private @Doemoon
A light burning and tickling sensation started at the back of Cloudfeather's throat. The white tom started to feel his chest tighten, a sudden sense of fear setting in with realization. He looked down, Nests lined his den, in each of them, a cat with a fit of coughs like he had never witnessed. Stumpynose's gray flank rose and fell so slowly, the elder's breaths more shallow with each gasp for air. He stood over the old warrior. Her short snout fell, resting on the plucked heather bedding. Her flank fell still. Cloudfeather's jaws clasped so hard, it felt his teeth might shatter. "Rest in StarClan, mother." The blind medicine cat shook himself. "Hawkpaw," he called to the back of the den, his voice rasped and tone dead. "Tell the diggers to prepare another burial."
He stepped over Stumpynose's body gently, tail brushing her still warm body as he made his way to Brightstorm. The tom sat down, though stayed silent. The ginger-and-white she-cat lifted her head wearily. "How's mother?" She asked. Her voice was weak.
Cloudfeather was numb, unable to believe what had just happened. He had seen so much death in his life, but now, that everyone he loved was dropping like flies around him, he was losing himself. The tom barely displayed any emotions. "She's fine," the tom lied. "Just focus on getting better for Foxpaw. She'll be a warrior soon." The tom glanced over his shoulder. Through the darkness, he could see the figure of Coalbreeze sprawled out onto his own nest. You were put back in here too soon.
***
Foxpaw let out a grunt as she lost her balance and fell to the ground. The she-cat let out an annoyed groan. "Okay, okay," the she-cat rolled onto her paws again. "Do I have to do this, Jumpwing?"
The tom nodded in response. "Yes, actually, you do. Stoneheart is recovering, so you'll need to train with us until he's better." The tom glanced at Doepaw, and then Foxpaw. "But you both worked hard today. We can stop if you'd like."
Hawkpaw left the elders and returned to the medicine den. His brow furrowed in anguish. This was not the way he had hoped leaf bare would go. It was barely the on start of it and so many had succumbed to the illness or died from it. Doepaw was padding on ahead when she realised there was an absence of red fur beside her. She halted and spun back to the she cat. Watching her as her own name was caught in Foxpaw’s throat. As Doepaw pondered over what to say it finally occurred to her that Foxpaw’s mother, grandmother and possibly even uncle were sick... adding Coalbreeze to the list didn’t bring her comfort. Doepaw slowly padded up to her clanmate. The two had never got along well before, they struggled to even remain friendly most of the time... however, Doepaw was aware that her rivalry with the ginger and white she cat had to come to an end at some point. Better now than later. Doepaw rested her tail comfortingly on her shoulder. “Family is something of a privilege and those who have it take it for granted... every second of it. I may no longer have a family to call my own.” She paused thinking about the tension that caused a rift between her mother and her brother and herself. “But...” she persisted, shaking her head clear of those thoughts. “I have a clan whom I can refer to as family. Whatever starclan decides for those infected with greencough... you’ll have the clan as family. You’ll have me as family.” Doepaw dropped to her paws, sitting by the she cats side. “I can’t promise they’ll be okay because truth be told their fate lies in the paws of starclan... but what I can promise is that you’ll be okay no matter the outcome.”