Plague [Site Event]

The smell of sickness hung heavy in the air, choking and stifling proud ShadowClan's camp. The stench clung to their pelts and to their prey, and bold crows circled high in the air, waiting to feast. Death had come to ShadowClan in the form of a diseased rat. It took only one to poison the rest of the freshkill pile and the hungry warriors, bringing the Clan down low. When the cold winds of Leafbare rose, prey had become scarce on the marsh, especially with Shadowsky stolen away from them by the combined strength of RiverClan and WindClan. Cats were desperate and hungry, and there were only two options: to raid and reave the surrounding territories for clean prey, or to eat the rats that prowled among Twoleg carrion.

ShadowClan had suffered for their choice, and now a plague was here.

ooc: this calls for a special post

A she-cat warrior stood beside the nursery, her thick black pelt hanging heavily over her bones. She was standing over something, watching it with an intense golden gaze. It was rather large kit who was almost completely gray except for a black patch over his eye. The only way you would be able to tell the warrior and kit were related was by the golden yellow eyes.

It was sad sight to see. Older sister standing over her younger brother as if to shield him from the sickness that had plagued their home. If only she could have. The kit, Heavykit, laid in a mess of his own dirt-clotted, thick gray fur. His eyes were crusted over, as was his nose. You could hear the sound of wheezing as he breathed out his mouth in short gasps. There was no way his sister, Cormorantpelt, could get him over to see the Medicine Cat. There were too many others in need so he probably wouldn't bee seen at all.

Cormorantpelt's golden-yellow eyes narrowed as she looked around camp. Cats everywhere were either dead or dying. What had they done to deserve this? What had ShadowClan done to deserve this? It made no sense. Absolutely none. Something had to be done about this. Her eyes softened as her focus came back to her brother.

Something had to be done. Soon. And Cormorantpelt was willing to do anything it took to help strengthen her Clan again.

Shadeflame peeled back his lips in a snarl as he surveyed the camp. Cats all around were either severely sick, or already dead. He gazed around the camp with narrowed amber eyes. He gave a sneeze. Oh no ... I think I'm sick. Even if it's a little bit ... Lionstrike was right behind him, sitting down, his usual golden fur and bright eyes dull, as he wheezed and coughed. What was going on? Was StarClan punishing them? If that was the case, what did ShadowClan DO? What did they do to deserve this madness?

Mapleheart, shook her long fur, which draped on her small frame. While it made her seems bigger than she usually was, her even smaller, skinny body was now letting it just hang there. She still tried to keep it kempt, but sometimes it was just too much effort. She looked to her brother, seeing he was near the same condition, as was the whole clan. Many were already dead, while others were on the verge of dying. She looked to see Heavykit under his sister, not looking well either. Cormorantpelt was looking around determined, sparking her interest. What was she thinking? She dragged her body up, and padded closer, though not too close, since she seemed quite protective at the moment. She spoke, getting her attention, then quietly mewing "You thinking of something? Something needs to be done, and i'm willing to try almost anything." Mapleheart was quite determined also, anything to protect her clan, and make them strong again. Shadowclan didn't deserve this.

OOC: Woop woop! Stealing time! XD

It was hard for Cormorantpelt to drag her eyes off of Heavykit, but she somehow managed to do so. "Something needs to be done, Mapleheart. Quickly before our whole Clan dies off..." There was an idea that sat in the back of her thoughts. It wasn't up to her to decide this, but maybe they could get Nightstar or Thrushstripe to agree. "I believe ShadowClan is in desperate need of supplies and healthy prey. There's only one place were we could find these things. And that would be ThunderClan." Golden-yellow eyes were narrowed again as if she was challenging Mapleheart to object her.

