Fernfreckle's Dream

Chapter 10

Flowerclan is not doing well. Along with Darkstar being in a coma, the clan was battling an illness that rose even before Rogueclan's arrival. A handful of cats have died from it, Skytail and Haycloud included. Fernstar mourned the losses of Flowerclan's warriors, but he was also glad they didn't live to see Rogueclan rise.

During the whole month of April, the whole forest was stressed. Cedarfall was working his hardest day and night for Flowerclan, but everyone could tell how exhausted he constantly was. His temporary deputy, Goldentuft, assisted him as much as she could, but it still wasn't quite enough. Fernstar helped Flowerclan as well, bringing them fresh kill and sending Hollygaze to give Phloxberry extra herbs for the sickness. During the first few weeks, Fernstar enjoyed visiting Darkstar. He wasn't awake, but he still enjoyed being with him nonetheless. He felt the need to protect him. Not just because of the Flowerclan and Mossclan bond.. but for him.

After a moon, Fernstar and the other leaders decided that they'd fight Rogueclan off. They broke the warrior code and got themselves exiled, after all. Who were they to order the clans around? And along with that, Fernstar was full of an unusual rage towards the group of rogues. Plumfall had recently gotten pregnant with Deerdawn's kits, and she decided to step down from being deputy to let Runningpond take her place. However, he was only deputy for a few sunrises.

Honeyshade was poisoned by Owlgaze, Rogueclan's supposed medicine cat. Thankfully, she was rushed to the medicine den and was cured before she could go to Starclan. Fernstar suggested to the other leaders that they sent out a stakeout patrol, one cat from each clan, to find Owlgaze and confront her. Since it was Fernstar's idea, he chose Runningpond to lead the patrol. They did end up finding Owlgaze and Stormdream, who now goes by Daggerdream, but the encounter didn't go as planned.

Fernstar remembered Lilypelt's words. "Daggerdream insulted Runningpond's kits, see. And.. he lunged at her, but she slashed his throat open... I tried helping Flintsplash carry him, but Flakestep and I were both frozen in panic. And then.. a Frostclan warrior, Whitepelt, appeared out of nowhere and helped Flintsplash carry him back to camp... He was alive for a good few more minutes, and he spent them with his brothers. I'm sorry, Fernstar, sir. Runningpond walks with Starclan now."

Fernstar felt a lump of grief in his throat as he remembered his nephew. He was a brave cat and would've made a wonderful leader. But after his death, he passed Riverpaw over to Honeyshade to finish his training, and Plumfall stepped back up as deputy. She moves understandably slower than usual, but Fernstar felt glad that she found love in another tom. He missed seeing his friend smile like how she used to. He himself found himself yearning for that kind of love. He needed to visit Darkstar. He wanted to spend as much time with him as he could. Time with him was like a stress reliever.

After the moon had passed, Rogueclan never arrived, and that's what scared everyone. Fernstar could feel the tension in the forest wherever he walked. There was even a prophecy going around, about four cats who have the ability to stop Rogueclan. All Fernstar knew was that Honeyshade was one of those cats, and that Bluecreek had come to her in a dream. He couldn't help but feel jealous that she was able to see him. But he still needed to see Darkstar.

"Hey, Plumfall?" He looked over at his friend and deputy. "Can you watch camp for me for a bit? I wanna go bring some more prey to Flowerclan."

"Sure, I can do that. Who would you like to bring with you?"

"Uhhhh..." Fernstar scanned their territory. "Honeyshade, Stoneleap andddd.. his apprentice, Lightpaw."

"Alright, gather them up and I'll see you soon!"

He leaps down from the highrock, gathers up the cats and walks them to Flowerclan camp, all four of them having a piece of prey in their jaws. Once they reached their destination, Cedarfall noticed right away and bounded up to them, excited.