Leafpool opened her eyes to Light standing over her.
"Light... Is everything alright?" She asked. The glowing white she-cat nodded.
"Yes. I just thought I should explain what happened earlier."
Leafpool sat down in front of the other she-cat and waited for her to continue.
"I'm sure you're wondering why I asked Spiderleg to lead my clan when he has no Light Clan blood." Light began. "Well... I thought it would be the best since he is a warrior and knows all about the warrior code. That and he seems like he's a natural born leader."
"So... do you want me to be the medicine cat? Since I know all the herbs?" Leafpool questioned, worried that the life she'd built in the past couple seasons would go back to the way it was.
"No. There is a cat that has much knowledge of herbs and sicknesses. I sent my medicine cat to speak with her in her dreams to inform her of all of this. Perhaps she'll understand and you wont have to give up your mate."
"So... Spiderleg will be leader, this she-cat will be medicine cat... who will be Spiderleg's deputy?" Leafpool asked. Light gave a soft smile.
"He will have to decide like a normal leader, but I will send him a sign for the cat I believe would be the best choice if Spiderleg asks for a sign." Leafpool nodded.
"So shall I tell him this or-"
"Something will occur to further this plotline. You must know not to blame a single cat for what happens and to just keep moving forward if you want to find a fix."
Leafpool sighed but nodded.
"Alright, thank you Light."
Leafpool woke up to a yowl and she felt Spiderleg's warm body jump up from next to her. It took her a moment to wake up completely and follow Spiderleg out. She almost gasped aloud when she saw Pebblepaw and Larchbreeze racing into camp, followed by Blazespirit carrying the limp body of Stormheart.
"Oh my Star Clan!" Spiderleg exclaimed.
"My kit! Oh my kit!" Leafpool raced forward as Blazespirit placed Stormheart down. As she said this, she felt the familiar wriggle of life inside her. Oh Star Clan... she'd have to tell Spiderleg when everything settled.
"Adderstrike!" Leafpool heard Larchbreeze call out for the tabby tom. He appeared soon beside Leafpool.
"Oh Stormheart..." he mewed sadly, then he turned to the other three cats angrily. "WHAT HAPPENED?!"
"We were just on a border patrol and Blazespirit thought he smelled a fox and he ran forward, Stormheart followed him and fell into the fox's den!" Pebblepaw exclaimed, nervous and jumpy.
"Leafpool, can you help her?!" Adderstrike asked. Leafpool stared down at her injured daughter, her back right leg jutting out at an awkward angle.
"W-we may not have the proper herbs..." Leafpool's voice cracked.
"H-hello?"
The cats all bristled at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. Leafpool turned to see a light brown she-cat with white splotches, herbs in her jaw. Pebblepaw and Blazespirit seemed to know her.
"Fawn!" Pebblepaw mewed.
"I saw the accident. I thought I could assist in healing the she-cat." Fawn meowed.
"Y-yes please." Adderstrike spoke.
"Help me carry her to a den away from all this excitement?" Fawn asked Adderstrike and Leafpool. The two cats nodded and Adderstrike gently lifted Stormheart onto his back. Leafpool led him and Fawn to an empty den.
"Set her down carefully. CAREFULLY." Fawn mewed sternly. Adderstrike did so and Fawn began bustling around her.
"You're her... the healer Light spoke of." Leafpool realized, nervousness twitching in her gut as well as her unborn kits.
"Yes... Some cat came to me last night and informed me of all that has been going on. The cat said I would be needed. And when I saw the accident, I understood. I am needed, not by Dark, but by you. To do Star Clan's work and help reform Light Clan." Fawn meowed softly as she worked. Suddenly, Jaysong's head poked into the den.
"Adderstrike, Spiderleg wants you, Rainbrook and I to come help him chase the fox out." she mewed. Adderstrike nodded and gave Stormheart a soft lick on the head before following Jaysong. Leafpool watched Fawn work silently. Everything she did was correct, her paws moving methodically across Stormheart's bloody fur.
"The bone has broken through the skin but I can set it with broom and cobwebs." Fawn mewed to Leafpool.
"Yes... I used to do what you do. Heal the cats of my clan. But then I had kits and was removed from my position. This she-cat is actually one of my kits." Fawn gazed up at Leafpool for a moment.
"And I see you're expecting again. Don't you think it will be interesting to have kits the same time as your own kit?"
"What?" Leafpool gasped, glancing at her unconscious daughter. "She's having kits?!"
Fawn nodded.
"Yes, that handsome tabby's I'm sure, just by how he was acting. She will be fine though. You should probably go inform him."
Leafpool nodded as well and raced out of camp to follow the patrol. She broke into an open area, shocked by what she saw. Spiderleg and the patrol were watching the fox fighting an adder. Leafpool froze and watched on as well as the adder rose up and struck the fox in the neck with it's fangs. The fox fell to the ground, writhing in pain as the adder slithered away.
"Leafpool, what are you doing here?" Spiderleg asked her. He nuzzled her and Leafpool overheard Rainbrook mew.
"Who would have thought an adder would help us get rid of a fox? It's like it's... the work of Star Clan."
The sign... Leafpool realized.
"I.. came to speak with you and Adderstrike..." she meowed. Spiderleg gave a quick nod to Rainbrook and Jaysong and the two gray and white she-cats headed back to camp.
"What is it, Leafpool? Is Stormheart okay?" Adderstrike asked.
"Yes, Fawn says she'll be fine. She also wanted me to tell you that Stormheart is also expecting kits..." Leafpool told him, making Adderstrike's eyes go wide.
"Oh! I must return to her!" Adderstrike raced away, leaving Leafpool and Spiderleg alone.
"Wow... can you believe it? Our first kits in this clan. Light Clan will grow strong quickly." Spiderleg mewed, speaking as if he was already the proud leader.
"Yes... There will be more though." Leafpool smiled embarrassedly at her mate and slowly he processed this.
"What? You too?! Oh that's great Leafpool!" Spiderleg nuzzled her lovingly. "I'm so excited. So many new kits on the way. I'm proud of us."
"Has... Light told you when you should go to get your leader name? Remember when you do become leader, you'll have to pick a deputy as well."
"Light has not really said yet. But I'm sure she will. I have my thoughts on who I will make my deputy..." Spiderleg meowed. "Fawn seems quite kind... she knows what she is doing?"
"Yes, she is very intelligent and gentle. Just the way a medicine cat should be." Leafpool replied.
"Well... it's settled then. I shall ask Fawn to stay with us to become our medicine cat." Spiderleg proclaimed as he started back to camp.
"That seems like a good idea." Leafpool agreed, falling in step beside him.
"This battle will be a hard one, I can sense it. But Light believes in us... so all we must do is believe in ourselves as well."
A.N: I hope there are still people reading! I'd love to see some OCs! Can you guess who the deputy will be? Haha. Thanks for reading! ~12HockeyChick21