Jaypaw could sense the anxiety behind Icekit’s brave
words. He flicked his tail over her back. “I’ll ask Hollypaw to come and teach you all the new fighting moves she’s been learning,” he offered.
“Really?” Icekit squeaked, brightening.
“Fetch Mousefur,” Leafpool called to him from outside.
“We’ll settle both cats in the medicine den, where we can keep an eye on them.”
Jaypaw’s heart began pounding again as he scrabbled out of the nursery. He had wanted a chance to protect his Clanmates, but a warrior could do it with teeth and claws, while all he had to offer was a pawful of pulpy roots. How could this be his destiny?
Dawn brought another victim. Jaypaw was woken by Whitewing as she limped into the medicine den, tail down and wheezing. He had learned the deadly scent of greencough by now and sprang from his nest. But Leafpool was already beside the white warrior, listening to her breathing.
“Make a nest for her beside Ferncloud and Mousefur,” she ordered Jaypaw.
He hurried to fetch some of the spare moss they kept at the side of the den. At least they had plenty of that, he thought bitterly. He quickly shaped a nest beside Mousefur, who was sleeping at last, her breathing short and irregular.
And Ferncloud seemed to be comfortable, though her fever was rising as she battled the illness.
Whitewing collapsed gratefully into the nest.
“We need more catmint,” Leafpool hissed so that only
Jaypaw’s sharp ears could hear.
Jaypaw sensed terror in her voice. What did she expect him to do? Grow some?
“Check all the other warriors and apprentices,” Leafpool ordered more loudly.
He nodded, then turned and headed out of the den. Why hadn’t StarClan warned them this was going to happen?
Instead of lecturing him, Spottedleaf or Yellowfang could have told him that greencough was coming. He could have gathered catmint before the frost had come.
Dustpelt was pacing outside the nursery. Jaypaw recognized the warrior’s heavy pawsteps on the frozen earth and sensed the turmoil of fear that gripped his thoughts.
“How’s Ferncloud?” he demanded as soon as he saw Jaypaw.
“No worse,” Jaypaw assured him.
“Should I visit her?”
“It’s probably better if you stay away,” Jaypaw advised. “We want to stop the illness from spreading.”
Daisy wriggled out of the nursery. “Your kits are fine,” she told Dustpelt. “But if you keep hanging around here you’re going to worry them.” Jaypaw had never heard her sound so stern. “You should be out in the forest hunting; that’s the best way you can help them.”
Jaypaw felt surprise flash from Dustpelt.
“I want to know if Ferncloud gets worse,” the warrior meowed. Then he padded toward the barrier of thorns and headed out into the forest.
As Jaypaw turned toward the apprentice’s den, the dawn patrol pounded into the clearing, led by Graystripe.
Hollypaw was among them, her scent laced with the fresh smells of the forest.
“How are the sick cats?” she called to Jaypaw.
“Sleeping,” Jaypaw mewed back. “How’s the prey running?” Perhaps if the rest of the Clan could fill their bellies, they might be able to resist the sickness.
“There’s hardly anything aboveground,” Hollypaw reported. “Even the squirrels are staying in their dens.”
Jaypaw closed his eyes.
“Check the apprentices, Jaypaw,” she reminded him grimly.
“StarClan are watching us already. But there are some battles we have to fight alone.”
Chapter 23
Jaypaw shook his head. “Not while we have so many sick cats to look after.”
He sniffed Poppypaw. The apprentice had developed a fever during the night and come to the medicine den. She lay now in a nest beside Ferncloud, her eyes sticky with pus, her breathing labored. The heat flooding from her frightened Jaypaw.
He listened, his pelt pricking with panic. The medicine den was crowded, the sound of wheezing and coughing jarred his ears, and the smell of sickness made his paws tremble with frustration. He had done everything he could to help his Clanmates, but no one was any better.
“Should we move them to the elders’ den?” he suggested to Leafpool, who was massaging Mousefur’s flank to try to help clear her breathing. “There’s more room there.”
“Mousefur and Ferncloud are too sick to move,” Leafpool pointed out. “Besides, there is water here.”
The pool of fresh water that trickled down the rock wall
and gathered in a dip made it easy to soak moss for the thirsty cats. Jaypaw fetched a dripping ball of it for Poppypaw. He nudged her in an attempt to make her drink, but the tortoiseshell’s eyes were half closed, and she only groaned and pushed him away.
“If you won’t rest, at least get some fresh air,” Leafpool urged.
Jaypaw nodded. Wearily he padded out of the den. The air outside was clean and cold after the stuffy stench of the den.
Even though it was barely dawn, Firestar was already below Highledge with Brambleclaw. They were organizing the patrols. Ashfur and Birchfall paced restlessly around them.
“We need to keep the patrols short,” Brambleclaw meowed to the ThunderClan leader.
“But we must make sure the ShadowClan border remains well guarded,” Ashfur pointed out. “We don’t want them to take advantage of our weakness.”
“Lots of small patrols would be more efficient,” Birchfall suggested.
“Yes,” Firestar agreed. “I don’t want our warriors to wear themselves out when there’s so much sickness around. We need them fit.”
“I can do two patrols a day.” Millie’s mew rang around the frozen hollow. The gray kittypet padded out from behind the warriors’ den, Graystripe at her side.
“Are you sure?” Firestar checked.
“I was given medicine by the vet to stop me from getting sick,” Millie explained. “Whenever other cats fell ill in
Twolegplace, I always stayed well.”
Brambleclaw looked confused. “Vet?”
“The Cutter,” Graystripe explained.
“Well, it seems the Cutter has done me a favor,” Firestar meowed. “He has given me a healthy warrior.”
Firestar had called Millie a warrior.
Pleasure glowed from the she-cat, and Jaypaw heard Graystripe’s proud purr as his fur swished against hers.
“But,” Firestar went on, “I don’t want Graystripe to go with you.”
Graystripe’s purr died in his throat. “Why not?”
“You’re still weak from your journey,” Firestar replied.
