Emberspirit stared at a freshly upturned pile of dirt, his mind fuzzy and grief mingled with acceptance in his heart. 

Wildclaw was at his side, gazing at the pile with sorrow-filled green eyes. "She will be remembered." 

Emberspirit nodded mutely before he rose and turned, padding into camp silently and into the warriors den. 

No cat stopped him as he laid down and covered his face with his paws and tail, moving into a tight ball. 

Lynxstar frowned as she watched him before she gestured for the Clan to come around.

"Emberspirit will need time to grieve." Lynxstar said softly, "Until he is fit Swiftwhisper will be acting deputy, if you want to be on patrols or have questions ask him."  She announced.

"How long will he be down?" Lionscar asked, his amber eyes filled with sorrow. "He's suffered so much."

"What if he never recovers?" Darkpoppy asked, gazing at Lynxstar. She and Shadefern had taken the news of Redflares dead rather hard, the old tom was now laying near the elders den entrance, his ears pressed against his head and his eyes filled with regret and sadness. "DeltaClan will need a new deputy."

"He will recover!" Gorsepaws tiny mew cried out and Tigershade stared at his apprentice in shock. "Emberspirit told everyone to believe that I would recover, so now we have to believe he will too! I won't give up on him, even if you all do!" His yowl echoed in the clearing, rendering the Clan speechless.

Tigershade nodded in approval, pride in his eyes. "Gorsepaw is right, our deputy will recover. We just have to be patient."

Swiftwhisper nodded, "Just give him space and time, Lilycloud," The she-cat, who was gazing at where her mate had disappeared, looked at the white tom. "I want you to make sure he eats, but you mustn't get distracted from training Reedpaw, am I clear?"

The she-cat nodded, "Yes, I'll make sure he eats." She murmured.

The acting deputy nodded, "Good, now Lionscar, Gorsepaw, and Raggedfur can go check on the BreezeClan border. Nightfrost, Beetlestream, Trouttail, and Nutpaw can you guys fish for us? Even with new-leaf so close prey is still only just starting to return."

The cats nodded and padded away as Lynxstar oversaw the progress.

"I need someone to help me collect more herbs." Berrywish called from the reed tunnel, making the cats turn or perk up. The white she-cat was sodden, it seemed she had washed in the lake.

"I can go!" Goldenpaw meowed, earning an approving look from Nightfrost. 

"Go right ahead, listen to what she tells you to do!" Swiftwhisper called to her as the golden-brown she-cat bounced away.

Barkpaw rose, "Wildclaw can I go hunting?" He asked, gazing at his mentor.

"No, we need to work on your water combat, Redmist care to help?" Wildclaw asked the she-cat who nodded.

With that out of the way, Swiftwhisper dismissed his Clanmates and padded up to Lynxstar. "Our apprentices are almost warriors," He murmured, "by new-leaf there will be nothing for them learn."

"There is always time to learn," Lynxstar told him, "but yes you are correct. I have been keeping an eye on there training. Gorsepaw has progressed remarkably quick."

"Have you thought of their warrior names yet?" Swiftwhisper asked, gazing at his old friend and leader.

The tan she-cat nodded, "You will know when the time comes."

Swiftwhisper dipped his head and padded away, leaving his leader alone to think about the destiny of her Clan.

---A bit of a timeskip---

Emberspirit looked up, his dull green eyes fixing on Lilycloud who had dropped a fish at his paws. 

"Eat." She told him, nosing his ear. "You need to keep your strength."

Emberspirit eyed the fish but then pushed it away, despite the hunger gnawing at his belly. He curled up once more, ignoring the outside world and his mate as he did so. 

Lilycloud sighed and licked his ear. She looked up at the sound of pawsteps approaching and turned to see Amberheart padding into the den, her amber fixing on the deputy immediately. 

"How is he?" Amberheart asked, noticing that he was asleep. "Sleeping is a good sign."

Lilycloud shrugged, "He hasn't eaten in two days." She mewed worriedly, "I'm scared he might starve himself if he goes at this rate." 

"He needs something to boost his spirits." Amberheart mewed, "Some good news might knock him from his funk."

"This isn't any old funk, Amberheart. His mother is dead." Lilycloud murmured, fixing her blue eyes on the golden she-cat.

"I know," The she-cat gazed at the tom before she noticed that Lilycloud was sniffing. "Have you caught a cold?" She asked, "You should go to Berrywish." 

"What? No, I must have inhaled something when I was hunting in the lily patch earlier." The white she-cat protested, "I'm fine." she promised.

Amberheart gave her a skeptical look before she gave in, "Fine but if it continues you really should go to the medicine cat." She found her nest and curled up in it, "The last thing Emberspirit needs is losing his mate."

Lilycloud made a meow in agreement before she sighed, hearing Reedpaw getting rowdy and the grumbling of Shadefern. 

She stood and went to pad out of the den, before she paused in the entrance, giving her mate one last look before she plunged into the clearing. "Reedpaw! Get off of Goldenpaw and come with me battle training."

---

Days dragged on and Emberspirit was growing thinner and thinner. He had minuscule bites to eat and even then he felt sick whenever he did eat. His brain was still fuzzy and after days of his bedding rotting in the warriors den, Emberspirit was forced outside by Pikesky and Elmstripe so the apprentices could get rid of it.

Lilyclouds sniffing had gotten worse and she was growing more and more uncomfortable and hungry as of late and it was showing. She fidgeted, accidentally kicking Emberspirit once more in the side and sniffed loudly.

The sound cut through Emberspirits fuzz and he looked at his mate, her image coming into focus. "Are you sick?" He demanded, his voice scratchy from not using it in a few days.

