Chapter 9

Leapfoot walked into camp. A squirrel dangled from his jaws. Behind him trailed Hollytail and Snowfoot. Hollytail had a single mouse, while Snowfoot carried a scrawny thrush. Hunting was hard in this weather.

Leapfoot's paws ached, and his muscles were burning. He'd chased the squirrel through three trees to catch it, but he had refused to let it go. He had been working harder than ever, exhausted and guilty from his nights away with Lavenderheart. He could remember her now, from last night.

They'd both been sitting on the Great Rock, staring out over the hollow. Lavenderheart had leaned over, her amber eyes full of sparkling joy. "I don't ever want to give this up," she'd murmured.

"Neither do I," Leapfoot had whispered back, his heart thumping. They had curled up in the bush that had unofficially become their den and shared tongues late into the night. He could still feel where her tongue had combed out all the knots in his muscles and fur.

Leapfoot shook himself. He dropped his squirrel on the fresh-kill pile and stretched. Iceshadow was outside, along with her four kits and Frostflower's. To his dismay, off to the side of the scene, Cloudeye was coughing and sputtering, while Sunnyflower worriedly listened to his chest before sending him to the elders' den. The stench of sickness rose from the den. He could hear Brookpaw whimpering. Guilt clawed at his belly.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here for a Clan meeting!"

Strongstar was perched on the thorn tree, his green eyes gleaming. Leapfoot looked around and saw that Olivepaw, his tabby-and-white fur groomed to sleek perfection, was seated a little ways away beside Stormyheart. Nearby, Goldentail and Barkpaw were finishing up on Barkpaw's pelt, making it just as glossy as his brother's.

"Today, I name two more warriors, two cats who have deserved their warrior names for a long time," Strongstar boomed, "Olivepaw and Barkpaw, step forward."

The two toms did so obediently, trailed by their proud mentors.

"Stormyheart, are you satisfied that your apprentice, Olivepaw, has learned the ways of the warrior code and is ready to become a warrior?" Strongstar asked.

"Certainly," Stormyheart replied, his eyes shining with pride.

"And Goldentail, are you satisfied that your apprentice, Barkpaw, has learned the ways of the warrior code and is ready to become a warrior?"

"Yes," Goldentail purred.

"Then, I, Strongstar, leader of SkyClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices," Strongstar went on, "They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Olivepaw, Barkpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Olivepaw mewed.

"I do," Barkpaw echoed.

"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names." Strongstar's eyes gleamed. "Olivepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Oliveclaw. StarClan honors your bravery and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full member of SkyClan."

Strongstar stepped forward and rested his muzzle on Oliveclaw's head; in turn, Oliveclaw licked Strongstar's shoulder. His eyes were full of happiness as he went and sat beside Stormyheart.

"Barkpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Barkfeather," Strongstar continued, "StarClan honors your courage and your energy, and we welcome you as a full member of SkyClan."

Again Strongstar rested his muzzle on Barkfeather's head, and Barkfeather gave his shoulder a quick lick. As he went to sit beside his brother, Oliveclaw, the Clan began to call out their new names.

"Oliveclaw! Barkfeather! Oliveclaw! Barkfeather!"

Leapfoot, purring, raced across to greet his old denmates, Oliveclaw especially. They'd been good friends as apprentices, and Leapfoot had missed their closeness. He was glad that Oliveclaw was a warrior at last.

"Congratulations," Leapfoot mewed, butting Oliveclaw with his head. Oliveclaw hissed playfully and cuffed him lightly over the ears.

"It's going to be a cold night. I don't envy you two," Leapfoot meowed teasingly. Barkfeather shivered. "My paws are going to be frozen by morning!" he complained.

Oliveclaw reared up on his hind legs and batted at Barkfeather. "At least you have a thick pelt!" he pointed out. His own fur was short and thin, while Barkfeather's was thick and warm. Barkfeather swatted at his shoulder, and Oliveclaw collapsed sideways, purring with amusement.

Lightningtail and Brindlebreeze walked over, followed by their littermate, Tabbypelt. Leapfoot stepped back, allowing his Clanmates to congratulate the new warriors. A pang of sadness struck him as he saw Rosewhisker and Aspenheart, pelts brushing, walk up to greet them. It was clear that the two cats were planning on becoming mates; recently they'd started sharing tongues together and spending seemingly every spare moment in each other's company. Come newleaf, there would be probably be another litter of kits in the nursery.

