Lynxstar supressed a groan as his body rocked with yet another fit of coughing, making the ball he'd curled himself into seem uncomfortable and his own den stuffy and cramped. He lifted his head from his paws as he watched the den entrance for the patrol he'd sent to the Gathering – without him. He'd caught kittencough after he'd sparred with a few Water elementals. He should've known that would've gotten sick sooner or later, it was leaf-fall, after all.

Of course, he was glad Sagewhisker had noticed his sickness before it turned into something more serious, but he'd been forbidden from attending the Gathering because of it. Preposterous! He was the Leader of Thunderclan, he was the most powerful Earth elemental in the Valley! Starclan been given him nine lives to serve Thunderclan to the best of his ability, he was basically required to go and here he was, being coddled like a kit!

No, he thought. He wouldn't sit back and let someone else do his job for him. He knew Briarsong was a very responible cat and it was why he appointed her as deputy, but he was perfectly capable of doing it himself! He wouldn't let a little cough stop him from attending such an important meeting with the four Clans. So, with as much stealth as he could muster in his weakened state, he quietly slipped out of his den and started to make his way to the camp entrance.

No one would tell the great Lynxstar what to do!