this is about the spottedleaf viewing firepaw as a brother au

she lost three siblings before he entered the clan; leopardfoot, willowpelt, and redtail. though she didnt show the clan, spottedleaf felt terrible for their deaths, because since she was a medicine cat she felt like she shouldve been able to save them.

and so, when firepaw entered the clan the day of redtail's death, spottedleaf saw how her clanmates treated the poor kit and decided to take it upon herself to raise him best she could, viewing him as a brother.

this is why she always stuck with him. it was her way of apologizing to her lost siblings for not helping them, even though she had already apologized in starclan.