Hydrowhisker's Friend - A Warrior Cats Fanfiction

Chapter 13

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Oh, no, no -- what have I done?

Some cat please tell me I didn't just lose a friend.

Watching Swashgaze dart through the camp exit, Hydrowhisker stood frozen in the shades of Cavestone. Her heart was still racing at the events that occured heartbeats ago.

She's just mad; we've argued before. Of course we are still friends! Hydrowhisker breathed heavily as a storm soared in her head.

I don't know, are we, anymore?

Thoughts that she couldn't shake off whirled around. Hydrowhisker didn't mean to say any of that rabbit dung. Hopefully, Swashgaze would be back soon and she could apologize... then everything could be back to normal.

It's not all your fault! A tiny voice screamed inside her. Swashgaze didn't even try to understand how you felt!

Yes, but I regret getting mad and told her that she didn't deserve to be a medicine cat. Hydrowhisker let out a heavy sigh as if the weight of mountains was dragging her down. Besides, that's the only way you're going to keep Swashgaze as a friend.

Just go apologize to her and this will be all over, Hydrowhisker decided, hopefully.

A sudden series of pawsteps made her ears prick in alert. She opened her mouth and caught the scent of Rippledrop approaching. Is she looking for me? However, instead of going around the Cavestone to find Hydrowhisker, Rippledrop hopped up the stone stairs and peeked inside the dark cave.

"D-Deltastar?" Her voice went.

Hydrowhisker watched carefully. What does Rippledrop have to say to Deltastar?

"Who is it?" The leader's hoarse voice came echoing from the cave.

Hydrowhisker heard the medicine cat respond after taking a deep breath. "Rippledrop." Was that nervousness in her voice? Even if there were, the medicine cat managed to pacify quickly.

"...Come in." Deltastar demanded.

The dark cave swallowed up Rippledrop's gray pelt, leaving only crispy pawsteps trailing behind her. Wondering what else there was for her to do before Springpaw and Neappaw's warrior ceremony, Hydrowhisker sighed and looked away. Mayhaps she could try to help out around the camp, or socialize some more.

"What do you want this time?" Deltastar's impatient voice alerted Hydrowhisker again.

Hydrowhisker pricked her ears. Why does the leader sound so annoyed? She knew she probably shouldn't eavesdrop, however she couldn't help as curiosity drove her closer to the cave entrance.

"You see, some cats around the camp have been sick lately. I find their symptoms dangerously similar to Candy's." Rippledrop was explaining.

Hydrowhisker heard the leader snort carelessly. "So?" He pressed.

"The disease is likely infectious." Rippledrop still remained calm. "We need to take some safety precautions, otherwise the problem will only get worse. I don't even know how deadly this new disease is going to be."

"Can you even name any cats that are ill?" Deltstar questioned sharply.

Springpaw! Hydrowhisker suddenly realized. If the disease really were contagious, it could have already spread all around the camp.

"Of course, I thought it must've been hard to notice, somehow; Surftail has been diagnosed with fever, and I'm suspecting Sparklekit too--" Rippledrop listed.