"...ven...Raven...RAVEN!" A sharp jab shot at him and he woke up suddenly. "Yes?" The dark grey tom asked and looked at a light orange tom with dark ginger stripes, who was glaring at him. "Another one has died," one of his adopted brothers told him and Raven could feel his heart sink.

"Not again...who was it this time,Yellow?" He asked. "Acorn so officially Berry and Tiger are orphans now," he said and Raven got up from his nest (although this was the first time in forever since he slept in it). "Poor kits," he said sadly. "Poppy has given them some herbs for the shock but it was very little since we still need to save up for the ones who are still sick," Yellow explained as the two toms walked towards the clearing of empty nests. The sight was saddened as the clearing was full of cats before and now...

Raven flinched at the sound of coughing. The worst part was that he recognized the cat. Buck, his old mentor. "Where did it all go wrong?" He muttered. "Listen, it was no one's fault that the sickness has gotten bad. We already quarantined the healthy cats that are most likely to catch it," Yellow told him. "It wasn't enough though," Raven said and Yellow gave him a sympathetic look.

"She's getting better though. Rose and you have been spending your time trying to make sure that she gets better. Stars above even Pebble decided to help out," Yellow told him. Another cough made them flinch and Raven turned his head towards the nest where his mate and kits took up. "It'll take some time though," Yellow sighed and Raven gave him a nod before leaving.

"Hey," he brushed his head against Rose who gave him the same sentiments. "Hey, you looked more well rested than yesterday," she said in a slight tease but Raven merely winced. "Sorry, should have been with you," he said but Rose shook her head. "You needed that rest. You haven't slept in two days since Light got sick. It wouldn't be doing anyone any favors if you tire yourself out and collapse with exhaustion. Remember what happened with Fern? Butterfly had to take care of him while she was sick herself," Rose pointed out.

"...alright. So how's Light now?" Raven asked and she nuzzled the sleeping kit next to her. "Getting better. I think she just needs rest right now," Rose told him. "And the rest of the kits?" Raven asked, not seeing them in the nest with Rose. "Playing hunt the frog with Crow. They need a distraction," Rose explained. She shuddered and Raven could feel the heat off his mate. "You're getting sickly yourself," Raven said with concern.

"I'll be fine. I just need to cool down a little," Rose said but Raven still worried. This group was once lively and buzzing with energy but now, most of the cats are gone. A huge majority died of sickness while some of them left to live on their own or to live as kittypets. "I'll have a talk with Poppy regarding herbs," Raven said. Rose was about to protest when a cough interrupted her which gave Raven all the confirmation that he needed.

"I'll be right back," he gave his mate a lick before walking off. He found Poppy who was pacing around her area, nervously. Yellow was nearby as well and Raven walked up to him. "Something wrong?" He asked. "We're out of catmint! Most of the sickness is greencough and those with whitecough are at risk of it turning to greencough!" Poppy wailed. She looked very distraught and her fur looked like it hadn't been groomed in a while. "Out of catmint? Are you sure?" Raven asked and she nodded. "She wants to go to Twolegplace where fresh catmint is grown but it's too risky," Yellow said. "And there isn't catmint anywhere else?" Raven asked.

"The usual place has been used up and the closest one is used by those clan cats. I don't want to risk getting them angry," Poppy admitted. "I'll go with her because going there by herself is too dangerous especially since she's the only one who knows about herbs...only one alive that is," Yellow said and muttered that last part under his breath. Raven was still hesitant though.

On one hand, they can't risk losing any more cats but on another...

He looked over at where his kits were playing with his other adopted brother, Crow. Berry and Tiger seemed to have joined them as well. "Uncle Crow, can we play something else now?" Sun asked. "Sure, what do you want to play?" Crow purred. "Can we play tag?" Marigold suggested. "What about hide and seek?" Pebble suggested. "Any suggestions?" Crow asked, turning to Tiger and Berry. "...umm, no. W-we can play hide and seek though," Tiger suggested, timidly. Sun and Pebble looked at each other, seemingly concerned for their den mate. Tiger was never timid, he was always upbeat and always wanted to play. But now..

Acorn is dead and he wasn't the only one, Raven looked around the group where sick cats were curled up in their nests and whoever were closest to them were standing around, trying to get them to eat or drink. They need more herbs.

