Warriors: Darkness In The Clans 3: Melt

Chapter Six

Holly trudged around the camp miserably, bringing their small dove to Snaketooth. He and Foxtuft were treated like leaders, and they made the other wanderers bring most of the prey to them, only feeding them a small chunk. Holly was starving, but they gave their chunk to Ghost. He was sick again. Berryfrost is a medicine cat. Maybe I can take him to see him. "Ghost, you need to eat." They pressed. Ghost groaned before weakly lapping up his food. Holly sighed as he threw it up on the grass. He needs help. "Should I take you to see Berryfrost?" Holly asked worriedly.

"Who?" Ghost croaked. Holly's belly burned with anger. Snaketooth made Ghost sick! He kept hogging all the prey, starving poor Ghost and the rest of the cats.

"C'mon. We need to hurry, before Foxtuft or Snaketooth sees us." Holly nudged him gently. He stumbled towards the entrance, trying his best to stay silent. As they left the hollow, Holly noticed Rain and Thundercloud following them. Their pelt bristled, preparing to make an excuse.

"I told Thundercloud about Berryfrost, don't worry. She's on our side." Rain explained. Thundercloud dipped her head. "You're getting help for Ghost, right?"

"Yeah."

Rain dipped his head, "We will come with you. Ghost needs more protection than a cat who's barely old enough to leave their mother." He added with a twitch of his whiskers. Holly's eyes blazed. I'm not that young! "Lead the way, Holly."

They tasted the air, searching for Berryfrost's familiar sweet scent. They found it near some ferns, and followed the trail to a large dip in the ground hidden by bushes. "I think that's the entrance. Let's wait next to it and see if he comes out." They mewed, settling down behind a bush with Ghost next to them.

It seemed as though they were sitting for moons, huddling close together when a clan cat emerged from the entrance. Berryfrost finally padded out, and Holly hissed to him. "Who's there?" He asked, his fur standing on end. As Holly revealed themself, he hissed, "What are you doing here?"

"We need your help. Ghost is really sick." They confessed, and Ghost revealed himself, coughing violently.

Berryfrost's eyes rounded with sympathy, but he mewed, "We need to go somewhere else. Come on. There's an old twoleg monster nearby. Don't worry, I've never seen a twoleg get in it my whole life." He added as Holly's eyes widened. "It's so old, there's herbs growing around it's paws and animals making their nests in it." Berryfrost swished his tail, and Holly and the others followed him, Ghost leaning against them. Good thing Berryfrost is such a nice cat. Ghost might not have a chance at life without him.

They neared the monster, and Berryfrost crouched low so Ghost could climb onto him to enter the back of the monster. He stepped inside, legs trembling. "I'll go get him some tansy and juniper berries. Holly, get him some prey." He commanded. Holly nodded. They hesitated for a heartbeat before padding deeper into the forest, sniffing the air for prey. Mouse! Ghost's second favorite! His favorite was deer, but Holly couldn't catch that by themself. They crouched low, letting the wind blow their scent behind them. Stepping lightly on the ground, they creeped closer. The mouse didn't suspect a thing, and only realized they were there as they threw the mouse into the air, catching it in their jaws and spraying blood on the ground. The mouse fell to the ground and they gave it a small nip on the neck, before picking it up and padding back to the monster. Berryfrost was in the back, treating Ghost with herbs. "Thank starclan!" He breathed.

Holly climbed onto one of the paws, dropping the prey at Ghost's paws. Ghost was curled up, quietly napping in the center.

"I've given him tansy and juniper like I said, and some feverfew. He has a fever." Berryfrost explained. Holly nodded, though they had no idea what he was talking about. "I have some honey on this oak leaf. When he wakes, make sure he eats his prey and his honey."

"Okay." Holly plopped themself down next to Ghost. Rain and Thundercloud exchanged uneasy glances.

"What's that black seed there?" Rain asked suspiciously.

"Poppy seeds." Berryfrost spoke, sounding as though he wanted to add obviously. "They help sick and hurt cats sleep better. I wasn't a hundred percent sure he needed them, but better safe than sorry." Holly nodded, their eyes widening. Berryfrost was so smart! Did he learn all that in his clan? Maybe we'd be better off in a clan, They thought, glancing at Ghost worriedly. "By the way, how did Ghost get sick?" He asked, concerned. After Holly explained, his eyes widened, blazing with anger. "He's such a fox-heart! I can't believe he's my brother!" He snarled.

"You're kin?" Holly mewed in disbelief.

"We aren't related by blood. Don't worry- I've hated him for as long as I can remember." Berryfrost explained swiftly. Holly hesitated. He's my only hope. I have to trust him. "I have to leave. Remember to make sure he eats."

"I will." Holly promised, curling their tail around Ghost protectively. Rain and Thundercloud whispered to each other.

"What will we tell Snaketooth?"

"Tell him I left for good." They spoke without hesitation. They would never make their home with the drifters. Never again.