The sun was rising as the cats made their way through WindClan territory. Onestar stayed at the head of the patrol with Moon, who was padding wearily towards the heather bush where her family still waited. The kit looked somewhat funny leading a large group of warriors much stronger and bigger than her, but she was determined to help her mom and brother.

Sky watched the young she-cat as they traveled even farther across the hills. She, too, knew where the heather lay, but many cats still didn't trust her, and she didn't want to make it seem like she was a traitor for talking to other rogues.

What does it matter? Sky snapped to herself. You're not part of WindClan, and you never will be. They all still see you as a savage loner; who cares if any cat finds out you know the sick cats?

But did they all really dislike her? Some cats seemed to accept her, mostly the apprentices and elders. Sunpaw, for one. He was the first cat had had ever really been nice to her. And although she liked being a loner, WindClan was starting to feel more natural to her. Against her will, she was slowly becoming part of it.

Sky shook herself, lashing her tail. See? You should just tell them now that you know these cats, that you kept the rogues a secret from your – no, their leader. Then they'll drive you out, and you can be free again, happy again. But she couldn't bring herself to speak.

Oh well. Maybe Star would say something when they found her.

If they found her.

Sky shivered. Hadn't the albino kit told them that her mother was extremely sick? What if Birchtail couldn't help her? She didn't like the thought. After all, Sun and Moon were Stone's kits, her brother's kits. What would they do without Star? They weren't old enough to take care of themselves. Would Onestar ask them to join WindClan?

"Here," squeaked Moon, interrupting Sky's thoughts. "See? Over there." she pointed with her muzzle towards the dull looking heather at the bottom of a hill.

Onestar followed her gaze. "Can you go down and tell your mother and brother that you are here with other cats that can help?" he mewed gently.

Moon nodded and ran down the slope. Onestar motioned for the patrol to follow and started after the kit.

"Sun? Sun?" Moon tumbled into the heather bush. "Sun, are you there?"

"Moon?" There was a rasping voice within the fronds.

"Sun! Are you okay?" Moon burrowed into the bush until she was next to her brother.

The young tom coughed, his golden-brown fur matted. "You came back, you're back." He attempted to purr, but choked instead. Moon shuddered. The sickness had gotten even worse Strangely she seemed to be stronger now, instead of weak. Maybe it was the herbs that Birchtail had given her.

"What happened while I was gone?" she asked quietly.

"Mom was coughing," Sun meowed. "And then you left for herbs, I think. But then you didn't come back, and after a while I started choking too. Everything went black for a while. When I opened my eyes, mom was really still, and the sky was beginning to light up. I'm sick again, right?"

Moon pressed her nose to her brother's flank. "Don't worry, the cats are bringing herbs now, like the ones the rainy-paw cat brought."

"What? Is the rainy-paw cat here?" Sun struggled to his paws.

Moon pushed to back down so he could rest. "No, she was fighting… and then she ran away."

Sun blinked at her. "So we won't get any more herbs? So we're-." He choked. "We're going to die from the sickness?"

"No, I said the other cats are here."

As if to prove her point, Onestar's meow sounded from near the heather bush. "Moon? Are you there?"

"Yes," the albino kit called. "Come on outside. The cats are nice. At least," She gulped. "Most of them." An image of Smoketail growling at her had flickered into her mind.

"Moon?" Now Birchtail was mewing to her. "Bring your brother and mother out here, so I can give them herbs." The apprentices following him had leaves and berries crammed into their mouths, and the medicine cat motioned with his tail for them to set the healing plants down.

"Come on, Sun," urged Moon. "Go out there, and they'll help you. I'll wake mom." Sun nodded, coughed hoarsely once, then stumbled to his feet and padded out of the heather bush. Moon watched him stagger up to the WindClan cats and saw Birchtail staring down at him, sniffing his pads and inspecting his dull eyes.

The kit turned to the other side of the heather where Star nestled in the branches. The pale queen lay peacefully on the grass, for once not disturbed by coughing. Moon purred, walking to her mother happily, because the older she-cat would get better at last.

"Star? Mom? Mom, wake up!" Moon nudged the she-cat. Star was still and silent, unresponding. Moon frowned. "Come on, the WindClan cats want to help." More prodding, and yet Star lay sheltered beneath the heather. "Come on!" Unsheathing her small claws, Moon yowled angrily and shoved her mother's side.

"Moon? Is the queen there?" Onestar stared through the opening between heather stems.

"Mom, wake up!" wailed Moon, but Star didn't answer. "Please, Star! Herbs… there are herbs!" The kit pushed heavily on her mother side, and the she-cat rolled over limply. "Mom!" Moon sat back staring at space, not noticing Ashfoot and Onestar as they mewed to her and crept around the heather. They dragged Star out of it, and a brown queen picked up the kit gently and brought her to Birchtail. The medicine cat had given Sun some thick leaves and the kit was swallowing them painfully.

He glanced up at Moon was dropped on the ground next to him. "We're all going to be fine now, huh?" he purred. The little tom cocked his head to one side, confused by his sister's stillness. "We are going to be okay, right?"

"Mom," Moon whispered weakly.

Sun frowned and turned just as Birchtail jumped up and leapt to Star's side as Ashfoot carried her over. "Why is she…?" The kit froze, his mouth hanging open. "She's still so quiet-," he started again, and broke off. Realization hit him like a Twoleg monster. "No, no!" The kit lurched to Star and lay against her pelt.

Birchleaf was crushing berries and waving them in front of Star's muzzle, but the queen did not move. Moon gazed sightlessly, the scene swimming in front of her eyes. Then it was replaced by a dark void full of stars. The cat's voice was in her head, and this time she didn't run from it.

As a star fades, the wind and sky will nurture and heal.

The sun will blaze, and the moon will glow even brighter than the fire.

The kit froze, because now there was another meow. And it sounded so familiar, so like… Star…

Spirit of the Moon, learn of yourself and your power. The time to grow and understand is now. A storm of rain will break again, and flood the hills and forest, until the night's soul brings peace once more...

Then she was gone.

Moon shivered, suddenly cold. "Star! She cried out, and collapsed back into the ground.