparrowsong sprinted as fast as she could with Bubblecloud at her side. She felt herself leaning to far forward, but she kept running. She tripped over herself and landed on her belly, letting out a yowl of pain. She heard the sound of a monster coming at her.
"Sparrowsong!" Bubblecloud shrieked, "RUN!"
AN: Yes, yes, another cliffhanger. Sorry. This was way too late. I'll still update this weekend again, and try not to be late again.
For those who asked, I already have the kit's names picked out. But if you have any ideas for Leafmist's kits, I'll be glad to use them!
Anyway, at this point I started looking back at my first few chapter, and WOW has my writing improved! Thanks so much you guys, you're all so supportive! :3
Don't forget to check out my latest story The Fifth Clan, I already have allegiances, prologue, and 2 chapters posted… and I will update every week if possible.
And I just took a math test… I'm so scared to get my grade D: Wish me luck…
That's all for now, then
~Lissa