Sorry for the long wait! I think I didn't do as well as I COULD'VE in this chapter, but heh. Tell me what you think. R&R! I'll give you a ham sandwich. ...Maybe.
The wind brushed Rosepaw's cheek, as the dark ginger apprentice stared at the unconscious cat, with an expression of pure horror on her face.
"Thorntail!" she yowled again, but her voice simply faded into the night, and the warrior didn't show any signs that he had heard her – not a twitch of his whiskers.
Rosepaw forgot she was a medicine cat for a heartbeat, and let out an ear-splitting yowl, hoping some cat would hear her. ShadowClan or ThunderClan. It didn't matter. Just as long as some cat heard her.
"Somebody! Somebody please, help me!" she whined.
Suddenly Rosepaw remembered. She was a medicine cat – even if just an apprentice. She could help him. If she didn't…he would die.
Rosepaw pushed that thought out of her mind, and examined the gray tom for a moment.
How could she save him? She didn't remember ever being taught about cats that randomly passed out and stopped breathing! Unless they were sick! And she had no clue what sickness Thorntail had…
No. Wait, she had been taught how to help him! Rosepaw searched her mind. But she had seen it done.
She recalled one day back when she was still a kit in the nursery. One of the queens had fainted, and stopped breathing…Flamesoul had come in…and…what had Flamesoul done?
Rosepaw couldn't remember the whole scene…just…little clips. Flamesoul's pelt that was like the fires of the sun…the queen's ruffled golden coat…Ruffled…Ruffled!
It clicked! Flamesoul had rubbed the queen's pelt, to help her breath…
It was then, under the intense gaze of Silverpelt that Rosepaw began.
She placed her two front paws on Thorntail's side, and roughly ruffled his pelt…
The whole time Rosepaw's mind was screaming at her. Could she do it? Was she good enough?
StarClan didn't speak to her…did they think that she couldn't heal?
No. StarClan didn't speak to her for another reason. The other reason…
But Rosepaw could pray to them…maybe they'd hear her… "Please, StarClan," she prayed ruffling the pelt some more. "Don't call him yet! Not yet!"
Thorntail's fur was cold.
So cold.
It was the same as that time! The time! Rosepaw dimly recalled her father's corpse lying in Flamesoul's den, as Rosepaw screamed in his ear for him to wake up! Wake up! But he didn't that time…
"Thorntail!" Rosepaw yowled, misery clinging to her heart. She rubbed some more…
"I can't sob…" Rosepaw murmured to herself, even as a sob hitched in her throat. "Open your eyes, Thorntail! Please! Remember how to breath! How to live!"
A gray tail was flung into the air, and gently touched Rosepaw's flank.
"Thorntail!" she purred, as she noticed a rise and fall of his chest once more. He was breathing.
"Ugh!" Thorntail coughed. Rosepaw backed away from the gray cat, and watched as he struggled to his paws.
"Whoa…tom…" he mumbled, his sapphire eyes half-closed. "That was close…"
"Are you sick?" Rosepaw asked him, her eyes widening. The Blood flashed in her mind, but Thorntail wasn't bleeding…
"No," Thorntail mewed softly, looking down at his paws. "Just my nerves…I thought I was better…"
His eyes strayed to the thunderpath, where the ShadowClan cat's body had been mulled again by a monster, possibly when Rosepaw had been attempting to revive Thorntail. She hadn't even noticed!
"ShadowClan will find the warrior eventually…" Thorntail murmured, his voice sending shivers down Rosepaw's spine. "Let's go."
The ThunderClan warrior got to his paws, and didn't waste a moment in starting to pad back into the forest.
Rosepaw tried to get up and follow him, but toppled down again, like a clumsy kitten.
"Rosepaw?" Thorntail asked, turning to her curiously.
"My legs…" Rosepaw breathed, staring at the gray cat she had saved in amazement. Thorntail just looked at her, so she explained. "All the power left them…I can't stand…" her breath hitched in her throat for a moment, but she continued. "I…I thought you were going to die!" she cried, her voice wavering like the last leaf left after Leaf-Fall, right before the cold of Leaf-bare sets in. "You stopped moving! And breathing…and you just got colder…and colder…" Rosepaw looked away from him, and instead turned her gaze back towards the Thunderpath. "I thought you were going to die, like my father!...I…I was scared…"
Rosepaw built up the courage to look at the tom she loved – who she loved! Who she loved…and expected to see anger in his eyes. She expected him to swipe his claws across her face and call her weak – like some warriors tended to do. Instead, his gaze was soft. He padded towards her, and gently licked her ear.
