Warriors: The star lake fanfiction

Chapter 32

About a half-moon later, everyone seemed to be getting used to Proudstar as the new leader. But, things weren't going so well in ThunderClan.
Whitecough started spreading. Hazletail, Frostbite and Tawnyshade all had whitecough. And, to top it all off, Blackpool was still feeling weak from the trip to the moonstone.
Smokestorm was beginning to get worried about him. He should have been better by now. Smokestorm made sure to check on him everyday after training Sparrowpaw, but she knew she risked getting whitecough from the three cats that had it every time she entered the medicine den.
The snow was getting worse. There were storms all day, every day. The ground was covered in deep snow and Smokestorm's pelt had a coat of white snowflakes on it.

Proudstep called a clan meeting.
Smokestorm walked over by the highrock, trying to see despite the falling snow stinging her eyes.
"Everyone, I know that this leaf-bare is already becoming dangerous. Fawnheart and I have discussed a plan. We don't want ThunderClan's apprentices out in the raging blizzards from now on. Now, the five apprentices will stay in the nursery and practice fighting skills there. I know that they won't be practicing properly and learning all the skills they need, but I don't want to risk the lives of our apprentices and future warriors. I call it isolation. I just want them to stay in the nursery with any queens at the time and Waspkit until the weather and whitecough is under control. I would also like Smokestorm to isolate with them and teach them verbally during that period. Our warriors will fetch extra prey for you. This arrangement will probably only last for a moon and a half I hope." Proudstar announced.
Isolation? Did this mean that she wouldn't even be able to leave the nursery at all?

"The cats in our clan with whitecough will also isolate themselves in the medicine den. Nobody will be permitted to enter there except for Blackpool and Darkpaw without permission. I don't want anyone else getting infected." He added.
"Clan dismissed." He jumped off the highrock and walked towards Smokestorm, Maplepaw and Gingerpaw, who had been sitting next to her.
"I know this is new and a little scary. But I thought this through and I think it'll work if you all cooperate. I promise this will only be for a short while." He said.
Smokestorm was still in shock a bit about being away from her friends for that long, but nodded.
"I'm going to say goodbye to Wrenfeather." She said.
"Alright. Maplepaw, Gingerpaw, round up the other three and stay in the nursery." He instructed.
The two nodded and bounded off to find their brother and friends.

Smokestorm looked for Wrenfeather, but he was not in camp.
She eventually stumbled across Darkpaw coming out of the medicine den. He looked tired and stressed.
"Hey, what's wrong?" She asked.
"Since Blackpool isn't feeling well, I have to take over almost all of the healing in ThunderClan. It's exhausting." He said in a normal tone. He seemed to tired to care if he was talking louder than his usual level.
"I'm so sorry. I'd offer to help but apparently I have to isolate in the nursery with the apprentices and Ravenshine for a moon and a half. What's wrong with Blackpool?" She asked.
Darkpaw leaned in and lowered his voice. His face was very serious.
"I believe he caught whitecough about a half-moon before he and Proudstar left for the moonstone. It's been growing and growing and it went untreated for too long. I think he might get greencough. If that's the case, we need to put him somewhere else where he won't infect anyone." He said.
"Oh my StarClan, I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope he gets better." He dipped his head in thanks.
"Have you seen Wrenfeather?" She asked.
"He and Hollowfang went out hunting. Their trying to get extra prey."

That wasn't right.
It sounded like a normal thing, but something deep in her gut told her that this was wrong. Her intuition led her to believe it had something to do with Heatherpelt.
"Thanks, Darkpaw. And I hope things get better." She said quickly, wanting to get to the river before Proudstar noticed she was gone and forced her to isolate.
She tried to trot, but her knees were in pain and the snow was high so she went quite slowly.
She finally arrived at the river, seeing Hollowfang, Wrenfeather and Heatherpelt there.
They were talking about...kits?
Heatherpelt suddenly saw that Smokestorm was there and hissed at her. Heatherpelt looked...even rounder than she did before.
Then she realized. Heatherpelt was with kits.
And Hollowfang must have been the father.

"You knew?" She asked Wrenfeather.
"Yes. But, Hollowfang's my best friend. I would never eat him out."
She understood Wrenfeather's loyalty, for she would have done the same thing. The thing that triggered her was Wrenfeather calling Hollowfang his best friend.
She thought she was his best friend.
"What are you going to do with the kits?" She said, sticking with her assumption about Heatherpelt.
"She's giving half of them to me. We'll wash off our scents with the snow from the kits and I'll pretend like I found them on the border like Waspkit." Hollowfang said.
"What if they get suspicious. Everyone knows you have a 'friend' in RiverClan. They'll get suspicious if they see you bringing back mysterious kits and getting attached to them." She stated.
"Well, that's where Wrenfeather comes in. He'll be there too and claim that the kits were found on the border. They won't be suspicious." Heatherpelt gave Smokestorm a glare that said "assuming you won't tell them anything".
"Hmm. Well, I will help raise the kits when the time comes if you need help. After all, kits need a strong female role model, neither of which those two are." She joked towards Hollowfang and Wrenfeather, trying to lighten the mood.
Hollowfang nodded.

Smokestorm said her goodbyes to them and headed back for camp to isolate. the whole way back, all she could think about was Wrenfeather.
Did he not trust her anymore? It sure seemed like it.
She missed their old bond. They still had one, but this was different from the one they had as kits. Smokestorm knew that things changed over time, but she didn't know if she could handle this. Wrenfeather was one of the only reasons she returned, but apparently he'd been fine keeping secrets and had become more distant.
Smokestorm pushed away those thoughts. She was happy to be with Wrenfeather again, even if he was a little different.
Luckily, she made it back before anyone noticed she'd been gone for too long.
She went into the nursery, seeing her apprentice and Maplepaw play fighting while Lightpaw, Spottedpaw and Gingerpaw watched and took bets on who would win.
Ravenshine was in the corner, watching Waspkit play with his own tail.

Smokestorm greeted everyone but retreated to her respective corner away from the cats in the den. She didn't feel like talking right now. She was going to spend a moon and a half with these cats, it was fine if she had some time for herself.
Lightpaw approached her, but said nothing. He probably sensed that she didn't feel like interacting with anyone, so he simply sat beside her to keep her company.
Lightpaw uncharacteristically remained silent.
By the time the isolation was over, Lightpaw and the other apprentices would have only three moons left until they could become warriors. That was crazy. They were staying in isolation for THAT long.
Smokestorm heard panic through the clan, but she forced herself to stay in the nursery.
"It's Hazletail!"
"He's gone." she heard some cats say.
This was going to be rough.