Showered by the Empty Hopes (c)

The bi-colored molly approached Tigerdance once her clanmates had dispersed, grief written clearly across her face. “C’mon, the patrols have been sent. No use freezing to death out here, or passing out.” She gave him a knowing glance. The tom had been a rabbit-breath away from losing his footing during his last announcement. She flicked her white-tipped tail towards the acting medicine den, and pushed through the tight-tangled foliage around the entrance into the warm dim. “Go find an empty nest.” She dipped her head, chin tucking to chest in equal part exhaustion and dismay. “It’s been a difficult day for all of us, there is nothing more you can do now.” She began pulling herbs out of their places, quietly saying each out loud to herself in a rasping wheeze as she tore off leaves with a snag of her sharp claws.

Her chest ached. Every fit of coughing felt like her bones were being violently rearranged. Daisypaw stepped gingerly over to Tigerdance, once the blend was finished, flattening her ears back against the deep throbbing of her joints. Every part of her felt frayed, and no amount of sleep seemed to fix it. She blinked against the fever haze, fighting to keep her focus through the soupy fog that sloshed around behind her eyes. She clamped down on the admittedly clumsily wrapped bundle of herbs in her mouth like a life-line. Finally she reached the red tabby, looking at him now, haloed by the weak light filtering into the den, she felt the wound in her chest ripped open anew. Could she manage without Smallstar’s instruction? She wished desperately for his guidance now. But he was gone, and her clanmates still lay prone in the throes of illness, so she had nothing else to do but face the task and pray to StarClan she was enough. She laid the bundle down at his paws, swiping her tongue over her teeth to dispel the heavy scent of lavender that clung to the roof of her mouth.

“You need your strength now more than ever, the Ragweed should help with that at least.” She gently pulled the lavender blooms from the bundle, pushing the rest of the ragweed leaves and tormentil towards Tigerdance. “Chew those well.” She instructed, before separating out a portion of the lavender. She gently kneaded the pale heads, breaking open the tender petals beneath her paws. Their drowsy scent always reminded her of her mother. She glanced back towards the queen, looking untroubled in her sleep near the back corner of the den. Her wheeze had faded somewhat, and Daisypaw let out a quiet sigh of relief. Even temporary fixes were welcomed after the long-stretching nights where she paced between her clanmates, terrified their feeble lungs might finally give up. She brushed the fragrant flowers over Tigerdance’s shoulders, rubbing them gently into his pelt. “Use the rest of the lavender to line your nest, it should make sleep come a little easier, and if StarClan is good, make breathing a little easier too.”

Daisypaw shook her head, a wry smile settling on her face. “I don’t think i’m old enough to be wise. Just stubborn.” She purred roughly, the sound getting caught up in her aching throat. She watched, satisfied that Tigerdance had slowed down for a moment in the midst of the chaos. It would be good to take some time for himself, even if it was just a night of rest. The days would only get harder from here. The gray and white molly settled back on her haunches, sweeping her gaze over the rest of her clanmates laying quietly in their nests. Everything was still for now. She glanced back at the leader when he spoke again and twitched an unimpressed ear.

“Me? Holding up? I’m a pillar of strength.” She mewed, amused. Her weak chuckle turned into a wheezing fit that made her eyes water, but her sharp grin was back as soon as she had caught her breath.  “I’ll be alright, and do my best to handle things here. I know things are bad right now, but StarClan won’t abandon us to ruin. I’m confident about that.” She met his gaze, hopefully a little clearer now with the herbs kicking in.   “Things aren’t going to be easy for either of us, but all there is to do is face it, we have no choice. Now rest.” She flicked her fuzzy tail over his ear briefly in silent comradery before gathering up the unused herbs and starting back towards her stores. There were many empty spaces that needed to be filled, in both her stores and her clan, but she was confident in their ability to weave things back together. Maybe it was foolish, maybe it was naive, but she had faith in her leadership and in her clanmates. They would pull through, stars willing.