Hiya, guys! I'm back for my fifth fanfic! Oh, joy!

I've written four or five chapters already before posting this (I get really bored in school...). A little bit of background which will be useful in understanding later chapters: Dawnsky and Rainfrost both died in battle, trying to protect Silverstar. They were both deputies.

As always, I do not own the Warriors series, nor do I own the characters themselves. Fireflower belongs to Angeline H., Morningsky to Carolyn M., Silverstar to Riley M., Bluetail to Katie R., Smallbird to David D., Branchfur to Jenna C., Runningleap to Kaitlyn K., Lizardtooth to Dorian G., Feathercloud to Elizabeth K., Honeymoss to Shelby K., Milkfur to Stefanie K., Stormfrost to Jake T., and Thunderstrike to Kyle B.. Now there's a mouthful!

And now, without further ado...

"Thorns in the paw are very common and very painful. You're taking this like a pro, y'know - most of the toughest senior warriors wail like kits."

Laying on her side in a patients' nest in the medicine den, Morningsky couldn't help but chuckle. Fireflower sniffed the golden warrior's blood-soaked pawpad with a purr.

"I'm going to pull it out now," she warned. "You ready?"

"Yes," Morningsky nodded. "It beats bleeding to death."

"Very wise of you," Fireflower purred. "Okay, here we go. I'm going to flick my tail three times against your shoulder and tug."

Morningsky took a deep breath. Fireflower clamped her jaws expertly around the tiny thorn, careful not to bite her patient's bloody paw. Her tail lightly whacked Morningsky's shoulder. Three...two...one...

"Mrroww!"

Undaunted by her friend's yowl of pain, Fireflower stood up, her tail held high in victory. Morningsky glanced at her paw, thornless and dripping blood. Fireflower spit the thorn onto a leaf lying nearby and wrapped it up. A few crimson drops stained the leaf. She then ducked into her store of herbs and emerged with a wad of cobwebs.

"Let's see that paw again..."

Morningsky held it out, but before Fireflower could proceed with treatment, a shadow fell over the den. Fireflower turned her ears to the cat that stood in the entrance but didn't bat an eye.

"Hello, Silverstar."

The sleek silver tabby stepped into the medicine den.

"Thank you," Fireflower purred, peeling off some cobwebs. "You were in my light."

"I need to talk to you," Silverstar said.

The tortoiseshell medicine cat heaved a sigh. "Can you bandage the wound yourself?"

Morningsky nodded.

"Good." Fireflower turned at last to Silverstar. "Would you prefer to speak in private or..."

"Here's fine," Silverstar said. "But listen... Bluetail and I are considering retirement."

Morningsky had to bite her lip to keep from yelping in surprise. Trying to look busy, she began to claw some cobwebs out of the wad.

"The problem is..." Silverstar continued, "Bluetail's my only deputy. I need to appoint a new one before we retire, but I have no ideas."

"Who have you considered?" asked Fireflower.

"Smallbird has some skill, but he doesn't seem to fit the role. Neither does Branchfur. Runningleap probably won't find the time. Lizardtooth, Feathercloud and Honeymoss are too young, as are Morningsky, Milkfur and Stormfrost. And then there's Thunderstrike..."

There was a pause in which both Silverstar and Fireflower seemed to contemplate the idea. Then they burst out laughing. Wrapping her paw in webbing, Morningsky had to exercise a lot of self-control not to purr.

"But seriously," Silverstar said with a chuckle, "I need your help. There's nobody..."

"There's one," Fireflower interrupted.

Morningsky pricked her ears, pressing webs securely onto her paw.

"Who?" Silverstar demanded, his dark brown eyes wide.

"Believe it or not...Dawnsky."

Morningsky and Silverstar both gasped.

"She's...still alive?" Silverstar asked timidly, as if scared of the answer.

"She is not of this earth," Fireflower responded mysteriously, "but she lives on...inside Morningsky."

"What?"

...Whew! I was just out in the cold before typing this up, so my fingers were numb even before I hopped on the computer. I'm glad it's over with now, though. It turned out longer than I'd expected.

To my dear reviewers...

To ranger Lauren - Is it really?

Don't forget to review!