[Fanfic] Warritalia: Chapter Two
The second chapter is quick to follow! I think I will upload the next part of my Russia challenge in a few days, but I'm not quite sure, because there is still so much to edit D: Anyways, enjoy chapter two!
Maplewhisper ran through the forest, the precious catmint between her jaws. She needed to hurry or else all the sick cats would die! Especially Firetail. The white she-cat had made her worry to the extreme, she was close to joining StarClan, Maplewhisper knew that, but she didn't want to admit defeat. The she-cat would survive and get better as soon as she got some of the catnip. She also knew how heartbroken her brother would be. They had had a troublesome past, but Eaglestar loved her more than his own life. Firetail would survive, Maplewhisper would make sure she did.
“Have you had some... strange messages from StarClan lately?” Ravenwing asked all of a sudden.
Maplewhisper froze. It was true. The former AlliesClan queen Astralsky had come to visit her in a dream and had brought her a fearsome prophecy, but how could Ravenwing possibly know?
Or maybe AxisClan has received the same prophecy? Maplewhisper wondered. “Yes, I have. Astralsky came to visit me. She told me... the Clans would be facing their darkest hour...” Her voice trailed off and Ravenwing stared at her, anxiety filled her eyes, and she drew in a sharp breath.
“So you have received the same message.” The black she-cat muttered.
An awkward silence filled the air as the two medicine cats raced through the forest toward the camp of AlliesClan. Maplewhisper noticed with a pang that the forest was still as silent as it could possibly be. Not a single trace of bird or mouse or anything else. If that kept on, they would starve. Life was always hard during leaf-bare, but that was most likely the worst leaf-bare they had ever encountered. A fire, about four moons ago, had destroyed most of the territory, but fortunately the camp had been rebuilt and they were able to live there again, but it took some time for the prey to come back. Snow came early that year, but fortunately there wasn't any snow right now. It had stopped snowing some days ago and most of the snow had already melted.
Finally they arrived at the thorn barrier which marked the entrance of the camp. Maplewhisper walked through the tunnel, already expecting the worst. Coughing and sneezing filled the clearing, Eaglestar emerged out of the medicine den, head hanging and tail drooping, but slightly brightened when he spotted his sister with the catnip.
“Oh Maplewhisper, thank StarClan!” He raced toward her and touched noses with her. “Firetail is getting worse and worse, I don't know what to do!” He wailed like a lost kit.
“Don't worry, Eaglestar. Ravenwing gave me some catnip, I will save her!” With that the she-cat darted off, followed by Ravenwing, toward the medicine den. Her stomach lurched when she spotted the white-and-ginger she-cat laying in her nest. Maplewhisper could feel the heat radiating from her body even at the entrance of the den and she noticed that the she-cat was barely breathing anymore. Across from her was Smallpaw, the apprentice had become sick two days ago, but she didn't seem as bad as the others. For the moment. She thought bitterly and laid down the catnip.
“Do you need any help? There are so many sick cats, you can't possibly do that all on your own.” Ravenwing suggested.
Maplewhisper blinked warmly at her. “That would be great, Ravenwing. Could you bring some of the catnip to Ponystep?” She gestured to the light gray she-cat at the end of the den. Right now she needed to take care of Firetail. She had to do anything she could, so she took some of the catnip and padded over to the white she-cat. “Firetail, I brought you some catnip. I want you to eat as much as you can.” The she-cat groaned and opened one of her green eyes. “You need to eat it, you will feel better then.” Firetail obeyed and took one of the stems into her mouth and chewed on it. Her body trembled as she got another coughing fit, causing her to gag and spit out the remains of the stem. Maplewhisper swallowed. What could she do? Firetail looked as though she had no power left, but she needed to defeat that illness. Juniper berries will help her breathing and also strengthen her. I'll better get some.
On the way to her supplies Ravenwing walked toward her, slightly shifting her paws. “I gave her some catnip and also some juniper berries, she seemed a bit weak, if it was okay. Is there anything else you need me to do?”
“You are such a help, Ravenwing!” The white she-cat meowed happily. “Could you please start checking on the other cats in my den?”
“Of course.”
Maplewhisper watched her as she trotted off, but then she reminded herself to get the juniper berries for Firetail. She retrieved a couple of berries and headed back to the wheezing she-cat. “Come on, Firetail. You have to eat the catnip and the juniper berries. You will feel much better after you've eaten them.” The she-cat slowly rose her head and began eating the remedies.