"I'm sorry that I scared you…" he murmured solemnly. "I'm sorry."
…
Thorntail gently led the medicine cat back to camp. Her eyes were still glazed with sadness, and Thorntail couldn't help but worry about her. And from the other look in her eye, whenever she rested her sapphire eyes on him, she was just as worried about him as he was her.
"I'm okay now," he assured here as the two cats padded into camp, ignoring the corpses of their Clanmates as they entered. That was hard to do. "Really, I'm fine."
"Well…" Rosepaw looked uncertain. "At least come into my den and let me look you over. Otherwise I'll worry."
Thorntail rolled his eyes, and shook his head no. "If I feel bad in the morning, I'll come speak to you. I promise," he purred. "I'll do it for you…but either way…" his eyes flashed around camp. "You should get your rest. Tomorrow I have no doubt other cats will be in your care…"
"You mean other cat will die." Rosepaw rasped her voice hardly over a whisper. She turned around to pad to her den, but stopped, as if she just remembered something, and turned to him.
"Are you going with Streamstar to meet Duststar tomorrow?" she asked.
"If I'm chosen," Thorntail purred.
Rosepaw looked uncertain for a moment. "Promise?" she asked. Thorntail wondered why she wanted him there so badly, but then realized that Rosepaw most likely would be chosen to come with Streamstar and her patrol. Most likely Rosepaw was worried that some terrible event would happen while they were there.
"Promise," he purred. Thorntail looked around curiously, to make sure no cat was listening, and then spoke again. "You know, Rosepaw," he purred. "Before I got close to you I didn't have much to live for." Rosepaw looked at him like he had said he didn't believe in StarClan, but he continued. "To be honest, I just lived for my goal. To be deputy. I liked Blackshadow, Swiftfoot and Sandpelt, and the she-cats, and I would've died for any of the cats in the Clan…but I don't think I truly had much to get up in the morning for." Thorntail sighed, wondering what he was saying, but he decided to go on. "But now I like living, and I look forward to getting up every day, 'cause I get to see you." He purred.
Rosepaw purred as well, and Thorntail, satisfied that she was happy now, turned away to first, go see who had fallen during that day, and then either sit vigil or go to sleep. Most likely go to sleep. The whole vigil thing…Thorntail never understood that.
But Rosepaw's yowl stopped him.
"Wait, Thorntail!" the dark ginger she-cat cried, her voice making several cats sitting vigil stare up from the dead cat they were sitting with and glare at her as if she were an invading WindClan warrior. Thorntail stopped, and turned to her curiously.
"I'm going to watch you until you enter the den, alright?" she asked lowering her voice.
"Why?" Thorntail rolled his eyes. "I'm not Thornkit, you know. I'm Thorntail. A warrior."
"Yeah, I know." Rosepaw meowed, her eyes widening with fear. "But…but…I'm afraid that if I don't watch you, you'll disappear."
"I'm not going anywhere," Thorntail mewed softly. "Just to the Warriors' Den."
"I know! I know…but…"
Thorntail chuckled lightly, and gently led Rosepaw into her den. From her surprised expression she didn't know what was coming…but he couldn't do what he wanted to do in front of the whole Clan.
Just like that night by the Owl Tree, Thorntail wrapped his body around Rosepaw's, in a symbol of affection. Thorntail, forgetting for a moment that Rosepaw was a medicine cat, started to rub Rosepaw's underbelly with his tail…
Rosepaw's eyes widened for a reason Thorntail didn't understand, and she pushed him away.
"Oh! Gee! I forgot that you're a medicine cat!" Thorntail mewed honestly, "Sorry…"
"No…" Rosepaw murmured, softly, digging her face into Thorntail's chest. "I was just a little surprised…it was so different from last time…" Rosepaw backed away a few paw steps, and blinked curiously. "Your fur is so warm…"
"Of course it is," Thorntail rolled his eyes again. He was doing that a lot tonight. "There's no such thing as cold fur," he meowed matter-of-factly.
