Warriors: Omen of the Stars: Night Whispers (my version) Chapter 20

Chapter 20 (Jayfeather's point of view)


"Briarlight's coughing again!" Daisy's paw prodded Jayfeather urgently in his side. He sprang to his paws and dashed out of the medicine den, toward the nursery.
"Are you okay, Briarlight?" squeaked Cherrykit. "What's wrong?"
Briarlight couldn't respond; her body was racked with coughs. Jayfeather pressed his nose to her fur. Still no fever, he concluded. She doesn't have whitecough. Oh StarClan, help me!
Millie's anxious scent flooded the nursery. "Do something, Jayfeather!" she cried.
Jayfeather thought quickly. What should I do? "We need to move her to the medicine den with Dovepaw, where I can be near her. Don't carry her," He said sharply. "To help clear her lungs, she has to do it herself." He scented Firestar. The ThunderClan leader was racing across the clearing and stopped just outside the nursery, where Briarlight was beginning to crawl toward the medicine cat's den.
"Is Briarlight coughing again?" Firestar's anxious voice caught Jayfeather by surprise. The silver tabby nodded as Firestar led him away from the others. "You can save her, Jayfeather. You're the only cat who can save her."
Jayfeather shrugged. "I'll try my best." he said simply, and padded away.

"Shouldn't you give her poppy seeds or something?" Millie asked franticly, her scent constantly moving as she paced around her kit. Jayfeather's patience was at an end; Millie had refused to leave after Briarlight had reached the den.
Jayfeather shook his head. "It could stop her breathing." He sensed that dawn was beginning to break. "Go back to your den and rest. I'll keep an eye on Briarlight, I promise."
Millie stopped pacing. "You will?"
"Yes."
The warrior left the den and Jayfeather tracked her scent across the clearing and into the warriors' den.
Finally! Jayfeather thought. Now I can save her. The young warrior was asleep now, but coughs still racked her body every so often.
Dovepaw stirred in the nest beside Briarlight and started talking in her sleep, startling Jayfeather. "I'm going to get you." she murmured quietly, making the medicine cat jump. "There! I got you, you sneaky little mouse."
Jayfeather's fur laid flat again - she was only hunting. He settled down beside Briarlight, matched his breathing with hers, and drifted off to sleep.