AshClan's Future {COMPLETE}

Chapter 36

Moonwhisker's biggest fear had come to life. In an instant, leaf-bare came and raged a storm unlike any other across AshClan and its warriors. The medicine cat den was filled with sick cats, and so was Goldenstar's den. Greencough had reared its ugly head and struck AshClan with a force that she hadn't witnessed in her life. The lives of several cats including Dustclaw, Berryleaf, Oakpaw, Duskwhisker and Ravenfur had already been claimed, with countless more cats sick.

In the medicine cat den was Gorsestrike, Roseclaw, Hazelfern, Mudthorn, Rainsong, Hollytail, Graypelt, Crowpaw and Dustpaw, but they weren't the ones worse off. In Goldenstar's den is where the truly sick cats were, the ones fighting for their lives and their leader was one of them. Along with Goldenstar was Cinderflower, Owlstorm, Featherfall, Grasspaw and Nightpaw. All but three apprentices were sick, and it was a terrifying time for AshClan.

Moonwhisker and Eagleclaw had been working without rest to try and save their Clanmates, but Moonwhisker couldn't help but feel that they were failing miserably. No cats had shown any sign of improvement, and they had ran out of catmint a moon into leaf-bare and they were currently two moons deep into the horrible season.

Ivyheart had taken over the Clan while Goldenstar was confined to her illness-infested den, and Moonwhisker couldn't help but feel that they would lose their leader before the season was over. Moonwhisker went around, checking each of the cats in the medicine cat den, these cats weren't as sick as the ones in the leader's den but their lives were still in danger.

She handed out as much chickweed as she could and gave them water with moss, but she still felt as if there was nothing she could do. Moonwhisker had never felt so hopeless and she knew that Eagleclaw felt the same way.

They hadn't gone to the half-moon meeting since leaf-bare started, neither of them could afford to leave their Clanmates for even a second. They were in dire straights and needed their medicine cat's constant attention. She padded over to Dustpaw, she was most worried about him. He had gotten greencough when he was just a kit which had nearly claimed his life back then. Please recover. Moonwhisker prayed silently.

Dustpaw and his siblings probably should've been named warriors already, but the sickness that claimed them left no time for ceremonies. The last ceremony that been preformed was the apprenticeship of Foxpaw. The only one of Dustpaw's siblings that wasn't sick was Batpaw, and his training had taken a momentary pause to help with the Clan.

All warriors were weren't sick were working themselves to exhaustion trying to keep the Clan fed, Moonwhisker knew that both of her sisters were working incredibly hard, as was the rest of AshClan. She had never seen her Clan so desolate, each time she stepped into the camp it was near empty. All warriors either sick or out trying to save their Clan. It was chilling sight every single time.

"How's Mudthorn's fever?" Eagleclaw mewed, suddenly stepping inside the medicine cat den. He spent most of his time in the leader's den caring for the critically ill cats. Moonwhisker stepped over to the brown tabby and touched her muzzle to his forehead.

"Not any better, but it doesn't feel worse. I just gave him more fever few and some water. I'm worried about Dustpaw, he's barely moved in the past two days."

"I'm having Ivyheart send a patrol of healthy warriors to the twolegplace. I want them to tear that place apart until they find catmint I don't care how many kittypets they need to fight to get it."

"We've already--"

"I know we've already sent patrols!" Eagleclaw hissed, then silenced himself. Moonwhisker wasn't scared and didn't take it personally. He was stressed and exhausted, just as she was. "But I need them to look again, I need them to take as much time as possible and bring back catmint or everyone in that den is going to die!"