Hailstar, it seems your clan doesn't have a healer right now.. do you think someone else might have to switch to the role? Has Starclan spoken to you?
“Has StarClan spoken to you?”
Ravenfreckle’s form casting a shadow over him startles Hailstar awake from his afternoon nap. His frail body has never been made for working all day long, but he can feel his clan’s judging eyes on him all the same.
The leader begins to slowly sit up. Ravenfreckle towers over him anyway.
The stars have been silent as ever. Hailstar hasn't heard from them at all since the landslide. StarClan has all but abandoned them in the moons since.
“None here have extensive medical knowledge. Stars, even Wildclaw wasn't really a healer,” he continues, copper eyes wandering over his clanmates going about their day.
Mudstripe and Kokomipelt are resting in the healer’s den, even with no healer present. Every day, HillClan fears for their lives with no way of helping them. Together, they’d figured out how to splint Mudstripe’s fractured leg, but there's the ever-growing threat of infection, and Kokomipelt is getting weaker by the day, his wound oozing foul smelling fluids.
“You are the leader.” Ravenfreckle's voice takes on a low, bitter tone. “It’s on you to find a replacement.”
Hailstar doesn't defend himself. His deputy is right, he knows.
But before he can say anything further, the gray form of Riverwhisker joins the two of them.
“No need for that,” the old tom breaks up the fight before it can truly begin. He seems tired. “I’ve never been much of a warrior. Picked up a thing or two in my time. I guess that’s the best we got to work with.”
Ravenfreckle seems pleased at that. Well, not pleased - he never seems pleased, at least not in Hailstar’s presence. But he looks far happier than he did a couple of minutes ago. Hailstar supposes Riverwhisker will be their best shot at saving their clanmates.
As the two older cats walk away, tails entwined, Hailstar settles back down in his spot. He can hear them mumbling to each other and picks up his own name. Figures.
Once again, he wasn't able to solve HillClan’s problems. The clan is right to doubt him; why fight against it when it’s clear he’s never been fit to lead?