Why couldn't Leapfoot feel that way about cat in his own Clan? No cat had ever sparked the same feeling as Lavenderheart. He sighed. Why is everything so complicated now?

A round of fresh coughing erupted from the elders' den. Leapfoot shivered. He noticed Brownstripe, his old mentor, was speaking softly to his five children, Lionfang, Tabbypelt, Brindlebreeze, Lightningtail, and Mudpelt. Since the death of his mate, Doveswoop, he had remained very close with the five young cats. Leapfoot couldn't help but notice with a shudder how scrawny and frail Brindlebreeze and Lightningtail looked.

Leafwhisker, sitting near the entrance to the medicine den, suddenly started up with a round of fierce coughing, followed by several sneezes. Leapfoot flattened his ears in horror. Was nobody in the Clan well?

Splashpaw emerged quickly from the elders' den. He said something quietly to Leafwhisker, who shook her head. Splashpaw responded with a sharp retort. Reluctantly Leafwhisker nodded and walked sullenly toward her old den.

Leapfoot couldn't believe how quickly the illness was spreading. Already eight cats were ill. How many more were to fall prey to this vicious infection before it ran its course?

"Leapfoot, could you lead a patrol along the RiverClan border?" Brownstripe asked, breaking into the young black-and-white tom's thoughts. Leapfoot looked up sharply, surprised; he had led only one border patrol in his time of being a warrior.

"I don't want RiverClan to take advantage of the poor hunting and weather," Brownstripe explained, "Take Mudpelt, Rosewhisker, Flowertail, and Lightpaw."

"Of course, Brownstripe." Leapfoot dipped his head. Brownstripe nodded. For a moment exhaustion filled the tabby-and-white tom's expression. Leapfoot knew his former mentor well enough to know he didn't enjoy holding the position of deputy and would be happy when Iceshadow could return to her post.

Leapfoot found Mudpelt and Rosewhisker in the warriors' den and caught Flowertail and Lightpaw right before they went out for a training session.

He felt rather uncomfortable a few steps ahead of the warriors, all of him were senior to him, but none of them raised a protest. As they neared the river, Leapfoot expected to hear the gurgling rush of the river, but to his surprise there was silence.

"Why's it so…quiet?" he asked, cocking his head to one side.

The patrol exchanged a glance before dashing ahead. Leapfoot caught his breath when he realized what had happened. "The river's frozen!" Rosewhisker breathed.

Sure enough, what had just yesterday been a solid black ribbon of rushing water was frozen white. Tentatively, Leapfoot put his paw on the surface. It creaked, but didn't give way. However, Leapfoot wasn't prepared to take chances. He stepped back.

"We ought to go along and set the markers and then head back and tell Strongstar," Leapfoot decided. He glanced around and saw the others nodding in agreement. Lightpaw's amber eyes were wide as she surveyed the river, and for a moment Leapfoot thought she was scared; then he saw the curiosity in her eyes. She stepped up beside him and cautiously put one paw onto the ice.

"Don't go on the ice!" Leapfoot warned her.

"It's fine. Look!" Carefully she stepped all the way onto the ice. Her tail was high, and her amber eyes were wide with excitement. "Look at me!"

"Lightpaw! Get back here!" Leapfoot hissed, as the ice creaked.

"You're not my mentor," Lightpaw retorted with an angry glare.

"Intruders!"

At that moment, three RiverClan warriors emerged from the snow-frosted bushes on the other side. Their fur was bristling, and their eyes were wide with anger. They charged across the ice, right at Lightpaw.

"No!" Leapfoot yowled.

It was too late. The first cat—Leapfoot recognized him as Falconwing—reached Lightpaw and let out a screech of horror as the ice split beneath his paws. Both he and Lightpaw tumbled into the dark, frothing waters below. His Clanmates, Ripplewhisker and Breezefish, stared in horror.

"Lightpaw! Lightpaw!" Flowertail leaped onto the ice. For a moment Leapfoot thought she was panicking or going insane, until she neatly dodged back onshore, leaving a gaping hole in the ice. Falconwing surfaced, coughing and sputtering, but Lightpaw was nowhere to be seen.

Leapfoot turned on the RiverClan warriors with his lip curled. "You started this! Help us get our apprentice to safety!"

