Chapter thirteen

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Every day since the event, Shadefeather was going to the medicine-cat's den to help Birdclaw.

Owlwing had taught her how to make a poultice for infected wounds, and how to apply it. It has been another half moon since then, and Shadefeather had slowly discovered a new feeling under her fur, as she took care of Birdclaw every day now.

She loved her, she knew it now, and she was ready to brave anyone or anything who though that wasn't right. She had learned to accept the feeling.

She was cleaning the old poultices out of Birdclaw's fur to replace it with new ones when she felt her move by her side. Shadefeather looked down at her, and what she saw left her stunned.

Birdclaw's beautiful amber eyes were open! She was awake, she was alive.

"S-s-shadefeather", she whispered.

"I'm here", she purred.

"Why are you here?", Birdclaw asked, confused. "What am I doing in the medicine den?"

"Do you remember the fox?", Shadefeather asked her gently. Pain clouded Birdclaw's eyes and she flinched at the memory. The queen was sad at that. She had never seen Birdclaw flinch before.

"Oh, yes, I remember too well", she said seriously.

"You were asleep for a whole moon", Shadefeather dropped.

"What!? A whole entire complete moon?", she said, astonished.

"Yeah, but it doesn't matter, you're awake now!", the queen said, and then licked Birdclaw's cheek. Birdclaw blushed and looked away.

Shadefeather just realised what she did and glanced away too, licking her chest fur to try to hide her embarrassement. "I'm sorry", she mumbled. "It-it's fine, don't worry", Birdclaw said, then licked her forehead.

Shadefeather purred loudly.

"Did you take care of me all that time?", Birdclaw asked.

"Yeah, me and Beepaw did. We saved you once. You weren't breathing and then I helped Beepaw to get you to. That's when I discovered I liked y- Forget what I just said!", said Shadefeather, flustered.

"It's okay, I kind of like you too", said Birdclaw with a small, shy smile.

"Can you help me to my paws?", she changed the subject. I want to see Fernflower and tell him I'm okay"

"O-of course", Shadefeather answered, deeply disapointed. Surely it was her mate, she'd seen how close they were, but she never really thought about it. Sweet Starclan, Shadefeather! Stop falling in love with cats that already have a mate! Birdclaw must have noticed her disapointment, because she quickly comforted her.

"He's just my best friend, why does cats always think he's my mate?", she rolled her eyes. "I like she-cats, not toms, they stink!"

She likes she-cats? I might have a chance, after all, Shadefeather thought as she lead her to the clearing.

---

A quarter moon passed, bringing its hunger due to less and less prey because of more and more snow. Shadefeather, Featherfoot, Embertail and the kits were always staying in the nursery now. You could see every warrior's ribs through their dull pelts.

In the cold night air, Shadefeather stiffened. The nursery wall was cracked just beside her nest, and it wouldn't block, she'd tried.

A cough shook her body. Once again. It has been a quartermoon since she was coughing, and her nose was runny. She felt sick, and weak. She was so cold, but felt so hot at the same time.

Next morning, Ravenleaf came to check on the kits. She let out an horrified meow as she saw Shadefeather. "You're sick! Why didn't you tell me?", she asked.

"I thought it wad just a cold", she said in a tone she meant defensive, but it came out as a whimper instead.

"Come with me to the medicine-den" she ordered. Shadefeather staggered to her paws, but as she began walking, a cough shook her frail silhouette and she fell again.

"Here, lean on me", said Ravenleaf, and the queen slowly walked to the medicine den. Here, Ravenleaf examined her and concluded.

"You have greencough, and you will have to stay in here until it's cured". Shadefeather gladly laid down in the nest she'd made for her, and immediatly fell asleep.

In a few days, her condition went worse and worse. The medicine cats had no catmint to cure her, and even more cats were ill now.

The medicine-cats went to Thunderclan, and asked for a little catmint, because of what they gently offered at the Gathering, but the sickness had struck on their camp too, and they had barely any catmint left.

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