Medicine

❝ 4.1 ❞

Chapter 4 : Fallen Leaves

warning , depressing thoughts. please beware, feel free to skip this chapter if you feel uncomfortable. thank you. if you need to vent or need support, I am here

Coughs echoed in the crowded medicine cat den, forming a unique piece of music. Barkpaw traveled through the waves of sick cats, his eyes tired without any sparks. Shoving some catmint to the sick-looking Emberkit, he yowled, his vision blurred with tiredness. 

Searching for catmints in the pile at the corner, his pawsteps landed heavily on the mossy ground. Taking a deep breath, he stared at his sister Covepaw in the distance as she lay on the moss, glancing at her paws with boredom and tiredness. Her usual happy and cheerful self could not be seen.

One cat was down by greencough.

Barkpaw could not make himself to stare at the white tuft of fur, lifeless, carrying by some cats. Tears were shredded, the crowd was silent. No sound was made as every cat shared glances of sorrow. 

Blizzardchaser was always the calm cat, but she could not help but stare into the emptiness. Barkpaw could not meet any cat's eyes, or he was sure that his heart would break down into slices. Cut into pieces by a sharp stone that ached his heart. 

Sheepsong.

And it was his fault.

Turning back to the den, the brown tom recognized a lot of familiar faces in the packed den. Lavenderflicker was studying Emberkit with worry filled his eyes. His tidy silver fur was tangled as his jaws clenched tightly. Wariness and tiredness could be spotted everywhere. A dark blue she-cat was glancing around moodily. The elder licked her paws gently as her eyes landed on Barkpaw.

Barkpaw came forward as he asked with a forced smile after giving her some catmint, "How are you feeling, Lapisshock?"

Lapisshock turned away as she murmured, "Leave me alone."

Barkpaw stood quietly without making a sound. Every single thing in the world was painted with shades of grey. His stare was empty, without the soul that was inside him. The sun brushed his pelt softly but he could not feel it. 

He felt the same.

He wanted peace and quiet, a way to escape from this world.

Many cats were fallen, they were fighting against the whitecough. The medicine cat apprentice found it hard to look into those pairs of eyes which showed a strong desire for surviving.

Where was peace?

Barkpaw's emotion was a deep shade of blue, the kind of blue which was stolen from the night sky without the moon, or the night of his first gathering.

Things had become tense after both Falconstar and Slatestar refused to offer WindClan's and ShadowClan's hunting ground for RiverClan's use. The crack within the four clans were becoming bigger and bigger. The clans which united together were separated to a state of hatred. Whenever the sleek jet black she-cat saw RiverClan cats, she always murmured "Foxdung" under her breath.

The pawsteps that rang dragged Barkpaw out of his clouded thoughts. Looking back, he saw Lilypetal with her ears twitched. He knew he was going to regret this by inspecting his mentor's expression, but some weird-sounding words managed to squeeze out of his tightened mouth.

"H-how's Falconstar-"

Lilypetal shook her head helplessly as Barkpaw's vision blurred. He took deep breathes as he was trying to calm his heartbeat.