Hydrowhisker's Friend - A Warrior Cats Fanfiction

Chapter 15

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Hydrowhisker woke early from her unsettling dreams filled with all sorts of messiness that she failed to recall. She stood up and tiptoed around the den, careful not to wake the still-sleeping Mudcloud or Snailpaw.

It was the third sunrise after Hydrowhisker found out about her sick Clanmates.

She hatched some ideas of a plan. If the new disease were contagious, surely keeping the cats apart would prevent the spread? She could keep the sick cats in the medicine den - like Mudcloud, the most sick of them all and already moved here - and avoid any cat from getting in or out of the den.

Hydrowhisker would have to check on everyone everyday to move the newly infected cat into the medicine cat den, meaning she herself would have to be extra careful, otherwise the plan would be ineffective, if not backfiring.

Of course, that was just an idea she had. She needed to inform Hollowstar about what was happening and ask for some advices from the older medicine cats; but at this moment, to her, keeping the cats apart seemed to be the best idea.

The last two days had been spent gathering tons of herbs that Hydrowhisker figured might be useful. She also made a couple more moss beds, since Mudcloud, Snailpaw and herself enjoyed the soft beddings much more than the cold hard ground that could stiffened their joints.

She took notes in her head, too; now she had got the symptoms memorized: lung infection, loss of appetite, fever and continuous thirst. There could be more she didn't notice, but it was time to report everything to her leader.

... And hope he doesn't act the way Deltastar did. Hydrowhisker swallowed.

"Early morning," she murmured to herself, skidding around Mudcloud and Snailpaw, who were still asleep. She couldn't rest knowing all this mess was happening to her Clan anyway.

Outside, the sky was soft and blurry. Her heart pounded unnervingly as she padded across the still dark clearing, dew damping her paws.

Only Spikefoot, Pebbleshade and Flareheart could be spotted near the camp entrance, preparing for dawn patrol. Deputy Brightleap was cleaning herself under the Valley Rock, up before sunrise as always.

"You are up early," Brighleap commented as she caught Hydrowhisker coming her way. She tipped her head to one side and studied Hydrowhisker with her golden eyes. "Do you... need to talk about something?" She guessed.

Hydrowhisker glanced away for a moment, sighing. Could she tell Brightleap about the dangerous disease lurking in the camp? She looked back at the deputy, opening her mouth. Brightleap was a reliable cat... however instincts told her that Hollowstar needed to be the first cat to know. "I... need to speak to Hollowstar," she uttered. "About... something." Holy cats, that came out sounding so awkward.

Brightleap didn't seem disappointed or anything; she simply mewed. "Oh, alright. I don't know if he is awake yet, though-"

"Did anyone say my name?" The brown leader wandered out of his den next to the Valley Rock, yawning. The coyote bush rustled behind him.

"Yep, Hydrowhisker would like to speak to you," Brightleap explained.

Hollowstar blinked in surprise. "Of course, come on in my den." He flicked his tail, signaling Hydrowhisker to follow.

Hydrowhisker saw Brightleap nod at her and replied with a tiny "thank you". She followed at Hollowstar's heels anxiously. She knew that Hollowstar had always been a reasonable cat; but after hearing Deltastar and Rippledrop's conversation... she couldn't help to imagine being denied by her leader.