For a moment, they hesitated; then, as Falconwing dragged himself back onto the ice, they nodded. "Ripplewhisker, break the ice farther down," Breezefish ordered. He glanced at the SkyClan warriors. "You, too."

Leapfoot raced down the riverbank. He could see the cream she-cat struggling under the ice just a few tail-lengths away. Giving a massive leap, he landed squarely in front of her. The ice shattered beneath his paws, and he had no time to leap away again. Instead, he plunged into the water. For a moment, he was shocked at the cold and unable to function; then, as Lightpaw crashed into him, he struck out for the surface. His head broke for air, and he took deep, rasping breaths. He felt teeth sink into his scruff and shivered in relief as Ripplewhisker dragged him from the frigid water. To his relief, Mudpelt had already reached in and grabbed Lightpaw out of the river.

Quickly, Leapfoot scrambled back to his side of the river. He was so cold that he could hardly stand, but he managed to look at the RiverClan warriors. "For future reference," he rasped, "Please don't walk on the ice unless you know it's thick enough."

"Same for you," Breezefish retorted, nosing Falconwing to his paws, but his tone was less hostile than it was before, and Leapfoot knew he wouldn't hold the SkyClan warriors accountable for any trespassing. Dipping his head, Leapfoot turned back to his own Clanmates and almost collapsed. Rosewhisker quickly jammed her shoulder up underneath him. "Steady," she whispered.

Flowertail had picked Lightpaw up in her jaws and was carrying the shivering, sodden apprentice like a kit. Slowly, the shell-shocked and waterlogged patrol made their way back to camp. Leapfoot's paws had gone completely numb, and he was shivering violently by the time he stumbled into camp. He couldn't imagine how Lightpaw was coping.

Yowls of shock greeted their entrance. Iceshadow raced up to them. "Leapfoot, what happened?"

"L-L-Lightp-p-p-paw f-f-fell int-t-to the riv-v-v-ver," Leapfoot stammered, his teeth chattering, unable to speak any more than that. As he collapsed into the snow, Rosewhisker gave a more detailed account.

Sunnyflower and Splashpaw emerged. Leapfoot was relieved when they ordered him back into their den. He lay still as they ruffled up his fur and gave him a variety of foul-tasting herbs to choke down. Once they had dried him completely, they allowed him to lay down on a pre-prepared nest, thick and fluffy with moss and feathers. His eyes closed almost instantly.

When he woke, he could tell it was late. He heard the rhythmic snores of three cats nearby—Lightpaw, Sunnyflower, and Splashpaw. He stood on sore, cold-stiffened legs and fluffed out his short black-and-white fur. Exhaustion dragged at his limbs as he stumbled outside.

Lavenderheart, he thought with a pang. There was no way he could go see her tonight. He wouldn't make it a quarter of the way before collapsing. He hoped desperately that she'd understand something was wrong and not assume that he was abandoning her.

He yawned and stared up at the moon. Tomorrow night would be half-moon, and Sunnyflower and Splashpaw would be heading to the Moonstone to share tongues with StarClan. He shivered and sneezed. I need rest.

He headed back inside and lay down. Lightpaw was still sound asleep a few tail-lengths away. Leapfoot wondered if she'd get any negative repercussions for her fault in the whole matter. He doubted it; Strongstar would probably decide that the shock of the whole experience would be enough punishment. Lightpaw had almost died.

What if it had been Brookpaw? Leapfoot wondered with a shudder. The thought of the little cream-and-tabby she-cat drowning was a scary thought. He found it hard to sleep with all his worries weighing him down—Brookpaw's sickness, which had been Leapfoot's fault, Lavenderheart and his secret meetings with her, the illness that was ravaging the Clan, Iceshadow and Leapfoot's four new siblings. There was more, too—the strange prophecy that he could not brush to the back of his mind, for example, and his fear for his new siblings' safety this harsh leaf-bare season.

He finally managed to drift off, but his sleep was fitful. He remembered at one point Stormwing's silver-green eyes and a deep, echoic voice repeating the dreadful prophecy, and at another point he watched as Thistlekit and Ploverkit fell into the river. He raced forward to save them, but he could only reach Thistlekit; Ploverkit had sunk from view, forever lost and gone. He turned around in despair, only to see a dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes. His face was twisted with sadness. "I'm sorry. I couldn't change anything."

