Leafpool entered the medicine cat's den, thick clumps of yarrow clamped in her jaws. She scented the air. Where is Jayfeather? She wondered what to do, it seemed awkward to put the yarrow into the store, since she wasn't a medicine cat anymore. Most warriors wouldn't know where to put herbs. I'd better not put it on the floor, or else it'll get dirty. Suddenly, pain gripped her like an eagle's talon. A real warrior wouldn't know not to do that.

Leafpool pricked her ears to a strange sound coming from behind a bush in the far corner of the den. I didn't know that was there. As she crept closer, the noise turned into faint sobbing. Rushing over to the bush, Leafpool could see that there was a small gap behind the bush, in which a lone cat was crouched.

"Briarlight!"

The dark brown she-cat looked up, misery and sadness in her eyes.

"Leafpool…oh Leafpool, It's all my fault…"

"What are you talking about? What's all your fault?"

"Everything!" Briarlight wailed pitifully. "My whole life is bad luck!" The sentence ended in a cough, Leafpool doubted she had exercised that morning.

"But you've been a great help to Jayfeather, pulling the thorns out of the bedding moss."

"That's nothing to make up for all the trouble I've caused…"

"Not this again…Briarlight, everyone respects you. You don't have to think you're being a burden because-"

"That's not it!" Briarlight's tone suddenly sharpened and her neck fur began to bristle.

"Do you remember? When there was an outbreak of greencough? I got it too, and I used up most of your supplies which could have been given to Millie to help her get better."

"That was a sickness, and you're all better now so I don't see wh-"

"Then when me, Bumblestripe and Blossomfall were playing outside in the sun as kits, a snake almost bit me, but Honeyfern saved me. She died for nothing, look at me, I'm no use to anyone and I've caused more trouble than anyone has ever done."

Leafpool was shocked at Briarlight's recalling of Honeyfern's death. A snake had lunged to bite her as a kit, but Honeyfern pushed her out of the way and got hit instead.

"Briarlight-"

"And then when the tree fell, I couldn't save Longtail and I crushed my legs, I wish I was dead-"

"Stop interrupting me, for StarClan's sake!"

Briarlight shrank back, afraid she had angered the former medicine cat. In a softer voice, she replied,

"Don't ever wish you were dead. You are always a help to the Clan, no matter what shape you are in. What do you think the elders would say if they heard what you are saying? They don't hunt and, according to the apprentices, just make another chore, but you don't see them moaning about being a burden."

"Yeah but-"

"But nothing, Briarlight. Everyone loves you, especially your Mother and Father. No one wants to lose you, no matter how much you think they don't."

Briarlight dipped her dark brown head, unable to answer.

The lichen at the entrence of the den quivered as Jayfeather brushed past. Not meeting Leafpool's eyes he asked,

"What's going on here?"

"I brought you some herbs." Leafpool gestured to the yarrow scattered along from when she dropped them to speak to Briarlight. Jayfeather glanced at Briarlight.

"What are you doing over there? Have you gotten rid of all the thorns in the moss?"

"Not yet, Sorry Jayfeather." Briarlight shot a grateful glance at Leafpool before dragging herself over to the moss bedding for sick cats.

Jayfeather gathered the herbs and took them to the store, without even a thanks to Leafpool.

Briarlight would have probably stopped eating and exercising if I hadn't come. Was I right to give up my duties as a medicine cat?