Mountainstar lead her Clan back to camp, the weight of what happened at the gathering stull hung in the back of her mind. She didn't know what to do with two Clans fighting such an intense battle. Especially one that resulted in the death of a Clan leader. She had been feeling a storm of conflicted feelings. She had been taught by the other Clans that Riverstar was a well respected leader, strong and a bit cocky at times but noble.
Then at the gathering after she was exposed for killing Shadowstar it seemed like every single warrior aside from AshClan saw her as a violent and bloodthirsty cat. She did kill Shadowstar. Mountainstar had to agree that was a terrible tragedy that the MoonClan leader had been killed. But she looked genuinely stressed about, she didn't mean to kill him. She didn't know what to feel.
Mountainstar and her warriors finally reached the camp and she could tell they were nervous about what had happened at the gathering as well. "Do you think that the issue between MoonClan and AshClan is going to be a problem for us?" It was Hazelspring who spoke up.
Mountainstar shook her head. "I don't believe so. We will be following Timberstar's advice and staying out of the conflict. If we keep a neutral stance then we shouldn't have any issues from either Clan." She could tell that her Clanmates were still nervous. "We have to worry about our own Clan right now." She added. "We need to keep hunting and providing for each other. We don't have a medicine cat right now, we will not be getting involved. I promise our Clan will remain safe." Those words seemed to help give some peace of mind to her warriors. "Now return to your dens, stay warm and get some rest."
She dismissed her warriors and apprentices until only she and Nettleheart remaind in the center of camp. "Do you believe that the other Clans won't bother us?"
"I don't see why they would." Mountainstar sighed and started walking towards her own den, Nettleheart close behind her "We don't share a border with AshClan and they've never shown us any hostility and MoonClan has always been kind towards us. We'll keep our distance."
"I hope you're right." Nettleheart let out a sigh. "Last thing we need is a fight right now with no medicine cat."
Mountainstar nodded. "We'll find a new medicine cat in time."
"Did Owlpaw say anything to you at the gathering?"
"We really didn't get a chance to talk, she seemed stressed about everything since she apparently watched the entire thing happen. I imagine if she had heard something she would've made sure to tell me."
The two of them arrived at Mountainstar's den and she faced her deputy. "We just have to remain stong, for each other."
"Of course." Nettleheart stepped closer, touching her muzzle to Mountainstar's. The leader closed her eyes and embraced her deputy's warmth. "You'd doing a wonderful job, keeping us safe."
"I'm just doing my job as leader." Mountainstar breathed out, moving closer and affectionately nuzzling Nettleheart. Ever since Mothflower and the others left, Nettleheart had been spending every night in Mountainstar's den, the two of them curled up together and sharing their warmth. It had been the most peaceful nights of her entire life.
"Let's go to bed." Nettleheart urged her. "It's been a long and cold night." Mountainstar couldn't agree more as she turned and followed Nettleheart into the warm den. Mountainstar knew how she felt about Nettleheart, and she knew how Nettleheart felt about her.
They hadn't officially state wanted they were, but they didn't need to. When Mountainstar looked at Nettleheart she felt happiness and safety, comfort and love. That was all that she needed to know.
Mountainstar got into her nest with Nettleheart, the two of them wrapping their forelegs around each other, their tails intertwining and Mountainstar nestling her head under Nettleheart's chin. No more words needed to be said as the two of them stayed warm together, and surrounded by the comfort of the cat she cared about dearly, Mountainstar fell into a peaceful sleep.
*****
When Mountainstar woke up Nettleheart was gone, presumably to plan the day's patrols. Mountainstar sat up in her nest and let out a yawn, stretching out her limbs and shaking off the sleepiness. After smoothing down her messed up fur, Mountainstar left her den to see how her Clan was doing this morning.
She stepped into the main section of camp just in time to see Spiderstorm and Turnipclaw leaving with Finchpaw and Petalpaw to go training. Since Antwhisker had been Petalpaw's original mentor, she had assigned Turnipclaw to take over her training now that he was gone and he was doing a great job, him and Petalpaw got along very well.
Mountainstar turned her attention to Riverstep, the expecting queen was sitting with her sisters as she usually did, both Briarfall and Hazelspring were supporting here with the father of her kits being gone. She could see a notable growth in her belly size as the kits grew inside of her. Mountainstar couldn't wait for the kits to be born, but she also needed them to wait until MountainClan had a new medicine cat, whoever that would be.
She had tried to think of who the new medicine cat could be, wondering if it would be a warrior they already had or an outsider. She couldn't see any of her current warriors becoming medicine cats so she assumed it would be another outsider. I just need StarClan to hurry up. She sighed.
Mountainstar decided to wait until Nettleheart to returned to see if there were any patrols she could join to get her paws moving. She helped herself to some fresh-kill, a small mouse. Their fresh-kill pile was well stocked, but she assumed it helped that MountainClan seemed smaller than the other Clans.
