Yellowfang’s Secret полностью

The gray-and-white she-cat gave a swift nod and vanished from the den. She was back more quickly than Yellowfang could have hoped, carrying a dripping bunch of moss in her jaws. She brought it to Cloudkit, who sucked in the water eagerly. Yellowfang thought that he was already looking a little livelier. She tore off part of the wet moss and used it to clean up his face and ears. Not sure what else to do, she bent down toward the kit, pressing one of her ears against his belly; she could hear a churning sound, almost like water falling into a pool.

“That’s right,” she told him. “Keep drinking as much as you can.”

Nettlespot had watched every movement Yellowfang made, like a hawk about to swoop on its prey. Yellowfang could feel her tension, and knew that she would lash out if anything went wrong. But Cloudkit was relaxing now, blinking up at his mother.

“Want milk,” he mewed.

Nettlespot lay on her side and began drawing him closer to her with her tail.

Yellowfang thought fast. “No, don’t do that,” she meowed. “Keep him on water for tonight, to give his belly a rest.”

Cloudkit let out a mew of protest, and Nettlespot glared at Yellowfang, then reluctantly nodded. “But only until dawn, when Sagewhisker comes back,” she added.

Yellowfang clawed away the vomit-soaked bedding, and Poolcloud brought more from the far side of the nursery before going out again to fetch another bundle of wet moss. Once Nettlespot and Cloudkit were settled comfortably, Yellowfang left.

“Thank you,” Poolcloud mewed, following her out of the nursery. “You were brave to step in and help. I’m sure Cloudkit will be fine until Sagewhisker comes back.”

“I hope so,” Yellowfang muttered, stumbling back to the medicine cat’s den and collapsing into her nest.

Hardly a heartbeat seemed to pass before she was woken again by a cat prodding her in the ribs. She opened her eyes to see Poolcloud bending over her.

“Is it Cloudkit?” she asked, springing to her paws. “Is he worse?”

“No, he’s fine,” Poolcloud reassured her. “He slept through the night, and now he’s wriggling around like a fox in a fit, wailing for milk. Nettlespot didn’t give him any,” she added. “She’s keeping him on water, just like you said.”

Yellowfang winced. Don’t listen to my advice. I’m not a medicine cat!

She followed Poolcloud across the camp to the nursery. The dawn sky was milky pale above the camp, and a fresh breeze was blowing, ruffling Yellowfang’s thick gray fur. Nettlespot was still lying in her nest, while Cloudkit jumped up and down beside her in the moss.

“I’m hungry!” he complained. “Why can’t I have milk? I was sick yesterday, not today!”

“He’s much better,” Nettlespot meowed, with a nod to Yellowfang. Her eyes glowed as she gazed at her active kit.

Suddenly the light from the entrance to the nursery was cut off; Yellowfang glanced around to see Sagewhisker looking in.

“What’s this I hear about Cloudkit?” she mewed. “He looks fine to me.”

“He’s better now,” Nettlespot replied. “But he was so sick last night. I was scared for him.”

“I gave him willow, and told Nettlespot to keep him on water overnight,” Yellowfang explained a little nervously.

“And I’m hungry!” Cloudkit repeated.

Sagewhisker let out a soft mrrow of sympathy. “Let him feed for a short while,” she instructed Nettlespot. “But Yellowfang was right to only allow him to have water until his belly had settled.”

After Sagewhisker had examined Cloudkit and left him peacefully suckling, she led Yellowfang back to her den. “You did well,” she told her. “Without you, Cloudkit might not have made it until I got back.”

Yellowfang shrugged. “Well, I’m bound to have picked up something about herbs, living in here for so long.”

Sagewhisker faced her with a look of gentle determination. “Don’t you think you should stop avoiding the real issue?” she pressed. “Yellowfang, your destiny is to be a medicine cat. Are you ready to accept that?”

Yellowfang felt as if the ground underneath her paws was giving way. “I’m a warrior!” she protested. “I’m too old to become an apprentice again.”

“Nonsense,” Sagewhisker mewed briskly. “You’ll be a better medicine cat for having had extra experience. You know exactly what it’s like to take part in a fight, and which wounds hurt the most. You have a good memory for herbs, too—you proved that when you took the willow to Cloudkit. And you have the courage to act on your instincts.”

With every word the medicine cat spoke, Yellowfang grew more and more reluctant. I’m not going to do this. She can’t make me! “You only think I should train with you because I can tell you when cats are in pain!” she blurted out.