"Alright but do not leave each other's side and run away when a Twoleg gets close to you," Raven instructed. "Thank you," Poppy said, almost weeping with joy. The two cats then left.

This turned out to be a mistake.

Raven was hunting when he heard commotion from the area. He picked up the small vole that he managed to catch and raced over. Poppy was there and she looked frightened and was being comforted by Buck despite him being sick. "What happened? Where's Yellow?" Raven asked, looking for his brother. "He's gone! The Twolegs took him!" Poppy wailed and Raven stiffened up. "Those darn housefolk! Always sticking their noses where it doesn't belong!" A ginger she-cat hissed before breaking down, coughing. "Ma, don't speak or you'll cough even further," a ginger tom with brown paws told her.

"Can you explain further on the Twolegs taking Yellow?" Raven asked as calmly as he could. "We...we were doing what you said to do. We stuck by each other's side as we were gathering the catmint and ran away once Twolegs spotted us. We had to get onto a ledge to escape though. I couldn't get up there myself so Yellow had to give me a push and as I was leaning over to help him up, these Twolegs came out of nowhere and grabbed him. One of them was about to grab me but I stumbled back and fell off the ledge, away from the Twolegs. Some of the catmint fell and got shredded so I got what I could carry," Poppy was shaking and Raven saw some bits of catmint at her paws.

She continued, "I tried getting back up to help Yellow but I couldn't get up. I tried and tried but I just couldn't! I didn't want to leave him there but I did! It's all my fault! First Acorn's death and now this!" She fell flat on her belly while wailing. Acorn and her were friends so it must have hurt when he passed away.

"Hey, look at me," Raven said and she looked up. "It's not your fault, no one could have predicted that the Twolegs would come and grab Yellow out of the blue like that. You did what you could so don't beat yourself over it. Yellow is a tough cat, I'm sure that he'll be back," Raven assured her and Poppy got up. "I-I guess you're right," she said but was still hesitant to look at him directly. "I'll go pass out the catmint. Oleander, Buck. Here," Poppy handed them the catmint but Oleander shook her head.

"Give it to the young ones. They need it more than me," Oleander said and Buck nodded. "Ma," the ginger tom tried to protest but Oleander gave him a poke. "Lark, I am getting too old. I may not last through the night so all I wish for is that the ones who have their whole lives ahead of them will make it through," she told him before coughing. Lark looked at Poppy and said, "give her a small piece," and Poppy nodded.

She then walked away and went to the nests where cats were still laying in. There were some wails as some of the cats weren't moving and Raven shook at this. More and more are dying. And now Yellow is gone! We're losing cats and losing them quickly, he thought.

"Yellow is gone?" A new voice asked and Raven turned around to see Crow standing there. "...yeah," Raven bowed his head. "Fox heart Twolegs," Crow cursed and lashed his tail at this. Raven secretly agreed. Losing Yellow like this when everyone else was dying around them was a massive blow. Poppy was the only one alive who knew about herbs so the pressure was on her and it seemed to be getting to her.

Raven watched her as she walked by Acorn's nest where his kits were. They spotted her and began to chat but Poppy was responding in simple sentences, her eyes blank and her fur was even more of a mess.

Crow's voice snapped him out of his thoughts again and what he said surprised Raven. "I'm going to go look for him," he said. "What?" Raven asked. "I'm going to look for Yellow. I refuse to believe that we're going to lose a cat like that. I'm sick of losing cats like this, I need to do something about it!" Crow declared.

"That's reckless. We might lose you too and we can't afford to let that happen," Raven told him. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. You stay here and watch over the others. I'll be back with Yellow before you could say mouse!" Crow purred. Raven didn't want to let him go like that. He pleaded with his other brother to not go but Crow's mind was already made up. So at nightfall, he left.

And didn't come back.

That was the last straw for Poppy. Raven had woken up in the middle of the rainy night to see Poppy walking away while herding Berry and Tiger. She saw that he had woken up and shook her head. "I'm leaving. I just can't do it anymore. Too many cats have been lost and I don't want to feel helpless anymore so I'm taking Berry and Tiger with me," Poppy told him. "Where will you be going?" Raven asked, narrowing his eyes. "To convince those clan cats to let us join. Two days before Acorn died, he knew his time was coming and told me to take them to the clans. I didn't want to but after seeing so much death and your brothers' disappearance, I made up my mind to go," Poppy explained.

