Butterblaze looked up as Jayleaf came into the medicine den. The gray tom whispered something to Cinderspirit, who got up and left the den.
"How are you feeling?" Jayleaf asked dully.
He didn't respond, but just sighed.
"So, uh…" His brother made an attempt to start a conversation, but stopped.
"Why do you two even bother coming in here?" Butterblaze asked. "It's plain obvious that I might have to be an elder after this. Look at me. I can't fight with three legs."
"We come in here because you're our brother, Butterblaze." Jayleaf retorted gently.
"I know, but...forget it." The ginger tom hissed in frustration. "I'm useless to the clan this way. My leg is gone, so what can I do to help us anymore? Might as well throw me out with the rogues or something."
"Hey, don't talk like that." Jayleaf tried to comfort him. "The clan still needs you. One day you'll find another way to walk or move around and then you can help Littlestorm."
"Look, I don't want to be a medicine cat." Butterblaze growled, shifting his foreleg under him. He pushed up with all three legs until he was standing, somehow balancing on his foreleg.
"What are you doing?" Littlestorm asked. "You should stay in your nest, Butterblaze."
"I know." The ginger tom retorted. "I want to figure out how I'm gonna walk for now on."
"Alright, good luck then." The pale gray tom muttered, rolling his eyes.
Jayleaf watched as Butterblaze took a step with one of his hind legs, then the next. When he got to his foreleg, he hopped on it slightly, moving about the length of a normal pawstep. Butterblaze steadied himself and repeated the process two more times successfully.
"Wow." The injured warrior murmured. "This isn't too hard."
"Glad to see that you can move." A cheerful mew sounded. Cinderspirit stood in the den entrance. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Yeah, see?" Jayleaf meowed to Butterblaze. "You aren't useless. I told you."
"But, how am I going to fight?"