Lilyclouds ears perked at the noise, and she gazed at her mate in shock and delight. "You spoke!" She purred.

Emberspirit flicked his tail, "Are you sick?" He asked more urgently as she coughed. "Go see Berrywish!" Not her StarClan, please not her! 

"Lilycloud! Didn't I tell you to go to the medicines den if it got worse." Amberheart padded up to the white she-cat, eyes blazing. "Come on." She ushered Lilycloud to her paws awkwardly. "Let's go now!"

"I'm going, I'm going!" Lilycloud glanced back at Emberspirit before she was shoved into the medicine cats cave. The she-cat emerged moments later and was led outside of camp, leaving Emberspirit gazing after her in fear.

StarClan not her, please do not take her from me. Emberspirit closed his eyes tightly as imagines of his mate sick and dying flashed in his head.

All at once he seemed to shut down, the image of having to bury Lilycloud burned in his mind's eye when a nose brushed his cheek.

His eyes flew open and he looked up, seeing Lilycloud staring at him before he turned away, not liking the forlorn look in her eye.

"Come on," Lilycloud whispered, "look around you Emberspirit, you have it all." 

Emberspirit looked up at the sound of his mates voice and glanced around. For the first time in days, he noticed his Clanmates around him, smiling and nodding as he caught their eye. He looked back at his mate, tears at the edges of his eyes as he pieced the worst possible situation as to why Lilycloud was telling him this together.

Lilycloud smiled slightly, "Come with me." She turned and padded away, making Emberspirit stand on shaky paws and follow her outside of camp, at the top of the slop leading down into the depression.

She sat down, looking a bit awkward but Emberspirit could not have noticed. He nervously fidgeted and dug his claws in the ground. 

The white she-cat gazed at him, "Why so nervous?" she asked softly, making Emberspirit look up. "You're shoulders are sagging, you look like you have the weight of the forest on them." She teased, using the same words she had moons ago.

Emberspirit stared at her in silence before she reached over and grabbed his paw placing it on her belly.

Emberspirits face contorted into a look of confusion before he felt it. Little squirming in her belly and small little kicks. He was frozen in shock before he looked up at Lilycloud, a question burning in his eyes.

"I'm expecting kits, your kits." Lilycloud confirmed, smiling as Emberspirits confused and shocked expression turned into sheer and pure joy. His green eyes sparkled with delight, his grin stretched across his face and Lilycloud finally saw the cat she had fallen in love with return.

"I-I-I'm going to be a father." Emberspirit sputtered, nearly breathless with excitement. "I-I'm going to be a father?" He sputtered again, slight fear tugging at his head. "I'm going to be a father!" He cried, excitement crushing the fear.

Lilycloud purred, "Our kits, oh they'll be kind and handsome, just like you." She nuzzled his chest fur, making Emberspirit purr loudly.

"And they'll be beautiful and smart like you." He murmured back. 

"Yes, but first," Lilycloud pulled away, "Isn't there something you have to address first." She nodded to the reed tunnel where the Clan was waiting.

Emberspirit caught on immediately and gazed at his mate silently. "Are you sure they'll want me?" He asked, green eyes softening as Lilycloud eyed him silently. "I haven't been a good deputy as of late."

"Everyone makes mistakes," Lilycloud murmured, "it's how they fix them that really counts."

Emberspirit gulped and nodded, padding into the clearing with Lilycloud on his tail.

Instantly the Clan noticed that the Emberspirit that returned was vastly different than the one that left. There was purpose in his uncertain strides and a light in his green eyes.

Lynxstar, who was laying on Highcliff, stood, gazing down at her deputy with amber eyes that shone with every emotion possible.

Emberspirit glanced around, doubt making him hesitant.

"Go." Lilycloud whispered softly, "Be the fire you said you'd be."

Emberspirit gulped and rose his head, determination in his green eyes. He climbed the rocks silently and took his place back under Lynxstar. Silence overtook the clearing before Lynxstar, who was eyeing Emberspirit as he took his place, smiled.

"Our deputy has returned!"

All at once the Clan cats cheered and Emberspirit felt tears pour down his face as he saw the smiling faces of Lilycloud, Pikesky, Elmstripe, and Amberheart staring up at him. The approval in Shadeferns face and the grins of Lionscar and Tigershade.

He saw Trouttail raising his paw in celebration beside Heronthroat and Redmist and saw the fiery determination and satisfaction on Gorsepaws face.

Emberspirit smiled, remembering that it was himself that convinced the Clan not to give up on the little black-and-white tom when he was sick.

Guess he returned the favor. Emberspirit shook as he cried harder, from sadness, anger, but most of all happiness as his Clan welcomed him as their deputy again.

The noise died down and Emberspirit eyed his Clanmates, emotion choked in his throat.

"T-Thank you.. so much." 

He slid from Highcliff and Lynxstar followed.

"You are in trouble, you little tom." The tan she-cat growled but her tone was light. "You left poor old Swiftwhisper to deal with these minnow-brains." 

Emberspirit laughed slightly, nodding to the white tom. "Y-You c-can rest now." He told him.

Swiftwhisper smiled, "It's great to see you again deputy." He purred before he turned, padding away.

Great to be back. Emberspirit thought with a content twitch of his tail. He smiled at Lilycloud as she padded up to him. "Thank you.." He murmured to her, tears still flowing down his face.

She smiled and rubbed her cheek against his, "Now why are you crying?" She whispered, making Emberspirit purr loudly.

The tom glanced around, thankfulness swelling in his heart before he looked up, gazing at the sky. 

His eyes widened as he saw that one floating red leaf, blazing with fire before it blew away. He eyed where it once had been then smiled.

You were right Firestar, my Clan does need me. I will lose many, but I will be the light that my Clan needs always!