Leopardfur drew her tongue across her shoulder absentmindedly. The last few days had been remarkably uneventful. She and Sasha had been able to take turns hunting for the little group, and the kits already seemed better for it.

Even in her exile, she had not been able to shake her habit of rising early. Leopardfur paused in her grooming to look up at the sky. The sun was rising, casting warm glows above the treetops.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Leopardfur glanced towards the mouth of the den. Sasha slipped out from the den and stretched slowly, arching her back and tail. Leopardfur felt her ears grow warm, and she averted her gaze. As peaceful as her time with Sasha had been, she was beginning to feel like she was torturing herself.

Sasha padded closer and sat beside Leopardfur. The queen looked at her out of the corner of her eyes. "You're always up so early," she commented. "And you've been quiet lately. Are you avoiding me?"

Yes, Leopardfur thought. "No," she said.

Sasha shifted closer. "Have you been thinking about going back home?" she asked.

Leopardfur glanced at her. "A little," she replied.

Was that disappointment in Sasha's gaze? The queen looked back to the sky. "I'm not surprised," she said. She sighed softly. "You're a Clan cat to your bones, Leopardfur. I can see that."

"You don't sound very happy about that," Leopardfur meowed. Jokingly, she added, "Won't you be glad to have the space back in your den?"

Sasha's frown gave her an answer that made Leopardfur's heart thump. The queen shifted her paws. "I… Leopardfur, there's something I've been wanting to say…"

Leopardfur's fur began to lift.

Before Sasha could speak, the den rustled, and Hawk stumbled out, blinking tiredly. "Mama?" he called.

Sasha winced. Taking a breath, she turned to him and smiled. "What is it, dear?"

Hawk looked strangely worried. "Something's wrong with Moth," he meowed. "She says she's really hot."

Leopardfur glanced at the kit and frowned. "Really hot?"

"Yeah," Hawk said, shrugging. "I dunno."

That can't be good, Leopardfur thought. Is it a fever?

"I'm coming, Hawk," Sasha meowed. She stood and hurried towards the den.

Leopardfur followed. Together they ducked inside. Hawk crouched beside his sister. Moth was huddled in the nest. She looked like she was shivering. Sasha's eyes grew dark with concern. "Moth?" she meowed. "Are you okay?"

Moth opened her eyes. "Mama, it's hot," she murmured. "I don't feel good."

Leopardfur felt her throat tighten. Fever, she thought. That can't be good. Is she getting kit-cough? Or… What little she knew about illness came rushing to her. If it was only kit-cough, she was sure it could clear up in a few days. But if it was something like greencough… Leopardfur didn't know enough about what to do for it, and she knew it could be deadly.

"Hawk," she meowed. "You need to stay away from Moth."

Hawk bristled, and Sasha shot her a surprised look. Leopardfur remained firm. "She might be contagious. I'll make another nest for you both. But Moth needs time to rest and you need to stay healthy."

She could smell the fear rolling off Sasha. "She's right," she murmured. "I'll be right back, Moth." She picked up Hawk by the scruff and brought him out of the den. Leopardfur turned to follow.

"Leopardfur?" Moth rasped.

"Yes?"

"Am I gonna die?"

Leopardfur's heart clenched with pity. I don't know. She dug her claws into the ground. "No, Moth," she meowed. "Kits get little sicknesses all the time. You're going to be okay."

Moth closed her eyes. "Okay."

Leopardfur swallowed and retreated from the den. Outside, Sasha held Hawk close, her gaze distant. "Leopardfur," she whispered. "What do I do? They've never gotten sick before!"

Leopardfur's mind was racing. "Hawk, stay here," she meowed. "You can talk to Moth from outside the den, okay?"

"Okay," Hawk meowed. The little tom looked worried, but he dutifully padded towards the den and sat outside.

Leopardfur nudged Sasha gently. "Come on," she meowed. "We need to hunt."

"But Moth—"

"She needs food and rest," Leopardfur insisted. "Come on."

Sasha allowed herself to be guided from the densite. When they were out of earshot, Leopardfur spoke quietly. "You can't allow Hawk to know you're worried," she meowed. "He'll panic and scare Moth. The best thing she can have is peace and quiet."

"I don't know how to deal with sickness," Sasha fretted. "When I was a kittypet, my human took me to the vet, and I rarely got sick. My kits have never been to the vet. Oh, Leopardfur… have I been a mouse-brain raising them in the wild like this?"

"No!" Leopardfur insisted. "You've done nothing wrong, Sasha." She drew her tail around her friend. "We need to focus on hunting and making sure she has a full belly, alright?"

Sasha leaned in close and buried her muzzle in Leopardfur's pelt. "Thank you," she murmured. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Leopardfur felt her heart flutter. She pulled away after a heartbeat. "Let's find something to eat."


Two days passed, and Moth's condition only worsened. She had begun coughing and sneezing, and today, she was refusing all food. Leopardfur's heart was in shreds as she watched Sasha desperately trying to get Moth to nurse or eat shreds of mouse.

She's going to die if I don't do something.

Leopardfur felt a gentle breeze stir her pelt, and her gaze drifted towards the forest. Can I take them to RiverClan?

