Seastar's POV

I opened my eyes to a hot wind blowing through my messy fur. We all had to sleep out in the open on the Gathering Place, except the queens and kits of course. They had their shade in the log that bordered StreamClan and RockClan.

I sat up and immediately felt a wave of dizziness and motion sickness. Breathing in and out slowly, my vision soon went back to normal.

The sun was out and everyone in both Clans were up. I quickly glanced over to check out my bite wound on my shoulder. It looked infected but I knew I couldn't ask Smokepaw or Shadowflower to treat it. They would know what it was from and we all knew what happened to cats with bites from the infected. It's only a small bite. I began to shake. I'm sure I will be okay. I still have four lives left...

Memories of Mistfire sacrificing herself for Dawnflower and I from Flamepaw hit me. Flamepaw's eyes were white, he stumbled around. Blood dripped from his gaping jaws. He hadn't of looked like himself anymore. His body existed here but his spirit was gone as if someone had taken over him. Lightfeather had laid in her den torn apart from the jaws of Flamepaw, blood all over our herbs and extra bedding. Dawnflower was still devastated. Amberpaw was traumatized and depressed.

"Seastar?" I shook my head when Marshstar interrupted me. "Seastar, are you alright?" He meowed. I nodded but didn't speak.

"Okay, well, where is Lightfeather?" I blinked at him and hesitated.

He cocked his head in curiosity. "She passed away," I answered finally, my ear twitching. He gave me a sympathetic look and then bowed his head.

"You should give Smokepaw his full medicine cat name, and then his brother should become a warrior." I nodded slowly through narrowed eyes. "Did Lilypaw die as well?" I suddenly felt defensive and hurt. He acted as if Lightfeather's death was nothing. I nodded.

"I am truly sorry for your losses." Marshstar dipped his head and padded away.

I stood up and staggered to the center of the cats, dizzy. "Are you okay, Seastar? Maybe you should lay down." Wildflower suggested. Her eyes were filled with concern. I narrowed my eyes at the calico deputy. There was a double of her.

"I am fine." I insisted, turning to the crowd of cats. "Everyone old enough to hunt, gather please." I yowled. They all blinked at me.

"Smokepaw, Sootpaw, come forward," The two grey toms hurried towards me. Sootpaw puffed out his chest, his eyes flooding with pride. Smokepaw looked noble and serious.

"Smokepaw, the death of Lightfeather was very sudden but I am determined that you are ready to be our full medicine cat. From this day forward, you will be known as Smoketail," I touched his shoulder as he touched the opposite one that was wounded. My head felt hot as I lifted my head away from him.

"Sootpaw, you may still be immature in some ways, but you are a determined, lively, and curious young tom and I believe you will be a good warrior for StreamClan. From this day forward, you will be known as Sootclaw." I touched his shoulder and he did the same. The two Clans cheered their names, but their voices seemed far away. With wide eyes, I shook my head and padded away from the Clan.

I just need to rest again.

I laid down by the edge of the Gathering Place and curled up by myself. The sun gleamed down on my blueish-grey fur. I felt like I was boiling up, like my head was going to explode.

"Sootclaw, take out your first patrol with Spottedfire and Whitefire. Take it wherever you feel you should go." Wildflower instructed. I watched the newly made warrior bounce away from the group. As another patrol with Wolftail, Blackwind, and Stormcloud left, I dozed off.
***
My eyes blinked open to rain pouring from the darkened sky. Everything was blurry but I could still see the cats dancing around in the rain. My heart warmed up at the happiness that spread around.

My head seemed heavier than usual and the cats around me seemed farther away than they actually were. And before I knew it, I was out like a light again.
***
I jolted awake when the sound of screaming hit me like a storm. Thunder crashed above my head. Cats were fighting. Did they get into a fight? But as I stood back and watched, I realized their opponents weren't fighting back.

I stood up and hurried into the bloody mess. I felt lightheaded but I was determined to help them fight the infected cats.

