Fire and Ice

Chapter 18

Graystripe was already gone when Skyfall woke up again. The patrol with Longtail had cleared her mind a bit; the tabby seemed to know just what to say to keep her mind off her apprentice and mentor. She was grateful for Longtail, finding an affection for the tom she'd never felt before.

She could tell it was sunhigh by the light streaming through the branches. She rose, her body still weary with grief, and pushed out of the den. The snow must have continued while she slept, for it lay thick on the ground and had begun climbing the walls of the den.

The usual bustle of the Clan was gone. She could see Willowpelt and Halftail whispering together at the far side of the clearing. Mousefur was picking her way laboriously toward the store of fresh-kill, a rabbit held tightly in her jaws. She stopped and sneezed, then carried on.

Skyfall lifted a thick paw and placed it carefully on the snow. It felt hard at first but the more she pushed, the easier it gave way. Her leg plunged into the powder, making her gasp. She felt as if she were drowning in snow! Her head was hardly clear of the cold substance. She pushed her way to the edge of the clearing. The snow here was hardly a mouse-length deep, and Skyfall sat down with a soft crunch, relieved of the drowning feeling.

She tensed when she saw Graystripe plowing through the snow toward her. He faltered for a moment at her narrowed gaze but soon continued. The gray warrior's face was shadowed with sorrow. "Have you heard about Bluestar?" he asked as he neared. "She lost a life to greencough."

Skyfall flicked her ears, looking away. She could have told him last night if he hadn't acted as if someone put thorns in his nest. "I know," she answered. "I was with her."

"Why didn't you tell me?" mewed Graystripe, stunned.

"You weren't exactly in a friendly mood last night, in case you don't remember. And I was a little too busy worrying about my Clan then trying to figure out where you'd run off to again," Skyfall snarled, her anger at herself being shifted toward her friend.

Graystripe's ears twitched uncomfortably. "I've just seen Cinderpaw," he meowed. "I'm sorry she's so sick."

"How is she?"

"She looked bad, but Yellowfang said she's pulling through," replied Graystripe.

Skyfall hung her head and stood up. Her head swam with too many thoughts, but she wanted to see her apprentice herself.

Graystripe stopped her. "She's asleep now. Frostfur's with her, and Yellowfang doesn't want anyone else disturbing her."

Skyfall nodded blankly. She felt as if she were underwater and everyone else was too far away. She wanted to seek comfort but Graystripe was always off seeing Silverstream and Bluestar was still recovering. She also doubted Willowpelt and Whitestorm had time for her problems. When she looked over, Graystripe was already trudging away to the nursery. Skyfall rolled her eyes with a growl.

Skyfall hadn't realized she was staring until Speckletail, the oldest nursery queen and the mother of the kit with whitecough, had stopped in front of her. "Is Tigerclaw inside?" she asked, pointing with her nose to the warriors' den.

Skyfall shook her head.

Speckletail looked her over for a moment, her eyes gentle as she'd always looked at her. "There's greencough in the nursery. Two of Brindleface's kits are sick."

"Greencough!" Skyfall gasped, shaken into attention. "Will they die?"

"They might. But leaf-bare always brings greencough," she explained gently.

"Surely there must be something! More catnip, feverfew; something!" Skyfall protested, her fur prickling.

"Yellowfang will do what she can," Speckletail answered. "But in the end, it's up to StarClan."