Midgedance and Dawnlight departed as the sun set over the ocean, casting a beautiful orange glow over the beach. Sharpthunder overheard Bugstripe telling Rindlebramble that the sunset was Mossstar's final goodbye to her beloved Clan.
The entire Clan sat vigil until moon-high, as is their tradition. Then, Bugstripe and Goldenlion, the two remaining eldest warriors, carried Beachfeather out of camp and down the beach to the burial grounds underneath the Tallcliffs. When they came back for Mossstar's body, the rest of the Clan gave her a final lick or nuzzle, and then rose to their stiff paws.
The chill of nighttime always washed over the Clan quickly, since they were so close to the beach. Sharpthunder could hear the tide lapping at the stones on the other side of the camp, behind the apprentices' den. He stretched long and low, feeling like he had been sitting still for moons. He had not rested at all, his mind too ablaze with thoughts about his dream from StarClan, the vow he had made, and the promise of the future.
He knew it without a doubt now. Flailpaw had meant to warn him about the sickness that was going to take Mossstar, and wanted to ensure his allegiance to his new leader while the Clan fought through this difficult time.
Sharpthunder turned to Ravenbloom beside him, intent on sharing his revelations, when the gray tabby she-cat let out a wet cough. She turned to him, her eyes wide with fear. With a growing sense of horror, Sharpthunder noticed he was practically the only cat there not coughing or sneezing.
Rindlebramble was weaving her way through the throng of cats, dispensing herbs to each one who showed any sign of sickness. Her brow was furrowed in concern for her Clan, but her mate Bugstripe looked even more worried as he looked on at her from the patch of compacted sand outside of the medicine den.
Ravenbloom accepted a bundle of herbs wordlessly as Rindlebramble dropped them in front of her, but Sharpthunder declined with a shake of his head.
"Take them anyways," the medicine cat insisted, pawing them towards him. "You'll catch it before long if everyone else has it."
Sharpthunder dipped his head in acknowledgement and scarfed down the herbs as quickly as he could. They left a sharp aftertaste on his tongue.
Cats were slinking off to curl up in their dens as the moon continued its journey across the sky. Rindlebramble and Bugstripe retreated to the medicine den once the former was satisfied that every cat who needed herbs had received them.
Sharpthunder decided to ask Rindlebramble tomorrow if she needed any more herbs collected now that she was treating nearly the entire Clan. Anything that he can do to help the Clan thrive, he will! But first…
He turned again to Ravenbloom, who was still crouched beside him as she chewed the rest of her herbs. She looked up at him again, fear still plain on her face.
"Come on," he mewed softly, swishing his tail against her flank comfortingly. "Let's have something to eat, and then get some rest. You'll feel better in the morning."
He selected a small rabbit from the prey pile and shared it with Ravenbloom. The two of them ate quickly and efficiently. Sharpthunder hardly tasted the prey.
The two cats curled up in Sharpthunder's nest, pressed tightly together. Sharpthunder licked soothing strokes down Ravenbloom's spine until the she-cat dozed off into a fitful sleep. Sharpthunder's sleep was soon to follow, despite how anxious and restless he felt.
This time, when Sharpthunder dreamt of StarClan, he realized it immediately. The starless sky was the first giveaway. He turned around to search for Flailpaw as soon as he got his bearings. The small apprentice was sitting a few tail-lengths away from the edge of the cliffs, his spotted gray coat glowing silver in the moonlight.
"You see now what I meant," the apprentice murmured gravely. "I see you have taken up this burden bravely."
"I will do everything I can to help the Clan," Sharpthunder promised. "But what am I to do about the sickness? It took Mossstar so fast… and it is spreading."
A look came over Flailpaw's ice blue eyes, and he took a moment to respond. "I wish I could tell you of the cure, but I do not know it. All of StarClan is doing their best to help the Clans. But we cannot control the world."
The Clans? So, the other Clans were suffering from the same illness?
"The other Clans? Has anyone else died?"
"I cannot share that with you here," Flailpaw dipped his head. "Do as you promised, and protect Midgestar with your life. I will come to you again when I can."
"Please," Sharpthunder begged, "You have to know something to help with the sickness."
Flailpaw's head was still bowed. His white whiskers twitched. "I will do what I can."
