The next morning I woke up in my nest in the camp, it was early in the morning and the clan had already started their routine patrols. My body still felt heavy as iron from fatigue when I noticed a soft and warm fur next to mine, for my surprise, I saw Blacksmoke's sleeping peacefully next to me.

Her ears fluttered, and she showed off those sparkling emerald and brown pearls. "Good morning Tigress"

"G-good morning Blacksmoke" I replied. The black warrior stretched her legs "I hope you don't mind, during the night patrols I'm all alone in the warrior's den and I wanted good company."

"No problem." I replied between yawns.

"Although ..." Blacksmoke continued. "Next time you want to do your own night patrol, let me know beforehand, ok?" A chill ran through my body. “Did she saw me pick the herbs without permission? Will she tell CrystalStar? Will she be angry with me? " I think with fear.

"Are you cold? You are trembling. " Blacksmoke purred and rubbed her long warm fur against mine.

“You don't have to bother Blacksmoke, I'm fine. Thanks."

“That is what the partners are for, and since we are both awake, shall as well eat something, right? "The warrior got up towards the fresh kill pile when I meowed." Are you sure that I am the most suitable to be your partner?"

Blacksmoke stopped and turned to me with a smile, “Sure! I wouldn't have chosen you if I didn't think so. Come on! let's eat, I can feel my stomach digest itself ” Then she took me by the tail and started dragging me around the camp. As we passed near the nursery the kits came out, sat on top of me and let Blacksmoke take them as passengers.

"It seems that all of you are having a good time, aren't ya, dear?"

"Good morning Hollyfur" greeted the kits.

"Blacksmoke, why are you dragging my patient around the camp?"

"She's a lazy-bones, I'm taking her to eat something"

"Well, drag her to my den then, I want to give her a last checkup before I go to gather some herbs," Hollyfur mewed. Blacksmoke dragged me to the medicine den with the kits as passengers on top of me, who by refusing to go back to the nursery made Lynxshine have to come, so she could watch that they don't touch things they shouldn't.

Both sisters stayed playing with the kits, while Hollyfur check up my injuries. Aspenkit, Cherrykit's brother, watched Hollyfur in silence. I looked sadly at the sisters, thinking that perhaps I will not be able to see them again.

"My congratulations Tigress. All your wounds have healed, although I fear they will leave a scar, you are officially healed "

"So is she going to leave?" Wishkit asked. "We can't play with her anymore?"

"No if I can do something about it!" Cherrykit meowed, pouncing on me with unsheathed claws. To her annoyance, Hollyfur managed to grab her by the tail in time.

"Cherrykit dear, what are you doing?"

“If she is cured, she will go away! Well, if she's hurt again, she'll have no reason to leave. "

"Why does it bother you so much that Tigress may leave, dear?"

"Hope and I would still be in the Toxic Rain claws if it weren't for her" Wishkit meowed, snuggling into my belly. "I have a good time when she comes to see us, I don't want that fun to end ..."

"Plus she's the only one in the whole clan who plays with us besides from mom and Lynxshine!" Cherry protested. She freed herself from the medicine cat and went to Wishkit's side. "As long as I have something to say, she isn't going anywhere!"

"I agree with them!" Hopekit added, joining the trio. Lightkit sat next to Aspenkit silently. I smiled and, putting my tail around them, I looked at Hollyfur.

"Hollyfur, isn't there something I can do? I can help you heal the cats or fetch flowers and medicinal herbs for you. I can also bring much more prey to the clan, as a loner I know many hunting areas outside the territories, or I can also-” Lynxshine approached and shut me up. Blacksmoke sat next to me and laid her tail on my back.

"What do you want to do, Tigress?" She asked me with a calm smile. "I'm sure that together we can find a solution with Crystalstar"

"Great! She is finally going to leave! " There was a meow of enthusiasm.

All those present raised our ears, but I lowered them again. Unfortunately for me, I recognized that voice. Hollyfur left the den and came back, tugging at Whiteblaze's ear.

"Why is it that he saying that doesn't surprise me at all?" I thought.

"Hollyfur let go of me!" Replied the warrior trying to free his ear.

"Dear, were you spying on us?" Hollyfur asked.

"Um ... no." replied the warrior, looking away.

Outside the den, many meows of concern and horror began to be heard, followed by a strong smell of blood and something as stinky as coming out of a sewer.

"Duty calls me Hollyfur, I must go" said the warrior and hurried to run to the high rock, Hollyfur followed.

It didn't take long for us and I to go after them. Hollyfur joined the others at the foot of the high rock. A smell of mud and an unknown stench filled my nose.

Lynxshine called out to SunnySky and as we passed through the crowd, we saw a broad-shouldered, dark-furred, silver-gray tabby tom approaching half limping with several bloody wounds.

“For StarClan sake! Stormwings! " Sunnysky exclaimed, running to the huge tom. “Stormwings! Big brother! What happened?"

Hollyfur ran for herbs while I stayed with Blacksmoke to keep an eye on the kits.

"Who's he, Blacksmoke?" I asked for.

“Stormwings is the clan deputy. But I don't understand how he got those injuries. "

"Why so?"

"As far as i know he left several moons ago on a reconnaissance and rescue mission. A pacific mission."

"Quiet!"  Crystalstar ordered with a tail whip. "This isn't the time to lose the control, take Stormwings to the medicine den immediately!" SunnySky and Whiteblaze acted as support and guided the deputy to Hollyfur's den. Meanwhile Blacksmoke didn't take a worried glance off the deputy.

"Don't just stand here, go!" I meowed. "I'll take the kits back to the nursery."

"Thank you," she meowed, and ran to the medicine den. Lynxshine took the kits and returned with them to the nursery. The whole clan approached Hollyfur's den, and between the crowd, I raised my ears to listen.

"What's wrong Hollyfur?" Asked Blacksmoke.

"I have to treat Stormwings wounds quickly before the bleeding gets worse, but I don't have any tormentil or a horsetail left."

“Those… were the herbs she used to treat my wounds yesterday. Oh, star clan what have I done! Because of me now Hollyfur doesn't have herbs to heal the clan's deputy. " I thought.

I backed away, my legs shaking. In fear, I crossed the stone tunnel, away from the clan's camp. The deputy's life hung by a fine thread, time was short and vital at the same time, if something get to happened to him ... all the blame would fall on me.