It was only due to Thrushstripe's lack of appetite that he had not yet managed to get sick. It had still not come back ever since that whole situation with his sister, and so he was being affected by this in a whole other way. He had yet to sleep in a few nights, he barely ate anything at all trying to make sure everything was perfect... but then this happened. He didn't even know how it started, but it spread like a wildfire through the fresh-kill that was being eaten daily. And in complete honesty, Thrushstripe had no idea what to do. All the new prey that was brought in was just getting poisoned by whatever was first brought in. Everything was tainted. Unclean... Unsafe. As the poor deputy looked around the clearing of camp, it was heart-wrenching to see all of the faces hollowed out from disease and weakness. But he had no plans. He didn't know how to make them feel better, and he didn't know how to get rid of what was causing so much harm. What was he supposed to do? Obviously their own prey was not cutting it, so what were his options? The only way he could feed the mouths in the clan was to find any healthy cat left and spread the search. He wanted to avoid other clan territories, but... at this point, that was looking to be the best option. Carrionplace was never an option. As a matter of fact, he was sure that's exactly where this originated. He was not going to go back there, and he needed to have a talk with the younger warriors and apprentices. Carrionplace was not the place for hunting, and now the clan was paying for it.

With a heavy sigh, the deputy glanced back at the leader's den. He desperately wondered if Nightstar was okay in all of this, but at the same time he had the clan to worry about. She would come out and address the clan when she felt it was necessary. Although this definitely counted as an emergency, she might have a better plan than him...

On the complete opposite side of the camp was where the old warrior Gingerheart lay. She was, unfortunately, one of the several who had caught the disease. She was trying her best to fight it, but it wasn't doing much good. Everything about her had changed since she caught it only a few nights ago. Her eyes were much more dimmed, almost lifeless now. Her long and usually clean fur was matted and tangled, and it stuck out in puffs rather than long hair. Not only that, but with all of the dirt and mud in it, it stuck to her sides as if honey were spread all over her, showing just how thin she had become. The bones, though, weren't just from the sickness. She had never been in the greatest shape since the incident with Mapleface, but this just made it worse. She had lost all drive and motivation to do anything but keep herself alive for the sake of the clan. Heck, she could barely even walk five tail-lengths without feeling like she was going to keel over. So instead, she just lay in the clearing and observed the other cats that were walking around trying to take care of everyone they could. It was then that the she-cat paused as she listened in on Mapleheart and Cormorantpelt's conversation. Stealing healthy prey from Thunderclan? Why in Starclan would they do that? It was better than just asking for prey, that was for sure, but they had Shadowsky territory that was even easier to get to. There wasn't any way in Starclan that Gingerheart would ever want to go back there, but that land definitely belonged to Shadowclan. They needed to take it back, but in this condition, that was an impossibility.

Letting out a loud cough, the pale ginger cat just stopped thinking altogether. It took too much energy that she didn't have. Instead, she just set her head back on her paws and prayed to Starclan that this disease would pass soon, or if at all possible, Mallowroot would be able to give her something for this terrible sickness.

Mapleheart stared right back at Cormorantpelt, sensing her pure seriousness, while she was too. She looked around, noticing Gingerheart nearby, but paid no mind. If this was something that was too crazy, her old mentor would have said something. Putting her green gaze back on the she-cat she thought about it. Thunderclan did have prey, but there was Shadowsky territory that needed to be reclaimed, even though they were too weak. But, there should be almost no patrols from Windclan, they didn't patrol it a lot. So she spoke her opinion "What about Shadowsky territory? It rightfully belongs to us, plus, Windclan doesn't patrol it often. Plus, we could just ask the medicine cat what certain herbs look like, and look for them there." She wanted to help her clan, but Thunderclan seemed too much right now, plus she didn't want to see the deputy, and her kit. Nor the medicine cat apprentice. It would remind her too much of Redshade and Soulfang, and what they were.

"Shadowsky? I'd never thought of that..." Cormorantpelt noticed Gingerheart too; She wondered what the old she-cat had to say about this. "But what if a patrol happens to come around while we're there? What would we do then? And from what I hear, ThunderClan had just gotten into a tussle with some rogues. They should be as weak as us. Maybe weaker." ThunderClan was more ideal for Cormorant because she had never been to Shadowsky before. She wouldn't be useful if she didn't know her way around the place.

ooc: xD Okay now i'll wait for others lol

Nightstar had not eaten any of the food, as she was letting her clan mates eat first. Of course, this meant she was much weaker, but it also meant that she wasn't sick, and would sooner die of starvation then sickness. The leader knew that she had to do something, and she should better do it now.