Leapfoot jerked awake, gasping for breath. Ploverkit!

He stumbled to his paws. There was a tightness in his chest that made it hard for him to breathe, but he didn't care. He slid out of the medicine den, hardly realizing it was still dark outside; his paws pounded across the snow as he ran to the nursery and stuck his head inside.

Iceshadow was sound asleep, curled tightly around her kits. Heart in his throat, Leapfoot picked out each one—Hawkkit, Rowankit, Thistlekit…and Ploverkit. Safe.

Relieved beyond all measure, Leapfoot headed back to the medicine den and lay down. He was finding it hard to catch his breath, and he could hear how loudly he was wheezing. I sound like an elder!

"Leapfoot?"

A few tail-lengths away, Sunnyflower was poking her head out of her private den-space. "What's happened? Why are you wheezing?"

"I-I had a…bad dream," Leapfoot rasped, "and…went…to check on…the kits." Even those few words were a huge struggle. The pain in his chest heightened.

Sunnyflower walked across, carefully picking her way around Splashpaw and Lightpaw. She sniffed at him. "I think you have a fever," she mewed worriedly. She headed into the herb store and returned with a bundle of leaves in her jaws. "Eat this," she ordered.

Leapfoot gave the herbs a wary sniff before reluctantly swallowing them. Sunnyflower began to massage his chest, and he was relieved to feel it loosen beneath her strong, experienced paws. "Thank you," he whispered. He did feel sick, now that she mentioned it, weak and tired, and terribly cold despite the warm bed of moss, bracken, and feathers beneath him.

"Splashpaw, wake up," Sunnyflower mewed softly, "It's time for the half-moon medicine cat meeting."

Leapfoot pricked his ears interestedly and lifted his head. The silver tabby apprentice was getting up slowly and quietly, his blue eyes gleaming in the darkness.

"Can we really afford to leave with so many cats sick?" Splashpaw murmured.

"Leapfoot, are you still awake?" Sunnyflower called.

Leapfoot nodded and stood.

"I'm going to teach you some of the basic medicine-cat remedies for sickness. Do you think you could stand in as medicine cat for us, while we're gone?" Sunnyflower looked hopeful.

"I can…I can try," Leapfoot replied nervously.

Sunnyflower disappeared into the herb store and reemerged a few moments later. She laid several herbs out in front of Leapfoot. "See this?" She nudged a spiky, fern-like leaf. "It's tansy, and it's good for coughs."

He nodded. Tansy, good for coughs.

"And this." She gestured to a pile of small, jagged-edged leaves. "This is borage, and it's good for fever."

Borage, good for fever. "Okay."

"This is juniper berry," Sunnyflower continued, touching a pile of fragrant light blue berries, "It's good if any cat is having trouble breathing."

Juniper, for trouble breathing. "Got it."

"That should be all you need," Sunnyflower meowed, sounding worried, "but just remember not to overdose. Only give a cat a small dose, a few leaves or a berry or two, if they're displaying any symptoms."

"Understood." Leapfoot shivered. Can I really do this?

"Repeat everything back to me," Sunnyflower ordered.

Leapfoot stepped up to the row of herbs. "Tansy, good for coughs," he mewed, pointing to the fern-like leaves, "Borage, good for fever"—gesturing to the jagged-edged leaves—"juniper berry, good for trouble breathing." He nosed the fragrant blue berries.

"Okay, good." Sunnyflower flicked her tail. "Come on, Splashpaw, we need to go. And Leapfoot—you'll be fine."

Leapfoot didn't reply. He stared at the small row of herbs. Can I really remember all this? He shivered, feeling cold to the bone, and watched as the two medicine cats disappeared from sight.

Lightpaw lifted her head. "Leapfoot? Where's Splashpaw?"

"Sunnyflower and Splashpaw left for the Moonstone," Leapfoot replied, trying to sound calm.

"They left?" Lightpaw's voice vibrated with her shock. "But what about the sickness?"

"They left me with some basic herb knowledge, to treat cats." Leapfoot's words felt hollow, even to himself.

Lightpaw started shivering. "Will SkyClan survive this leaf-bare?" she whispered.

