I Don't Wanna Live Forever

AngelClan: Greencough and Gatherings

~Starlingstar~

When you adjust to a new role, it's not always going to be easy

The ones that listen to you may depend on you or even need you

In times of fear, pain, and uncertainty sometimes...

They'll turn to you

Starlingstar's POV

It had been one sunrise since we moved into the forest and I became leader. And with Jaspershade by my side as we relaxed in my new den comfortably, I did not expect for things in my Clan to go downhill as quickly as they did. We had only been relaxing for a few moments before Fireflight ran in with wide amber eyes.

"Marquis is gone!" Fireflight wailed. I sprung up on my paws and Jaspershade did the same.

"What? Where'd he go? What happened?" I demanded.

"I kept reassuring him that he didn't have to worry about Gunner anymore, and that he didn't have to keep us apart." Fireflight explained. "He...he freaked out and I think he ran into RainbowClan territory."

"I'll ask Butterflystar about it at the Gathering, I don't want a patrol barging in on their territory when the Gathering's tonight." I replied. "I'm really sorry Fireflight."

I expected Fireflight to lash out like most times that an unexpected event damaged their relationship, but instead he turned around and ran. Which surprisingly made me feel even worse. Celesteshine walked into my den moments later.

"I'll go make sure my brother's OK, and you might wanna check on Minty. Her kit's acting a bit weird and she's freaking out." Celesteshine told me.

"Thank you, I'll go see what's going on." I got up to leave the peaceful moments that I spent with my mate to make sure my Clan was running smoothly. As soon as I walked out of my den I could hear frantic talking that sounded like it would break into sobs at any moment.

I saw Bellkit sitting outside of the Nursery looking frightened, and I walked into the Nursery to see Minty hysterically lashing out at Myrtleflower.

"What do you mean my son might have greencough?! And that you couldn't find any catmint in our territory?! There has to be something!" Minty screeched. "What kind of medicine cat are you-"

"Minty! Minty calm down please so we talk this out." I put my paw on the cat that's one of my closest friends. In that moment I hardly believed that the five of us had divided: Minty had started a family with Rabbitstar and is slowly losing said family, Jessie and Chase were mates and that meant she spent a lot less time with Minty who was her best friend, and who knew where Marquis was. He was gone.

Jaspershade was still by my side, and I remembered the life that Gracecloud gave me for gratitude. I still had him.

"I...Muffinkit started coughing and Myrtleflower moved the elders to the warrior's den to move him to the elder's den. She e-e-expects g-greencough *hiccup* to be arriving. And she's too lazy to find catmint!" Minty snarled at the medicine cat viciously, but Myrtleflower didn't look intimated at all. It's almost like she's been through this before. 

"I obviously did look for catmint, so if you're going to try to undermine your own medicine cat, don't tell your leader lies." Myrtleflower retorted almost as viciously. Minty looked away from the both of us and gave a choked sob.

"Myrtleflower, just move all the cats that have started coughing into the elder's den. RainbowClan knows this territory like they know the back of their paws, I will also ask them about where to find catmint at the Gathering." I decided. "Let me know when you're done so I can decide which cats can go to the Gathering."

"Got it." Myrtleflower turned around, probably more than happy to be away from Minty. I wanted to talk to her but there were the three queens waiting outside the Nursery that might've caught greencough including my mother. I froze remembering how fatal and contagious greencough was, although AngelClan never experienced a greencough outbreak from when I was born up until this point. That old loon Stoneheart told Myrtleflower all about the disease so she knew what it could do and what catmint looked like. But if the greencough outbreak happens, we would have to find catmint. Fast.

I walked out of the Nursery where the three other queens were sprawled out in the sunlight, blissfully unaware that greencough could be infecting our Clan. They must've thought that Minty was hysterical about something less significant. I looked at my mother's content and happy gaze and I knew that I had to protect her and my unborn siblings from this disease. I looked out of the corner out of my gaze to see Myrtleflower leading Canarybranch, Erin, Cupcake, Kestrelstripe, Toriel, Misty, and Featherkit into the elder's den.

Roybranch was frantically hovering over Myrtleflower and speaking to her in a panicked tone, and I knew it was because both his mother and his only kit were sick. Kellymist looked at what was happening and got up in a panic. Mom gave a confused look and Dawnsky looked at me with the same emotion.

"What's going on?" Dawnsky's eyes widened. "What is she doing with those cats?"

"I......" They were caught coughing so we're moving them? Our Clan might be going down with greencough? What am I supposed to say that won't freak them out?

"Leaf-bare is almost upon us and cats are getting sick." Stormpool approached the queens. "Don't worry, they'll all be in one den. That way it doesn't spread as fast."

"As fast?" Kellymist growled as she stood up to face the deputy. "So it'll get to me and my unborn kits eventually? Is my brother going to lose his whole family? He doesn't deserve this and neither do I!"

"We cannot control nature!" Stormpool growled back. "Myrtleflower is doing the best that she can and we're handling it the best way we can. Clan life isn't always about sunshine and happiness...it can mean life and death too. You're just going to have to deal with it or leave."

I didn't want to be that blunt, she looks so heartbroken and helpless to what this disease is doing to her family.

Kellymist's eyes watered and she turned around and ran away from Stormpool and the rest of us. The moon was just starting to rise, and we needed answers from RainbowClan as soon as possible.

"All cats that can catch their own prey come forward!" I waited until all of the non-sick warriors of AngelClan were in front of me waiting for me to speak. "Leaf-bare is coming and I believe that with it comes greencough, a fatal infection of the chest that's contagious. Myrtleflower is finding the herb and all the cats that are showing signs of greencough have been moved to the Elder's den. So if you start coughing frequently, please move into the Elder's den for AngelClan's own good."

"Tonight is also the Gathering, and I will be bringing Stormpool, Myrtleflower, Celesteshine, Firefight, Jaspershade, Jessie, Chase, Larkspirit, Ebony, Mapleswirl, Troutleap, Avery, Sneakclaws, Wolfwing, and Shrimp-"

"Uh...can I stay? I need to make sure Kestrelstripe is OK." Shrimp asked shyly.

"Oh...okay." Since when were those two a thing? I guess since they both lost their mates recently they'd drown out their loneliness in each other? That was the least of my worries however.

"Since Shrimp's not going can I go in his place?" Briarpool asked way too eagerly.

"Sure, but behave." I growled. Don't kill anybody, don't knock up any she-cats, don't harm our Clan or its kits...what is wrong with him?

Briarpool momentarily looked shocked at my hostility for a moment before his expression turned into one of restrained anger and hate. So be it, if he wanted to be treated like an actual AngelClan warrior, he would have to act like one.

"Let's go." I said, leading my chosen cats towards the Mooncliff beyond RainbowClan's territory.