It felt dangerous to go traipsing through the territory with the whole family. She frowned as she glanced back at Sasha. I need help bringing them home, she thought. Someone to speak for them when I'm not there. Her throat felt tight. Selfishly, she wanted them to stay here with her.

But Moth will die, and what good will that do anyone? Leopardfur shut her eyes briefly. If I have to be alone for her to live… so be it. She stood up and glanced at Sasha. "I'm going out," she meowed. "I'll be back soon."

Sasha hardly seemed to hear her. She nodded absently. Leopardfur felt a paw pin her tail as she went to stand.

"Leopardfur?" It was Hawk. The young tom looked at her with wide eyes. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find someone to help Moth," Leopardfur murmured. "I hope."

"Can I come?" Hawk pleaded. "I don't want her to die like Tadpole."

Leopardfur bent and gave the tom a firm lick. "No, Hawk. Your mother needs you here. Protect them while I'm gone, okay?"

Hawk nodded nervously, but furrowed his brow after a moment. "Okay. I will."

"Good boy," Leopardfur meowed. "I won't be long."

She padded away swiftly. She needed to find a RiverClan cat without matching into camp—they surely wouldn't take kindly to it a second time. It's a warm day, she thought. Might be able to catch someone fishing.


Leopardfur crouched in the reeds, keeping her eyes peeled for any sign of life. Far up along the shore was a small group of cats—she couldn't make out who. She was busy making up her mind about whether or not to approach them when the tall grass parted, and Leopardfur's gaze fell upon a cat she had not seen since before her exile.

Dawnwhisker. She felt as though the air had been knocked from her lungs. The ginger-and-white molly padded forward towards the river and sat down. Leopardfur watched her, frozen in place, her heart aching. Of all her regrets, betraying her former mate was perhaps the worst burden to bear. She could still hear the anguish and desperation in Dawnwhisker's voice when she had banished Firestar; still see the disgust in her eye as she left her alone in her den.

She had half a mind to turn back, spare Dawnwhisker from having to look upon her—but Leopardfur knew she could not. She stepped out of hiding.

It took Dawnwhisker only a heartbeat to see her. Her eye widened briefly, surprised, before it narrowed to a slit. She drew herself up, hissing.

"What are you doing here?" she snarled.

"Dawnwhisker," Leopardfur rasped. "I need your help."

"What could you possibly need my help for?" Dawnwhisker demanded. Her tail lashed back and forth. "Give me one good reason not to call for the closest patrol to chase you off!"

Leopardfur lowered herself into a crouch, her head bowed until her nose scraped the ground. "I'm so sorry," she blurted, her voice thick with grief. "I know how much I hurt you. I shouldn't ask anything of you, I know, but I need you—please listen to me." I'll grovel like a dog if I have to. StarClan, please let her listen—if not for me, then for Moth!

Dawnwhisker hesitated. Her stance relaxed. "Leopardfur… what happened?" her voice was softer.

Leopardfur dared to lift her gaze. Dawnwhisker's gaze had become more pitying, more concerned. She no longer looked like she wanted to rip Leopardfur's whiskers out. And so Leopardfur, remaining crouched, told Dawnwhisker of how she had come to meet Sasha and how Moth was now dangerously ill.

Dawnwhisker listened to the story quietly. She sat down while Leopardfur spoke, looking thoughtful.

"I need to bring them to RiverClan," Leopardfur said. "Moth will die without herbs, and I don't know catmint from deathberries."

Dawnwhisker snorted softly at that, and Leopardfur felt a flare of hope in her chest. "You don't have to forgive me," Leopardfur murmured. "But please… help me bring them to the Clan. Sasha has had enough pain without losing another kit." She had not explained that Sasha had been Tigerstar's mate—what good would that do?—but the loss of one child was enough to garner sympathy from even the stoniest warrior.

"Of course I'll help, Leopardfur," Dawnwhisker sighed. Leopardfur sat up, flooded with relief. Dawnwhisker's tail twitched. "Bring me to them. You'll need an escort in camp, or cats will be angry."

Leopardfur nodded wordlessly, her jaws stuck shut. Thank you. She stood up and flicked her tail for Dawnwhisker to follow. "They're not far."

Dawnwhisker hesitated. Leopardfur glanced over her shoulder. The ginger-and-white molly sighed again. "Leopardfur…" she murmured. "Was it worth it?"

Leopardfur blinked, and it was not Dawnwhisker standing before her, but Crookedstar. He looked tired, his gaze dark with sadness. She had to sink her claws into the earth to steady herself. "No," she rasped. "Not even a little."

When she blinked again, Crookedstar was gone. Dawnwhisker stared back at her. "Then… Leopardfur, why?"

"I was a fool," Leopardfur said, her voice thick with grief. "I thought working with Tigerstar would make RiverClan strong, make me stronger… but I made so many mistakes for that." She bowed her head. "I would take it all back if I could. I'm so sorry."

Dawnwhisker nodded silently. Leopardfur wasn't sure what she was thinking, but the molly stepped forward, looking out to the woods. "Let's go," she meowed.