Squirrelflight's Hope полностью

As Twigbranch hurried away, Squirrelflight felt her chest tighten again. She tensed. Was she sick, and not expecting kits at all? She shook out her pelt. It’s just anxiety, she told herself. I’ll be okay. She forced herself to relax, letting her breath deepen. She couldn’t be sick now. She had to find out where this mysterious illness had come from and how to cure it. Sparkpelt’s life could depend on it.

CHAPTER 17

By the time Squirrelflight led the way down the thickly brambled slope toward the ferns that screened the Sisters’ camp entrance, the moon was shining high above the small valley where they had made their home.

She stopped outside and raised her muzzle. “Moonlight? It’s me.”

Branches rustled beyond the ferns, and Snow’s mew answered. “Squirrelflight?”

“Yes.” Squirrelflight flicked her tail toward Ivypool, Twigbranch, and Finleap, signaling them to stay back. She didn’t want the Sisters to think this was anything but a friendly visit. “Can I come in? I’ve brought some Clanmates with me.”

Paw steps sounded in the grassy clearing. Voices echoed in the night.

“What are they doing here this time of night?”

“Why has she brought campmates?”

“Let’s find out.” Moonlight answered them briskly. “Come in, Squirrelflight. Bring your Clanmates.”

Squirrelflight nosed her way through the ferns. The Sisters ringed the clearing, staring with wide, moonlit eyes as the ThunderClan cats filed into camp. Moonlight’s belly was more swollen than ever. She hung back, flanked by Snow and Tempest, and eyed the patrol warily. “It’s late for a visit. Are you here with another warning?”

“I wanted to speak to you as soon as I could.” Squirrelflight scanned the sisters, looking for signs of illness. Sunrise wasn’t with them. “Are you all well?” She pricked her ears, searching Moonlight’s gaze as the large gray she-cat answered.

“We are.”

“And Sunrise?” Squirrelflight glanced anxiously at Leafpool.

“She’s resting,” Moonlight’s ears twitched. She was clearly unnerved by the patrol’s arrival.

Leafpool padded forward. “May I see her?”

“Her wound is almost healed,” Moonlight told her.

“I’d like to check,” Leafpool pressed.

“Okay.” Moonlight nodded to Furze. “Take her to Sunrise’s den.”

Furze beckoned Leafpool with a flick of her tail and led her through a gap in the dogwood at the edge of the clearing.

As Leafpool disappeared, Squirrelflight glanced around at the Sisters. Their long, thick pelts were disheveled. Was that sickness, or was their fur simply ruffled by sleep?

Tempest shook out her fur, as though conscious of Squirrelflight’s gaze. “Why bring so many Clanmates just to check on Sunrise?”

“Bramblestar told me to bring a patrol with me,” Squirrelflight told her.

Amusement flashed in Moonlight’s gaze. “Are you still trying to please him?”

Squirrelflight swished her tail. “He’s my leader, and my mate.” How could Moonlight understand? She had neither.

“Of course.” Moonlight dipped her head. Her gaze was still firm when she lifted it again. “But you are not just here to check on Sunrise.” As she spoke, Leafpool padded from the dogwood.

“She’s healed well.” Leafpool met Moonlight’s gaze. “You found the herbs you needed?”

“Yes.” Moonlight turned her questioning gaze back to Squirrelflight. “Is Sunrise why you came?”

“There is sickness in our camp,” Squirrelflight told her. “We came to find out if you had it too.”

“Were you worried that you’d passed it on to us?” Moonlight narrowed her eyes. “Or that we’d brought it to you?”

Squirrelflight avoided the question. “We were worried you might be sick.”

“We’re not.” Moonlight eyed her curiously.

Relief washed Squirrelflight’s pelt. She’d tried not to think how the Clans would react if they thought the Sisters had bought sickness to the forest. “Then it must be caused by prey. Be careful what you catch. We think there might be tainted prey in the forest.”

Snow’s pelt prickled. “We hunt here, not in your forest.”

Leafpool padded to Squirrelflight’s side. “We don’t know what has tainted the prey, and whatever it is might have spread here.”

Ivypool stepped forward, her eyes glittering anxiously. “Have you seen any sick prey?”

Moonlight narrowed her eyes. “Not that we’ve noticed. And nothing has made us ill.”

Finleap shifted behind Squirrelflight. “If there’s nothing to learn here,” he mewed, “we should head back.”

Twigbranch moved closer. “Do you think any other cats will have fallen sick while we’ve been away?”

“I hope not.” Squirrelflight’s belly tightened. She dipped her head politely to Moonlight. “I’m sorry we disturbed you.”

As she turned to go, Moonlight’s eyes narrowed. “What are the symptoms of this sickness?”

“It comes on quickly,” Leafpool told her. “The patient feels tired, then suddenly collapses and stops breathing. We’ve managed to keep the first two victims alive, but they’re unconscious and bringing up bile. If we can’t treat them soon, they might die.”

Moonlight looked at Snow. Flickers of recognition seemed to spark in their gaze.