Chapter 22
They arrived in a small clearing that had been surrounded by sticks and brambles. Flamestripe lay, fast asleep on the far end. His ribs were showing through his dirty fur. Raingaze and Foxshade were talking urgently, their heads bent low. Cheryfrost was streached out in a narrow sliver of sun shining into the camp. Her kit, Willowkit was pawing at a leaf in front of her. Even the kit was thin and looked sickly. "Featherpaw!" Foxshade gasped, running over. His eyes were hollow and exhausted but he looked pleased. "You're back?"
"I brought some cats." She mewed, gesturing to the tribe. "What happed to all of you? You aren't sick."
"We're five cats with a whole clan to feed. We hardly get any food or rest ourselves. Stormstar has lost five lives and still failed to drive the sickness off. He is on the verge of losing his sixth."
"These cats apparently know a cure. Their healer is looking at the sick cats."
"A cure? For real?" Foxshade's green eyes shone with that idea.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Moon asked desperately.
"Hunting." Foxshade replied. "We desperately need food."
"Leave it to us." Moon mewed confidently. "Pebble, Thorn, Cloud, Flame! Lets go."
"I'll come." Featherpaw suggested. "I can show you the best spots and techniques."
Moon nodded. "Lead the way." She meowed.
"Thanks." Featherpaw dipped her head respectfully to Moon as she passed.
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They returned as the sun was sinking down past the horizon casting long shadows across the green, leafy forest. All five of them were carrying some piece of prey. As it was Greenleaf, hunting wasn't exactly hard. As they entered the temporary camp they found Stoneteller showing all the cats a dark green leaf. "We need as much of this as you can get." The hunting patrol trouped over and put the prey in the center. Foxshade looked over. "Did you take any to the others?" He asked, looking longingly at the food.
"We took earlier." Wolfwhisper asured him.
"This is for you." Featherpaw mewed.
Foxshade looked almost disbelieving. "Come on." He called to Raingaze, Flamestripe and Cherryfrost. They came over eagerly, Cherryfrost herding her kit. The starved cats dug in hungrily as the tribe began to settle. Only now did Featherpaw realize how tired she was. She felt as though she could sleep for a moon and more. Her paws ached and her eyelids drooped. Exhaustion took over amd Featherpaw drifted into a soft, sweet sleep.
It felt as though she had barely gone to sleep whe someone was saying her name. "Featherpaw. Wake up." Blearily she opened her eyes and peered up. Wolfwhisper's head was above her, gently nudging her with his muzzle. The sun was shining through the trees and twittering could be heard all over the forest. "What." She groaned, turning over and closing her eyes again.
"Featherpaw. We need to go on patrol."
"Hrmmm." She huffed, opening her eyes tiredly. Exhaustion shook her body as she stood. Featherpaw followed Wolfwhisper to join Flame and Peak. They set out of the temporary camp into the warm, green forest, a soft breeze making the leaves rustle. The border markers were so faint they could hardly be distinguished from all the other scents in the forest. "I think me and Wolfwhisper should reset the markers, strong OakClan scent." The tribe cats nodded their agreement as she and Wolfwhisper set to work resetting them.
As they started to head towards the camp the stopped to catch some prey to take back. The sun was blazing in the middle of the sky as they headed back. On the way they met Stoneteller carrying a mouthful of leaves. "They should start getting better now." He said brightly as Featherpaw and he patrol passed them. She nodded, feeling happiness course through her, they would be ok. They had made it back in time.
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