-[ Warriors: With The Fallen ]-

Part One: Chapter Eleven~ News

A/N: Just a small mention of blood
——

  Simple'star, Willow'clan's leader, began first. She moved forward on the branch. This signaled that she was the first to speak — There was a pattern that the clans shared information.

  However, with no Cave'clan anymore, Rose'paw was sure it had to be switched.

  "Willow'clan has been doing well!" Simple'star started.

  She paused as loud yowls rang through the valley. Some of the loudest sounded from Sapling'paw. The she-cat seemed very patriotic for her clan.

  The leader continued, "We have been flourishing in our hunting this Leaf'bare, but unfortunately have a couple... casualties from some new strand of illness. Silver'sky is currently looking for a cure."

  Sand'star, Shore'clan's leader, grumbled. "Definitely a couple,"

  Simple'star ignored the other leader. "On a good note, Silver'sky has taken on a new apprentice, Heart'paw!"

  "Heart'paw! Heart'paw! Heart'paw!" The cats cheered for the new apprentice.

  Rose'paw turned over to where some cats were looking. There sat who she guessed was Heart'paw, next to Bark'paw — Shore'clan's Medicine Cat. From what the other Shore'clan cats had talked about around her, the old Medicine Cat of Shore'clan had gone 'Distant', so Bark'paw was the official Medicine Cat.

  It did not make sense for Bark'paw to just become a Medicine Cat now. Whoever the original Medicine Cat was would just get better soon. Only added stress, and worse conditions for ill cats.

  — Was she missing something, though? Like what did 'Distant' mean? She didn't want to make a fool of herself and ask one lf the Shore'clan cats, so she was just going to sit here and be confused about it.

  Simple'star went back, while Sand'star stood forward.

  "Shore'clan has also been doing well!"

  Again, the leader paused. She smirked at Simple'star when even louder cheers from Shore'clan's more numerous cats yowled for their clan. Simple'star didn't acknowledge her. She kept her eyes forward, and trained on... Cackle'fire?

  Her mother sat still, seemingly looking at nothing. Her actions were painfully familiar. An image of Fawn'tooth, staring out at nothing, clouded Rose'paw's mind. Shore and Willow'clan cats were nowhere to be seen around her, either.

  Rose'paw shook off her rising suspicions. She turned her attention back to Sand'star.

  "We, too, have been struggling from this disease. We hope to our dear Star'clan that this... fluke will be over and done with by New'leaf." Was she talking about that 'Distant' thing?

  Sand'star lowered her head, "Amist the chaos of the Distanced cats, we lost our Medicine Cat. Once our lands are safer, Bark'paw will go to Moon-glass to become a Medicine Cat."

Chaos?

  Maybe they were just not talking about the same ill cats.

  Maybe these cats were just rule breakers, like that strange grey tom.

Rose'paw just liked that answer the best.

It did not matter whether it was the right one or not. If she thought of other possible answers, then her routine-based life would be at risk.

  A couple cheers went out for Bark'paw. Mixed in with the cheers, were saddened mews for the lost Medicine Cat.

  "We have also caught a couple of Willow'clan intruders on our territory!" Sand'star turned to Simple'star, "Perhaps your clan is not doing as well as you think with your food?"

  Simple'star responded firmly, "We have dealt with that apprentice,"

  She looked to Sapling'paw — From what Rose'paw had gathered, Sapling'paw and Heart'paw were the only apprentices. Both Shore'clan and Willow'clan had brought all of their apprentices. Like some competition.

  "Ah, well Shore'clan has strengthened our boarders. I will say that the two-legs have been acting sick too. Just for any cautions with crossing the Thunderpaths." Sand'star concluded with a nod, before she stepped back.

  Fog'star was confused. This was obviously. The poor elderly tom just sat on the rock, unsure of what to do.

  Leap'tail motioned him to walk forward. A light of remembrance flashed in him, and he walked forward to add on.

  "Ahem," Fog'star cleared his throat. "Cloud'clan has been doing swell. Petal'toe has given birth to another litter of kits," He started off.
 
  A couple of yips for the new kits sounded. Not as many as she thought there would be, though. Some cats seemed worried for them.

  "We... Oh dear," Fog'star's eyes widened when he looked in her mother's direction.

  The she-cat foamed yellow at her mouth. A wild tone formed over her. More wild than how she had acted out normally.

  Cats darted away from her, while a couple younger apprentices yelped at the sight. She began to loll around in a circle. Cackle'flame's faded eyes tried to focus on a cat.

  Grey'sky growled at the sick cat. He bared his fangs; ready to silence her. Strangely, Rose'paw was in full support of Cackle'flame being gone. She felt no remorse for that cat.

  A Willow'clan cat rushed up to him, and pulled him back. "Don't bite, or you'll get sick too," He whispered.

  Rose'paw remembered how Cackle'fire had picked up that sick squirrel. Even without all of this, her actions were unsanitary. Why should they bring back diseased prey?

  Leopard'dream suddenly rushed up to the ill cat. He clenched a long pointed branch in his jaws. In a flash, Leopard'dream plunged the branch into Cackle'fire's throat.

  The sick cat glared at him with wild, pea-sized green eyes. Some blood poked at her mouth. Then she collapsed onto the ground, and when she opened her eyes one last time, they appeared normal. Still filled with hatred, even in death.

  Cats stared at Leopard'dream with confusion. Where had a Medicine Cat learned to fight so well? Especially with that tactic of stabbing Cackle'flame in her throat. The branch still hung in her neck.

  "They cannot be cured." Was all Leopard'dream gave as a response, before going to sit back down with the other Medicine Cats.

  "Uh," Fog'star looked weary.

  Sand'star turned to Fog'star, "I'd suggest checking up on your camp," She mewed, but not in a harsh tone this time; more of a concerned one.

"Your clan is new to this disease."

  With that, the Gathering was cut short. Fog'star gave a hefty leap for a cat his age, and gathered his cats up before they left.