Guilt [third place]

"No."

"But StarClan must have had a reason for showing me! After all these seasons--"

"I don't have the cats to waste on one useless tom."

"He. Isn't. Useless."

"I said no, Willowfeather, and that means no."

"You wouldn't even allow his mother, his father, his friends? Cats that would go willingly if they only knew a cure was hardly a moon's travel away?"

"Willowfeather. I forbid you to mention this to any of them. I can't have my warriors chasing their tails after a cure that probably doesn't even exist!"

"This isn't right and you know it, Thornstar. This is not how to deal with him--"

"I don't care if it's right or wrong. I don't care what you think of me anymore. Hate me, resent me, I can live with that. Stars know you hate me enough already--"

"Thornstar. . ."

"Am I wrong? Hate me if you wish, but don't dare cross my word. You may be medicine cat, but I lead my Clan. Sometimes that means making sacrifices for the good of the rest. A lesson you refuse to accept with your naive, airheaded ways."

"Thunderpaw should not be that sacrifice. He's had to live with his illness--"

"He's accepted it! The Clan has accepted it! What they don't know won't hurt them, but knowing will. This knowledge will lead cats to their deaths! All wasted on one useless tom. The good of many, Willowfeather."

"You're wrong, Thornstar."

"Better than dead, Willowfeather, better than dead."

       * * *

"Icemoth!"

"Do you need something?"

"Shhh quieter. Come over here."

"No need to be so secretive, Willowfeather, cats will think you've gone crazy. And why are you so thin? Are you sick?"

"Sick, now that's a joke."

"What?"

"Nothing. I'm. . . fine."

"..."

"And. . .?"

"Nothing, Icemoth, nothing. I'm sorry I worried you."

"Is this about--"

"No. Your son is fine. As fine as he can be."

"..."

"Owltuft is calling. Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine, just. . . tired. Go, don't miss your patrol. I'll be fine."

"..."

"Sorry, Icemoth, I can't put you in danger too."

      * * *

"Willowfeather?"

"Thunderpaw! You frightened me. Why aren't you resting?"

"It's easier to breathe at night. Besides, every time I sleep my breath catches in my lungs and frightens me awake. Why are you awake? And why are you leaving through the back way?"

"For you."

"What?"

"For you, Thunderpaw. Look, I have something to tell you, something I should have told you a long time ago."

"..."

"There's a cure. For your lungs. StarClan showed me last moon when I went to the Starstone. It's far away, over a moon's travel, and the road is dangerous--"

"You can't go."

"Why not? StarClan showed me the way. It's my duty--"

"No, Willowfeather, it's your duty to serve the Clan, not leave them without a medicine cat so close to leaf-fall."

"But the cure. . ."

"I'll go myself."

"You don't know the way, not like I do."

"StarClan will show me. If they really want me to find the cure, I'll find it."

"It's dangerous, Thunderpaw, and with your condition--"

"Every day is dangerous."

"You can't hunt! Or fight! Let me come."

"No, Willowfeather, my son is right, the Clan needs you. I'll go."

"Mother?"

"Icemoth?"

"Thank StarClan I'm a light sleeper. To think you'd sneak off alone, the both of you!"

"Thornstar told me I was not to tell anyone of the cure, what StarClan showed me. I wasn't to tell, but I could still go myself. It is my responsibility."

"No, you must stay. Stay for the Clan, for my daughter. I couldn't ask for any better cat to keep them safe for our return."

"But Thornstar--"

"Tell him we left alone. Tell him you never saw us leave. Tell him StarClan must have reached out to Thunderpaw, to me, directly, that it was our fate. He won't be happy, he may not even believe you, but without proof he'll learn to accept it."

"Icemoth, I should--"

"No. Thank you for helping us. It's our responsibility now. Your job is finished here."

"You're looking for a fern, dark with light green stems. Go south, then west when you find the river. It's on the edge of a marsh."

"Thank you, Willowfeather, for everything."

"Go quickly, and may StarClan guide your path and keep you from harm."

"And you, Willowfeather, StarClan be with you."