I took the last jump to the nearest branch and grabbed it.

"Whiteblaze, hold on to my paw, I'll help you!" His eyes sharpened. The white warrior extended his black paw towards me, but in a fleeting moment of anger he showed his claws and almost scratched me.

"How did you help out before by just leaving? Or how <<you helped>> and almost killed my sister the first day you arrived? Thank you, but no, thank you, I didn't need the help of any loner. "

I raised my tail furiously, perhaps the muddy water of the swamp would be the only thing that could make that warrior shut up once and for all. After all, in a matter of minutes the waters already swallowed much of him, leaving only the head and claws.

"A little push." I thought, "and he would finally leave me alone." I clawed at the trunk with my claws and sighed. "Are you sure? The way I see it, you have two options, let the waters continue to swallow you like prey, and die. " I shook my tail angrily. “Or you can swallow your god-dawn pride for just a minute! So I can get you out of here, get the horsetail, flee the territory and then you can get it back to Stormwings before it's too late. "

“Don't think you're going to make me change my mind. Loners isn't trustworthy cats, don't matter the territory."

“I'll tell you something Whiteblaze, so tries to memorize it well, because I won't repeat it to you again. Yes, I'm a loner, but above all I'm a healer, and it is my duty to attend to those who need help. "

"I don't want your help!" He growled.

"Good for you. Because right now you aren't in clan territories, you are in loner's territory. " I showed my fangs and could feel my gaze sharpen, along with a growl that pierced my throat. "My territory."

I plunged my tail into the mud and circled the warrior's belly. I cautiously walked back up the path of branches, until, ones back to shore, I began to pull my tail until I pulled the warrior out of the mud.

"Don't expect me to thank you." The white warrior meowed.

“I neither expect nor want it. I haven't done this for you. " I untied my tail, hung it around my neck and began to walk with a serious expression through the bushes. “If you aren't dead yet, take your pride and follow me. Blacksmoke will not be able to carry all the herbs on her own. "

“My sister has gone for the tormentil. I am not going to fall into your traps! "

“Stormwings time hangs by a thread that will break if we don't go for the missing herbs. But do what you want."

Past some arched trees was a bank brimming with horsetail. Blacksmoke seemed to be having trouble pulling the sharp grass that was digging into her roof.

"Tigress! Brother! Are you OK?" I wagged my whiskers when I saw the warrior walking behind me. Blacksmoke walked over to his brother and gave him a couple of licks.

I went up to the horsetail, took some and loaded it by twisting it around my tail, laying on my back. "Once I leave these herbs in the camp, I won't be able to return ..." I thought with my head lowered.

“You have the tormentil, well done! Now we have to go back to the camp. "

"Did you hear it, Tigress? Let's go!" The black warrior took part of the bundle of flowers. "

"Blacksmoke, let her alone, her time in the clan is up."

"That's not true! If it weren't for her— ”

"Leave it, Blacksmoke," I interrupted, "Let's hurry to get the herbs to Hollyfur."

"But Tigress..." she protested. I didn't say anything and started running back to camp with the twins ahead.

When we arrived, the cats were still hoarding Hollyfur's den. I silently passed through the cats and laid the horsetail in front of Hollyfur, and the twins the same with the tormentil. Hollyfur got to work.

"How have you found that many, dears ?"

"It was thanks to Tigress, her knowledge of plants and the area of ​​the two legs has allowed us to find it."

"That's right?" The leader asked. I nodded slightly and by the time I was about to leave the den, the kits appeared and made their way through the crowd and pounced on me, pulling my ears and tail.

"DON'T LET HER ESCAPE! CATCH HER, MY WARRIORS!” Cherrykit yelled.

"Don't do that, kits, my tail is not a toy" I meowed trying to remove the sharp claws from my fur.

"Cherrykit!" Sunnysky's voice was heard. "What are you doing? Release her right now."

"No mom!" Cherrykit raised her tail and faced Crystalstar. "I won't allow Tigress to be kicked out of the clan!"

“That is not your choice, Cherrykit. Crystalstar has already been very hospitable to her. She must go. " Whiteblaze meowed

"Tell me why?" Cherrykit asked. “Has she done something bad for the clan? Come on, tell me! Since she has been here the clan have more food, she plays with us, even helps Hollyfur, not to mention that Blacksmoke just said that it was thanks to her that you have found the herbs for the deputy. And now they're just going to kick her out?! "

"Cherrykit, I appreciate it, but you don't need to do this." I took the kit and gave it to her mother.

"Cherrykit is right." Blacksmoke added. "What harm has she done apart from to help? She has just proved to us that she's a trustworthy cat.” Among the clan's murmurs rose the imposing voice of Crystalstar.

"Who said she has to go?" She asked with a calm smile.

"Um ... yourself." Cherrykit meowed. Who was immediately silenced by her mother. All of us present were astonished at the audacity that she had such a kit as to speak like that to her own leader. Crystalstar and Hollyfur looked at each other. Then Crystal let out a low purr.

"I said that she could stay until her wounds healed, that's true."

"But it is not fair!" Cherrykit protested. "Tigress has been helping the clan all along."

"You're right, Cherrykit, her acts speak for her."

"Does it mean that she can stay, Crystalstar?" Blacksmoke took a step forward. The leader got up.

"Tigress, do you want to join the EchoClan?"

At that moment, I could almost feel my jaw hit the ground. Look at both queens, kits, and Blacksmoke nodding with a smile.

"Yes! Of course!" I started jumping right there with joy. The kits got away from their mothers and pounced on me. "Not all at once!"

"You'll stay!"

"That's right, Cherrykit, I'm staying."

"Well, Tigress, first things first. Would you like to be a warrior?"

"Or a medicine cat" added Hollyfur. "To my surprise, Crystalstar, Tigress has the necessary knowledge and memory for plants that would make her an excellent clan's medecine cat."

"And she already knows how to fight" added Hopekit "she can be named a warrior"

"What do you want, Tigress?" Asked the leader.