At Rosepaw's next words, he understood her worry. "But before…your fur was cold…"
Thorntail's gaze softened. He understood now. "Can I uh…get close to you again?" he asked, stepping towards her.
"Warm fur," Rosepaw purred, wrapping herself around him this time.
…
'He's so warm…' Rosepaw thought to herself, as they intertwined their tails. 'Why am I so nervous? The more I like him…the more I worry…why?'
…
"Hey, Blackshadow,"
A voice from behind the black tom made him prick his ears, and the ThunderClan warrior turned to see Robinwing padding towards him, her robin-egg-blue eyes flicking around curiously.
"Is your other half with you?" she asked.
Blackshadow flicked his amber eyes down to the earth. "Call him my friend, will you? We're not mates or anything…"
"Don't be so vulgar," Robinwing growled, as she lifted a forepaw to give Blackshadow a fake cuff on the ear. "I was just wondering. Streamstar was choosing her warriors to come with her to the planning session at fourtrees, and for some reason she wants Thorntail with her."
A yowl from the camp entrance stopped Blackshadow from responding to the deputy's words, and they both turned their heads towards it, where they saw Thorntail bounding into the camp, his tail high in the air. His apprentice, Scornpaw, was with him too, the tan tabby cat's mouth was filled with more fresh-kill then Blackshadow could've imagined that an apprentice could carry, let alone catch.
"Scornpaw caught all of this himself?" Robinwing asked curiously, as the two cats passed.
Thorntail shook his head. At least he was honest, Blackshadow decided.
"I caught the thrush," he meowed. "But the rabbit, and the vole, he caught. And he caught three mice that we buried outside of camp."
"Scornpaw's turning out to be quite a hunter," Robinwing murmured, staring at the apprentice with pride. Blackshadow rolled his eyes. Robinwing never seemed like the Grandmotherly type, but…he supposed she was.
"That's because he has a good mentor." Thorntail purred, his eyes glowing with pride.
"Good thing too," Swiftfoot from behind them grunted, as the elder bent down to sniff at the prey. "A lot of warriors can't hunt because they're sick,"
"Or dead," Robinwing grunted coldly.
"Or lazy," Thorntail meowed cheekily, flicking his tail at Blackshadow.
"Look, Thorntail," Blackshadow started to say that Streamstar had ordered that he guard the camp, and that he had hunted earlier, but he didn't get the chance, because the gray tom bounded off.
To Blackshadow's surprise, he was padding towards Featherfrost, who was chatting lazily with the queen, Flowertail.
Blackshadow watched with vague interest, as Thorntail rubbed necks with Featherfrost, and then with Flowertail – who already had a mate, Shrewtail, who was glaring at Thorntail like t here was no tomorrow from the other side of camp, where he had been sharing tongues with Bearmoon.
"So early in the morning?" Featherfrost grunted, rolling her eyes. Flowertail simply chuckled.
Thorntail shrugged his shoulders, and bounded back over to Blackshadow.
"Back so soon?" Robinwing asked sarcastically, but Thorntail ignored her.
"Hey, Rosepaw." He purred, to the dark ginger she-cat who had padded up without Blackshadow's even noticing. "Up for a hunt?" he asked.
Rosepaw chuckled lightly, and Blackshadow couldn't hold back a purr. The Clan was going through a dark time – it was good that the medicine cat could still laugh. "Later, okay?" she asked.
Thorntail shrugged his shoulders. "All right," he sighed shuffling his paws.
"Didn't you just hunt with Scornpaw?" Robinwing asked.
"Yeah," Thorntail shrugged. "But a cat can never do enough, can they, Swiftfoot?"
The elder rolled his eyes. "Just be careful, and don't get sick," Swiftfoot muttered, as he started chewing on his thrush. "Oh, by the way, Robinwing," Swiftfoot purred turning to the deputy. "Do me a favor and send some of the apprentices to clean out my den, would you?"
"Your den?" Robinwing growled, the fur on her neck bristling. "That den is for all the elders…Swiftfoot…" Robinwing's voice started to falter, as she realized just what Blackshadow had. Swiftfoot was the only elder left. And he wasn't very old – he could hardly be considered an elder, more like an injured cat.
"I will." Robinwing promised.
Blackshadow stared up at Rosepaw, whose sapphire eyes were wide with worry, and fear. Probably because she had just been reminded of the dark time in the camp.
