Batwing watched Berrypaw in his nest anxiously. He was sick. It was whitecough, as Redtuft had told him. I hope he doesn't get greencough, Batwing thought helplessly. Berrypaw coughed softly. "Shoo! Out of the medicine den! Do you want to catch whitecough too?" Redtuft scolded, gently nudging Batwing out. "He'll be fine." Redtuft assured him more kindly, his eyes twinkling with sympathy.
"But..." Batwing hesitated. Sighing, he dragged himself away from the medicine den, but sat almost next to it. He frowned. It was so quiet without Berrypaw here. Snaketooth spotted him, and, with a sneer, he laughed.
"Aw, feeling lonely? Now that your boyfriend isn't here."
Foxtuft and Widowpelt laughed nearby, and Iciclecrash mewed, "Yeah. I bet he's gonna go cry now that Berrypaw isn't here."
Batwing's ears flattened against his head. They were so mean, and for what? "Iciclecrash, aren't you already mates with Snaketooth? Geez, you couldn't wait?"
"Shut up. At least I don't follow him around like a little mouse."
"That's exactly what you do." Batwing retorted. Iciclecrash rolled her eyes and shoved Batwing harshly, causing him to fall to the ground with a small thud. He yowled in mock-pain. "Ouch! That hurt! Owww!" He cried, before getting up and smiling smugly at her.
Iciclecrash rolled her eyes. "Shut. Up!" She unsheathed a paw, "You're so annoying. Why does Berrypaw like you? You're the absolute worst."
Batwing flinched. "Ouch." He repeated, more seriously this time.
"Good. I wanted it to hurt you. You're disgusting." She lashed her tail, joining Snaketooth again and whispered angrily to him, darting eyes in Batwing's direction. Batwing scowled. She was so mean! He already was starting to miss Berrypaw. Was he doing okay? Batwing turned and padded to the medicine den, which earned a laugh from Iciclecrash.
"Hey Redtuft!" Batwing greeted. He was already making his way back to Berrypaw's nest before Redtuft blocked him.
"Didn't I just tell you to leave?" He questioned, though his eyes glimmered with amusement. He sighed as he gazed outside. "We need catmint, but nobody wants to fetch it in this weather." Rain poured from the sky.
"I'll go!" Batwing offered quickly.
"You will?" Redtuft didn't look surprised. Batwing licked his chest self-consciously.
"Yeah. I want him to get better." He remembered his dream, the dream where he and Berrypaw had a family of their own. He wanted that dream to be a reality. They'd adopt two kits together, and be a happy, happy family...
Batwing slipped out of camp, ignoring the mud that sloshed at the entrance. He stepped through the puddles. The brown mush stained his tortoiseshell fur. He cringed, but pushed on, until he reached Berrypaw's garden. Batwing sniffed through the herbs, getting excited when he smelled the sweet catmint Berrypaw needed. He began digging, mud and dirt getting under his claws. Yuck! He yearned to snatch his paw away, but he stood his ground. What, scared of getting your paws dirty? He imagined Berrypaw's teasing mew.
The plant moved under his claws, and he pulled out the catmint. "Okay, great. I have it." He carefully padded back to camp, careful not to get the herbs dirty. His pelt was so dirty that someone could mistake him for a brown-pelted cat. Batwing could feel cats staring at him with amusement, giggling as he padded to the medicine den. He didn't care. He just wanted Berrypaw to get his medicine. Batwing peeked in through the entrance of the den.
"Batwing!" He heard Berrypaw's excited mew. "Is that for me?"
"Yes." Batwing pushed past Redtuft, who snorted with annoyance, and dropped the herbs at his nest. "It's for you."
"Thank you." Berrypaw's eyes were filled with affection. He nibbled delicately at the plant. Batwing squeezed beside him in his nest. He could feel warmth radiating from his pelt as he pressed against him. Redtuft watched them, expression unreadable.
"If both of you get whitecough, don't blame me." He said finally.
"Don't mind him, he's just jealous." Berrypaw rasped, his mew crackling with affection. He curled up beside Batwing, resting his head under his chin. Batwing entwined his tail with his.
"Go to sleep." Batwing scolded, "You're sick."
"What do you think I'm trying to do right now?" Berrypaw rolled his eyes, but nuzzled Batwing's chest. "Goodnight," He murmured.
"Goodnight." Batwing licked his head.