Leapfoot's heart nearly stopped. "Of course! Of course, SkyClan will survive. SkyClan will always survive." Doubt pricked his heart, but he couldn't afford to let despair take him over. "Come on. Let's go get something to eat."

Leapfoot stepped outside. The camp was beginning to wake up; Brownstripe emerged, followed by Blackstorm, Spottedclaw, and Flowertail; they left the camp quickly for dawn patrol. Leapfoot was shocked to see how thin and ragged the four cats looked. Leaf-bare is really hurting our Clan, he realized with a shudder, Is Lightpaw right to worry?

"Sunnyflower? Sunnyflower? Leapfoot, where's Sunnyflower?" Iceshadow's panicky mew broke into his thoughts. Leapfoot looked up. "Sunnyflower and Splashpaw went to the Moonstone," he mewed, unable to meet his mother's scared eyes.

Iceshadow's eyes widened in horror. "No! They can't have!" She shivered. "Thistlekit is coughing, and Ploverkit has a fever."

Leapfoot's heart pounded. His dream came back to him, but he brushed it aside. It was just a dream, right?

"They gave me some quick training before they left," Leapfoot assured her, "Bring Thistlekit and Ploverkit here."

Iceshadow instantly raced off. She returned a few heartbeats later. Thistlekit was stumbling along beside her mother, coughing deeply, while Ploverkit was dangling limply from Iceshadow's jaws.

Tansy for cough, borage for fever, Leapfoot recited in his head, I can do this.

He allowed the three cats to enter the darkness of the den. Lightpaw looked up, her amber eyes wide, but said nothing. Tansy, borage. Leapfoot looked down at the row of herbs that Sunnyflower had left out and picked up the spiky, fern-like leaf. "Give this to Thistlekit," he mewed. Then he glanced back down and nudged one of the jagged-edged leaves toward Ploverkit. "And that's for Ploverkit."

"Thank you so much." Iceshadow had dropped Ploverkit, who was mewling piteously. "Thistlekit, you have to eat these herbs, okay?"

Thistlekit shook her head mutinously. "Looks yucky." She broke off in a cough.

"Okay, okay, but I guess you can't be a warrior," Leapfoot meowed with a forced sigh, thinking quickly.

Thistlekit looked up at him sharply, confused.

"Every apprentice has to eat yucky herbs when they travel to the Moonstone," Leapfoot explained. Please let this work! "So if you can't eat these yucky herbs, I guess you can't be an apprentice."

Thistlekit's eyes widened. Hurriedly, she leaned down and lapped up the borage. Iceshadow gave Leapfoot a grateful look; she'd already managed to get Ploverkit to eat his.

"Are you sure you gave them the right herbs?" Iceshadow asked worriedly.

"Yes," Leapfoot mewed, though his heart was hammering. What if I mixed them up? Tansy's the fern-leaf one, right?

He just had to believe he'd chosen the right herbs.

He brushed past Iceshadow and the two kits, then paused. "Iceshadow, keep them away from the other cats, and if they get worse, put them in the elders' den," he told her, trying not to sound bossy. Iceshadow nodded worriedly. Ploverkit had fallen silent and was shivering.

Leapfoot walked across the clearing. His legs felt shaky, and his chest felt tight again, though not nearly as tight as before. He looked at the fresh-kill pile—one frozen mouse, no good for eating anymore.

His heart sank as he thought of Lavenderheart. He knew he wouldn't be able to visit again tonight. The ache in his chest and the weakness in his legs promised to stick around for a while.

He was about ready to growl in frustration. He couldn't visit Lavenderheart, he couldn't hunt, he couldn't do anything.

Strongstar emerged from his den at that moment and stretched, his powerful shoulders glinting in the pale, early light. "Leapfoot!" he called.

Leapfoot walked over, startled at his greeting. The other cats in the clearing looked at him with interest.

"Have Sunnyflower and Splashpaw already left for the Moonstone?" Strongstar asked.

Leapfoot nodded. "They left at dawn." Then, feeling the need to defend the two medicine cats, he added, "They gave me some basic herb training before they left, in case any of the sick cats needed medical attention."

"Good." Strongstar's expression was unreadable. "You and Lightpaw can't go out today, can you?"

Much as Leapfoot was tempted to lie, he shook his head. "We're both still recovering."

"I want you to rest as much as possible. I'll get…hmm…I'll get Aspenheart to help you with medicine-cat duties." Strongstar lifted his broad head and looked over the camp. "SkyClan will survive this leaf-bare." His tone was strong.

