Emberstar's Journey

Chapter 20

The next few days Emberspirit watched as his Clan healed from the battle, yet it was hard knowing that they battled sickness as well.

Thunderjaw, Shadefern, and Dawnspot had all been slowing down as of late, carrying in smaller prey than the younger and stronger warriors around them. Emberspirit suspected that they would retire soon and the news quickly spread.

Even so, with all his duties, the deputy had been visiting his mother often. She was getting progressively worse and Riverheart, who had earned her full medicine cat name,  was snapping under the pressure, causing Berrywish to swap with her. The trusted old she-cat worked to help Redflare but it was too early to say whether she would recover.

Rockheart and Eagleeyes both had grown worse and by the next half-moon, they both were dead.

Trouttail and Redmist grieved their fallen kin along with Hailwhisker,  but Clan life went on.

The days were growing warmer each day and slowly the Clan grew fatter and fatter. The territory turned from this frostbitten wasteland to a luxurious green paradise and the Great Willow grew the leaves that it had shed back.

The tom watched as his Clan interacted, Crabfoot and Hailwhisker were sharing tongues. Redmist was with her new mate Heronthroat who, like her brother Raggedfur, earned her warrior name the day after the Sunningrocks battle. That same day all of the kits were named 'paws', Reedpaw was given to Redmist, Tigershade was given Gorsepaw despite him being kin, Trouttail was given Nutpaw (much to the deputy's delight), Nightfrost was given Goldenpaw, and Wildclaw was given Barkpaw. 

StormClan had been quiet as of late and something nagged Emberspirit to go check on Wolfheart, who no doubt would be Wolfstar now right? Even still, the deputy ignored those naggings and did his duties. 

The sun pounded down on the toms back, he was padding next to Lilycloud, who was watching as butterflies fluttered around the patches of clovers and flowers. 

"H-How do you think sh-she's doing now?" Emberspirit asked, glancing at his mate.

The she-cat turned towards him, "I think she'll get better." She mewed firmly, but her eyes told a different unsaid thought.

Emberspirit sighed and winced as he smelled the vile scent of Greencough. He padded through the leaves and saw Berrywish huddled over Redflare, who was coughing and hacking. 

"Mom?" Emberspirit asked worriedly making the she-cat look up.

"Emberspirit," She rasped, "How're you?" Her eyes were droopy and sickness smell clung to her patchy fur. 

"G-Good, h-how are you?" Emberspirit padded closer, ignoring Lilyclouds warning mew. 

"Stubborn." Berrywish interjected, "Rude. Brash." She turned to Redflare, "I will shove this down your throat if you don't take it." She snapped, shoving some thick smelling herbs towards the red she-cat.

Redflare cringed and pushed it away, making Berrywish heave a heavy breath of self-control, she turned her blue eyes towards Emberspirit and the red tom felt a stab of sympathy as he recognized the all-too-familiar look of exhaustion. 

Emberspirit nosed the herbs, "C-Come on m-mom" He mewed softly, "Y-You've go-got to get b-b-better s-so you c-can c-come back." Redflares eyes softened at his tone and with a sigh, she lapped up the concoction of herbs. She shuddered at the taste and laid her head on her paws.

"I'm glad you visit me." She purred softly, "Things have been so lonely now that Rockheart and Eagleeyes are gone." Emberspirit felt sadness rise in his fur as he remembered Rockheart, Pikeskys father, was now dead along with the sharp-eyed Eagleeyes.