Warriors: Rising Storm - Book Four (Completed)

Chapter Three

Raises of alarm spread through the clan like a spark of energy. Waterlily quickly got to her paws from her slumber then raced out into the clearing. Her eyes were wide with shock and fear. Cats emerged from their den with the same fear in their eyes. Fireheart leaped out of the warriors den. "What happened?" He meowed, his heart pounding.

"We captured two ShadowClan cats sleeping in ThunderClan territory." It was Sandstorm who answered. Her eyes gleamed with excitement.

Waterlily looked over and saw two ShadowClan warriors. She tensed even more. She recognized one of them at once. Littlecloud. Her heart began racing and she started to pad backward, slowly. She stopped just outside the medicine den. She stared at the two scrawny warriors and realized that they were no threat to ThunderClan. They were sick. Really sick.

Fireheart looked at Whitestorm, who had led the dawn patrol. "Did they put up a fight when you found them?"

"No," Whitestorm admitted, flicking his tail. "When we woke them up, Whitethroat and Littlecloud begged us to bring them here."

Fireheart felt confused. "Begged you?" he echoed. "Why would they do that?"

Bluestar emerged from her den. Waterlily sat in silence and watched intently on what Bluestar would do. "What are ShadowClan cats doing here?" She demanded.

"Whitestorm found them on patrol," Fireheart explained quickly. "They were sleeping in ThunderClan territory."

"Sleeping?" Snarled Bluestar, her ears flat against her head. "Well, have we been invaded or not?"

"These were the only warriors we found," Meowed Whitestorm.

"Are you sure?" Demanded Bluestar. "It could be a trap."

Waterlily took a deep breath then raced into the clearing. She stopped in front of the two helpless warriors. She glanced at them with sadness in her eyes. They were weak and frail just like Nightstar was at the Gathering. She then looked at Bluestar, pleadingly, "It is not a trap." She meowed softly. She looked back at them and could feel their pleading eyes staring at Bluestar.

"I will not trust them. Take them back to their Clan." Bluestar growled.

Waterlily took a small pace forward. "These cats are sick, Bluestar." She growled back, her fur bristled. "You may be leader, but I am a medicine cat. Just let me heal them."

Bluestar thought for a few moments before answering. "No. If we heal them and let them go, they may attack us when we least expect it."

Waterlily's amber eyes flashed with anger. "How can you do this?" She hissed. "Do they look like they would fight you?"

Yellowfang padded out of the den and dropped the herbs she had in her mouth. "This is not a curable disease." She rasped. "I have seen this before in ShadowClan. Many cats had died."

Waterlily turned to her and she felt like she was going to burst with frustration. "We can't let them die." Waterlily's voice raised in anger. Yellowfang opened her mouth to respond, but Bluestar beat her to it.

Bluestar narrowed her eyes once more. "Take them back. And that's final." She demanded. "Fireheart." Her tail twitched impatiently, "Take someone with you and make sure they go back to ShadowClan."

Fireheart dipped his head, then scanned the clearing. He padded slowly over to a pale ginger she-cat. "Sandstorm, will you go with me?"

Sandstorm twitched her nose, then purred. "Of course."

With that, Bluestar then heaved herself up and headed back inside her den.

Waterlily stomped back to the medicine den. She knew she was acting like a kit having a temper, but she didn't care. She couldn't see Littlecloud like this. He had to live! She didn't know who the other warrior was, but he had to be saved as well. Being a medicine cat meant at least trying to save all the clans, no matter how many battles you may have been with them.

Cinderpelt padded into the den. "I know you'd be able to cure them." She meowed encouragingly. "You cured me." She added. Her eyes were clouded with sadness. She remembered the days that she felt she would not make it as a warrior. Waterlily had binded her leg so tight that the bones practically healed themselves in time. Even though she was not completely healed, she was capable of doing warrior duties.

Waterlily turned to face her. "I-I did." She stammered. Then she stood straighter and felt more confident. "I did. Which means I could cure them."

Cinderpelt took a pace forward and her nose almost touched Waterlily's ear. "I can get whatever herbs you need." She whispered. "I watched you and Yellowfang enough to understand most herbs."

Waterlily looked at her with amusement. "You are a warrior, not a medicine cat." But then she looked out into the distance as if she had an idea. "But..." She continued, "I could use some help on sneaking the herbs to them." 

Cinderpelt tilted her head to the side, "So you are going to try to help them?"

Waterlily twitched her nose, almost second guessing herself. She looked down at her paws for a few moments, then she glanced back up at Cinderpelt. "Yes." She mewed softly. "No one else must know. I can teach you what I think could help. No one would suspect you helping them."

Cinderpelt softly sighed then sat down. "Okay. Teach me." She purred, ready to help her. 

Waterlily shook her head. "Not here. We must meet in private." She peered outside the medicine den and saw the cats beginning to go back to their duties. Fireheart and Sandstorm trekked up the ravine with the two ShadowClan warriors behind them. They struggled up the ravine and Fireheart had to grab Littlecloud by the scruff. He put him back down once the got to the top. Whitethroat was just as weak, but pushed himself to keep going as Fireheart carried Littlecloud. Once they all reached the top, they padded out of camp and headed for the thunderpath. 

Waterlily flicked her tail and began to follow them at a far distance. Cinderpelt was behind her, her ears flat with worry. Waterlily, still trekking along their trail, glanced at Cinderpelt and could feel her worry. It felt like a thorn had just pricked her paws. "It'll be alright." She promised. "If we get caught, let me do the talking."