Do you really believe what you are saying? Leapfoot wondered. It was impossible to tell. The powerful tom wore an expression of complete confidence without so much as a trace of doubt or unease. He dipped his head to Leapfoot and then called together a hunting patrol. Leapfoot shivered. He could never lead a Clan. His mother and grandfather may have both been good, strong, and ambitious cats, but he had inherited more of his father's quiet poise.

Stormyheart emerged at just that moment, followed closely by Rosewhisker. Stormyheart looked thin and haunted; Leapfoot guessed he'd been giving up his own portions for the sake of his mother and their kits. Suddenly taken by a fierce desire to confide in his father, Leapfoot made his way across the camp to meet his father.

"Stormyheart?" he called softly.

Stormyheart looked up, ears pricked. "Leapfoot? What is it?"

Leapfoot glanced around quickly to make sure that no other cats were near before turning a worried amber gaze on his father. "Stormyheart, have you ever been doing something that…that's wrong, but feels right?"

Stormyheart's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Like…you're breaking the code, or something, but it feels like you're doing the right thing." Leapfoot's heart pounded.

"Well, there are times when the warrior code's supposed to be broken," Stormyheart conceded, "Like, if ThunderClan was under attack, we would have to break the code to trespass on their territory and go help them, but that doesn't mean that it's the wrong thing to do."

"So…breaking the warrior code doesn't always mean you're doing something bad?" Yes! Yes! Lavenderheart, this is supposed to happen!

"No, but Leapfoot…why do you ask?" The suspicion in Stormyheart's voice was thinly veiled.

"Nothing, I'm just curious." Think fast, Leapfoot! "I mean, I, uh, I was thinking about Splashstar's attack. Was it really unjustified if his Clan is as hungry as he says they are?"

Stormyheart's ear twitched. "I don't know the answer to that question," he confessed, "What I do know, is that SkyClan needs that territory just as much as RiverClan needs their territory."

Leapfoot nodded. He could tell he hadn't totally convinced his father about why he'd asked, but it would have to do for now. "I wish I could go hunting," he sighed.

"You'll be better soon," Stormyheart assured him, flicking his tail over Leapfoot's ear, "I have to go. Good luck being medicine-cat for a day."

Leapfoot dipped his head and watched as his father headed out of camp, followed by Rosewhisker, Lionfang, and Tabbypelt.

"Leapfoot?"

Leapfoot turned; Aspenheart was standing before him. The dusty-gray tabby tom looked calm and at ease. "Strongstar asked me to help you with medicine-cat duties."

"Um, yes." Leapfoot squirmed awkwardly; Aspenheart was one of the senior warriors. "Uh, I'll just, uh, show you the herbs that Sunnyflower gave me to use."

Aspenheart nodded and followed Leapfoot inside. Lightpaw was sound asleep; Leapfoot felt a flash of resentment that was quickly covered with sympathy. Lightpaw was small and had received a bad soaking. It was no wonder she was so tired. Leapfoot only wished he could join her.

"This is borage," Leapfoot mewed, nudging the pile of jagged-edged leaves, "It's for fever."

Aspenheart sniffed it and then touched the pile of tansy next to it. "That's tansy, right?"

"Right," Leapfoot agreed, "It's good for coughs. And those berries are juniper, good for cats having trouble breathing."

Aspenheart nodded. "Okay. Got it. Why don't we go check on the sick cats?"

Together, the two toms headed across the clearing to the elders' den. Before they could go inside, however, Leafwhisker met them. Her eyes were full of fear. "Where's Sunnyflower?"

"She went to the Moonstone," Leapfoot replied, his heart hammering. Is Brookpaw okay?

"What?!" Leafwhisker looked horrified. "Cloudeye's really sick. I think he has greencough!" She broke off into a fit of coughing.

Leapfoot pushed past the scared elder. Cloudeye was lying in a nest near the back of the den, the warmest place he could be. Every few heartbeats, he let out a deep, sputtering, exhausted cough. His breath rattled in his throat.

"Um…" What are the herbs?!

Aspenheart stepped forward. "He sounds like he needs juniper, tansy, and borage."

"Right." Leapfoot looked around. "We need to find a way to move Cloudeye somewhere else so that he doesn't infect the rest of you."