"I saw Turtlefeather last night…" Blackshadow meowed, trying to ask his question to Rosepaw gently. Turtlefeather had always been a loyal ThunderClan she-cat, and Blackshadow would've liked to consider her his mate, even though he knew that he couldn't of fathered the kits…because he and Turtlefeather had never been…mates, in that sense. Even so, he was still curious. Before Rosepaw answered, he flashed a glance at Applefur, who had her pelt aflame, as she spoke to her brother.
"Yes…she uh…went to StarClan," Rosepaw mewed, her voice monotone.
"I also saw Raykit, and her other kit, Dexkit…but uh…"
"No Morningkit?" Rosepaw finished for him, naming the third kit that Turtlefeather had given birth to. "Morningkit is fine."
Blackshadow let out a sigh of relief. Morningkit. He never played favorites or befriended any kits, considering he expected them to die pretty quickly, but he had known Turtlefeather had given birth to three kits. Raykit and Dexkit were gone. Thank StarClan, though, that Turtlefeather did have a legacy to carry on in ThunderClan, through Morningkit.
Bleakly, Blackshadow wondered if he would ever get another cat to carry o his legacy. Apprentices were one thing (though he had never got one) but a direct descendant would be better. So when you're gone, you're still with the Clan – not just in StarClan, but through your kit, or grandkit…
However…Blackshadow once again stole a glance at Applefur, and to his surprise the vindictive, and jealousy filled she-cat was also staring at him.
Blackshadow sighed, as he saw that Thorntail had wondered away from the Fresh-kill pile, to do StarClan knew what. And as the gray tom passed she-cats, their gazes followed him like a kit follows its mother.
Thorntail's legacy would live on. There was no doubt about that. Heck, Blackshadow wouldn't be surprised if all the Queens, Sandpelt, Scarface, Turtlefeather, and Flowertail had Thorntail father their kits, and just SAID that it was another tom. And, most likely if Thorntail was as quick with RiverClan as he was in ThunderClan, there might be one two RiverClan cats with his blood in their veins! Why couldn't Thorntail contain himself? Why did she-cats throw themselves at him?!
"Oh," Robinwing had started to pad away while Blackshadow was in thoughts, and she turned to him. "You're coming too."
Blackshadow blinked, remembering the meeting. "Who else is coming?"
"Anyone who isn't sick," Robinwing purred.
Blackshadow felt a shiver down his spine. "Okay…" he meowed. "But who will defend the camp?"
"No one. The elders and queens will re-locate to Sunningrocks, while all Warriors, and Apprentices who are healthy will join us to meet RiverClan at Fourtrees."
"But what about the sick?" Blackshadow asked, pretty sure he knew what was coming.
"Streamstar says that anyone who is sick with the Blood, can be considered already dead." Robinwing said those words as if she were stating that she was the ThunderClan deputy. Matter-of-factly, but as if it was basic knowledge.
"But they're not." Blackshadow pointed out. "They might pull through…"
"But they won't," Robinwing meowed coldly. "And if we stay here with them, more cats will get sick, and more cats will die. We must sacrifice a few lives, in order to save the Clan. Remember the Warrior Code, Blackshadow," Robinwing mused. "No cat's, or cats' life is worth more then the Clan's survival. Correct?"
…
"Okay, Rosepaw!" Thorntail yowled, bounding into the medicine cat's den. "Its later. And if we don't hunt soon, we won't get to hunt. So…"
Rosepaw stared blankly at the tom, and then looked down at her paws. She had been there, when Streamstar told her. They were abandoning all the sick cats – the sick cats that Rosepaw couldn't save…
And here Rosepaw was, enjoying herself as if the Clan wasn't on the brink of destruction, with hardly a thought of her Clan.
"I can't, Thorntail." She sighed, lowering her gaze. Not only was she guilty, but there was another reason.
Thorntail looked as if she had told him that she couldn't purr anymore, and had not simply told him that she couldn't go with him.
"B-but," Thorntail began, his voice shaky.
"Sorry," Rosepaw sighed. "I'm busy."
"Oh." Thorntail seemed to understand. "Sick cats?" Nope. Wrong, buddy.
"No…" Rosepaw had been told not to waste herbs on them. You can't heal the dead. "Actually…"
At that very moment, Applefur burst into the den, almost knocking Thorntail off of his paws. "Hello, Rosepaw!" she purred her voice so shrill and sweet, Thorntail thought his ears would start to bleed like the cats who had The Blood, and that his teeth would fall out.