After she finished her mouse she saw Poppysong walking with Fireclaw as they talked about something. She laughed at something he said, but her laugh was interrupted by a series of coughs. Mountainstar's head jerked up and she quickly rose to her paws. She quickly padded over to Poppysong while Fireclaw looked over her with concern in his eyes. "Are you alright?" Mountainstar questioned upon reaching the black she-cat.
"Yeah," She responded, clearing her throat after the coughing. "My throat just hurts a bit."
Mountainstar felt uncertainty rise in her chest. "We should get you some herbs, we don't want this getting any worse."
"I'm fine, Mountainstar, really." Poppysong assured her. "I get coughs all the time during leaf-bare."
"You should go." Fireclaw nudged her. "Just to be safe." Poppysong met Fireclaw's yellow gaze and held it for a moment. Mountainstar could see a fondness between them.
"Alright, alright." Poppysong sighed. "Go ahead, Mountainstar."
"Thank you." Fireclaw touched his muzzle to hers and the two of them began walking away from the ginger tabby.
"You two seem to be quite close." Mountainstar noted with a purr.
Poppysong's eyes softened. "He is a very wonderful cat." Mountainstar felt warmth in her heart knowing that so many of her Clanmates were forming deep relationships. Perhaps Fireclaw and Poppysong would have kits and MountainClan would continue to grow and get stronger.
Mountainstar and Poppysong reached the medicine cat den and Mountainstar quickly went over the herbs that Owlpaw had taught her for coughs. It's just a minor cough so I think tansy is the best? No, coltsfoot. She went towards the coltsfoot. Wait, coltsfoot is for whitecough, tansy is for a normal cough and I don't think this is whitecough yet. She looked at Poppysong. Other than her cough she looked fine, hear eyes and nose weren't streaming and she wasn't complaining of a fever or shortness of breath. Yes, tansy is the way to go.
Mountainstar picked up a small bundle of the golden flower, remembering Owlpaw's warning not to give a large amount. "Eat this." Mountainstar instructed and Poppysong gave the tansy a wary sniff, but ate it anyway. She made a fact at the taste, but swallowed it. "That should help with your cough, that's what Owlpaw taught me."
"Thank you, Mountainstar." Poppysong mewed.
"Let me know if you feel any worse, and tell any other cats who are coughing to come see me for the same thing. We can't risk sickness spreading without a medicine cat."
"Of course." Poppysong waved her tail. "Thank you again." The warrior turned out of the medicine cat den and left Mountainstar alone. She let out a sigh and felt fear growing deep in her belly. Our first signs of sickness. She thought with a heavy heart. Please let it be only a small cough.
Mountainstar left the den as well and looked over her Clanmates, making sure that they were all safe. She watched then all very closely, paranoid that any more of them might start coughing.
A while later, just before sunrise, Nettleheart returned with her small patrol of Dewleaf, Sparrowpaw and Wrenpaw. Mountainstar caught her eye very quickly and after bidding farewell to the rest of her patrol, she crossed the camp over to Mountainstar. "Is everything okay?" Nettleheart questioned. "You look stressed again."
"Poppysong has a cough." Mountainstar answered with a sigh. "Sickness is starting to show and we don't have a medicine cat yet."
Nettleheart sat down next to her and began rasping her tongue across Mountainstar's shoulder in a comforting manner, pressing her body against the leader's. "It will be okay, we'll get through this. How bad was her cough?"
"Not too bad." Mountainstar replied, enjoying Nettleheart's comfort. "I gave her some tansy like Owlpaw told me too, but I still worried that it will get works or that she's not the only one."
"We have the herbs we need, and you learned directly from a medicine cat." Nettleheart assured her. "I'm sure that we will be just fine, alright?"
"I hope so." Mountainstar sighed and closed her eyes, just wanting to focus on Nettleheart peacefully.
Her peace was quickly ruined by a series of coughs. Her eyes opened and she looked at Poppysong who was sitting with Fireclaw and looked just fine, she heard the coughs again and turned her head towards the direction of them. When her eyes met the cat that was coughing and her heart dropped. The cough was coming from Sparrowpaw. No. Mountainstar thought. He can't get sick, not him. Not my kits.
Mountainstar jumped to her paws and ran over to Sparrowpaw. "Are you alright?" She demanded, looking all over him in a panic.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." Sparrowpaw replied, stepping back a bit. "Just a--" He broke off with more coughs. Panic rose in Mountainstar's chest.
"Come with me." She guided Sparrowpaw, not taking no for an answer as she took her kit to the empty medicine cat den. I'm giving him coltsfoot. She told herself, his cough was already worse than Poppysong's.
She gave the herbs and he took them without complaint but Mountainstar felt an overwhelming fear growing in her chest. StarClan please, if you're listening; please send us a medicine cat. I can't do this alone.