AN: And so we come to Snowpaw's last chapter...

Finding there was no way to quickly take the deceased elder Lakeeye away from the fire, Heronlegs was forced to leave her behind at the camp entrance. The other Gustclan cats that had been here were long gone. Leading Rockfang (whom they found out was a medicine cat in training) and Goldwind carefully down the hill, the little group watched as twolegs appeared. They roared over the hills in their monsters, trying to save their sheep and contain the fire. One of the sky monsters appeared, tossing water from its strange hanging tail, then flying to scoop more from the lake, over and over again. The loud sound from it was harsh against the cats ears. A "helicopter" Snowpaw's mother had once called such a thing. They used to fly over her old twoleg home sometimes.

The rain aided the twoleg's cause. It was coming down much heavier now. Maybe it would make a difference.

Murkstar found them before long, coming running up from the direction of the Great Hollow. "The rest of the clan have been settled down there. They'll be safe." The leader started to shepherd them, so they could drop off the injured Gustclan cats, and have their own smoke inhalation treated. Deerspot was apparently down there helping the Gustclan medicine cat with the injured, bringing honey and other treatments from Fieldclan's stores.

As Snowpaw padded down the hill on tender forepaws, she noticed one of the twolegs see them from the distance. She only knew a few words of their strange language, but she did understand "cats" as the twoleg pointed their group out to the others, who watched them disappear over the ridgeline. For some reason, it made Snowpaw nervous. She didn't know why. They were probably just curious about their presence. If they were nice twolegs, they may even be worried. It was probably just residual fear from the fire talking...

Looking at Gustclan (and discounting the cats from Fieldclan's patrol wandering about), the group of cats looked positively tiny in the Great Hollow, sheltered from the rain under the overhanging trees. Snowpaw had only seen it twice, and both times it was filled with cats from all clans.

Comparing Gustclan's numbers to Fieldclan's total, when she thought about it, it was smaller still. And they'd lost an elder. As she padded through to get some honey from Deerspot, the apprentice heard the mournful cats also mention the loss of two kits and two warriors from a rouge attack as well.

Starving from a drought, besieged by rouges and now their camp and a large chunk of their territory was gone. What had this clan done to deserve this? How could Starclan, who Snowpaw had been taught as just and good, allow it to happen?

"I don't know how I can say thank you in any more ways, Murkstar." Finchstar's voice caught her attention as she neared where Deerspot and the Gustclan medicine cats had set up. Glancing, she saw her dark tabby leader sitting with the younger she-cat leader of Gustclan.

"Don't thank me. My deputy and her patrol took the initiative." Murkstar replied with a gentle purr.

"Still, Gustclan owes Fieldclan a debt. We will not forget this." Something told Snowpaw that debts were a big thing for clans.

"And what about you? Are you alright? Your fur looks pretty badly burnt there…" Murkstar's tone was politely curious. Snowpaw couldn't see his face from where she lingered, blatantly eavesdropping.

"Truthfully…" Finchstar sounded a little pained, and scared. "I lost my first life. When the pines set alight, branches started falling… That's where the wound was before Starclan healed it."

"Ahh… I see. Losing your first is frightening. I'm sorry…"

"Drakewing was beside himself. Rattail too." Her family? "Fortunately, Tigertail managed to get them to calm down. Rattail is too old for so much stress…"

Now actually feeling guilty, as this seemed to be more of a private conversation between leaders; cats who knew each other well, Snowpaw moved on. She couldn't wrap her head around dying, only to just come back. It had to be a lot for the leaders to process.

The apprentice eagerly lapped up the honey Deerspot offered her, and after she was shooed on to treat other cats, she could take stock.

The former kittypet found herself sitting, looking out over the scene of frightened and upset cats, Fieldclan individuals mingling between them offering reassurances or checking on them. She had given her comfortable life up for this? It really did seem mad! And yet, she found herself certain she couldn't go back to a kittypet life, even now.

"You did well today." Heronlegs' voice had her look up. Her mentor looked tired, but proud. "You didn't hesitate to run into danger, even when a clan born cat might have."

"I just wanted to help." Snowpaw replied softly. "What's going to happen to Gustclan now?"

"They'll be staying here for the time being, I imagine... Try not to worry about them too much; they're survivors."

"Still... I was scared, but I knew they would be too. So me being scared didn't matter if I could help them. I know they're another clan, and Fieldclan should come first…"

"You have a good heart." The deputy purred. "Don't let any cat tell you that's a bad thing."

Snowpaw dipped her head, feeling her ears get hot with embarrassment. "It's not really a big deal."

"In our world, it can be. Cats like calling Fieldclan soft!" Heronlegs snorted with some contempt. "They don't understand that compassion isn't weakness. Fear isn't always either. Sometimes it takes the most courage to do the right thing or face your fear…. And look at this situation. Yes, we helped the clan, and that's a great thing in itself… but now Gustclan owe us. That's a powerful thing." She shook her head. "Not that I'm telling you to only help if there's something in it for you, of course!" She stressed hurriedly, looking worried.

"It's okay, I know what you mean." Snowpaw tried not to chuckle a little, finding it funny how quickly Heronlegs became bothered she had told her apprentice bad advice.

"Anyway, uh…" The she-cat was a little flustered now. That was a first. "What I wanted to say was, I'm proud of your actions today." She flicked her tail, brushing it along Snowpaw's side. "...And, when the time comes, I think you'll make a great warrior, kittypet."