The rain pelting down from the heavens only added to the sense of sadness that hung heavily over ThunderClan camp. Even within the leader's den, the atmosphere seemed filled with sorrow, as the two cats within spoke to each other.

"You must find Yellowfang and bring her back here. Do you understand Firepaw?" asked Bluestar, "We cannot let Spottedleaf's death go without punishment." The young, flame furred apprentice bowed his head in recognition of his leaders command.

"Yes Bluestar," he mewed sadly, "But if I may, I would like to pay my final respects to Spottedleaf and share tongues with her one last time."

Bluestar looked at her apprentice. She had never seen Firepaw so melancholy. No matter how many times the other clan cats had teased and jeered at him calling him "kittypet", no matter how many times he had found it hard adapting to clan life from his house cat origins, Firepaw had always managed to shake it off and surprise everyone time and again. But now, all of that happiness, all that will to fight and go on, seemed so distant that Bluestar worriedly began to wonder if the young tom would ever recover.

"Very well," she said at length, "But do not spend too long, I need you to track down Yellowfang if we are going to have any chance of learning the details of Spottedleaf's death."

"Thank you Bluestar," nodded Firepaw turning on his paws and padding slowly out of her den. The rain soaked him to the fur. It was as though StarClan itslef shared his grief. His heart filled with sadness as he looked upon the prone, tortoiseshell body of Spottedleaf. Failing to fight back the tears welling up in his emerald eyes, Firepaw buried his muzzle into the medicine cat's fur, breathing in her sweet scent and grooming her one last time.

"Goodbye my sweet Spottedleaf," he mewed sadly. He blinked away a tear and then turned to walk away. Then he stopped, as he glanced back at her body. He blinked in surprise and shook his head violently. Surely his grief was making him delirious and causing him to see things. He looked again just to be sure of himself. No, he wasn't seeing things. Spottedleafs flank was moving up and down so minutely that it was almost completely impossible to notice. Firepaw felt his heart skip a beat.

Spottedleaf was still alive!

Rushing immediately to Spottedleaf's den, Firepaw began to search for something that might save his friend.

"Think," thought Firepaw frantically, "What did Spottedleaf use to stop bleeding?"

Suddenly, something caught Firepaws eye. It was a silvery thread, glistening as a rain droplet ran down along it. Firepaw's eyes sparkled with glee as he saw the cobweb,. Just what he had been looking for! Quickly, he grabbed a web and rushed back out to Spottedleaf. Delicately he began to wrap the cobweb around Spottedleaf's neck wound. He could feel her incredibly shallow breath on his paws as he crudely applied the bandage. Firepaw was so engrossed with his work that he did not notice three cats pad up behind him.

"Firepaw, I think you have spent enough time grieving over Spottedleaf," said Bluestar, "I need you to track down Yellowfang."

"But she's not dead," protested Firepaw, "We can still save Spottedleaf!"

"Hah," snorted Tigerclaw, "I should have know something like this would happen. This soft kittypet cannot deal with the fact that our medicine cat has been slain."

Firepaw's fur bristled as the tabby simply dismissed Spottedleaf as "medicine cat." "But..."

"Firepaw I know this is upsetting," interceded Bluestar with a calm voice,"But you have to let her go."

Firepaw was about to explain when Greypaw spoke up. "Wait Bluestar, look closely at her flanks." Bluestar and Tigerclaw did so and their eyes widened in both surprise and relief when they finally noticed the subtle movements of Spottedleaf's breathing. By now several other cats had gathered to see what was going on concerning the supposedly "dead" she cat.

"Firepaw," said Bluestar with her calm but undeniable authority, "Take Greypaw and track down Yellowfang before the rains washes away her scent."

"But what about..." asked Firepaw.

"We will take care of her, now go." ordered Bluestar. As Firepaw and Greypaw padded off, Bluestar turned to the gathered cats. "Quickly, get her inside the medicine den!"

Daintily, like the way a queen carries her kit, the cats carried Spottedleaf to her den. Once they had set her down, many cats watched her anxiously, unsure of what to do while others suggested possible herbs to help her but not being medicine cats, these were mainly useless.

Slowly, Spottedleaf opened her eyes. Quickly she made an attempt to stand, her eyes filled with shock before she fell painfully to the ground.

"Careful," said Bluestar, "We don't want you opening your wound any more."

"Where is Clawface?" asked Spottedleaf.

"Clawface?" asked Bluestar, "Is that who attacked you? Not Yellowfang?"

"Yes," said Spottedleaf, "Yellowfang had nothing to do with it."

Bluestar turned to Whitestorm. "We have made a mistake. Take Longtail and Darkstripe and go after Firepaw and Greypaw and tell them that Brokenstar, not Yellowfang, has the stolen kits."

"Yes Bluestar," nodded Whitestorm respectfully and dashing off with Longtail and Darkstripe to pursue Firepaw and Greypaw.

"For a moment I was afraid that I would be joining StarClan," sighed Spottedleaf, "Thank you for saving me."

"Oh we had nothing to do with it. We had given you up for dead," admitted Bluestar, "It was actually Firepaw who saved you when he noticed that you were still breathing. Now get some rest."

"Firepaw saved me?" mummered Spottedleaf and she lay down her head. She remembered faintly feeling his presence while she was out cold. "Yes. Of course it was him. Who else?"Spottedleaf smiled as she pictured the ginger tom before falling into a light and peaceful sleep.