Warriors: The Broken Heart

Chapter 5

    The musty air filled with rain droplets and fog that spread through the camp entered Applepaw's nose. He shook his head, trying to get the smell out of his nostrils. It seemed to be stuck there almost.

Applepaw treaded out of the apprentice den, his pelt blasted by rain as soon as he left the shelter of the bramble tunnel where he and the other apprentices slept.

Waspstar emerged from his den, coughing as we breathed in heavily. His flanks heaved as he gasped for air.

It had been a couple of days since Applepaw went to the gathering, and ever since, the days have been long and gloomy, raining constantly. This had made whitecough spread like wildfire. Waspstar, had gotten it, and Applepaw had spoken to Ashpaw many times, who had frantically been going out with Almondfrost to fetch catmint.

Applepaw had been extremely nervous for his clanmates who had contracted whitecough. Voleclaw, Thornfoot, and Rockfall had been receiving around the clock care from Almondfrost and Ashpaw. However, Leafstorm, Applepaw's mother, had contracted whitecough, and it had developed into greencough. This made Applepaw even more nervous, and he couldn't visit his mother as much as he desperately wanted to.

Applepaw saw Ashpaw's gray pelt flash in the corner of his eye. Ashpaw was frantically getting herbs sorted into the medicine den. Applepaw padded over to his brother.

"Hey Ashpaw." Applepaw mewed.

Ashpaw flinched, as if he was a kit frightened by an insect. "Oh, hey Applepaw," Ashpaw sighed in relief, "sorry, you frightened me. I've been so busy lately with all of the cases of whitecough and gr-" Ashpaw stopped mid sentence, wincing before he could say anymore.

"I understand." Applepaw reassured his brother.

Ashpaw sighed. "This is so stressful. I don't understand why StarClan made me a medicine cat. I don't understand why they would put all of this pressure on me."

Applepaw felt a twinge of sadness for his brother. He still felt awful that he was made a medicine cat against his will.

Applepaw twitched his tail. "Can I go see Leafstorm?"

Ashpaw moved to Applepaw's side, his tail swept loose dirt away from his paws. "She's pretty exhausted, I'm sure she's going to be sleeping," Ashpaw twitched his ear, "you can if you want to, though."

Almondfrost flashed her brown pelt past Applepaw and stood beside Ashpaw.

"Are you ready to go out to get catmint?" She mewed, swiping her paw over her ear.

"Yeah, I'll see you later, Applepaw. Leafstorm if just over there." Ashpaw signaled with his tail to Applepaw's mother, her ginger flanks were heaving in her moss den.

Ashpaw and Almondfrost sprang away through the tall grass bordering the clearing.

Applepaw shoved his way through the lichen draping from the stone carved medicine cat den. He surveyed the sick cats, his nose filled with the scent of herbs. Leafstorm didn't move from the last time Applepaw had looked at her. She remained in the same position, and her flanks heaved up and down.

Applepaw sat beside his mother, trying not to disturb her as the moss shuffled with his fur. He rested his eyes on his mother's, whose was still closed and her whiskers twitching.

Applepaw rested his paw on her flank, feeling her heartbeat through his pads. He sighed and lowered next to his mother, breathing in her once sweet scent, that had now turned stale.

Applepaw began to think of simpler times as a young kit. With no worries, just comforted by his mother, and knowing her approval was all he needed. Applepaw felt like an outcast in WindClan. Older warriors would often cast glances and hiss under their breath at Applepaw and his siblings. Although he had the support of friends like Robinpaw, and his mentor Shellwhisker, Applepaw still felt eyes swarming around him like flies on crowfood.