Eaglestar peeked into the den and slowly padded toward his sister. “How is she?” He whispered with a glance at his mate.
“She will get better, when she has eaten the catnip and the juniper berries.” Maplewhisper murmured, keeping an eye on her patient.
Eaglestar crouched down and licked over his mate's cheek. “Don't worry, love, you'll be feeling better soon. And then we're going hunting together and go to your favorite place.” He whispered. A soft purr rose in Firetail's throat. “You go look after the others, I'll keep an eye on her.” His face was serious and she knew it was no use arguing with him when he was like that.
“All right, call me when she gets worse.” Maplewhisper sniffed at her one more time before going over to Ponystep. The light gray she-cat was sleeping, although she looked a bit better already. The catnip is working well. That's good. Ponystep is a strong cat, who always arose like a phoenix after falling. She will get over that sickness easily. Gently she rested her paw on Ponystep's belly, swollen with the weight of unborn kits. It won't take long. Maybe only half a moon anymore.
“Maplewhisper? Is that, like, you?” Ponystep's voice was quiet, but there was the usual enthusiastic tone in her voice again.
“Yes, it's me. How are you feeling?”
Ponystep's jaws opened in a huge yawn. “I'm, like, totally tired, but it's getting, like, better.”
“That's good to hear. You try to sleep a bit.”
The light gray she-cat closed her eyes and soon sank into sleep once more. Maplewhisper listened to her breathing for a moment, then padded over to Smallpaw. The apprentice looked also better than before.
“You really are a great help, Ravenwing. I cannot ask any more from you, you've already done so much for the Clan. Thank you very much.” She dipped her head to the black she-cat.
“Oh, it's nothing. I'm glad I can help you. I've given catnip to the other cats and also juniper to Icyshimmer. They seem to get a bit better already.” She shifted her paws. “Is there anything else you need help with?”
Maplewhisper narrowed her eyes for a moment, was there anything she needed help with? Catmint had been given to the sick cats and there was still a pile of catnip stems left, so she didn't need to worry about that either. “Actually, there is nothing anymore. You already helped me so much, so maybe you now want to get back to your own clan of course.”
Ravenwing shot a glance out of the den. “The moon is already so high. I'll stay until tomorrow, if I may.”
“Of course. You are very welcome here, Ravenwing.” Eaglestar had approached them and was dipping his head to the AxisClan medicine cat. “The whole AlliesClan is in your debt.”
After checking on Firetail, Smallpaw, Ponystep, Dimstorm, Creamspark, Brownstrike, Icyshimmer, and Dappletail once more, Maplewhisper laid down in her nest and listened to the breathing of the cats, keeping her eyes open and ears pricked. She wouldn't sleep now, she had to keep an eye on the sick cats.
Paw steps resounded from outside the den and Maplewhisper rose her head to see Mooncloud poking her head into the den. “Maplewhisper? Are you awake?” She whispered and the white she-cat rose to her paws, stifling a groan, and padded over to her.
“What's the matter, Mooncloud? Are you not feeling well?”
Mooncloud smiled and averted her gaze. “N-no, I'm not sick, but I think, well, I think I might be expecting kits.”
Maplewhisper stifled a yelp of delight. It was always great news, when a she-cat came to her and asked her to check if she was expecting. “Are they Bearclaw's?” Bearclaw and Mooncloud had been very close together, every cat in the Clan had already guessed that they were mates and that was really wonderful news!
“Yes, they are and I just know that Bearclaw will make a wonderful father.” The she-cat purred and Maplewhisper began checking her.
“I want you to come every few days so I can check on you. You can still carry on with your duties, but make sure not to overwork yourself.”
“I'll be fine. Thanks, Maplewhisper.” The she-cat purred and headed out of the den to Bearclaw, who was sitting at the entrance of the camp, keeping guard. They pressed close against each other and entangled each other's tail.
Maplewhisper watched them with a pang. She was envious. Being a medicine cat was all she ever wanted, but she knew there was something missing which she could never get. A mate and kits. It was against the medicine cat code and she knew there was no way she would ever break it, but she longed for spending time with a mate and having kits of her own scramble over her body.
No, I cannot have kits. I'm a medicine cat. I just cannot have kits, however much I might want to. Her gaze traveled up to the sky, where thousands of StarClan warriors were looking down at her. She wondered if there were any medicine cats among them who had broken that law. Had had kits and a mate, even though they had known it was forbidden. I don't even have a cat I fancy. I can't have kits, even if it was allowed. She reminded herself and let out a long sigh. It's just not meant to be.