Thorntail looked at her like a fox had just come into the den, and even unsheathed his claws. "Applefur what're you-" he started to say but the other warrior cut him off.
"Rosepaw, are we going hunting, or what?" she asked flicking her tail lazily, blatantly ignoring Thorntail.
Thorntail was left gaping, as Rosepaw nodded. "Yup, let's go!"
The two she-cats started to pad out of the den.
"Need any herbs?" Applefur asked her curiously.
"No, I'm well stocked." Rosepaw answered. Applefur went on chatting, and Rosepaw flashed a glance behind her, to see a very confused Thorntail,
I'm sorry, Thorntail, she thought blankly. 'You're really important to me…but…' she flashed her glance back to Applefur. 'But my new friendship with Applefur is important too…'
Thorntail was left dumbfounded, as the two ginger she-cats, who he had registered as enemies padded out of camp to hunt.
"They've been sharing tongues and such a lot lately," Blackshadow mewed. The tom must've padded up to Thorntail when he was still in shock. "Odd, huh? That's a shocker."
"Yesterday's foe is today's friend, I guess…" Thorntail sighed, as he padded towards the apprentice's den to find Scornpaw.
…
"I can't wait for tonight," Applefur flexed her claws as they padded from camp. "I just want to dig my claws into Runningstar's sorry pelt!"
Rosepaw nodded blankly, Applefur's mention of WindClan suddenly reminding her of how powerless she was to save her Clan, and how cold Streamstar was, in abandoning all those who were sick.
"So…" Applefur meowed, still padding. Applefur's favorite spot to hunt, Rosepaw had noticed, was by Snakerocks. This wasn't the first time Applefur had dragged her there. Rosepaw had a suspicion that Applefur didn't truly want to hunt – more like chat, but hunting was a good excuse. So she led her friends to Snakerocks- a good distance away and share-tongues on the way. "You know about the battle comin' up right? You stocked up?" Second time Applefur had asked.
"Yeah." Rosepaw purred. "I wish I could go…" Rosepaw said those words guiltily. Medicine cats were to avoid thinking ill of another Clan, even if there was to be a Battle soon.
"You're a medicine cat." Applefur reminded her. "You aren't meant to fight, only to heal."
"Even so…Applefur, could you do me a favor?" Rosepaw asked, and the warrior looked at her expectantly. "Protect Thorntail in battle for me…please?"
The dark ginger she-cat shrugged her shoulders. "He won't need much protecting, but I'll make sure he comes back alive…"
Rosepaw purred. Those words were comforting. Rosepaw suddenly felt guilty again. Applefur's friend, Dawnshimmer, had died from the Blood. And because of her death, Applefur had sought friendship from another cat. If Dawnshimmer hadn't died, Rosepaw and Applefur would probably still be enemies. In other words, Rosepaw secretly rejoiced at the death of the ThunderClan warrior.
"Rosepaw," Applefur continued. "I don't disapprove of you and Thorntail…as odd as it is." Rosepaw sighed. She knew what was coming. "But the whole Clan has suspicions now. The way you two look at each other and such. Cats are starting to talk, Rosepaw." Rosepaw shivered. That was probably true. But she and Thorntail hadn't done anything…though if her feelings kept going as they were…Rosepaw felt guilty again, for the third time that night. She held Thorntail over her duty as a medicine cat. "Well…" she murmured. "What can I do about it?"
"Be more discreet, if you must." Applefur mewed. "Blackshadow and I were talking…actually…and he's come up with a plan. We'll have to run it by Thorntail…but I think you should agree too."
Rosepaw heard the name 'Blackshadow' and ignored the rest. Blackshadow? Applefur? She vaguely recalled Blackshadow flashing a glance at the red cat. Could they're relationship have escalated to more then being the warriors of the same Clan?
"Thorntail should find another mate," Applefur sighed.
"But you said that you were okay with us being together!" Rosepaw burst out.
"Sorry. I said that wrong…I mean," Applefur looked thoughtful. "Thorntail should pretend to be another's mate. That way no one will be suspicious about you and him."
