This is my month and a half old niece left. Isn't she adorable!🥰😍

Struggling for breath I gazed around the territory, awe warming my blood as I breathed in the fresh wind, carrying scents of stone and grass. Down below laid a field of golden grass surrounded by towering mountains, the mountains only circled around half of the field while the other half was exposed and seemed to dip down. " It's beautiful," I breathed, snapping out of my daze at Appleblossom's warm chuckle.

" Yes it is," the calico she-cat purred, lifting her tail she pointed towards a far-off river. I had to squint my eyes to see the blue blur in the distance. " That's Star Stream, follow it up into the mountains and you'll reach the Star Cave, it's also the border with Breezeclan. Follow it down the mountains you'll eventually reach Mapleclan's border. Come on." Trotting after Appleblossom I struggled to stay at the same steady trot as we walked down the mountainside, my paw pads ached from the hard ground, reaching the bottom I followed the trail she made through the tall grass, if she stretched she'd be able to see over the grass while all I saw was thick, golden grass. " Stay on the trail, it's easy to get lost in here if you don't know where you're going." I nodded, sneezing as a stalk of grass brushed against my nose.

" What's that smell?" I asked, wrinkling my nose as a foreign scent invaded my nose.

" Rogue scent," Appleblossom meowed, pausing to sniff the air. " Cypresspaw and Orangepaw chased away some rogues a few days ago. Sniff again, can you tell me how many rogues there was?" Parting my jaws I drew in several deep breaths, concentrating on distinguishing the different scents I easily recognized Cypresspaw and Orangepaw's scent but underneath that was three other scents, ones I wasn't familiar with.

" Three," I meowed, sneezing once more as my eyes began to sting, welling with tears. Stiffening in surprise I blinked hard, trying to get rid of them and it seemed to work. " Four days ago?"

" Yes," Appleblossom meowed, continuing deeper into the grass. After a few minutes of walking my paws began to burn and my eyes watered once more, sneezing I grimaced as a tear ran down my cheek. Shaking out my pelt I sped up, throat aching as I followed Appleblossom through the maze of grass, sneezing once more. " Are you alright?"

" I'm fine," I croaked, wincing at the hoarse sound of my voice. Sneezing, I growled as tears poured from my eyes, dripping onto the ground as a burn began to form in my throat. A cough racked through my body, followed by a sneeze, stumbling slightly I winced as my pelt brushed against the tall grass, pricks of pain burrowing into my skin. " Actually, I don't feel good."

" Ferretpaw," Appleblossom meowed, a cold nose pressing against my cheek as my skin flushed with heat, more tears and sneezing followed as I sat down, wheezing harshly. " Let's get you back to camp and have Rockblaze take a look at you." I wanted to protest, I'd barely seen any of the territory and we were already going back to camp, but another cough raked through my body, lighting my throat on fire. Panting hard I scrambled to my paws, light-headed as I leaned against Appleblossom for support as we made the short trek back through the grass, the heat in my skin began to fade as we exited the field.

Sneezing again I forced my shaking legs up the slope and into a deserted camp. Well, mostly deserted camp, a few cats were lounging around camp, sunbathing and sharing tongues. " What are you two doing back so soon?" Gustwind asked, his voice sending a sharp pain through my head that left me stumbling. " What's wrong with him?"

" We barely made it into the grass before he started acting weird so I brought him back to get checked by Rockblaze," Appleblossom meowed, the stone underpaw feeling cool against my hot paws. She pulled away for a few heartbeats, murmuring something to Gustwind before pressing back against me and leading me into the medicine den. Spotting the blurry shapes of four cats through teary eyes I winced as I felt someone's gaze burning into my pelt, it was embarrassing to have someone see me like this. " Rockblaze, can you spare a moment?"

" What?" Rockblaze snapped, standing from where he'd been crouched over the still shape of Harepaw. " Can't you see I'm busy treating someone, Harepaw'll bleed out if I don't stop the bleeding."