Maplewhisper ran through the forest, the precious catmint between her jaws. She needed to hurry or else all the sick cats would die! Especially Firetail. The white she-cat had made her worry to the extreme, she was close to joining StarClan, Maplewhisper knew that, but she didn't want to admit defeat. The she-cat would survive and get better as soon as she got some of the catnip. She also knew how heartbroken her brother would be. They had had a troublesome past, but Eaglestar loved her more than his own life. Firetail would survive, Maplewhisper would make sure she did.
“Have you had some... strange messages from StarClan lately?” Ravenwing asked all of a sudden.
Maplewhisper froze. It was true. The former AlliesClan queen Astralsky had come to visit her in a dream and had brought her a fearsome prophecy, but how could Ravenwing possibly know?
Or maybe AxisClan has received the same prophecy? Maplewhisper wondered. “Yes, I have. Astralsky came to visit me. She told me... the Clans would be facing their darkest hour...” Her voice trailed off and Ravenwing stared at her, anxiety filled her eyes, and she drew in a sharp breath.
“So you have received the same message.” The black she-cat muttered.
An awkward silence filled the air as the two medicine cats raced through the forest toward the camp of AlliesClan. Maplewhisper noticed with a pang that the forest was still as silent as it could possibly be. Not a single trace of bird or mouse or anything else. If that kept on, they would starve. Life was always hard during leaf-bare, but that was most likely the worst leaf-bare they had ever encountered. A fire, about four moons ago, had destroyed most of the territory, but fortunately the camp had been rebuilt and they were able to live there again, but it took some time for the prey to come back. Snow came early that year, but fortunately there wasn't any snow right now. It had stopped snowing some days ago and most of the snow had already melted.
Finally they arrived at the thorn barrier which marked the entrance of the camp. Maplewhisper walked through the tunnel, already expecting the worst. Coughing and sneezing filled the clearing, Eaglestar emerged out of the medicine den, head hanging and tail drooping, but slightly brightened when he spotted his sister with the catnip.
“Oh Maplewhisper, thank StarClan!” He raced toward her and touched noses with her. “Firetail is getting worse and worse, I don't know what to do!” He wailed like a lost kit.
“Don't worry, Eaglestar. Ravenwing gave me some catnip, I will save her!” With that the she-cat darted off, followed by Ravenwing, toward the medicine den. Her stomach lurched when she spotted the white-and-ginger she-cat laying in her nest. Maplewhisper could feel the heat radiating from her body even at the entrance of the den and she noticed that the she-cat was barely breathing anymore. Across from her was Smallpaw, the apprentice had become sick two days ago, but she didn't seem as bad as the others. For the moment. She thought bitterly and laid down the catnip.
“Do you need any help? There are so many sick cats, you can't possibly do that all on your own.” Ravenwing suggested.
Maplewhisper blinked warmly at her. “That would be great, Ravenwing. Could you bring some of the catnip to Ponystep?” She gestured to the light gray she-cat at the end of the den. Right now she needed to take care of Firetail. She had to do anything she could, so she took some of the catnip and padded over to the white she-cat. “Firetail, I brought you some catnip. I want you to eat as much as you can.” The she-cat groaned and opened one of her green eyes. “You need to eat it, you will feel better then.” Firetail obeyed and took one of the stems into her mouth and chewed on it. Her body trembled as she got another coughing fit, causing her to gag and spit out the remains of the stem. Maplewhisper swallowed. What could she do? Firetail looked as though she had no power left, but she needed to defeat that illness. Juniper berries will help her breathing and also strengthen her. I'll better get some.
On the way to her supplies Ravenwing walked toward her, slightly shifting her paws. “I gave her some catnip and also some juniper berries, she seemed a bit weak, if it was okay. Is there anything else you need me to do?”
“You are such a help, Ravenwing!” The white she-cat meowed happily. “Could you please start checking on the other cats in my den?”
“Of course.”
Maplewhisper watched her as she trotted off, but then she reminded herself to get the juniper berries for Firetail. She retrieved a couple of berries and headed back to the wheezing she-cat. “Come on, Firetail. You have to eat the catnip and the juniper berries. You will feel much better after you've eaten them.” The she-cat slowly rose her head and began eating the remedies.
Eaglestar peeked into the den and slowly padded toward his sister. “How is she?” He whispered with a glance at his mate.
