Echoflight eyed the medicine den, waiting for Larkleaf or Jayfeather to come out. To be honest, Echoflight wasn't sure what to do with Speckleflower. What she needed was a medicine cat, not a White Dove.

Jayfeather's pelt emerged and she dashed up to him. "I need your help."

Jayfeather scowled. "We're busy."

"Then let me speak with Larkleaf," Echoflight growled. "It's to do with White Dove."

Jayfeather frowned, a distant look crossing his eyes. "Alright, come in."

Echoflight padded into the den, the scent of herbs filling her mouth. 

"What do you need?" Larkleaf questioned, a strong-smelling herb in her mouth.

"I need help. What would you do for a cat that has a broken leg?"

Jayfeather glanced at Larkleaf, sharing glances. Unease crossed his face.

Larkleaf faced Echoflight, sighing. "Yes, indeed, we do know how."

"Then why don't you tell me? A cat is suffering!" Echoflight retorted. "Why are you so sad?"

"Because I was the one who had to use it." Larkleaf growled back, her face sad.

Echoflight winced. She had forgotten that the strong and capable Larkleaf hadn't always been so...strong. Larkleaf had lost use of a leg when she was younger. Echoflight had always assumed that it had healed on its own.

"I'm sorry. But please, I need this. I don't want this cat to suffer." Echoflight begged.

Jayfeather looked to Larkleaf who hesitated. Finally, she nodded. "Jayfeather, you need your rest. I'll show her."

"Are you sure?" The elderly medicine cat hissed.

"I'm sure!" Larkleaf fired.

Echoflight dipped her head in respect. "How does it work?"

"This must be pretty severe, yeah?" Larkleaf asked, to which Echoflight nodded. "Then, it's similar to mine. If this cat doesn't exercise the leg, she might lose it. It'll be limp and she won't be able to use it ever. Ever."

"Ever," Echoflight repeated.

"You should take her swimming in the lake. She can't be RiverClan, as they spend their whole day swimming and fishing," here, Larkleaf snorted before continuing. "So, you must teach her to swim."

"But I don't know how to swim!"

"Then learn!" Larkleaf snapped. "Listen!"

Amberclaw...Can she teach me how to swim?

"The swimming will exercise the muscles while not actually using them. After about a week of swimming, get her to start doing small walks. Eventually, make them longer walks." Larkleaf instructed.

Echoflight spun on her heel, yowling to them. "I have to go! Thank you!"

Jayfeather and Larkleaf shared amused purrs.

That evening, Echoflight went out to the Cave of Peace. Amberclaw was already there, for the sunset to moonhigh session. Dawnmist had decided that she was Touched enough to stop having nightly sessions. Echoflight had agreed grudgingly, saying that Dawnmist should have weekly sessions instead.

"Amberclaw, I need your help." Echoflight mewed quickly.

Amberclaw looked surprised and a look of anger crossed her face. The ginger she-cat closed her eyes, presumably calming down. Echoflight waited until she was done before speaking again. "It's not much, I just need you to teach me how to swim."

Amberclaw seemed even more surprised. "Alright. But what about our session? I need to be Touched and all."

Echoflight purred. "We'll do our training while swimming."

"Why do you want to learn how to swim?" Amberclaw shot suspiciously. "Is this a trick? To steal RiverClan territory?"

"Definitely not!" Echoflight assured her. "It's just I need to be able to swim for Speckleflower. Swimming will help her leg."

Understanding washed over Amberclaw and they went into the Cave of Peace, heading to the glowing river. Today, it wasn't shining as much, due to the moon being a crescent and not giving off much light. Amberclaw plunged into the river confidently and waved for Echoflight to follow. Rolling her eyes, she dipped a paw in hesitantly.

"It's fine," Amberclaw called. "It's not even cold!"

Echoflight decided she might as well make an effort, so she slid into the river, shivering. Amberclaw was wrong; it was freezing. Amberclaw taught her how to paddle and slowly, Echoflight got the hang of it. She paddled back and forth, trying not to let her head sink below the river.

"You're good at it! If you wanted to, you could switch to RiverClan," Amberclaw joked.

Echoflight let out a small growl. "As if I want to be with you fish-eaters!"

They bantered on for a bit before the moon was directly above them in the sky. Echoflight clambered out while Amberclaw leapt out. They dried off before Amberclaw headed back to her territory.

Echoflight sat outside the cave, waiting for Speckleflower. The moon was falling when she showed up. Sandleaf was supporting her.

"There you are!" Echoflight mewed happily. "I've been thinking on how to help you and I know how!"

Speckleflower lit up. "Bye, Sandleaf."

Sandleaf dipped her head before trotting off.

"You need to swim," Echoflight mewed as soon as she was gone.

"Swim? Have you got bees in your brain?" Speckleflower stared at her as if she had grown an extra paw.

"No, I don't," Echoflight said calmly. "But it's the only way for your leg to be exercised with little pain. I can't heal broken bones; I'm not a medicine cat. But I can help you recover."

"Can't I just...not exercise it? I walk here almost every night," Speckleflower murmured.

"No. If you don't exercise it enough, it will become permanently broken you won't be able to use it ever. Ever." Echoflight emphasized the point.

Speckleflower sighed before nodding in agreement. Echoflight slipped into the river again, Speckleflower hobbling over to her before sitting on the stones beside it.

Echoflight hid a shiver and watched Speckleflower groan as she dropped her injured leg into the water. Her frustrated expression soon turned to relief as the glowing water soothed her leg, making it float. Speckleflower entered the water fully and held onto the bank.

"Wave your paws," Echoflight instructed. She herself was moving them rapidly, keeping an eye on them.

Speckleflower growled before letting go of the bank to wave her paws. She yowled in shock as she began to sink and Echoflight swam over to her quickly. She supported the injured she-cat and gradually, Speckleflower calmed down enough to paddle slowly.

"Hey, it's working! I'm swimming!" Speckleflower's delight was contagious and Echoflight purred, joining in.

"Swim through the river a couple times," Echoflight suggested. "It'll help your leg."

At first, Speckleflower shivered and winced as her leg moved, but gradually, she swam to an invisible beat and was shouting happily as she swam back and forth.

Echoflight knew she had succeeded when Speckleflower clambered out at sunrise and barely mewed in pain when she walked. She didn't seem to realize, though, when she walked out of the cave cheerfully.