" We'll wait," Appleblossom meowed, gently pushing me to the floor with her paw. Sprawling out on my side I released another cough that left me gasping for air, my throat swelling which made it even harder for me to catch my breath. Wheezing heavily I wiped a paw over my eyes, whimpering as my eyes burned from the touch and quickly moved my paw away.

" Ferretpaw," Dad meowed, blurred shape appearing in front of me, yellow eyes peering down at me with concern. " What's wrong?" I wheezed in response, darkness eating away at the edge of my vision. " Ferretpaw." A high ringing sounded in my ears and I blinked, everything was moving in slow motion as I struggle to breath, a faint yelling reach my ears, a flash of gray was the last thing I saw before passing out, a sweet relief from the pain.

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" His throat's swollen real bad and his breathing isn't getting any better," Rockblaze's muffled voice was the first thing I heard, second was the shuffling of paws, and third was murmurs of worry. " Where were you when this started?"

" We'd just entered the field," Appleblossom meowed, her voice sounding much clearer. Forcing open my eyes I blinked several times to clear the fog. Thankfully I wasn't crying anymore but my eyes still stung and my throat burned, swallowing sent sharp pains through my neck. " He started sneezing and his eyes got all teary."

" What's wrong with my son?" Mom snapped, a pressure formed on my back and I winced as my skin ached from the pressure. A heavy, hoarse wheezing could be heard and it took me a minute to realize it was coming from me, a deep burn in my lungs and throat was making it hard to breath. " Someone can't just get sick like he did. Was he poisoned? Appleblossom, did you see him eat anything?!"

" Calm down, love," Dad meowed. I tried to move my head so I could locate him but I couldn't, every muscle in my body was frozen and all I could do was stare at a gray wall and listen to the conversation before talking was obviously out of the question, just the thought just a pang down my throat. " Let Rockblaze finish before you start yelling at him."

" Sandyhawk, do you remember your dad," Rockblaze questioned, a sharp pain in my flank forced a whimper from my lips, the small sound causing my throat to tingle with pain. Is he crazy? Nobody brings up grandpa around him!

" A-a litt-le," Dad stuttered, voice cracking with grief. " Why?"

" Well, if I remember right your father suffered from a severe allergy to grass," Rockblaze meowed, another whimper sounding as a paw pressed down on my throat. " I was a young apprentice when your father died, you may not remember but, he had these exact symptoms."

" Does that mean he's going to die?!" Mom shrieked, a splitting headache forming as I groaned softly, getting some feeling back in my paws, the numbness seeping out of my legs. A paw pressed against my shoulder and I moaned in pain, lifting a heavy paw I pushed the paw away, letting my paw fall back into the nest. " He's awake."

" Ferretpaw," Rockblaze meowed, the shuffling of paws could be heard as the gray medicine cat appeared in my vision. " Blink if you can hear me." I blinked, green eyes lighting with relief. " Good. Are you in any pain?" I blinked twice, as I regained control over my body I could feel my burning skin, and wherever I was touching something ached fiercely. " Can you tell me where?"

" Ev-ever-y-whe-her-e," I rasped, grimacing at the sting of my throat. " Thr-roat-t. S-ki-in. E-ey-yes."

" My poor baby," Mom whimpered, showering my ears with licks that made them sting. " Can't you do anything for him?"

" Trinkle this into his mouth and massage his throat to help him swallow," Rockblaze instructed, dropping a dripping honeycomb next to my muzzle. " It'll soothe his throat and make it easier for him to swallow the herbs." As the gray tom turned around and began sorting through leaves and flowers, Dad stood and carefully grabbed the honeycomb in his jaws before placing it next to my mouth, parting my jaws I felt the sweet, sticky honey drip into my mouth.

" Swallow," Mom purred, rubbing a gentle paw over the underside of my neck. After a few heartbeats I managed to swallow the sweet liquid, it burned for a minute but soon the pain in my throat started to fade. " That's it, it'll make your throat all better."

