Firestorm (Book Three; Series One)

Chapter 4

 Silvermoon looked to her brother as he fell. She gasped, watching as made violent movements. "Badgersight!" She cried. "Badgersight is out collecting herbs!" Announced Duskfoot, as she too gasped. Hollyeyes rushed up quick, trying to hold Branchstalk down. "Don't do that!" Lilackit hissed, dragging a whole bunch of herbs out of the den. "It could hurt Branchstalk and you!" She growled. Hollyeyes relaxed, her ears flattening and her whiskers quivered. 

 Silvermoon was amazed as the kit figured out the herbs, trying to help Branchstalk. Her brother stopped shaking, and they needed to bring him to the medicine cat den. She and her mother lifted him onto their backs, and brought him to his nest. She buried her nose into his fur. Lilackit sniffed him. "He'll be okay." She replied. "You're very brave, Lilackit." Whispered Hollyeyes. "I love helping cats." Lilackit purred. "We've got it now, you can run off Lilackit." Silvermoon rested her tail on the kit's shoulder. "Alright, bye-bye!" She purred, scampering off. 

 She stayed by her brother's side, pressing close to him. Branchstalk had woken up for a bit, but Badgersight gave him some poppy seeds. "He needs to rest. His seizures are also caused by stress and lack of sleep." She replied. Silvermoon licked Branchstalk's cheek. "Come on Silvermoon! Smallpaw said he found water!" Gasped Cloudtuft. Silvermoon happily got to her paws, rushing out with Cloudtuft. "Smallpaw suggested that they follow the river upstream deeper into the unknown forest, and apparently, there's still some water!" Her mate explained. Silvermoon clawed off moss from a near by swiftly, grasping it in her mouth. Cloudtuft did the same, and they followed the river. 

 "You came!" Smallpaw purred. She couldn't see much. The huge leaves were covered the burning sun. But it was so cool, and a nice break from the sun. She accidentally bumped into her apprentice. "Careful Silvermoon! Let's get this water." Smallpaw chided. Silvermoon nodded, pushing the moss into the small stream left in the river. "I wonder why we don't extend our territory back here." Cloudtuft asked, as he did the same. "I don't know, I think it's because it's so dark back here. I can barely see." Silvermoon replied, bringing back up the moss. Smallpaw held his wad of wet moss happily. "The queens and elders will be so happy!" He chirped. "Come on Smallpaw." Silvermoon purred, leading the two out of the dark forest. 

 "Water!" Tiny voices squeaked. Riverkit, Brightkit, and Dawnkit were at the camp entrance, their eyes huge. "Mosscloud will be so happy!" Brightkit purred. "So will Redsnow!" Riverkit added. Silvermoon smiled at the kits. "Why don't you bring this to the nursery little ones?" Cloudtuft asked, bestowing the wet moss. The three gasped, nodding as Cloudtuft loaded it onto their backs. "Be good!" He called. "Smallpaw, bring yours to the elders." Silvermoon commanded gently. Her apprentice nodded, running off. "I'll bring this to the medicine cats." She meowed to Cloudtuft. "No," Badgersight rasped, coughing a brutal, dry, wheeze. "Take that to Multistar. He.. He's sick. Very sick. I think.." The eldery she-cat cut herself off, flicking her tail. Silvermoon got a look at her. Her ribs and haunches were poking out as if they were trying to escape. "Didn't you hear me? Go!" Badgersight hissed. She nodded, swiftly speeding towards Multistar's den. 

 "Multistar, I have water for you." Silvermoon meowed softly. She kept her voice calm and steady, despite the horror she felt looking at him. His eyes were red, and his bones were like Badgersight's. Sticking out as if they'd pop out of his flesh. Her leader barely made a reaction. His tail weakly flicked, and he twitched his whiskers. "Silvermoon? My daughter?" He rasped. "Multistar.. you're not my father.. You're my grandfather.." She corrected gently, laying the moss in front of him. Multistar weakly licked the droplets. "Hollyeyes.. that's my daughter.." He corrected himself, as if Silvermoon said nothing. As she was about to turn and leave, he called something to her. "Silverstar.." His voice cracked up. Silvermoon felt her fur rise up. This den felt hot and cramped, but it wasn't. In fact, it was quite cool. But it felt cramped with cats. For a moment, Silvermoon could've sworn she saw cats surrounding Multistar. "Silvermoon get out!" The deputy growled, digging his teeth into her scruff and yanking her out. Redsnow stared down at her. "You've made him crazy." He spat. Silvermoon looked up at him. His one ear was shredded, and blood dripped on Silvermoon's face. She made a noise of disgust before Redsnow laughed. "If you can't handle blood, run off to be a medicine cat like your brother." He snarled, before entering the den. Silvermoon saw Multistar's green eyes gleam in admiration at her. But for what..?

 "You'd never believe the dream I had last night!" Cloudtuft purred. "Really now? What was it?" Silvermoon asked as she latched onto the tree. Bearpaw and Smallpaw followed, following her movements. Smallpaw and Bearpaw were extremely close to their assessments. "I had a dream that he caught six mice in a row! It was so amazing! We had full bellies!" He meowed. Silvermoon demonstrated climbing, and the apprentices got it quickly. "I wish that's how we are right now!" She meowed, stretching her body. "I'm sure we'll get rain soon. It's so hot I want to tear off my fur!" Bearpaw commented, reaching a high branch. Cloudtuft congratulated his apprentice. "I think you two will have your assessments soon! Than you can join us in the warrior's den." Her white-furred companion purred. "I'll be looking forward to seeing you as warriors." Silvermoon purred. The apprentices gave each other thrilled looks. 

 As they walked back into camp, Smallpaw and Bearpaw holding watered moss, while Silvermoon carried a rabbit and Cloudtuft carried a fat robin, Redsnow was a top the high ledge. "Multistar is extremely sick, but do not worry! He has two lives left." The deputy meowed. "I have been given permission by him to give Hoppaw his warrior name." Redsnow continued. Silvermoon urged the two the deliver the moss to the medicine cat den and apprentices den quickly and sit down. Cloudtuft and her delivered their prey and sat down. "I, Redsnow, leader of AlderClan," Started the white and red tom. Silvermoon widened her eyes. He called himself leader.. "Call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained well to learn your noble code. I commend him as a warrior in turn." He meowed. "Hoppaw, do you pledge your allegiance to AlderClan and myself?" Redsnow challenged. "What is he doing?" Webbedfoot hissed. "That's not how is goes!" Lilystorm growled loudly. "Do you dare challenge me? Leader's word is law." He growled. "You're not leader until Multistar dies, and he still has two lives kicking!" Darkeye hissed. "AlderClan! Just let him make Hoppaw a warrior!" Badgersight meowed. "He is technically leader while Multistar is recovering! Please, listen to him for now." She defended. The clearing fell silent with reluctance. "I.. I do Redsnow!" Hoppaw stammered. "Than, by the power of StarClan, I name you Hopfire. Welcome to AlderClan as a full member." The cats cheered Hopfire's name, but Silvermoon could tell, there was fear in everyone's throat.