"Except for his new 'mate'." Rosepaw pointed out. "And besides, I'd feel guilty for using a she-cat like that…"
Applefur looked as if she wanted to call Rosepaw a mouse-brain, and then knock some sense into her, but instead she mewed in a calm voice: "It was just an idea. Whether you agree or not, you definitely have to be more discreet."
Rosepaw sighed. She knew. But it was getting too hard!
…
Thorntail had just finished his vole, and finished making fun of Blackshadow and the other warrior's hatred of water, when Streamstar padded from her den. Thorntail pricked his ears as she leaped onto HighRock, Starlight glittering on her fur. Once again, Thorntail was reminded of how beautiful Streamstar was, and since Rosepaw's father was gone…how readily available. Wait a second! She was ThunderClan leader… And Rosepaw's mother…And so pretty…
"We meet RiverClan at Fourtrees tonight." She announced, her tail curling up with delight, once again reminding Thorntail of how StarClan had blessed their leader with looks. "All Warriors and apprentices who are healthy will come. Elders, Queens, Kits," she nodded at Swiftfoot, who had his tail intertwined with his mate, Sandpelt, who had Flowertail's kittens flying every which way on her, as Flowertail watched with delight. "Will go to SunningRocks."
Swiftfoot dipped his head, in acknowledgement. Most likely because he would be the one to lead them.
"But what about the sick cats?" Thorntail heard a she-cat cry out. He couldn't tell who.
Streamstar's eyes darkened as the question was asked. Blackshadow had told him of Streamstar's plans. Now he supposed, he would hear it from the horse's mouth.
"There is no cure for the disease." Streamstar meowed softly. "They are doomed to die. All they will do is infect those who are strong. In order for our Clan to survive, those cats must be sacrificed."
Thorntail sighed. It made sense he supposed. But something felt off about abandoning his Clanmates, even if they weren't related to him by blood. He saw Rosepaw lower her head in shame, and heard a few yowls of grief. But no cat protested. Not even the sick cats, which were poking their faces out of Rosepaw's den.
"Their deaths will not be in vein," Streamstar promised, continuing. "With RiverClan, ThunderClan will avenge their deaths, by shedding WindClan blood!"
Thorntail yowled with agreement, as did Scornpaw next to him, and a few other warriors. Thorntail silenced himself at a flick of Streamstar's tail, and flexed his claws. He couldn't wait to dig them into a WindClan warrior.
"S-should I come?" Rosepaw asked kindly. "Or should I stay with the sick?"
"You'll be needed, I'm sure, Rosepaw." Streamstar mewed briskly. "Give some cats strengthening and traveling herbs. We don't want to be weak before WindClan."
Thorntail heard Rosepaw dash off, and left his mind to wander. RiverClan. He was going to fight beside his friends again. Duststar, the noble, Speedtail the agile, Puddlespots the wise, Shadepaw the beautiful, Dewheart the mischievous, Owlpaw the level-headed…
Thorntail shook his head. He shouldn't be thinking like this! They were his allies now, but he was a ThunderClan warrior. His loyalty was to STREAMSTAR the noble, SWIFTFOOT the (formerly) agile, Sandpelt the wise, ROSEPAW the beautiful, SCORNPAW the mischievous, and BLACKSHADOW the level-headed one. Not those RiverClan cats! Those river-rats…those fish-breaths, water-swimming, sleek-furred, cats! Who were river-rats! And had fish-breath! Great StarClan! Thorntail realized. I'm having trouble insulting them! This was bad! He had a much easier time insulting ThunderClan! With their vindictive, jealous she-cats, unsympathetic leader, pretty, but admittedly disloyal medicine cat, deputies who were always attacking your flaws, warriors who were blind to their own faults but quick to point out your own…
Rosepaw must've passed him, because Thorntail suddenly noticed herbs at his paws. He gobbled them down, and tried tot ignore the stingy taste. And his own insults.
He must've been out of it for awhile, he realized, because Streamstar seemed to be leading the Clan out of the camp. And only when Robinwing, (you know, the deputy who was always attacking his flaws) snapped: "Come on!" did he follow them.
He flashed a glance behind him, and saw the warriors, apprentices – and yes, even two kits, who were left behind, their eyes wide with fear, but none of them protested. It was for the good of the Clan. For the good…of the Clan. Not for the good of them – they would die…But for the good of the Clan. And the Clan's survival was what was important – not individual cats. Right? Right?