"I am very disappointed in you, Stormpaw." The black tom scorned. "Why would you do something as mouse-brained as invading DuskClan's camp?"

The black tom's son, a black tom with a grey dappled coat, stared at his paws. "I was trying to collect information. I wanted to be as great as you! The great Shadowclaw!"

"But I never would've tried such a thing! Even now, being the deputy. It's not right, Stormpaw." Shadowclaw replied. "And this little act of yours would not have impressed me, even if it had worked."

Stormpaw said nothing. Each comment from his father felt like a claw slashing at his heart.

"And with Larkpaw and Pinetail infected with greencough, bringing us secrets would not help us. Right now, our greatest enemy is disease. DuskClan has not attacked us in a moon." Shadowclaw turned his head. "Leave me. Go get new moss for the elders and check them for ticks. You may learn something from them."

Stormpaw rolled his eyes. "Like I'd ever learn something from them." He muttered pessimistically. He walked away from his father.

Why am I never able to impress him? He thought.

A moon passed. His father was still angry at him, but that only made Stormpaw more determined to prove himself.

The greencough had gotten worse. Half of the warriors had it, and there were only two apprentices left in the apprentice's den, counting Stormpaw.

It only got worse when the medicine cat, Fawnheart, announced that she had no catmint to treat the greencough.

Shadowclaw padded up to Stormpaw. "Go with Bumblepaw and Wolfclaw and see if there is catmint."

Stormpaw nodded. Nothing could go worse. Bumblepaw was annoying and Wolfclaw was bossy.

Bumblepaw was bouncy. "Why couldn't the greencough come to him?" Stormpaw muttered to himself cynically. Bumblepaw's mentor Wolfclaw silenced him.

"Follow my lead," Wolfclaw said.

He lead the two apprentices through the woods to an old abandoned Twoleg nest. The wooden pelt was caving in from the outside.

"Bumblepaw," Wolfclaw told his apprentice. "Find the catmint."

Bumblepaw laughed. "I don't know what it smells like!"

Wolfclaw sneered. "Well then. Stormpaw, find the catmint."

Stormpaw rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he murmured. Wolfclaw shot him a scolding glance with his blue eyes.

He remember his mentor, who was Shadowclaw, tell him that catmint was a delicious smelling plant.

He sniffed in the overgrown garden of the Twoleg nest. Different scents filled his nose immediately. A sweet smell was faint. There it was!

Or, where it would have been. Half a leaf grew from the plant, and the roots were sticking out, uprooted from the ground. The plant was nearly dead. Fear filled Stormpaw's thoughts. How was his Clan to live without catmint? With almost half of the Clan sick already?

Stormpaw tore the half-leaf from the remnants of the catmint and padded toward Wolfclaw and Bumblepaw. He gave the leaf to Bumblepaw.

"Wolfclaw, how is our Clan supposed to survive? We are going to all die! And DuskClan will be happy we're gone!" Stormpaw glanced at Bumblepaw, who seemed amused.

Wolfclaw looked at the leaf. "That is all you could find?"

Stormpaw nodded. "It is. Fawnheart and Shadowclaw taught me it's catmint."

"Yes. I am going to check. Follow me."

When Wolfclaw found the uprooted catmint plant, his mouth gawked open in frightened surprise.

"We must return and tell Rowanstar now." Wolfclaw said. Fear glazed his eyes. He knew LightningClan would fall.

After a half moon, four cats had died- two elders, Pinetail, and Larkpaw. Three people were moved to the medicine den, including Wolfclaw and Bumblepaw. Even Rowanstar had whitecough. The apprentice's den was filled only by Stormpaw.

Last time he had talked to his father, his father had coughed several times. He radiated heat but shivered occasionally- Shadowclaw had whitecough.

Stormpaw found himself one day alone in the forest. The thoughts of leaving his Clan filled his mind. Why do I even need to be there? StarClan doesn't care about our Clan! So why should I?

Another part of him answered, because it's your duty! Serve your Clan above yourself! Cats are dying!

Who cared if one apprentice left? Bumblepaw, Applepaw, and Stonepaw would get better. Anyway, they had plenty of warriors. Even his own father, Shadowclaw, didn't care about him.

Stormpaw shook his head of all his thoughts. "Goodbye, LightningClan."

He padded out of the forest and towards the abandoned Twoleg nest on the border of LightningClan and BrookClan. He would live there as a loner.

Stormpaw's eyes filled with tears. Was he ready to do this? Was he right to do this?

"StarClan!" Stormpaw yelled, his black and spotted-grey fur bristling. "Show me you're here!"