Greencough

"I don't understand, Nightfrost," Fireheart mewed sadly.

The small tom was biting into a robin, spatting out feathers. "About what?"

"Well, Bluestar just lost a life, there is greencough in camp and Graystripe is br-is sick. Even your apprentice is sick. But the clan is just continuing on with their lives."

"Fireheart, there things that cannot be helped. You were a kittypet, a cat whose life is that of comfort. You did not know how harsh life can be."

"But aren't they sad about Bluestar losing a life? Won't they be worried about the greencough in camp?"

"Greencough happens every leaf-bare. Cats are going to get used it appearing and learn to prepare for it..."

His brother shook his head. "But I want to help them, somehow."

"...You can help Yellowfang and Thunderclan by getting catnip," Nightfrost continued.

The orange tom beamed and padded off. After finishing the robin, he padded to the warriors' den and took a short rest there. He had to hunt everyday now to help with stock up the fresh-kill pile. After his catnap, he woke and padded out of the den.

"Good thinking, Fireheart," purred Whitestorm. He had seen Fireheart pad back into camp with his jaws crammed with catnip. Tigerclaw, hearing the warrior's name, padded angrily to Fireheart. Nightfrost bristled as he watched them.

Fireheart was heading toward Yellowfang's den when Tigerclaw stopped him.

"More catnip?" observed the great tabby, his eyes suspicious. "I wondered where you'd gone. Sandpaw can take that to Yellowfang."

The pale ginger apprentice nodded to Tigerclaw, padding to Fireheart with distaste. The deputy waited while Sandpaw picked up the catnip and carried it off to Yellowfang's den. Then he turned back to Fireheart. "I want to know where Graystripe has been going."

"I don't know," Fireheart replied, holding Tigerclaw's gaze.

Tigerclaw stared back at him, his eyes cold and hostile. "When you see him," he hissed, "you can tell him he's confined to the fallen oak."

"Yellowfang's old den?" Nightfrost glanced at the tangled branches where the medicine cat had lived when she first came into the ThunderClan camp, when she was still considered a Shadowclan outcast. Swiftpaw was there, lying beside Speckletail's dark tabby kit.

"Cats with whitecough are confined there until they are well again."

"But Graystripe only has a cold," Fireheart protested.

"A cold is bad enough. He'll stay at the fallen oak!" Tigerclaw repeated. "Cats with greencough are to nest with Yellowfang. We must stop this sickness from spreading." The deputy's eyes flashed unsympathetically. "It is for the good of the Clan," Tigerclaw added.

"Yes, Tigerclaw. I'll tell Graystripe."

"And keep away from Bluestar," the deputy warned.

"But the greencough has left her," Fireheart objected.

"I am aware of that, but her den still reeks of the sickness. I can't afford to have any of my warriors falling ill. Whitestorm tells me that RiverClan warriors have been scented even closer to the camp."

Fireheart nodded to him and padded to the medicine den, where Yellowfang greeted him. Soon she return to her den, pleased. Greystripe padded back though the tunnel coughing a bit.

Fireheart padded over to him. "Tigerclaw says you've got to move to the fallen oak, with the whitecough cats," he meowed.

"That won't be necessary," replied Graystripe cheerfully. "I'm better now. Yellowfang gave me the all-clear this morning."

Fireheart spat suddenly at his friend.

Graystripe stopped chewing and stared angrily back at Fireheart. "And why can't you mind your own business?"

Poll

Sandstorm-6

Cinderpelt-4

Spottedleaf-2

Sorry, but readers need to vote by themselves. I not able to help you with that.