Raven knew that there was no way to convince her to not go so he swallowed his pride and allowed her to go. He only wished for her to wait until the weather was more favorable for her and the kits.

"You allowed her to leave? Tom, I know that you sympathize with her but that was a foolish thing to do," Buck would later scold him for it. "I know but I understand where she's coming from. Why continue to use your skills when it won't make a single difference? Acorn was her friend and he died, leaving behind his kits who could very much be next. She believed that losing both Yellow and Crow was her fault so it must have felt like it was hopeless so Poppy left. Left like how Fern, Butterfly, Cody, Mallow and Blue did," Raven explained.

"The difference is that she went to the clan cats. You think that they'll let her in?" Buck asked. "They wouldn't turn away kits. Only the truly despicable ones would let kits to die," Raven hissed out of frustration. Buck rested his head on the edge of his nest and closed his eyes. "I am aware...tom, do me a favor and follow her example once I'm dead and gone. Take your family as well, it's no use staying here once we lost our cat who knew the most about herbs," Buck sighed. "Buck?" Raven asked, concerned.

"My time is coming, I can feel it. There will be no need to bury me once I die. Just leave me out for the birds to eat," Buck said. "Every cat deserves a burial, I won't let scavengers eat you," Raven told him firmly and Buck chuckled. "You always had a heart of gold," he said and shooed him away.

Raven didn't want to leave him alone but Buck was stubborn and kept shooing him away. He went to Rose's nest and curled up beside her. Marigold then snuggled against him. "Papa! You're here," she cheered and he nuzzled her with his snout. "Yeah...I'm here," he told her. "Papa, guess what? Light is all better, Pebble told me so," Marigold purred. "Really? That's good news," Raven tried for a purr but it died in his throat.

Marigold curled up beside him and fell asleep. If Rose or any of his kits died, he wasn't sure if he could bear it. He tried staying strong and comforted those who lost a loved one to sickness but it would only be a matter of time before he snapped. He didn't want that to happen. His adopted mother was gone, he had no biological parents, his mentor was dying, his brothers were gone so really, his mate and kits were the only ones left.

"M-ma? Wake up...Ma?"

A small voice woke Raven up and he got out of the nest to see Lark trying to shake Oleander awake but to no avail. "Ma?" Lark's voice was cracking with sadness and Raven saw that Oleander was laying flat and not moving. There was no breathing as well.

Before Raven walked over to him, he went to check on Buck who was similarly still as Oleander. He felt for a  pulse and nothing. He was gone and Raven buried his nose into his mentor's now cold fur. "Goodbye...Buck," he said before leaving. He went to Lark's side who was quivering.

He placed a paw on the young tom and looked over at Rose, who had woken up. She was sitting down and had a look of sadness. It's quiet, Raven suddenly thought. Did everyone else leave or did they die of sickness? He would never know.

"Let's bury them and then...we leave," Raven said, surprising Lark and Rose. "Leave? But where would we go?" Lark asked and Raven motioned Rose over. "Rose, do you think you can track Poppy's scent?" He asked. "I can try but what are you thinking?" She asked. "We can't stay here anymore because we'll be wiped out more easily. Let's go find those clan cats that Poppy said she'll be joining. Maybe we can live with them," Raven said. "You think they'll accept us?" Lark asked and Raven looked at his kits, who were peering from the nest.

"I'm going to try to convince them to let us stay," Raven said. "...I'm with you. I'll help you convince them," Rose assured him and Raven purred at her. "I...I'll help too. I have nothing to lose now since Ma died. It's just me after my five brothers died so I'll go with you," Lark said, determined. "Alright, first let's bury the dead," Raven said and they did just that.

It took a while but eventually, those who died were buried and the remaining survivors said a couple of words of gratitude especially those that they knew. "Let's go," Raven said, picking up Light by her scruff. Rose picked up Sun and Marigold and Lark picked up Pebble.

Maybe now was a new journey for those cats.

A/N: I did a lot of guesswork for these especially with Poppy's friend. I tried my best though. Will we see these other cats that were mentioned? Probably not, maybe depends on the cat sizes in the clans.

But yeah, longest one~shot on here. This took me a while but I'm satisfied with this. Pacing is weird but nothing I can do.

Cya in the next one -Flare