“She will get better, when she has eaten the catnip and the juniper berries.” Maplewhisper murmured, keeping an eye on her patient.
Eaglestar crouched down and licked over his mate's cheek. “Don't worry, love, you'll be feeling better soon. And then we're going hunting together and go to your favorite place.” He whispered. A soft purr rose in Firetail's throat. “You go look after the others, I'll keep an eye on her.” His face was serious and she knew it was no use arguing with him when he was like that.
“All right, call me when she gets worse.” Maplewhisper sniffed at her one more time before going over to Ponystep. The light gray she-cat was sleeping, although she looked a bit better already. The catnip is working well. That's good. Ponystep is a strong cat, who always arose like a phoenix after falling. She will get over that sickness easily. Gently she rested her paw on Ponystep's belly, swollen with the weight of unborn kits. It won't take long. Maybe only half a moon anymore.
“Maplewhisper? Is that, like, you?” Ponystep's voice was quiet, but there was the usual enthusiastic tone in her voice again.
“Yes, it's me. How are you feeling?”
Ponystep's jaws opened in a huge yawn. “I'm, like, totally tired, but it's getting, like, better.”
“That's good to hear. You try to sleep a bit.”
The light gray she-cat closed her eyes and soon sank into sleep once more. Maplewhisper listened to her breathing for a moment, then padded over to Smallpaw. The apprentice looked also better than before.
“You really are a great help, Ravenwing. I cannot ask any more from you, you've already done so much for the Clan. Thank you very much.” She dipped her head to the black she-cat.
“Oh, it's nothing. I'm glad I can help you. I've given catnip to the other cats and also juniper to Icyshimmer. They seem to get a bit better already.” She shifted her paws. “Is there anything else you need help with?”
Maplewhisper narrowed her eyes for a moment, was there anything she needed help with? Catmint had been given to the sick cats and there was still a pile of catnip stems left, so she didn't need to worry about that either. “Actually, there is nothing anymore. You already helped me so much, so maybe you now want to get back to your own clan of course.”
Ravenwing shot a glance out of the den. “The moon is already so high. I'll stay until tomorrow, if I may.”
“Of course. You are very welcome here, Ravenwing.” Eaglestar had approached them and was dipping his head to the AxisClan medicine cat. “The whole AlliesClan is in your debt.”
After checking on Firetail, Smallpaw, Ponystep, Dimstorm, Creamspark, Brownstrike, Icyshimmer, and Dappletail once more, Maplewhisper laid down in her nest and listened to the breathing of the cats, keeping her eyes open and ears pricked. She wouldn't sleep now, she had to keep an eye on the sick cats.
Paw steps resounded from outside the den and Maplewhisper rose her head to see Mooncloud poking her head into the den. “Maplewhisper? Are you awake?” She whispered and the white she-cat rose to her paws, stifling a groan, and padded over to her.
“What's the matter, Mooncloud? Are you not feeling well?”
Mooncloud smiled and averted her gaze. “N-no, I'm not sick, but I think, well, I think I might be expecting kits.”
Maplewhisper stifled a yelp of delight. It was always great news, when a she-cat came to her and asked her to check if she was expecting. “Are they Bearclaw's?” Bearclaw and Mooncloud had been very close together, every cat in the Clan had already guessed that they were mates and that was really wonderful news!
“Yes, they are and I just know that Bearclaw will make a wonderful father.” The she-cat purred and Maplewhisper began checking her.
“I want you to come every few days so I can check on you. You can still carry on with your duties, but make sure not to overwork yourself.”
“I'll be fine. Thanks, Maplewhisper.” The she-cat purred and headed out of the den to Bearclaw, who was sitting at the entrance of the camp, keeping guard. They pressed close against each other and entangled each other's tail.
Maplewhisper watched them with a pang. She was envious. Being a medicine cat was all she ever wanted, but she knew there was something missing which she could never get. A mate and kits. It was against the medicine cat code and she knew there was no way she would ever break it, but she longed for spending time with a mate and having kits of her own scramble over her body.
No, I cannot have kits. I'm a medicine cat. I just cannot have kits, however much I might want to. Her gaze traveled up to the sky, where thousands of StarClan warriors were looking down at her. She wondered if there were any medicine cats among them who had broken that law. Had had kits and a mate, even though they had known it was forbidden. I don't even have a cat I fancy. I can't have kits, even if it was allowed. She reminded herself and let out a long sigh. It's just not meant to be.