The she-cat remembered when she was younger, she was told that the carrion place was dangerous. Many illnesses riddled the area, and being there wasn't safe. Even if there was food. It wouldn't help feeding one cat, and getting the others sick. She didn't remember who said that, but the knowledge stuck with her. She'd have to talk to her deputy, Nightstar was fairly sure that he wasn't ill. Which was good news considering how many cats were actually out of commission. To see her best friend (who was a usual spitfire) acting the way she was, only added to Nightstar's determination to save her clan. Even if she lost all nine of her lives, she'd do it.

The semi-frail leader stuck her head out of the den, her blue eyes locked onto Thrushstripe. Nightstar then called him over, to they could talk strategy. No idea was a bad one. Well... Actually. Perhaps stealing from ThunderClan would be one.

Shadeflame pricked his ears as Mapleheart padded up to Cormorantpelt and Heavykit. He stood up, shaking himself off, and padded up to them. "Are you suggesting that we steal from another clan?" he asked, before sighing. "Well ... we can't let ShadowClan die out. It's either eat the rats from the carrionplace, or steal from another clan."

Redpaw lay outside her den, wishing there were something she could do to help. She couldn't stand how helpless she felt, unable to fight the sickness for her clan mates.

Scorchclaw ran his eyes over the dyeing camp. He spotted Cromorantpelt and his heart jolted, as did his legs as they trotted over to her. Then he spotted Heavykit. The dark grey tom slwed his pace when he noticed that the kit was barely moving. His amber, notmally bright dulled and hetouched his nose to the kits ear. "I'm so sorry." Scorchclaw mewed to Cormorantpelt. He looked up at her with a soft gaze, which was rare for him, and sat down. "What are we going to do...." He whispered, loud enough fro the surrounding cats- Mapleheart and Shadeflame- to hear. The warrioir looked down at his black paws and shifted yhe weight from paw to paw.

(Sorry about any typos)

Redshade padded into camp, shaking his head and lashing his tail in frustration. It was if all the prey in the territory had just up and disappeared. He hadn't been able to catch anything because of it, not to mention he was growing a little sick himself. His fur was matted and eyes were crusted along the bottoms, voice occasionally having a rasp to it shortly before a sudden cough. He ignored it though, refusing to be treated. He had said it was nothing worse than whitecough to him, even if it was a lie, and that it would blow over quickly. He was strong, and no sickness was going to keep him down in his nest. Looking around camp, he wondered if Soulfang was out here somewhere. There was no one else he rather talk to about this plague, and what they could do about it.

~Uh... what did ShadowClan do?

Silverleaf surveyed the camp nervously. So many cats are sick. Even though I'm not sick yet... She coughed and thought, panicky, Oh, no! Am I getting it, too? But then she remembered accidentally swallowing a feather last night. Oh, whew. Her eyes fell on Lionstrike, coughing and wheezing, and she felt as though her heart were being torn in two. Padding over, she whispered to him, "I wish I could do something to help."

ooc: doon't yooou put down TC raid idea sploootchii /cry5ever

Cormorantpelt nodded in reply to her former mentor. "It may not be the best idea ever, but at least it's an idea." That's when Scorchclaw had come over. When he had showed some compassion for her sick brother, Cormorantpelt felt a little more at ease. But then she heard him utter the words 'I'm sorry'. That's when her heart seemed to drop to her stomach. "He's not dead yet, Scorchclaw. I don't need your sorry's."
In reply to his question of what they were going to do, the young warrior let out a long sigh. Her head turned to look in the direction of their leader's den. "Nightstar hasn't approached the Camp yet. I'm taking this as a sign that even she doesn't know what to do..." She turned back to look at her surrounding companions Mapleheart, Shadeflame, Scorchclaw... If there was to be something done about this, she thought, then these cats would defiantly be joining the cause.