"That's what Nettlefur always told me," Honeystar mewed, flicking her tail. "But…StarClan approves of this? She has had a mate, and she is not next in line for the position."
"I believe with all my heart as a medicine cat apprentice that I interpreted the sign correctly." Ashpaw dipped her head to her leader. "And Cloudwhisker's mate has left her for the life of a rogue pack. He is nothing more to her."
Honeystar nodded. "Let's…Let's find her."
"Wait," Frostfoot spoke up. "What should we do with Whiteleg? Death or exile?"
Honeystar looked pained. "We can't guarantee she wouldn't poison our prey somehow, with something like a rotten rabbit. We can't say she won't stay off our territory…Death is our only option." Her voice cracked.
Whiteleg struggled underneath Frostfoot. "Stay still!" snapped Frostfoot.
Whiteleg hissed, digging her claws into Frostfoot's chest. Frostfoot gasped, yowling. She fought the urge to leap away to safety, but she was weakened. Whiteleg threw her off, against one of the dens, and ran off, yowling about revenge.
Honeystar, Sunflame, and Turtleshell gave chase.
--
Frostfoot was being treated by Ashpaw. "Thank goodness she didn't sink deep enough to kill you," Ashpaw mewed.
Suddenly, Honeystar, Sunflame, and Turtleshell came back, looking weary. "We chased her out of Clan territory, but we couldn't catch her. She got picked up by a Twoleg," Honeystar meowed.
"Hopefully, that's the end." Cloudwhisker dipped her head. "Ashpaw has offered me position of medicine cat. StarClan has given her a sign." She paused. "I will take it; I'm done with toms!" She let out an mrrow of satisfaction.
Ashpaw shook her head. "It is more than just giving up a mate. It's having dedication; it's your way to give back to your Clan. You must care."
"I do care, Ashpaw."
Honeystar led Cloudwhisker away for her ceremony to begin. Frostfoot looked up at Ashpaw. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep her held down," she fretted.
"Don't, please, Frostfoot. Do not put stress on yourself. You want to birth healthy kits, now, don't you?"
Frostfoot didn't answer; she just laid her head back down, icy-white fur back to its clean whiteness after Ashpaw had licked the blood away. Ashpaw fretted, but she rubbed Frostfoot's belly gently with her paws.
