Warrior Cats: Darkness Rising. (2/3)

Chapter 4

Cloverpool's head shot up from her nest. She angrily flicked an ear as she glared at Dewnose. The gray tabby tom had done nothing that night except cough. Grumbling, Cloverpool heaved herself to her paws. She spent a good time grooming herself before finally padding out of the warriors' den. The sun hadn't risen yet, and the forest was covered with thick layers of frost. She sank her claws into the frozen ground and shivered. Pigeonwing was on watch, gazing into the dark forest. Cloverpool waved her tail at him in greeting, but the tom didn't see her. Shrugging, Cloverpool head towards the medicine den. She pushed aside the lichen before entering. The stench of sickness crashed into her nose, threatening to choke her. Trying her best to ignore the reek, she padded past the nest where Featherkit and Hailkit where sleeping. Their breathing was irregular, and their eyes were wet and their nose streaming. "Poor little mites." She murmured sadly before heading to where Alderleaf was sleeping soundly. He had stayed at camp while Jayfeather had gone to the half moon gathering with the other medicine cats last night. She had been awake when they returned, and had heard them talking through the walls of the warriors' den.

"Kestrelflight's apprentice has earned her medicine cat name." Jayfeather had mewed.

"Really? What is it?" Alderleaf had asked, sounding way more interested than Jayfeather.

"Cloudleap." Jayfeather murmured, and then added with a more serious tone. "All the other clans are fighting greencough too, and we're all low on catmint." He mewed in a very worried tone. Cloverpool had seen Alderleaf stiffen through the leaves. "Have they lost anyone?" He asked. Jayfeather nodded. "Yes, Riverclan have lost Shadetail and Mallownose, and Windclan Brindlefoot." He mewed. Alderleaf sighed. "Let's hope Starclan will send us a sign about how and where we can find catmint." The younger medicine cat prayed.

Cloverpool shook the memory away and prodded Alderleaf awake. The tom's eyes instantly flew open, but he slowly rose to his paws. "What is it?" He whispered, yawning. Cloverpool sighed. "I think Dewnose has caught greencough, or at least whitecough. He's been keeping the warriors awake all night." She explained. Alderleaf's eyes instantly grew worried, and his gaze swept over the sick cats in the den. "Another sick cat is the last thing Thunderclan needs right now." He murmured, lashing his tail. They both spun around when Jayfeather sprang to his paws with a gasp. His eyes were filled with terror, and his legs trembled. Alderleaf shot towards his mentor and lent him his shoulder. Jayfeather leaned heavily onto him, panting. "Have you had a sign?" Alderleaf whispered hopefully, but Cloverpool guessed that this was not a good sign. Jayfeather turned his sightless gaze to Alderleaf. "Darkness is rising, Alderleaf. And it will rise to be more powerful than we'd have ever imagined." He whispered, his voice trembling. Cloverpool felt her heart thudding against her ribs, and she could smell her own fear scent. "Jayfeather?" Jayfeather snapped his head around, and Cloverpool turned around to see Featherkit stumbling to his paws and climbing out of his nest. Alderleaf hurried towards him and sniffed him all over. "I'm fine, Alderleaf. I'm not sick anymore." He explained before turning to Jayfeather. "Jayfeather, I've had a sign about where we can find catmint." He mewed. But there was no hope or fear in his voice, yet it was not expressionless. Jayfeather pricked his ears and steadied his breathing. "Is that so? How?" He mewed. Featherkit looked thoughtful for a moment before he mewed. "Well, this brown tabby and white she-cat came to me when I woke up in a lush forest, and she gave me catmint." He mewed. Jayfeather exchanged a surprised glance with Alderleaf. "That must've been Leafpool." Alderleaf whispered and Jayfeather turned to Featherkit. "What did she say, Featherkit?" He asked. Featherkit glanced up at him before taking a deep breath. "She told me that there were more plants like this in twoleg place, and she told me she had a message to you, Jayfeather." Featherkit mewed. Jayfeather tipped his head. "What message?" He asked. "That a patrol should go and fetch the catmint that stands outside our borders, or cats from all the clans will continue dying." He mewed, and Cloverpool felt the fur along her spine rising when someone sighed from behind her. The sigh was so low that she wasn't sure if she'd heard it or if she'd been imagining it. Jayfeather whipped around and hurried towards where Flailpaw lay. Cloverpool's heart skipped a beat when she saw that the former rogue wasn't breathing, and his eyes had rolled to the back of his head. "He's dead." Jayfeather murmured, stepping away from him. Cloverpool felt her chest break and she clenched her teeth in sadness. She'd grown to like Flailpaw. Alderleaf whipped around to face Featherkit. "Did she tell you where to find the catmint?" He asked. Featherkit shook his head and Jayfeather snapped. "Starclan never say anything straight out. If we have to find the catmint, then we'll do it ourselves. Starclan has said that we can find it in twoleg place, and it's up to us to find it." Cloverpool shivered at the fierceness in his voice. "Featherkit, have you had any signs from Starclan before?" Jayfeather asked. Featherkit was silent for a moment before mewing. "Yes, about the dog attack." Jayfeather's eyes widened and Alderleaf's jaw dropped. "Are you excited to be a warrior?" Cloverpool asked gently. She could already guess what the medicine cats were thinking. Featherkit shrugged. "Not really. Or well, I haven't thought about it." He murmured, shuffling his tiny paws. Cloverpool turned to Jayfeather. "Jayfeather, my stomach really hurts. Do you have any horsetail that I can chew on?" She asked. Jayfeather glanced at her. To her relief, he seemed to realize what game she was playing at. Then Featherkit stepped in. "I don't think that's wise." He mewed. Jayfeather flicked his tail. "Then what should I use?" He asked. Featherkit looked down at his paws before looking back up at Jayfeather. "I would use watermint or juniper berries. Both should be fine, I guess." He mewed. Alderleaf touched the kit's shoulder with the tip of his tail. "Good job, Featherkit." He purred, giving him a lick on the ear. Featherkit gave out a purr. "When will you go to twoleg place?" He then asked. Jayfeather was silent for a moment before taking a deep breath and mewing. "That's up to Bramblestar."