Mistyfoot watches the water. The damn has been destroyed, but the fish have not returned. Leopardstar joins her, upset that the danger has passed but nothing has changed. They return to camp, but Leopardstar collapses on the way. Mistyfoot gets Mothwing. They get warriors to help Leopardstar return to her den. Mistyfoot says with her leader, who tells her this is her last life and she is dying. She apologized to Mistyfoot for what she did to her when she aligned herself with Tigerstar. Mistyfoot tells her that she blames Tigerstar and Blackfoot, not Leopardstar. Leopardstar tells Mistyfoot she wishes she had children, and that she views Mistyfoot as a daughter. Mistyfoot lays down with her her leader and tells her to sleep.
When Mistyfoot wakes Leopardstar is dead. She goes to the shore to think and Mothwing joins her. Mistyfoot is scared of the future and Mothwing comforts her. They return to the camp to let everyone know and plan for the future. Mistyfoot realizes she will have to pick a deputy. Willowshine offers to come to the moonpool with Mistyfoot and Mothwing, but Mistyfoot tells her that is not necessary. That night Mistyfoot names Reedwhisker as her deputy. As Mistyfoot sits vigil with Leopardstar her brother, Stonefur, comes to her. He tells her she will need courage for what lies ahead. Afraid, Mistyfoot wakes Mothwing and insists they go to the moonpool now instead of after Leopardstar is buried.
At the moonpool Mistyfoot dreams and receives her nine lives. When she wakes she realizes Mothwing wasn't there. She confronts her friend who admits she doesn't believe in StarClan.
Mistystar is upset, but Mothwing insists she can heal her clan and care for them without a belief in StarClan. They leave the moonpool and visit ThunderClan so Mistystar can tell Firestar what has happened. Mothwing gets some herbs from Jayfeather and they leave. Mistystar asks Mothwing is Jayfeather knows the truth about her lack of belief in StarClan and Mothwing tells her yes. Mistystar is upset with ho calm Mothwing is and privately she questions how good of a medicine cat can she be if she cannot interpret signs from StarClan. They pass a WindClan border and let them know what has happened. Back at camp Reedwhisker offers to take the news to Blackstar and Mistystar agrees. They bury Leopardstar. The next days she confronts Willowshine about Mothwing. Willowshine admits the truth but says it does not matter as Mothwing is a great medicine cat and Willowshine herself has received training from Leafpool on listening to StarClan. Mistystar feels this isn't enough, though, and confronts Mothwing, telling her she must step down as medicine cat.
Mothwing is upset with Mistystar's decision but she is unable to convince her friend not to do this. Mistystar tells Mothwing she needs time to think on this and joins a hunting patrol. While out hunting Pebblefoot accidentally crosses the WindClan border while chasing a squirrel and is caught by a passing WindClan patrol.
I know in the end Mothwing does not step down, but this story is very sad. Mothwing has had such a hard life. Her mother abandoned her and her brother because she thought is was the best for them. Then she thought she found acceptance and destiny inside the clan as a medicine cat just for her brother to destroy it and her belief in StarClan. The other medicine cats know the truth but treat her as an equal, but now her friend and clan leader is taking her place away from her. What will Mothwing's place be now? Will Mistystar force her back to being a warrior? Truth be told I'm surprised this hasn't come out sooner. Everyone knows how Cloudtail feels about StarClan. But I am surprised Mothwing hasn't found any faith. She knows clan leaders have nine lives. Where does she think that comes from? Then again, Cloudtail was able to justify that somehow so maybe it isn't so odd.
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