"Fireheart, will you walk with me for a bit?"

Fireheart looked up from her half-eaten mouse to see Bluefur standing just inside the entrance to Featherwhisker's den. She stared at her friend, flicking her ears in confusion. With her deputy duties, Bluefur hardly had time to go for walks anymore, and Fireheart was by all intents and purposes still confined to the camp. What could possibly be so important that she was willing to take the risk of dragging her outside now?

"Er...am I supposed to?" she asked finally. "I thought I was meant to be staying here in the medicine den now."

"We won't go far," Bluefur promised. "And I'll make sure to go easy on you. There are just a few things I want you to see."

"If you say so," Fireheart agreed, still feeling skeptical. She couldn't imagine what could possibly be out there in the forest that was so interesting–after all, she had seen everything there was to see on ThunderClan territory countless times over.

Slowly, she pushed herself to her paws, stumbling slightly as she tried to get used to the feeling of standing again. Fortunately, Bluefur was able to catch her before she fell over and allowed Fireheart to lean on her shoulder for support. Murmuring a quick word of thanks, the flame-colored molly quickly righted herself before following the ThunderClan deputy out of the medicine den.

The camp was mostly deserted, and Fireheart assumed that most of her Clanmates were either taking naps or out on various patrols. She realized that was probably why Bluefur had insisted on going on a walk now. With so many cats absent, there was less chance of being spotted–and, therefore, being sent back to her nest. Fireheart almost laughed out loud; Bluefur was more cunning than she let on sometimes.

As they padded through the forest, Fireheart realized that this was the first time she had been outside in nearly three moons. Despite this, however, the forest still looked the same as it always did. She felt a little better. It was comforting to know that no matter how much time passed, the territory that she had called home ever since she was six moons old wouldn't change. Well, it did vary in appearance from one season to the next, but there was very little change within those variations.

"So, how have you been holding up?" Bluefur asked after a while. "I noticed that you were eating again today."

"Yeah, I guess," Fireheart agreed, stepping around a fallen tree. Normally, she could have cleared it in one leap, but she didn't have the strength to do that now. "I've been fine, mostly. Better than I was at first."

For once, she was telling the truth. After spending the past moon dwelling on her approaching death, Fireheart had finally decided that it wasn't worth moping around. She was going to die; that was inevitable. But, she told herself over and over, she wasn't going to join StarClan with any regrets. After all, she had gotten everything she could have possibly asked for. That would just have to be good enough for her–and it was. It was more than good enough. When she considered all of the possible alternatives, Fireheart had to admit that she had it better than most.

Yes, she thought to herself. I've had a good life.

Out loud, she meowed, "I guess I've just kind of decided to accept it, you know? If StarClan has decided that I'm going to die in a moon or two, there's not really much I can do about it. I've received every blessing they could possibly have given me, so now I'm just going to wait until it's time for me to go."

Even as she spoke the words, however, she couldn't suppress a twinge of sorrow. While Fireheart might have accepted her fate, that didn't mean it didn't still hurt. It still didn't seem fair that she was going to die when she still had so many seasons left in her. Not only that, but she would be forced to leave her family behind. She especially hated the fact that she would never get to watch Briarkit and Scorchkit grow up. Of course, she would always watch over them in StarClan, but it would never be the same.

But it's okay, right? I mean, it has to be better than nothing.

"I see," Bluefur murmured, her eyes slightly downcast. "Well, I'm happy to know that you're at peace with everything at the very least."

"Yeah, that's right," Fireheart agreed, forcing a note of cheerfulness into her voice that wasn't quite genuine despite what she kept telling herself.

As they continued on their walk, Fireheart realized with a note of confusion that they were heading in the direction of the sandy hollow. It had been moons since she had set foot there, the last time being when she was still training Mosspetal. Why was Bluefur taking her there now? It wasn't as though she could help with a battle training session anymore.

When they reached the hollow, however, it soon became apparent as to why they had come this way. Down below in the training grounds, seemingly oblivious to her presence, were Tigerclaw, Stormflare, Petalpaw, and Beepaw. Fireheart's two adopted daughters were engaged in what appeared to be an especially intense practice battle, with Tigerclaw and Stormflare offering words of advice here and there. She kept her gaze trained on her kits as Petalpaw reared up on her hind legs to attempt a final, crushing battle move, only for Beepaw to duck out of the way and kick her back legs into her sister's stomach, sending her flying halfway across the hollow. But Petalpaw was not to be defeated easily, and she sprang to her paws almost immediately before hurling herself at Beepaw, flipping the ginger tabby onto her stomach and pummeling mercilessly at her back.

"Just like I used to do with Tigerclaw and Whitestorm," Fireheart murmured, keeping her voice low so that Bluefur didn't overhear.

It was one of the most intense training matches she had ever witnessed. As the fight dragged on, Fireheart felt a small seed of longing begin to grow in her chest. She could still remember the thrill of leaping into battle for her Clan, ready to give up her life for the cats who had become her family even if they weren't connected by blood. Even a simple training battle sparked some sort of thrill, although it wasn't nearly as powerful.

