-[ Warriors: With The Fallen ]-

Part One: Chapter Twelve~ Last Moments of 'Normal'

  At the beginning of their trek back, she already had a bad feeling about this.

'Your clan is new to this disease' — What was that supposed to mean?

  She remembered how they had called the sick cats 'Distanced.' Wasn't that how they would all stay? Until they got better?

  But no, Leopard'dream said they could not be cured. That means that cats like Brown'kit and Fawn'tooth really are...

Gone.

Left to become rabid cats like the creature Cackle'fire had become.

  Maybe Leopard'dream was wrong though. This illness was still pretty fresh, so the tom could not have that much information on cures.

~*~

  The cats trekked onward silently back to camp. Their paw-steps crunched of the icy snow. She flung back her gaze to the trail of steps leading back to the Gathering. Leading back to that illness that her clan 'is new too.'

  Rose'paw and Night'paw clung to each other's sides; terrified something that rabid would jump out and attack them. A strong gust of powerful icy wind raged towards them. She shivered, while Night'paw kept her eyes trained in front of them.

  "Do you think that all those sick cats will be like Cackle'flame was this night?" Night'paw mumbled.

  Rose'paw looked at her paws, as they created more distinct shapes in the snow. The brown one leaded, with the rest of her white paws following in sync.

  "I... I uh, I don't know,"

  Rose'paw knew the answer was yes. She did not want to believe that though. She did, though. That was the most terrifying part in this — Even she, a cat awesome at manipulating herself into constantly thinking that everything is alright, could not deny this.

  She could not deny that this illness was going to be much, much worse than what they ever imagined. Maybe if she could just protect Night'paw from this truth, then things would be better for her. At least. However, from Night'paw's gaze, Rose'paw knew that she also knew the truth.

  They couldn't just run away from home either. Where would they go? — None of the other camps seemed any better, with their rapidly declining numbers.

These last moments before both entered whatever world awaited them, may as well be their last moments of their clan life. Perhaps even their life.

"Just... focus how cold the snow is on your paws, Night'paw." Rose'paw suggested.

  "Don't think of anything else."

——

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, along with any other short chapters.