Emberstar's Journey

Chapter 22

"Good hunting?" Emberspirit looked up from his freshly caught fish to see Lilycloud, her blue eyes glowing and her white pelt slightly sodden.

"I guess," the tom purred. "these days are moving fast. The Gathering is tonight and the attack is tomorrow." he shook his head. "And it's warming up."

Lilycloud purred and she looked up, "StormClan." She murmured and soon a small, familiar, golden tom with small white paws padded out, sniffing the ground. 

"Stupid squirrels." He was grumbling, "Taking all the cobnuts." 

"Sunpaw." The golden medicine cat yowled in surprise and leap back. "How're you?" Emberspirit purred.

The tom stared at Emberspirit before recognition flashed in his amber eyes, "Emberspirit! It's Sunlion now, I was named for my bravery!" 

Lilycloud purred, "A good name for you!"

Sunlion dipped his head, "How's prey running? And catmint?"

"We have plenty of catmint, grows naturally near the Great Willow." Emberspirit told him, "W-Why? H-Have y-you ne-needed it?"

Sunlion nodded, "Some of our kits, Buzzardkit and his siblings, have caught whitecough." He said, urgency in his amber eyes. "We could really use some."

Emberspirit turned to Lilycloud and she nodded before turning and plunging into the river. Quick as a rabbit, she swam across and ran into the forest connected to Sunningrocks. 

"Ho-How h-has W-Wolfstar been?" Emberspirit asked, gazing at the StormClan medicine cat. 

"Well," Sunlion laid down and tucked his paws underneath his chest. "she told the Clan of his betrayal. A few of his closest allies denied it despite the stacking evidence against him. One even attacked Wolfstar for apparently lying, he was defeated by Flamepaw and he was exiled for attempted murder."  Emberspirit nodded as Sunlion continued, "The others calmed down and she's been doing well. She deserves some slack with all the things she has been through, Fuzzytail is really doing his part as deputy, he'll be a fine leader someday."

"T-That's good t-to know." Emberspirit purred, "How h-has prey r-ran?" He noticed the toms thin frame. "N-Not too g-good it seems."

Sunlion shrugged, "With the weather warming up the prey will return as plentiful as always. For now, we get by." The medicine cat rose, "Hello Berrywish."

"You fool," The she-cat rasped, "Why didn't you tell me last half-moon you were running low?"

Sunlion sheepishly smiled, "I'm sorry, I know I should have but I didn't know how welcome I was to ask after all the trouble Bearstar caused." 

"Medicine cats are outside of normal Clan rivalries. We are to help each other, no matter what battle our warriors are fighting with one another." Berrywish dropped a beech leaf full of catmint down at Sunlions paws. "I've included some feverfew and poppy seeds. Has your honey ran low?" 

"No, Dapplesun collected some earlier." Sunlion pulled the leave full of herbs closer to him, "Thank you, I'll tell you news of the kits tonight." He turned and padded away. "May StarClan light you're path!" 

"And may they fill your bellies!" Emberspirit called before he turned to Berrywish. "H-How is-"

"Worse." Berrywish responded, "I think it's turning to blackcough. I'm trying to do everything I can but.. Emberspirit you're going to have to get used to the idea that StarClan might want her sooner rather than later." 

Emberspirit stared at the she-cat, memories of kithood by his mothers belly and playing with her tail going through his mind. "S-S-She c-can't! I-I-I-I still n-n-need her!" He cried, "Oh B-Berrywish p-please p-promise y-you can sa-save her!"