The vague assurance did nothing to soothe the anxiety threading throughout Sharpthunder's veins. Is even StarClan powerless against this deadly plague?
"Go now," Flailpaw said at once. He looked up, his eyes disconcertingly pale. "Something very important is about to happen."
Sharpthunder woke with a start, and was surprised to find that it was dawn, though it felt like no time had passed. Beside him, Ravenbloom slept on, her breathing slower and easier than last night. He felt weak with relief. Maybe Rindlebramble's herbs had helped.
He squeezed out of his nest without disturbing Ravenbloom and padded into the clearing, stretching as he goes. He caught the fresh scent of Midgedance— no, Midgestar now, surely. He spotted the long-furred black she-cat sitting on the stones outside of her new den. Twigpaw was cleaning out the old moss while Rindlebramble supervised, and shared words with Midgestar.
"Trust that StarClan knows best, and would only show you what they think is important for you to know," Rindlebramble mewed, barely audible to Sharpthunder, even as he padded closer. He intended to ask Rindlebramble if she wants help collecting herbs.
As he drew closer, the two she-cats stopped conversing and looked at him expectantly.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Sharpthunder bowed his head in respect at his new leader. "Welcome back, Midgestar. I hope your journey was easy."
"It was," Midgestar mewed, staring intently at Sharpthunder, as if pondering more than the difficulty of her journey.
Sharpthunder turned to Rindlebramble, noticing that the dark gray she-cat seemed even bigger today. Surely, she had to move to the nursery soon, or she wouldn't fit into the medicine den!
"Rindlebramble, I was wondering if you needed help collecting herbs today, since so many cats have been needing them."
Rindlebramble purred, swishing her fluffy, striped tail. "Oh, I do. Bugstripe is going to go too, could you join him? He knows what to look for."
"Actually, Sharpthunder," Midgestar cut in, looking as if she had just answered whatever question she was internally mulling over. "I'll send someone else with Bugstripe. I need you here. I must call a meeting now that dawn has broken."
Puzzled, Sharpthunder dipped his head at Midgestar and strode back to the warriors' den beneath the edge of the mangrove thicket. He ducked inside and mewed softly to the cats sleeping inside, "Midgestar is back, and she's going to call a meeting."
Goldenlion and Cinnamonholly, who had been awake and sharing tongues, murmured their thanks and slipped past him into the camp. The only cats left inside were Ravenbloom and Silverhare, who both stirred at Sharpthunder's words. Ravenbloom blinked sleepily up at Sharpthunder, looking small inside his nest without him, and he felt a wave of affection surge inside his chest as he looked down at the she-cat.
Sharpthunder thought, not for the first time, that he ought to tell her how he feels about her. He's fairly certain she gets the idea, and maybe even returns his affections. Now is not the time for that, though, Sharpthunder realized. Once the Clan is through this rough patch, then, maybe.
Ravenbloom and Silverhare both padded out of the den after Sharpthunder. Midgestar was standing on the stones outside of her den, and as soon as she saw Sharpthunder emerge from the warriors' den, she turned back to the other cats beginning to gather and yowled, "Let all cats old enough to dig for sand crabs gather here beneath the willow tree for a Clan meeting."
Sharpthunder and Ravenbloom sat together at the edge of the crowd. Midgestar was going to name her new deputy! The Clan was thrumming with excitement and anticipation. Dawnlight, the obvious choice for deputy, was standing proudly near the front of the crowd. Sharpthunder noticed that his gaze wasn't on Midgestar, but was sweeping knowingly across the gathered cats.
"Last night, I shared tongues with StarClan behind the Falls, and was granted my nine lives," Midgestar meowed. "Now, I return to you all as Midgestar. I swear by StarClan that I will do my best to lead WillowClan through all that follows, and honor Mossstar with my actions."
The Clan murmured appreciatively. Paws kneaded at the ground in excitement. Sharpthunder swished his tail, anxiety bubbling within him as he thought of the challenges that WillowClan would be facing as the sickness continued to spread.
"I will now appoint the next deputy of WillowClan. I am confident in my decision and I trust that Mossstar would be, as well." Midgestar fixed her cobalt gaze on Sharpthunder, sending a shiver throughout his body. "I say this in front of StarClan so that they may approve and send their blessing. Sharpthunder will be the next deputy of WillowClan."