Cricket eventually hops down from Cam and walks the rest of the way.

After a while of silent walking, Fireheart says something that's probably, "There are a few things you should know about RiverClan," around the axle.

"Oh?"

He sets it down on the ground.  "One of their elders died yesterday, and their leader, Crookedstar, is very sick and on his last life."

"His last life?"

He nods solemnly.  " - Oh, StarClan gives nine lives to each Clan leader."

"How does that work?"

"When they would otherwise die, they go into a brief trance and are healed of their lethal injuries."

"...gosh. Uh, I continue to be not very trained in medicine for cats, just twolegs, but I can see if it's obvious or something."

"RiverClan may appreciate your assistance.  But I mostly wanted to explain things which will probably affect their moods today."

"I will keep it in mind. Cricket, you are not diplomatic, maybe don't talk much."

"I have no reason to want to talk to them."

"All right.  Hm, other things that might come up - you'll probably meet Graystripe; he was in ThunderClan until recently and he's a close friend of mine.  We were apprentices together."

"How does switching clans work?"

"It doesn't happen enough that there's a ceremony about it or anything.  In Graystripe's case, he fell in love with a RiverClan cat, and when she died giving birth to his kits, they were going to be raised in ThunderClan.  RiverClan wanted them instead and - he went with them."

"...RiverClan wanted them instead and he didn't have a say in the matter?"

"It was his choice, ultimately.  Our camp was - attacked by some rogues, at a time when most of our warriors were away - and the RiverClan warriors who had come to ask for the kits helped drive them out.  Most of us were still willing to fight to keep them, but Graystripe called it off."

"...I see. Why do rogues attack your camp?"

"It's not really a 'do'; we defend our borders well.  But the time that it did happen, it was because the deputy before me betrayed the Clan and brought rogues there in an attempt to increase his own power."  One of Fireheart's ears flicks.  "He's the leader of ShadowClan, now."

"...huh."

"They suffered a terrible plague recently; their leader, deputy, and many of their warriors all died."

"Wow, that really sucks. Remind me why you guys like living out in the forest without vets and everything?"

"I can imagine a future now where Clan cats can have productive relationships with Twolegs going forward, but - you don't really seem like someone who would be a kittypet, if you were a cat and couldn't talk to Twolegs - "

"I'm immune to diseases and getting hit by cars! I guess if I had nine lives that might be equivalent."

"You're very confusing."