Seasons passed. Life in RuneClan was good. But good things can never last forever. This had never been clearer to me than when Burnetflash got greencough. And maybe the worst part had been the fact that it wasn't bloodcough - there was still hope, something to cling to in our darkest hour. But the hope was empty, the prayers to StarClan falling on deaf ears.

"Fleetrunner! Fleetrunner, come quick!"

I pricked my ears as I padded through the camp entrance, a bundle of fresh tansy in my jaws. Dewpaw rushed up to me, her eyes wide and anxious - the greencough had infiltrated RuneClan's camp a half-moon ago, but all of the catmint had been killed by the frost. I'd asked the young apprentice to watch the sick cats while collected as many herbs as I could. So far, everyone was alive. Burnetflash had separated the only sick cats - an older kit, and a senior warrior - from the rest of the camp. But almost inevitably, she had become sick as well. Rookstar had sent a patrol to twolegplace to search for catmint a couple of days ago, but they couldn't find it fast enough. I hurried up to Dewpaw, placing the herbs at my paws so that I could speak, my eyes glowing with worry. "What's happened?"

"I-I think Burnetflash is worse-"

The fur raised along my spine and the back of my neck, and I nodded my thanks to her, picking up the herbs, and taking off without another word. I crossed the camp as quickly as I could, pushing fern fronds out of the way as I entered the greencough den. Burnetflash was in her nest, her breathing coming quickly. I let out a broken cry, approaching her, pressing my paw to her flank - it was burning. I nudged her. "Burnetflash, I got some tansy for you-"

"Save it-" she croaked, blinking blearily. "It can't help me."

Cold fear spread through my veins. I unsheathed my claws, letting them sink into the sand. "N-no, Burnetflash, look here, I've got a fresh batch, and there's borage and feverfew from the stores, for your fever-"

Burnetflash made a low growling noise in her throat, attempting to push herself into a sitting position, then collapsing, her paws slipping. "Fleetrunner, there's nothing you can do. Not even catmint could help me now."

"That can't me true! You're still conscious, and-"

In broke off, Burnetflash's calm gaze piercing something deep inside me. She looked so pained, yet so peaceful. "I'm dying, Fleetrunner."

"But you- you can't!" I protested, sitting closer to her, my voice thick, choked with emotion. "I can't...I promised I- I wouldn't let any cat die, and I-"

The ginger and brown she-cat's eyes grew sad. "That is a promise no medicine cat can ever keep," she whispered, her tail gliding down my flank, a comforting gesture.

I swallowed, shaking, and pushed the tansy towards her. "At least let me try," I begged, my voice breaking.

She shook her head. "StarClan is ready for me. I-" she broke off, a fit of coughing wracking her. I hastily got to my paws, darting across the den and fetching coltsfoot for her breathing. I shoved it in her direction, but she pushed it away. "No, Fleet-"

"Eat it, Burnetflash. At least let me give you a few more moments," I pleaded, heart breaking.

She looked at them, her eyes dark. "These herbs might give me a few moments, but they will give another cat a whole lifetime."

"But-"

"Shhhhh," she hushed, as I bent down to get at eye level with her. She stretched forwards, her nose touching mine. "I'm proud to have mentored such a fine young cat. You work hard, you're bright, and you're dedicated to your duties. RuneClan is lucky to have-"

"Stop," I whimpered. "Stop saying goodbye. I- you can't go-"

"It is my time," she murmured. "You couldn't have done more, Fleetrunner. Save these herbs for our clanmates. Look after them for me."

"I- I'll do my best-"

"I know you will," she smiled. "I couldn't be more proud of you, Fleetrunner."

"But, I- I've failed-"

She blinked slowly. "No cat can live forever. I was never an exception."

"But-"

Coughing racked the she-cat's body again. When it stopped, her eyes clouded over, and her frail body went limp.

I sat there for a few moments, numb. A high-pitched buzzing rung in my ears. I felt frozen, brittle, as if moving so much as an inch would cause me to shatter. Then I shook my pelt out, and pushed my nose onto her flank, trying to take in her warm, dying scent, my breathing rapid, coming in gasps. "N-no..."

I don't know how long I stayed there for. I was vaguely aware of Dewpaw appearing at the entrance, trying to talk to me, and then heading back outside. She said something - I can't remember the words - her voice high-pitched, and taught.

I remember the whole camp falling silent.

Rookstar come into the den, gently nudging me away. She asked if I wanted to carry Burnetleaf's body into the centre of the camp with her. Lost, unable to do anything else, I nodded. We scattered mint leaves around her body and around the camp, to mask the scent of death. I sat vigil beside her all night. Looking up at the sky, I had felt a lot smaller, and the stars had seemed a little brighter.

StarClan, keep her safe. Receive her as you would receive the most revered leader in the Clans' history, and treat her with the same kindness as you would a lost kit. I hesitated, swallowing. Not that she's a lost kit - she is a beautiful, strong cat. But - um - yeah. Light her path, always.

Sitting on the fence, years later, I can understand what she felt. The young cats in RuneClan would joke about being 'ready for death', but this was something quite different. There's an unshakable feeling of one's time coming to an end. There's a sense of acceptance - the inevitability of one's own demise is suddenly so overpowering, you stop struggling against it. Yet I could never quite get over her death, even if she felt the same kind of peace. I whispered more words into the wind: "When she found me as a young cat in the forest, I never thought she'd leave my side. But she did, and I was determined not to do the same, not when Stowaway came along..."

Chapter by Leafy :')