Chapter 100: Water and Food
We got back to camp without any further incident. While Firestar looked a bit mad that I took charge of the incident, he seemed relieved that it all went by without any bloodshed, not that I talked to him yet. My first priority were the former Riverclan cats. Their arrival was met with hesitancy, but I would not let that stand long. I knew cats were just waiting for either Firestar or I to act first. Thus, I made the first choice.
"Cinderpelt. I need you out here. We've got four cats who have been effectively trapped for days. We need a health assessment on them before anything else." I commanded loudly.
Cinderpelt trotted out of the medicine den in a huff. I could tell she did not appreciate how I called her out of her den instead of bringing them to her, but this was important. I wanted cats to hear and see the deplorable state the four were in. Cinderpelt shot me a look, but she must have picked up that I wanted their state of being public knowledge. Sure, it'd make the four feel weak and spooked, but it would also assure the clan that they weren't a threat and needed sympathy over aggression. Cinderpelt went over the basic questions. How much did you eat? When was the last time you ate? Did you have water? How much water? Cinderpelt also pinched their skin a bit to get a good look at how quickly it sank back into place. While Stonefur looked to be in the worst state, he gestured for her to check the apprentices first.
Stormpaw and Featherpaw, while hungry and thirsty, were not in any sort of danger. With a couple of days rest, plenty of water and food, they'd be back up to normal. Mistyfoot was slightly worse. While she wasn't totally starved, she was decently dehydrated and showing symptoms. She asked Brackenfur, who was somewhat used to dealing with somewhat handicapped cats, to take Mistyfoot to a nearby water source and make sure she doesn't go overboard.
Finally, there was Stonefur. He was in a far worse state. Cinderpelt, concerned about Stonefur's state, ran some additional tests on him. The first of which was feeling his stomach. You see, when someone experiences starvation, the stomach can begin to bloat with fluid buildup. While his ribs were plain to see, his stomach wasn't as loose as the others, a bad sign. Cinderpelt also opened his mouth and felt it. His tongue was dry despite his mouth having been closed. Saliva was not being generated. She immediately panicked, rushing Stonefur into her den while shouting at me to get some water soaked moss. I immediately took off to gather it. It wasn't a long or difficult task, but I was somewhat concerned. Stonefur was an investment that already cost me one of Tigerstar's debt lives. I couldn't just let him die. I also owed Bluestar as much. Taking a cue from my previous life, I decided to catch some small game. Stonefur wouldn't be able to keep down anything large, but maybe he could handle something small. While the moss I brought back was dripping, I squeezed it a bit to reduce how full it was. I grabbed a second bundle and did the same. He'd have to pace himself.
I got back to camp with two mice and the moss. I hustled into the medicine den and checked in on Stonefur. He was lucid, but he seemed relieved to be off his paws. I first brought the moss over. Cinderpelt watched me approvingly as I began treating him.
"Suck on this. While it isn't sopping wet, your body probably can't handle much right now. If you feel like you need more, I'll send some apprentices, but don't go to the river yourself. If you drink too much, you can hurt yourself or even kill yourself." I lectured as he began to suck on the wet moss. He wasn't in totally bad spirits because he decided to joke back at me.
"Yeah. That's called drowning." He mewed, chuckling slightly.
"While funny, that's not what I meant. Your body is essentially running on emergency mode. It is trying to use its resources sparingly. If you suddenly flood it, it will have an adverse reaction, likely making you throw up with you being in a worse state than before you got water. Food is in a similar situation. For now, focus on the water. Take your time. I'll ready you some food." I stated, looking him dead in the eye and ensuring he understood all I said. Slowly, he gave me a nod before turning to suck on the moss some more.
Looking at Stonefur, I realized the mice would be too much. While he could probably handle swallowing them, there was tough materials that could make him sick in his current state. I'd have to rely on what some queens did for their kits when they started weaning. First, I separated the pelt from the mice. It's a tricky thing to do when claws, while pointy, aren't actually edged. Then, I went about removing the major bone structures. The skull would be too thick, and while the marrow, while useful, would make the meal more complicated, thus more likely to make him sick. Finally, I had to mash the meal. If I were a human, I'd have used something like a mixer, a knife, or some kind of mixing implement. Cats don't have those tools. No, I had to chew it for him. I was glad he wasn't paying attention as I set it up. By the time I was finished, I had a pink puree of mouse flesh that should be palatable to him as long as he doesn't scarf it down.
It took a while for Stonefur to finish with the moss. It seemed he was trying to suck every bit of moisture out of it. Finally, he saw the goo in front of me. "What's that?" he questioned, suspicious of the pile.
"It's mouse. I had to mash it for you and get rid of the pelt and big bones. Your stomach isn't likely ready for complex things like that yet." I answered, pushing it towards him. He looked at it hesitantly, as if it were some kind of threat. After a moment, I decided to appease him. "Tell you what. I'll take the first bite so you know it isn't dangerous." I mewed gently.
After Stonefur saw me take a mouthful, chew it, and visibly swallow it, he relented and took a small amount. His jowls were salivating at the morsel, but he looked afraid to swallow it, like it was the last thing he'd get to eat. It was quite a sad sight. Stonefur was once a proud deputy, but here I saw a terrified cat who bore none of his former strength. I motioned to the pile and backed up, letting him know there was more left and that it was safe to finish what he had. He finally swallowed before leaning down to the puree. I had to say something before he gorged himself.
"Eat slowly. It'll still be here as you go. I'll get more if you're still hungry, but you have to take your time. I'll get you some more moss, but Cinderpelt will be here to watch you and ensure you don't hurt yourself. I'm going to talk to her a moment though." I stated calmly, knowing Stonefur was taking in my every word, looking for some slight to validate his fears. After a moment, he continued his meal, going slowly as I suggested.
Cinderpelt and I stepped aside so Stonefur couldn't hear us. "How bad is he really?" I mewed quietly.
"Really bad. If we got him any later, he might have had long term consequences. While the hunger is manageable, his dehydration is a major issue. I'm glad you got through to him and managed to convince him to not go out and drink for himself. Yellowfang had seen cats in a similar state before, and there was a split chance that they'd die from gorging themselves. On top of that are the scratches…" Cinderpelt answered in what was a doctored calm.
"The scratches?" I questioned, prodding for more information.
"Yes. It appears Stonefur was subjected to a manner of torture yesterday. The scratches, while thin, completely cover his body. They'll soon fade away, but to have so many in a day is worrying. The claw marks have equal spacing, meaning this was one cat. The number is what is concerning. To get that many, it'd take a cat almost half a day to do that to someone. Noting the middle scratch as ending a tiny bit shy of the others and having seen Brindleface after Tigerstar's attack, I can only conclude it was him. I do have a theory on why the others were in better condition. Stonefur likely acted as the antagonizer to ensure the other three wouldn't be punished. He also likely gave any meals or water given to him to the apprentices. Mistyfoot, being the second most dehydrated, likely didn't accept, but she also didn't sacrifice as much as him. If we're careful, he will physically recover, but his place mentally is a whole other thing. He seems to have connected to you. Do you think you can handle him until he's more stable?" Cinderpelt questioned knowing fully well that I would.
"I have to let Ravenfeather know, but I'm sure he'll be glad to see me caring for someone in such a bad state. He's what one would call a bleeding heart." I replied. Stonefur would have a long road to recovery, but hopefully he'd grow to trust us and accept our aid. Bluestar… I will save your kit. He'll know the Thunderclan you loved.