Silverfeather, Wildflower, and Crowflight were fighting an infected cat. They looked mangy and scarred, as if they were the rogues that were always mentioned at the Gatherings by Marshstar. Tigerstripe and Blossomfrost worked together to beat back another rogue. Nightshade, Ghostglow, and Crescentmoon were clawing at the third rogue. None of the three infected cats seemed to look tired, damaged, nor angry. They were completely emotionless.

Dawnflower protected Amberpaw from all three of them. The three infected cats weren't even trying to get at the apprentice, but Dawnflower still needed to protect her.

Feeling sick, dizzy, and lightheaded, I unsheathed my claws and helped Tigerstripe and Blossomfrost. Lightning crashed over our heads, brightening the dark sky. "Moonfur passed away while having kits!" Blossomfrost yowled over the thunder as we pushed the cat back. We aimed to back it into the gorge.

"Only one kit survived! We named it Hollowkit!" She added. I grew angry. My heartbeat sped up, my fur spiked up, and I let out a yowl of rage. I had believed Moonfur was going to survive and have healthy kits just like her mate wanted. She's with Jayfall and Mistfire now. I reassured myself.

I slashed at the infected cat with all my might. I hit its eyes, nose, and chest, but it didn't cry out in pain or even fight back. Blood welled up from the wounds and stained its mangy pelt. I pushed it back with my shoulders until it slipped off of the gorge. With a satisfying crunch, it hit the ground on our territory. I watched it move around in the same spot, its growls echoing. Why isn't it dead?

I looked over my shoulder to see the others did the same with the other two infected cats. Tigerstripe stood by Blossomfrost, talking to her. Ripplecurrent's kits mewled loudly.

Breathing heavily, I watched Smoketail approach me wearily. I just panted. I noticed how well he was taking his sisters death. "You should sit down, Seastar," I nodded and sat down. The rain hit my pelt like large claws. I could feel the rain drops hit me more than usual as if I had a fever.

"Another one coming from the west!" Wolftail called as he traveled back from the singular willow tree. We all turned to the west to see another dark figure hurrying toward us. It had a white head and a muscular body. As it neared us I noticed that his white head was actually a skull. I realized it wasn't an infected cat. I'm seeing things. No cat has a skull on their head...

Marshstar, Wolftail, Blackwind, Wildflower, Silverfeather, Crowflight, Blossomfrost, and Tigerstripe met him half way. "Who are you?" Marshstar asked, flicking his ear. Wildflower took her place beside him as if she was already leader.

The cat was muscular, dark brown, scarred, and tall. He put his head onto the ground and used one paw to pull the skull off of his head. He held his head high as he spoke.

"I am Lark," He gazed at the crowd of cats. Marshstar narrowed his eyes at him. "You will not survive if you stay here."

"What do you mean we won't survive if we stay here?" Wildflower snarled. Her lip curled and she unsheathed her claws. Marshstar growled something to her. She relaxed a bit but she didn't stop narrowing her eyes at the tom.

"There are several of those infected cats, Twolegs, and dogs around. They are bound to come here and tear you all apart. You are all scrawny and incapable of fighting them," Lark insisted.

Snowfern came bounding over. She halted just behind Marshstar. They all turned toward her. "We aren't going anywhere without Whitefire! They still haven't come back!" Snowfern gave all the cats a wild look but no one defended her.

"Smoketail, Sootclaw could be just out of our sight but you won't defend me?" She snapped. Smoketail's ears laid back but he didn't reply. Snowfern looked at Wildflower. Wildflower gulped. "Your last sister, who is ill, is out there. You can't tell me you want to leave without her!"

"We haven't made any decisions yet." Wildflower stated with a lash of her long tail. The rain poured loudly as the silence took over.

"I think this place is dangerous. We can't find any prey around here anymore. We are bound to die of hunger or from the infection in this wide open space." I added in a shaky tone. "If you go, I will gladly stay here and watch for them." Lark bowed his head to me then looked back to Marshstar.

"How do you know if we're a threat or not?" RockClan's leader asked.

Lark put his head back into the skull and simply meowed, "You would have killed me already."
***
Sorry for no updates for a while! More chapters will be out soon! Hope you enjoyed!

P_A83 out!