The Raging Storm/Chapter 3

==Chapter description==
:Two sunrises have passed since Bramblestar's patrol carried Puddleshine back to ThunderClan's camp, and despite treatment from the medicine cats, the ShadowClan tom has not improved and many of his wounds are infected, despite Alderheart's careful treatments. Puddleshine stiffly lifts his head and tells Alderheart that he has treated his wounds the same way he himself would have, and he doesn't know why they're not healing. Alderheart asks how the bad pain is, and Puddleshine answers that the poppy seeds he gave him have eased it a little. Alderheart touches his muzzle to Puddleshine's ear and discovers that he has a fever as well. He suggests that he might have some other illness that is making him vulnerable to infection, then points out that he smells weird.
:Puddleshine meows that he felt fine before getting tangled up in the silverthorn, and wonders how he could have been foolish enough to get caught in it. Alderheart tells him there's no point in grumbling about it, as he is more concerned with curing him than how he got the wounds, then asks if he has any other symptoms. Puddleshine shifts wearily, saying only his wounds hurt. Alderheart wonders if he can think of another herb that may work, and Puddleshine responds that he heard Frecklewish mention wood sorrel at the last half-moon meeting, and says there's some around the ShadowClan border. Alderheart promises he'll find some and hopes that it will work.
:As he is speaking, a ShadowClan patrol consisting of Scorchfur, Dovewing, and Tawnypelt arrive to fetch Puddleshine. Alderheart pads out of the den and watches as Fernsong says they found them waiting at the border. Alderheart notices Dovewing bristling anxiously, and he wonders why she's part of the patrol. Squirrelflight tries to pad forward to greet her former Clanmate, but a warning glance from Scorchfur makes her hesitate, while Cherryfall and Bumblestripe glare at her with hostility.
:Bramblestar approaches the patrol, and Tawnypelt asks him if Puddleshine is ready. She presses when Bramblestar doesn't answer, instead remarking he's surprised they brought Dovewing. Tawnypelt simply states that she's a member of ShadowClan now and she can join any patrol, and Bramblestar narrows his eyes, pointing out she should be in the nursery caring for her kits. Dovewing pads forward, mewing she asked to come in hopes that she would see Ivypool. Bumblestripe lashes his tail, saying she visited Ivypool a moon ago before she left her Clan and kin for ShadowClan, and that he thought she understood that. Dovewing tells him she did what she thought was best for everyone.
:Alderheart looks to the nursery and spots Ivypool hanging back in the shadows, her gaze uncertain. Bristlekit pushes past her mother, excitedly bouncing into the clearing to stare at Dovewing. Dovewing looks past the kits at Ivypool, her eyes shimmering with hope. Daisy appears from the nursery, stating that she doesn't understand what the fuss is, as kin is kin no matter the Clans they're from. Alderheart notices Graystripe shifting uneasily as cats argue against Daisy's words, and he remembers that long before he was born, Graystripe had left ThunderClan briefly to be with his kits in RiverClan.
:Flipkit stops beside Bristlekit and glances shyly at Dovewing, asking if her kits look like them. Dovewing replies that Shadowkit does, while Lightkit and Pouncekit look more like their father. Dovewing asks Ivypool, who is hanging back, if she'll come greet her kits. Ivypool pads up to Dovewing and says that it's just weird now that she's in a different Clan, then asks how her kits are. Dovewing replies that they're well. Scorchfur asks where Puddleshine is, and Alderheart explains how his attempts to treat Puddleshine have failed. Tawnypelt marches toward the medicine den, and Bramblestar hurries after her. Soon after, Alderheart follows. 
:Tawnypelt is angry when she sees Puddleshine's condition, although the ShadowClan medicine cat protests that Alderheart has been doing everything he can. Puddleshine states that he will stay in ThunderClan until the infection is cured, and Bramblestar assures his sister that they'll return Puddleshine as quickly as possible. Tawnypelt's gaze softens and she wishes Puddleshine well before padding out of the den. Jayfeather mews that he's never seen an infection like this before, and Alderheart muses that they should find something to cure the infection from the inside. The three medicine cats speculate on which herb they could use, and Alderheart hurries out of the den to inspect the silverthorn that injured Puddleshine under the excuse that he's looking for wood sorrel.
:Alderheart hears Ivypool's kits chattering excitedly about their ShadowClan kin, and pities Ivypool as he heads out of camp and follows a trail to the silverthorn. He soon reaches the ShadowClan border and spots the silverthorn lying next to a deathberry bush. As the medicine cat inspects the silverthorn for any sign of what could have caused Puddleshine's infection, Sparkpelt, Berrynose, and Ambermoon arrive, the latter two carrying prey in their mouths. Sparkpelt greets Alderheart and asks what he's doing, and Alderheart explains that he's looking for clues to Puddleshine's sickness. As the cats discuss the silverthorn and Puddleshine's condition, Alderheart spots an injured rabbit nearby. Sparkpelt prepares to catch it, but Alderheart warns her that it smells infected. Sparkpelt says they should head for the beeches to find other prey, and Alderheart says that he's about to head back to camp. After Sparkpelt and her patrol have left, Alderheart watches the rabbit eat a deathberry from the nearby bush. Alderheart is alarmed, but quickly tries to focus on treating Puddleshine and ignores the rabbit's suffering as he pads away.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:The Raging Storm
Category:A Vision of Shadows arc
Category:Chapter subpages