Wow, a total of four reviews in one day? It must be my lucky day :D Sorry for updating so quickly, I thought it would be fun for everyone to see what happened right away after Copperpaw made her decision to help Flowerpaw. Anyways, thanks .tuerzame. for reviewing as many chapters as you could ^^ I've been reading the advice you've given me, and I'll try to follow it as best I can. And thanks to Starlight Warrior 1092 for reviewing as well!

Chapter 10

Mist swirled around the undergrowth of ShadowClan as Flowerpaw returned to camp. She wasn't at all sure whether or not this plan of Copperpaw's would work. The ThunderClan apprentice had promised to stay hidden as she returned home. Copperpaw had told her the plan would work. Littlecloud's retirement would be fair and justified.

I just wish it would feel right, she thought silently. Her body seemed to melt into the darkness. The strong scents of ShadowClan quickly reached her nose, until she touched the grounds of camp. Tawnypelt was wandering towards the nursery, while Rowanstar spoke quietly to Smokefoot, the Clan deputy. Dawnpelt, daughter of Tawnypelt and Rowanstar, was expecting kits. That explained why the tortoiseshell was heading to the den.

Littlecloud himself was fighting off another coughing fit. These tended to happen during the night, especially when it got bitterly cold out. The small tabby was getting more and more ill by the day. Flowerpaw felt an immense wave of guilt as she thought of what was about to happen. Silently she prayed that he would forgive her when he found out from StarClan.

She started to limp into the clearing. Cats looked up in surprise as she entered. Applefur's eyes rounded with worry when she spotted her daughter.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she padded over.

"I think I stepped on a thorn," Flowerpaw replied. She winced slightly, hoping to attract the attention of Littlecloud.

"Where is the medicine cat?" Applefur looked around until she spotted Littlecloud. He was watching curiously from within the shadows of his den. Hawkflash had gone out to search for herbs when Flowerpaw had left. Flowerpaw guessed that the medicine cat apprentice was still looking. When Littlecloud approached, Applefur's pelt began to bristle. "She stepped on a thorn!" she hissed.

"I can see that," he meowed calmly. "May I have a look at your paw?"

Gingerly Flowerpaw lifted it. Not even her mother knew about the powers she had. She felt as though Littlecloud was aware of them. The gaze he sent told her he knew something was up.

The small tabby sniffed it carefully. Sure enough, a small thorn had wedged its way between her pad. Flowerpaw wrinkled her nose at the stench of blood. She didn't like the idea of it, but Copperpaw had told her that he would believe her more. Littlecloud sniffed disdainfully and looked at Flowerpaw in the eyes.

"How did this thorn get stuck in your pad?" he demanded hoarsely.

How do I tell him? she wondered. A sudden feeling of fear pricked at her. What if he told Rowanstar she should be punished for lying? She would never become the medicine cat apprentice at that rate!

Suddenly the call of a crow echoed around the trees. Cats looked up in surprise, but it was Flowerpaw who felt the most surprise. The crow looked down at her through beady black eyes. It was almost like the crow knew her. Than it dawned on her. The crow was Copperpaw.

"Is it a sign?" Rowanstar asked as he stepped away from Smokefoot.

Littlecloud let a small wheeze. His muscles heaved as he stared at the crow in disbelief. Copperpaw was working perfectly with the sign. She stood on the branch of a tree that was shadowed by a small, thick cloud.

"I...I don't believe it," he rasped. When Rowanstar looked at him in confusion, he continued. "The crow...it is telling me to retire!"

Flowerpaw found herself digging her claws into the soil. Yes! It was working! She spotted Hawkflash returning from her search for herbs. The brown and ginger she-cat had dropped the herbs she was carrying when she heard Littlecloud's wail.

Rowanstar's eyes narrowed skeptically as the medicine cat struggled to his paws. The ShadowClan leader flicked his tail for silence as Hawkflash hissed in agitation.

"He still has plenty of life in him," she hissed. "Why should a crow lingering under a cloud have anything to do with his retirement?"

When no cat replied, Hawkflash curled her lips in disgust. Flowerpaw was surprised to feel an immense surge of hatred towards StarClan coming from the medicine cat apprentice. She had heard from one of the elders that Hawkflash had been forced to become Littlecloud's apprentice after Flametail died in the ice. Flowerpaw wondered if Hawkflash resented becoming his apprentice. Many cats still honored the memory of Flametail. Especially Tawnypelt, his mother.

The ShadowClan leader stepped forward and brushed his whiskers against Littlecloud's. "I trust your judgment," he murmured. "You have served this Clan for many seasons, far longer than me."

A spark of recognition flashed within Littlecloud's amber eyes. Flowerpaw thought she saw amusement within them, but it faded too quickly for her to really see.

"I can remember when you were a rogue joining the Clan," he rasped. "I was barely an apprentice-aged cat than. But Cinderpelt saved my life, and Whitethroat's. I still owe her my life." He bowed his head. Flowerpaw tilted her own head to one side as waves of sadness rolled across the clearing. Did Littlecloud still miss the former ThunderClan cat?

"Let all cats old enough gather around the Pinebranch for a Clan meeting!" Rowanstar's yowl rang across the clearing as the Clan emerged from dens all around.

Most cats had already emerged from their respective dens. Rowanstar's tail drooped over the branch that hung over camp. Flowerpaw watched curiously, wondering how an elder's ceremony went. She'd never seen one before, and she had a feeling that it was one the Clan would never forget.

Up above the crow had flapped away. She blinked in surprise when one of its feathers landed softly on her nose. Copperpaw had left the Clan in turmoil, but at least Flowerpaw could finally become an apprentice.

"We are gathered here today because of a sign Littlecloud received." Rowanstar spoke clearly so that everyone could hear. "Littlecloud, is it your wish to become an elder, and give up the duties of a medicine cat?"

"It is," Littlecloud rasped.

Rowanstar's amber eyes blinked. "May you endure seasons of peace and a full belly," he meowed.

Yowls of congratulations quickly followed his words. Some cats murmured in confusion. Tawnypelt's green eyes had widened in surprise, while Tigerheart's fur bristled uncertainly. Once more waves of guilt washed over Flowerpaw. Maybe the retirement of Littlecloud should have never happened.

She sighed as the Clan moved to share tongues with Littlecloud. The small tabby had suffered a bout of coughing after Rowanstar finished speaking.

This is what you wanted, Flowerpaw reminded herself. There's no turning back. She gulped at the idea of confronting Hawkflash on her own. Surely the new medicine cat of ShadowClan would still be angry after suffering the loss of her mentor.

"It was strange that the crow would have appeared so suddenly," murmured Ratscar as he padded towards the fresh-kill pile. He and Applefur had been informed that Flowerpaw was Marked, and had been given powers not from StarClan. The stare he gave Flowerpaw made her fur bristle.

"She did nothing wrong," Applefur purred. She gave him a reassuring lick, but he snorted just the same.

Flowerpaw stared down at her paws, feeling even guiltier than ever. Even if she was going to become Hawkflash's apprentice, it didn't feel right. She cheated in causing Littlecloud's retirement. Somehow it felt like StarClan wouldn't forgive her for it.