Leafwhisker and Fennelclaw, who appeared to be the least sick, stepped forward. "We can help," Fennelclaw mewed, "We can help you bring him to the medicine den."

"Right." Leapfoot picked his way to Cloudeye, forcing himself not to wince at the bitter, sour smell of sickness. "Um…actually, why don't I go get a nest ready for him? Aspenheart, do you think you three can manage him yourself?"

Aspenheart nodded.

"Okay." Leapfoot scampered out of the den, relieved when he was back outside in the snow. He took several deep breaths of cold, clean air before rushing to the medicine den.

Lightpaw was sitting up and grooming herself. Leapfoot peered into Sunnyflower's den. She wouldn't mind if he put Lightpaw and himself into her den, would she? He didn't want either of them to catch Cloudeye's greencough. "Lightpaw, can you carry our nests into Sunnyflower's den? Cloudeye has greencough, and needs to stay in the medicine den."

Lightpaw nodded and began to gather up the moss and feathers. Leapfoot, meanwhile, headed into the herb store. He knew that Sunnyflower always kept an extra store of moss, and sure enough, there was a large, temptingly fluffy heap at the back of the store. Cautiously making his way around the rows and rows of herbs, Leapfoot gathered up enough moss for a nest and then returned to the main clearing of the den. He laid out a nest and then gathered up a few juniper berries and tansy and borage leaves.

A few heartbeats later, Aspenheart and Fennelclaw appeared. They were on either side of Cloudeye, with their shoulders jammed up under his. He hardly seemed conscious. They laid him on the nest, and he broke into a fresh fit of coughing. His flanks heaved as he fought for breath. When it was over, he collapsed, trembling, and let out a pitiful whimper. His eyes were glazed.

"Cloudeye, Cloudeye, I need you to eat these herbs," Leapfoot whispered, pushing the small pile of herbs toward the sick tom. He looked ridiculously thin; Leapfoot realized with a shudder that he hadn't had time to recover from the no-eating illness.

Cloudeye weakly lapped at the herbs and swallowed them before breaking into a fresh coughing fit. Leapfoot just had to hope that the herbs could make their way into the tom's system. Panic was threatening, but he had to stay calm.

"Get Snowfoot," Leapfoot ordered Fennelclaw, "I don't know if Cloudeye's going to live."

Fennelclaw nodded and swiftly headed out. Cloudeye was lying still in the nest, every breath rasping in his chest. He started to sputter but seemed too weak to actually cough.

Snowfoot emerged a little while later. With a cry of despair, she ran to her brother's side. Leapfoot and Aspenheart looked on in anguish as Snowfoot nudged and pawed at her ailing brother. Fennelclaw sat a little ways behind her, looking pained.

"Snowfoot," he choked out. His blue eyes were clouded, and dribble hung from one corner of his jaw. "Snowfoot," he repeated, the rasp smoothed from his voice. His eyes closed.

"No!" Leapfoot lunged forward and shook Cloudeye. His fever-hot fur burned beneath Leapfoot's pads. Beside him, Snowfoot stared in stunned horror.

No, StarClan! No! You can't take this cat! "Cloudeye! Cloudeye!" Leapfoot pushed his ear to the limp tom's nose. No breath stirred his fur. In desperation, he pushed his ear to Cloudeye's chest to listen to his heart, but no steady beat thrummed beneath his thin pelt. "StarClan, why?" Leapfoot raised his head. "This cat was so young." Grief filled him. This is all my fault! I should have saved him!

"Snowfoot, I'm so sorry," Leapfoot whispered, "This is all my fault. I'm so sorry."

Snowfoot didn't reply; her gaze was fixed on her brother. She can't forgive me. No one can, Leapfoot realized with horror, I killed Cloudeye!

Leapfoot turned blindly and ran. He felt fur brush his and heard Aspenheart's voice calling after him, but he could not bear to stay in that tiny den, knowing that a Clanmate was dead because of him.

The prophecy suddenly came back to him. Is this the storm, StarClan? Did you warn me about it because you knew it'd be my fault that it couldn't be stopped?

The thought made him tremble with horror. His chest felt tight, and his breath was coming in short gasps. Everything around him seemed to be spinning out of control.

Cloudeye's death is my fault!

Everything turned black, and Leapfoot could think no more.