Her paws tingled, and suddenly, Fireheart wasn't watching Petalpaw and Beepaw anymore, but herself. She was watching herself taking down a RiverClan warrior in yet another fight over Sunningrocks, her claws raking over the warrior's forehead. She was watching herself nip at an arrogant rogue that had decided to try to make a home in her territory. Finally, she was watching herself in her first official battle as a ThunderClan cat, teaming up with Tigerclaw–Tigerpaw then–to drive Raggedpelt, Foxheart, and Nightpaw out of ThunderClan's land.

That battle...it was after that one that Tigerclaw started padding after me, wasn't it? Fireheart remembered, feeling her whiskers twitch with amusement. She let out a sigh, staring down at the ground as she finally came back to reality. Yes, it was. Who would have thought that things would turn out the way they did? I'm glad it happened, though. I couldn't have asked for a better life.

Yet seeing her daughters battle so fiercely, even though she knew it wasn't real, opened up the recently-healed wounds in her heart. Once again, Fireheart was reminded of all that she would be missing out on while she waited for her death to arrive at last. She was happy with how her life had gone, all things considered, but still, the feeling of sorrow just wouldn't leave her alone.

But then again, what did it matter how she felt? It wouldn't change anything. Regardless if she felt completely miserable, overjoyed, or nothing at all, it wouldn't change the fact that her days as a warrior were over.

Bluefur...why are you making me watch this?


After Petalpaw and Beepaw's mock battle had finally ended, Bluefur led Fireheart back to the camp. The flame-colored molly was utterly silent, apparently pondering over one train of thought or another. A few times, Bluefur glanced over at her to see if she could figure out what was going on, but Fireheart's face remained impassive. It was quite a remarkable feat, especially given that she could usually read the younger queen's every emotion simply by looking her in the eye.

Did we get through to her at all? Bluefur wondered.

Frustrated with seeing Fireheart so miserable all the time, Tigerclaw had recruited her to try to bring the fiery queen back to her normal self. Maybe, just maybe, she would be willing to battle her illness that way. Yet speaking to Fireheart today, she had all but confirmed that she wasn't interested in fighting. She wasn't moping anymore, though; she was calm and accepting, which almost felt worse. If Fireheart had truly come to terms with her approaching death, then it meant she was also content to spend the rest of her life sitting around all day, waiting for the end to come.

She couldn't accept that. Bluefur knew she was being selfish, but she wanted Fireheart to fight. The former kittypet had always been a fighter, ever since she set foot in the forest all those seasons ago. It wasn't like her to just lie down and take whatever StarClan threw at her.

Suddenly, a squirrel went flying past her head, missing her by inches. Stunned, Bluefur stared at Fireheart, who was glaring at her with a furious expression in her emerald-colored eyes. In all her life, she had never seen her former apprentice try to attack her before.

"What was that for?" she spluttered indignantly.

"That was for being a fox-hearted rat!" Fireheart growled back.

"What? What do you mean by that?" Bluefur demanded, her tail lashing. "I am not a fox-hearted rat!"

"Oh yes, you are!" Fireheart shot back, her eyes flashing green fire.

"What did I do?" Bluefur asked, genuinely puzzled. She had expected a myriad of reactions from her sister figure, but anger was not one of them.

The flame-pelted warrior's tail lashed. "You take a cat who will never hunt or fight again, who will be dead in a short time, and make me watch that?" she meowed in disbelief, pointing her tail in the direction of the sandy hollow. Her gaze suddenly darkened with sadness. "I thought I was ready to accept my destiny before, and I thought I was satisfied with what I'd gotten...but now?"

So I did get through to her, then, Bluefur thought to herself, feeling a prickle of mingled relief and guilt. Padding forward, she rested her tail on Fireheart's shoulder and meowed softly, "I showed you that because you're going to be gone in a short time."

"I don't...I don't understand," the younger warrior protested.

"Fireheart, listen. Yes, you're sick. Yes, you're not getting better, and yes, you will die soon. I'm not saying any of that isn't true," Bluefur meowed, still keeping her tail draped around her former apprentice's shoulders. "But you're not gone yet, and we don't know for sure when you will be. So I want you to make the most of the time you do have left–and so does everyone else. Don't give up now. You've always been a fighter, Fireheart, remember when I told you that? Tigerclaw, Stormflare, your family and I, Mosspetal, Mistyfoot, Stonefur, and Whitestorm, we're all waiting for you to find that part of you again. So if you have anything left in you...then join us on the battlefield one more time."

Fireheart stared at her. "But Bluefur, I..."

"It won't be easy, I know," she continued. "But if anyone can do it, I know it's you. You've never been one to give up. And we'll all be here to support you when you feel like things are getting too difficult to handle."

For several heartbeats, there was no response. Instead, Fireheart turned her head to stare out into the forest, at the home she would be leaving for good in a few short moons if she was lucky. Bluefur didn't push her, just sat there patiently and waited for the young queen to sort out her thoughts. Several emotions flickered across Fireheart's face before she turned to face her again, at last, her expression resolute, sorrowful, and, if what Bluefur's eyes were telling her was correct, a small hint of hope.

"Okay," Fireheart meowed softly. She chuckled. "I must be either completely insane or just plain stupid–maybe both–but I'm going to do it. I'm going to fight my illness. Even if it's completely futile, I'm going to fight. Just as long as you keep your end of the bargain as well."

She turned her head to look out into the distance again and added, almost too softly for Bluefur to hear, "And maybe, one day, I'll be able to fight for ThunderClan again."