Hello everyone! While we're here, a big thank you to all the people who leave reviews - I always answer sooner or later so do not hesitate to check pour PMs once in a while. This is a very important chapter and it was very painful to write so sorry in advance.

"Of all the cats in MistClan, you are the most attuned to StarClan," Pricklesong had told her after that very first visit to the Moontree.

It hadn't saved Bluestripe then. And now…

Ancestors couldn't predict everything, and neither could she. She had let herself be lulled into complacency because everything had been going well. Webhollow wouldn't make this mistake twice.

It was the middle of leaf-bare but the hunt was good, Mumblepond and Alderwhisper had had their litter in perfect conditions and so, they had all forgotten the real danger. Even her, suspicious as she was of every good thing, she hadn't been on guard, had felt no more dread than usual.

Her kits were almost warriors, both Hootpuddle and her had successfully trained an apprentice and her best friend had three healthy newborns. Webhollow would have ventured as far as saying that these days were happy. Very happy even.

But good things were never meant to last, and the whole Clan had been abruptly reminded of it when Grasslilac and Blossomstar had begun showing signs of illness. What had started as a mild cough soon developed into something much more severe; Alderwhisper was confined in the nursery to protect her still fragile body and her kits and no one was allowed to enter the medicine cats' den without permission unless it was an emergency.

Snaildapple had smoothly taken his role as a stand-in, but there was no hiding to Webhollow that the situation was getting worse. Suddenly, the crippling fear that everything that could go wrong definitely would was back and from then on, she had known: this time, she would suffer tremendously.

One after the other, many of her Clanmates had gotten sick. Silverbird, then Pigeoneye and finally Honeystripe ended up joining the medicine cats' den and, at a loss of what to do, she had begun roaming the woods on her free time, looking for any herb that could possibly help. Nothing had seemed to work, and both Pricklesong and Bayfur looked exhausted. If they had gotten sick, the whole Clan would have been in danger – Webhollow's meager knowledge wouldn't have been enough to replace them.

Just as she had been ready to redouble her efforts to alleviate their burden, the impending doom that had made itself known by twisting her insides moons ago had suddenly crashed on her. But this time, she hadn't been swallowed by darkness. No, instead, Hootpuddle's breath had turned into wheezing and her blood had gone cold.

It couldn't be. It was too cruel.

And yet, the feeling had never lied before. The only thing that kept her from throwing up was the knowledge that, with so many incapacitated warriors, it would be a terrible waste of food for the Clan.

Grasslilac had died quietly in his sleep, and something in her chest had loosened.

Jumping at the opportunity to see her mate, even from afar, Webhollow had volunteered to bring the elder's lifeless body in the clearing for the mourning vigil. Hootpuddle had looked weak, but she had refused to think about it as she had sat next to the old tom, wondering if he was going to find Flipspot quickly in StarClan.

Another knot had loosened soon after, and Blossomstar had gone back to her den without fanfare. Even if there had been no announcement and that most of her Clanmates had seemed to believe that she had been cured, Webhollow was certain that the leader had died.

Slowly, one cat after the other, they had all begun to heal. And for each that went back to their den, Hootpuddle's condition had worsened, until he was the only one left in the medicine cats' den.

At that moment, she approached Pricklesong. Now she knew for sure, after all.

"He's going to die."

Webhollow's voice sounded foreign to her own ears, the words cold and horrifying. Nothing could ease the situation. The older she-cat's ears drooped and she nodded her head.

"It's like his illness is much stronger than the others'… I'm sorry, we've tried everything…"

"Let our kits see him today, please," she asked softly, "oh, and Blossomstar if she wants too… I'll come by at sundown…"

"Don't you want to see him now? In case he… It might not be long, now."

"He'll wait for me. I know it."

Everything until the appointed time was a blur of trees and cold-hardened ground, but Webhollow was back at the camp when it mattered and she slunk in the medicine cats' den. Silently, she joined her mate in the nest he was curled up in. It smelled like sickness, like death. But then again, she supposed that she already smelled like fear and grief.

"It's not going to end well, is it?" Hootpuddle's voice sounded rough and it made her heart tighten.

"No it won't."

"I…" he looked up at her, eyes round and pleading, "I don't want to die."

"I know."

"Everyone came like it was already over but I still have things… I don't want to go yet, I don't want to leave you."

"I know. I don't want you to leave either."

Their eyes were wet and Webhollow blinked several times in a pitiful attempt to dry hers.

"Did you see Hopepaw, Tawnypaw, Rainpaw and Flashpaw?"

"Yes. Make sure they become good warriors, alright?"

"They'll follow your example, it's fine. And Blossomstar?"

"She came by too."

Silence fell over them as she began to groom him. She could see him fight sleep, but finally, his eyes closed.

"Stay?" he whispered.

"Of course." Almost as an afterthought, she added, "I love you."

A weak purr answered her.

Webhollow stayed wide awake, waiting. She could pinpoint the exact moment Hootpuddle's breath stopped rustling her fur, the strange pressure on her chest easing into the familiar agony of grief.

As if lost in a dream, she brought him herself in the clearing and coiled herself around him as if it could keep him there – even if it was already too late. A piercing yowl echoed through the camp and she didn't register it was hers until it ended and her throat suddenly felt raw and tender. She could barely move when her kits piled up against her with heartbreaking cries, much less offer them comfort, and guilt rose inside her – she was already failing them.

Blossomstar suddenly appeared in front of her, and despite her impassive face, there were unmistakable tremors in her paws.

"It's going to be fine, Webhollow. We're going to make it through this, you, the kits, and me. We'll make him proud, alright?"

Even if she was the leader, at that moment, Webhollow found it hard to believe her.

And it's done. To be honest with you, I think this is probably the most terrible chapter in the story. Or at least, one of the worst.