Warriors: Ashfur's Insanity

Chapter 55

The catmint had barely even helped Stoneheart, and now Squirrelflight and Graystripe had fallen ill. Which cat would be strong enough to be deputy? There was Jaywing, and Cinderheart had also had her kits with Ashstar. Ashstar didn't know what to do. With his son sick, he felt that at any moment, he might die.  

"Ashstar!" A voice called. 

Ashstar got to his paws and padded from his den on High Ledge. He saw Alderheart in the medicine den. 

"It's Mothstripe!" He yowled, his amber eyes wide with panic. 

Ashstar ran down the rocks and ran towards the medicine den, seeing that Alderheart was now pacing back and forth. 

"What is it?"  He asked.

"Mothstripe!" Alderheart breathed. "She's having kits!"

Ashstar's breath caught in his throat. Now? He looked at Alderheart. "Well don't just stand there! Help her!"  He growled. 

Alderheart rushed in the den, trying to calm the she-cat down. 

Ashstar hated listening to the moans and groans, so he rushed to the Warriors' den, finding Jaywing. She was pawing at her bedding, like she was trying to fix it. She was the only one there. 

"Jaywing," Ashstar meowed. "Mothstripe is having her kits," He explained.

Jaywing's eyes widened in panic and she pushed past Ashstar, running towards the medicine den, her pelt bristled and her tail streaming out behind her. 

The thought of kits made Ashstar think of Cinderheart, so he was going to go to the nursery to check on her. He backed out of the Warriors' den and turned sideways and started to make his way to the nursery. He passed the fresh-kill pile and then decided that he'd take some prey to his mate. Ashstar picked a mouse from the pile, then as he turned, he saw Sootwing and Bramblehawk come into camp, a small brown cat between them. The small brown cat was injured, his paw looking twisted and his ears all cut up. His head had a nasty wound on it that looked infected. 

"What happened? Who is that?" Ashstar gasped.

"We found him near the river, barely alive. I think he got hit by a monster maybe," Sootwing meowed.

"He's still breathing, so he's still alive," Bramblehawk meowed.

"Oh StarClan, this isn't even the right time to be treating cats!" Ashstar gasped. "Mothstripe is having kits! Alderheart is looking after her!" 

The two warriors shifted their paws. "What? Having kits?" 

"Yes, but take this cat to the medicine den immediately!" Ashstar told them.

The two warriors held the injured tom against their shoulders, heading towards the medicine den. 

Mossheart and her apprentice, Thistlepaw, were looking at them. Mossheart saw Ashstar and padded up to him. "Who's that?" She asked.

"They found him by the river," Ashstar explained. "He must be a rogue or maybe a lost kittypet. But my question is, how did he get so injured like that?" He muttered to himself.

Mossheart heard him. "He probably got hit by a monster, and maybe he dragged himself somewhere, trying to find help, but he probably passed out," She meowed.

"Maybe," Ashstar agreed. "Have you gone out to train your-"

He was cut off by a yowl from the medicine den. Mothstripe probably...

"What was that?" Mossheart gasped.

"Mothstripe."

"Why did she yowl?"