Warriors AU: Sandstar's Quest

Chapter 29

Author's Note: Just a quick announcement! There will be no uploads next week. It is my 21st birthday on April 22nd and I will be out of town during that time. I also have my vacation next week! I will upload again on April 30th! I hope you all have a good day!

"How is Clovertail?" Sandstar asked as he slipped into the medicine cat's cave. Night had fallen, and the half-moon shed silver light into the gorge. Back in the forest the medicine cats would be traveling to Highstones for their twice-moon meeting. Sandstar wished he had the benefit of Cinderpelt's wisdom now.

Fireheart looked up as Sandstar entered, her eyes filled with sorrow. "He's getting worse," she mewed. "His wound is infected—just what I was afraid of."

"You've tried marigold?" Sandstar asked, padding forward to look down at Clovertail. The pale brown warrior shifted restlessly in his sleep and let out a moan of pain.

Fireheart nodded. "Rain and Petalnose brought me plenty, but it's not doing any good. I wish there was something stronger to use for rat bites, but if there is, Cinderpelt didn't tell me." She lashed her tail in frustration.

"You couldn't learn everything in the time you had before we left," Sandstar consoled her. "I know you're doing your best."

"It's a pretty poor best if Clovertail dies."

Sandstar wanted to reassure her, but he knew the words would sound empty. He could feel the heat of fever rising from Clovertail's body. His legs twitched as Sandstar watched; he opened eyes glazed with pain and let out another moan.

Fireheart rested her tail tip soothingly on his head; the pale brown tom's eyes closed again and he seemed to sink back into a quieter sleep.

"He can't go on like this," Fireheart murmured. "No cat has the strength."

Sandstar rasped his tongue over her ear, but before he could say anything to comfort her, he heard a soft pawstep behind him. A sweet scent drifted around him and every hair on his pelt started to tingle. Spottedleaf!

Spinning around, he saw the pale outline of a tortoiseshell cat with the frosty glimmer of Starclan around him. He set down a mouthful of herbs and padded up to settle close by Clovertail, between Sandstar and Fireheart.

Am I dreaming? Sandstar wondered. When did I fall asleep?

Then Fireheart's ears pricked; she turned and her eyes flew wide with astonishment. "Spottedleaf!"

Sandstar opened his jaws to speak, but at first not the faintest mew came out. How could Fireheart see Spottedleaf if she was inside his dream? "Spottedleaf, how...?"

Spottedleaf silenced him by touching noses with him. "I've come because you both need me." He turned to the herbs he had set down and patted them over to Fireheart. "Burdock root is best for rat bites."

Fireheart was staring at the Starclan medicine cat as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. As the glossy green leaves rustled around her paws she blinked and looked down, sniffing the roots. "This will help Clovertail?"

Spottedleaf nodded. "I'll chew the root up. You clean the marigold off his wound."

As if she had made up her mind not to think too closely about what was happening, Fireheart began licking the chewed-up marigold from Clovertail's shoulder. Sandstar watched numbly as Spottedleaf crouched down beside the burdock, tucked his paws underneath his chest, and began to chew one of the roots. When the pulp was ready he showed Fireheart how to use it, patting it well down into the wound.

Clovertail stirred uneasily; Spottedleaf bent over him. "Sleep now," he whispered into his ear. "All will be well; I promise."

As if he could hear him, Clovertail sighed and seemed to settle more quietly.