"Thank StarClan!" Leafpelt exclaimed, running from the den on the other side of the camp. "Follow me."
Ebony followed Leafpelt into the den. Inside a pale ginger and brown she-cat was lying in a nest near the back of the den.
"Let me see that herb." Leafpelt mewed. Ebony handed the moss to the brown cat and she looked very impressed. "How did you find this?"
"I found it on the bottom of a pond." Ebony replied, "It should be ground into a fine powder then put onto a piece of meat."
"Then give the meat to the sick cat?" Leafpelt asked, "Are you sure your not from around here?"
"I'm sure." Ebony said, "If I were from around here I wouldn't have gone into that Twoleg nest."
Leafpelt began to grind the moss into a powder. After about an hour or so, it was a powder, more like a pile of mush, but a powder all the same.
"Go and get a mouse from the fresh-kill pile outside." Leafpelt said, "Smallest you can find."
Ebony went outside and began to look in the pile of fresh-kill. She picked up a small mouse and went back into the den.
"I'm not sure how to do this." Leafpelt said, looking at the powder. "Can you show me how?"
"Sure." Ebony said, putting the mouse in the ground. "I'll show you."
Ebony pulled the mouse open a little way. Then she took a paw full of the powder and slipped it into the mouse.
"What now?" Leafpelt asked, "Just give it to her?"
"No." Ebony said, "Hold it closed and shake it. Make sure you don't get any of it into your mouth."
Leafpelt did so, then placed the mouse next to the brown she-cat's nose. The brown cat opened her green eyes and sniffed the mouse.
She began to eat it. Ebony sat in silence as Leafpelt's ear twitched.
"Leafpelt," the brown she-cat coughed, "What in StarClan did you put into this?"
"An herb." Leafpelt answered, "Why do you ask?"
"Because I feel like I'm better then I was last night."
Leafpelt held the she-cat's paw for a moment, then looked at Ebony.
"She doesn't have a fever." Leafpelt purred. "Quickly do the same for Firestar!"
Ebony went and got another mouse, put the powder in it, shook it and went to the den near the camp enterance.
She scratched on the door and she heard Firestar cough.
Ebony slipped into the den and found the ginger tom lying in a nest of pine nettles. She put the mouse down in front of him then backed away. Firestar looked at it for a moment, then looked up at Ebony.
"You've brought me fresh-kill?" Firestar asked. "The only time anycat brings me fresh-kill is when they think I'll die."
"I don't think you'll die." Ebony said, "Please eat, you'll feel better."
Firestar sniffed the mouse then took a bite of meat out of it. Ebony sat watching as Firestar ate the mouse.
He looked up at Ebony, and smiled. His bright green eyes twinkled.
"You put the herb into this mouse didn't you?" he asked.
"Yes." Ebony said, looking down at her paws. "I should have asked you before I did it but-"
"There is no need to say your sorry." the tom said. "But I believe that it is working."
"Are you feeling any better?" a voice behind Ebony mewed.
Ebony turned and saw Leafpelt and the brown she-cat standing in the doorway.
"Sandstorm." Firestar purred. "Your alright."
"So are you." Sandstorm mewed, sitting next to the ginger tom. "Stupid furball."
"Ebony." Firestar said, "You helped our Clan."
"And saved our leader." Sandstorm put in.
"So I think," Firestar mewed, "That you would make a fine warrior one day."
"Me?" Ebony asked, "A warrior?"
"Does that mean you accept?"
"Yes, Firestar." Ebony purred.
Firestar stood up and walked outside, followed by the other three. The ginger tom stood on top of the rock in the middle of the clearing and yeowled to the cats.
"Cats of ThunderClan!" he yeowled. "Let all those you can catch prey meet here around the Round Rock!"
The cats walked out of the dens and around the rock. Ebony could see that the only apprentices that were there were, Marshpaw, Rustpaw, Sweetpaw, Silverpaw and Greenpaw.
"Today, a miracle has come from StarClan." Firestar mewed, "A cure for greencough has been found!"
The cats purred and Marshpaw looked over at Ebony.
"But it was not by chance that it was found." he continued, "For StarClan led a young she-cat to Marshpaw, who was held prisoner in a Twoleg nest."
"This she-cat found the cure," he mewed, "And I think that she should become an apprentice of ThunderClan."
"Ebony, please step up here." Firestar said.
Ebony climbed onto the rock and stood before the ginger tom.
"Ebony, do you promise to serve ThunderClan even if it may cost you your life?"
"I do."
"Then from now on, you shall be known as Ivypaw!"
"Ivypaw! Ivypaw!" the cats called.
"And if I'm not mistaking, Brambleclaw you haven't got an apprentice." Firestar mewed to the brown tabby. "Would you be willing to take Ivypaw as your apprentice?"
"Yes Firestar!" Brambleclaw purred.
"And will you also accept the name of leader?" Firestar asked.
"Leader?" Brambleclaw asked, "But your getting better!"
"I know." Firestar said, "But I'm getting to old for the task of leader. I am resigning as leader and going on as the elder, Fireheart."
"But-" Brambleclaw objected.
"Cinderpelt!" Firestar called. "I wish for you to take my name away!"
Cinderpelt walked out of the den on the other side of the camp. She stepped onto the rock and looked up at the sky through the hole in the roof.
"StarClan?" she mewed. "Is this your wish?"
A shooting star flew across the sky and Cinderpelt nodded to Firestar.
"As ThunderClan's old Medicine Cat," the gray she-cat said, "I accept your old name, Fireheart."
Fireheart looked at Sandstorm who purred. Fireheart jumpped off the rock and he, Sandstorm and Cinderpelt walked into the elder's den.
"Brambleclaw." Leafpelt mewed. "Tomorrow, we shall go to the Moonpool for you to gawn your nine lives and name."
The cats went back into their dens and Ivypaw walked into the apprentice den. Marshpaw mewed a greeting then nodded to the nest beside the enterance.
Ivypaw curled into a ball and just before she fell asleep, she thought to herself.
'I am a cat now. This is my life and there is nothing that can change that.'