Warrior Cats: SkyClan Returns #2

Chapter Thirty-One

Thymewhisker's flanks heaved as he let out a loud bout of coughing. Goldcloud rested a paw on the elder's forehead. It was hot. The leaf-fall weather had already begun to bring illness with it.

"It might be white cough,"

Goldcloud meowed grimly. Thymewhisker nodded.

"Thought it might've been,"

He rasped.

"I'm gettin' old, you see,"

Thymewhisker purred. Goldcloud pushed a few tansy leaves in front of him.

"Suntail's gone to gather some catmint. He shouldn't be long,"

Goldcloud promised as Thymewhisker gobbled up the herbs.

"I'll come back later on,"

Thymewhisker told the young medicine cat, padding out of the den. Goldcloud watched him go. I just hope I can cure him. We've lost so many Clanmates recently. The light from the den entrance faded as Lilypatch padded in.

"Here for some borage?"

She asked, looking the white and silver queen up and down. Lilypatch's flanks were more noticeably swollen now, though she still wasn't as large as Fernpelt. Lilypatch nodded.

"I'll take Fernpelt's to her as well,"

Lilypatch offered. Goldcloud swiftly found the leaves in the herb stores, giving a few to Lilypatch. She nodded gratefully before leaving. More pawsteps thrummed the ground, moving toward the den. We're busy today, Goldcloud thought. Sleekfur burst into the den, his black fur spiked up in horror. His flanks heaved heavily. Panic set like a stone it Goldcloud's heart.

"Goldcloud! I-It's Suntail! Come quick!"

Sleekfur meowed, his voice laced thickly with panic. Goldcloud's eyes widened as she followed the black warrior from the camp. The two cats sprinted through the trees, away from the lake. They tore through the forest, and Goldcloud ignored the tiredness making her legs and lungs ache.

Further and further they went, until they drew close to the outskirts of the territory. Goldcloud felt like she was going to collapse, and a million thought whizzed through her mind. What happened? Is he hurt? Should I have brought herbs? The strong, disgusting scent of fox hit Goldcloud's nose. Oh no.

On top of the fox-scent, Goldcloud could smell Suntail, and the tangy scent of blood. She followed Sleekfur through a clump of ferns. Suntail was lying on his side beneath a maple tree. A long wound stretched across his belly, clotted with cobwebs. Greybird emerged, a bunch of herbs hanging from her jaw. Goldcloud stared at her mentor. He's not breathing!

She raced up to Suntail. Relief flooded through her as his whiskers twitched. He opened his eyes a crack, a slight smile across his face as he saw Goldcloud. Greybird licked a poultice of the herbs into his wound, but he barely winced.

"Don't worry, Suntail. I'll save you,"

Goldcloud promised. I need more cobwebs! And marigold - or coltsfoot - or, oh, I don't know! She panicked internally. Goldcloud looked at the wound. Greybird had done well dressing it, but it cut deep into his belly. For the first time since she was apprenticed, Goldcloud didn't know what to do.

"Goldcloud, you can't save me,"

Suntail whispered. Grief settled in Goldcloud's heart as he spoke the words she already knew to be true. Greybird had disappeared again, looking for herbs.

"Then why did you ask me to get her, and for Greybird to help you?"

Sleekfur padded forwards, his voice cracking with sadness as he spoke. Goldcloud looked at Suntail for the answer, her blue eyes glazed with sorrow. Suntail took in a shallow breath, blood breaking through the dressing on the wound.

"So that I could say good-bye,"

He meowed. Goldcloud felt utterly helpless.

"You knew,"

Goldcloud whispered, realisation hitting her like a thorn to the face.

"You knew you were going to die,"

She pressed her muzzle to her mentor's fur, unable to bring herself to be angry. She wanted to hate him for not telling her. Maybe then it wouldn't hurt as much. But she couldn't. Her heart broke more with every heart-beat. Suntail's only response was a slight flick of an ear.

"Good-bye, sleepy-kit,"

Suntail's voice was barely audible. His eyes fluttered shut, and his flanks stopped moving. Goldcloud let out a wail of grief, throwing her head up to the sky. Sleekfur rested his tail on her shoulder comfortingly. Anger pulsed through her. She turned to face Sleekfur.

"How could you have let this happen? What kind of warrior are you if you couldn't even save him?"

Goldcloud accused. Sleekfur just blinked at her sympathetically. Goldcloud's anger faded, and she let out a soft whimper, pressing her muzzle against Suntail's ginger cheek. Greybird re-emerged, letting out a gasp as she saw the medicine cat's body.

"Come on,"

Sleekfur meowed softly. Goldcloud barely heard him. Her mind was clouded with disbelief.

"Let's get him back to camp,"