Gingerpaw

"He Saved My Life."

"I was on a hunting patrol with my mentor just after Sunhigh. The rain was so heavy that I couldn't see my paws.

"Willowfur told me to return to the camp. But as I tried to find my way back, I got lost. The smell and sound of the rain confused everything. I had no idea where I was.

"I thought I was heading towards the camp but I wasn't sure. Then I heard Foxpaw call my name. He must have been on the other side of the river. I thought he could help me at least find some shelter, so I started heading towards where I thought he was."

The clan's eyes were growing rounder as the story continued.

"But when he'd called my name, he'd been warning me about..."

She broke off with a shudder. "About the cliff at the side of the river. The mud was slippery and I slipped and fell in."

Thrushtail gasped in horror and Foxpaw's eyes were clouded as he relived the scene in his mind. She saw his shoulders rack with a sob, but he kept quiet.

"My head kept going under and... and I think Foxpaw jumped in after me. I'm not sure exactly what happened because I was half-drowned, but I think that's how it went. He dragged me to the bank and warmed me up by ruffling my fur."

Gingerpaw turned to gaze at her leader. "Foxpaw didn't try to kill me. He saved my life. If he wasn't there, I would have drowned for sure. Please, just let him go home."