Petaltail lay sprawled in her nest of moss and bracken, her chest heaving as she gasped for breath. Her body was being shaken by the deadly greencough, and Frostpelt wasn't trying to do anything. The tortoiseshell-and-white deputy hated to be so helpless, and pleaded to the medicine cat apprentice Hawkpaw for help.

"Petaltail," Hawkpaw sighed, "You know we don't have any catmint left. If we did, you would be the first cat I'd give it to."

Petaltail sat up, scraps of moss sticking to her rumpled fur. She gazed at the dusky brown apprentice. "That means a lot-." The deputy's words ended in a long coughing fit. "Sorry," Petaltail rasped after she caught her breath. "That means a lot to me."

Hawkpaw dipped her head before turning to the herb stores and sorting through a dried pile.

Petaltail drew her frail body through the den entrance and padded slowly toward Maplestar. The brown tabby leader raised her head and gazed at the ill deputy. "Petaltail, are you alright?" Maplestar queried gently.

Petaltail fell onto her haunches, hitting the ground with a grunt. "I'm alright. I just wanted to talk to you before I…" She trailed off.

Maplestar sighed. "Oh, Petaltail… You are Miststar's daughter. I'll listen to you and protect you the best I can. Greencough is deadly, though, and without catmint warriors can die. I would have hated for your life to end like this, Petaltail."

"I have one request, Maplestar. My only request is that Willowshade become deputy in my place when I am gone. She's an ambitious young cat, yes, but she has potential to be a noble leader."

Maplestar's eyes clouded with emotion. "Of course, Petaltail," she choked out.

"Thank you," Petaltail rasped before stumbling back to the medicine den.

Petaltail fell back into her nest and watched Hawkpaw move about the herb stores, her amber eyes flicking from herb pile to herb pile. Frostpelt entered the den and nodded to Hawkpaw before curling up in his nest.

The tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat struggled for breath as her lungs felt like they were being crushed. She gasped loudly, making Frostpelt stir and wake up.

"Petaltail?" Frostpelt meowed. "Are you alright?"

Petaltail's claws scrabbled for hold on the den floor as she desperately struggled to break free of the claws mercilessly crushing her lungs.

Frostpelt quickly whispered to Hawkpaw. The brown apprentice darted out of the den and returned with Petaltail's closest friends.

Petaltail caught her breath and greeted her friends with a rusty purr.

"Goodbye, my friend," Maplestar murmured, touching her tail to Petaltail's ear.

Willowshade padded up, her dark blue eyes blazing with grief. "Petaltail, the whole Clan will grieve for you, and MistClan will be damaged forever. Please watch over us from StarClan."

Petaltail flinched as if she had been struck by the brown-and-white warrior. "Thank you, Willowshade," she murmured.

Petaltail said farewell to her other friends. Frostpelt padded up to her clutching a leaf wrap in his mouth. "Poppy seeds," he explained. "That way it won't be as painful to join StarClan."

The ill deputy looked at Frostpelt, her eyes cold. "If you even cared about me, you would have given the catmint to me, not Cloverleaf!"

Frostpelt sighed, grief shining in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Petaltail. I'll always regret my decision. I'm just trying to help you be as comfortable as possible."

Petaltail gazed around her camp for the last time. Shaking with fear, she leaned forward and licked up the poppy seeds. "Goodbye, Frostpelt," she sighed before curling up in her nest.