" That's enough," Rockblaze meowed, turning around with a glob of chewed up herbs placed on a large, waxy leaf. " Open your mouth." Forcing down a wave of nausea I forced my jaws wider as Rockblaze squeezed some honey onto the glob before scooping it up with his paw and shoving it into my mouth, forcing my jaws close. Gagging at the texture I slowly swallowed the herbs, the sweet honey hiding the bitter taste and allowing the pulp to slide more easily down my throat. " It's a mixture of bright-eye, borage, chamomile, feverfew, juniper berries, and catmint. I'm hoping it'll help but all I can do is treat his symptoms. I also sprinkled some poppy seeds to help with the pain."

" Rockblaze," Elmstream's panicked voice sounded far off as my head filled with fog and my body grew numb, in just a few minutes I felt much better. " Harepaw's barely breathing." Harepaw? Blinking, I tried to shake off the tiredness tugging at my paws but before long I was sinking back into sleep, dreaming of racing around the mountains and fighting off enemy clans.

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Skin itching with irritation I unrolled a ball of moss, freshly gathered, and squashed it into the nest, adding another ball I pulled away and inspected my work. Satisfied with my nest work I stood, grabbing the soiled bedding, and padded out of the elder's den. Squinting my eyes against the harsh glare of the sun I clawed my way over to the edge of camp and shoved the soiled moss into a crack and covered it with some pebbles.

" Ferretpaw," Flashstar called, whipping around I bounded over to the ginger tom, praying to the Ancestors that he was finally allowing me out of camp. Ever since the incident a few days ago Flashstar had grounded me to camp and I was stuck cleaning nests and caring for Jaggedscar instead of learning how to fight and exploring the territory. " I've been talking with Rockblaze and Appleblossom about your training and we've decided to let you keep training. You won't be able to go into the field and it'll take you a little longer than your brother to become a warrior, but if you work hard and be careful you'll get your warrior name."

" I'll be a warrior before Goosepaw," I grumbled, tail lashing as I stared at the ginger leader, noticing the tight expression he had, probably because of the long scratch he had on his side.

" Appleblossom will be here soon to take you out so I suggest you clean up," Flashstar meowed. Rolling my eyes I sat down, twisting my head I smoothed down the fur on my flank, gagging as I washed my paws, the taste of dirt from the soiled moss bathing my tongue. A few minutes later I stood and clawed my way over to the fresh-kill pile, nosing through the meager pile I grabbed a brown mouse and padded over to the pale ginger she-cat sunbathing nearby, my stomach growled in hunger but I ignored it, I'd eaten last night and Birchshine needed prey more than I did.

" Oh, is that for me?" Birchshine asked as I dropped the mouse next to her. Without answering I turned and padded away, climbing through the rocks I made my way to the edge of camp. Mom isn't here to stop me. Placing my paw on the ledge I carefully scaled Outlook Rock and inched my way up to the top, relaxing at the top I closed my eyes, enjoying the brisk wind blowing through my fur after being stuck in camp for the past few days.

After a few minutes of peace I opened my eyes and glanced down at the camp, spotting the calico pelt of my mentor exiting the warrior's den I groaned in annoyance and quickly scrambled down from Outlook Rock, taking a minute to smooth down my ruffled fur before padding over to Appleblossom as she stopped to chat with Wolfflight.

" She was wounded pretty bad in the battle and needs some time to recover," Appleblossom meowed, placing a comforting lick on the gray tom's cheek. " Wouldn't you be cranky and tired if you lost a battle and were badly wounded?"

" No," Wolfflight snapped, tossing his head with a snort. " So you're sure I shouldn't take her to Rockblaze?" Appleblossom nodded, Wolfflight drawing in a deep breath before releasing the tension in his shoulders. " Thanks, sis." When the two started talking about expanding the warriors den, I sighed in annoyance and sat down, thinking back to two nights ago I shuddered at the memory of Snowsong's limp, bloody body sprawled out across Wolfflight's back, my mother limping behind him with pelt soaked crimson red, tears streaming down her cheeks as father's limp body slid from her back and landed on the hard ground with a sickening thud, neck twisted at an awkward angle. Shaking off the image I blinked back tears and thankfully it seemed like they were done, Appleblossom finished the conversation and nuzzled her brother good-bye.

" Let's go," Appleblossom meowed, padding away without sparing me a glance. Standing, I trotted after the calico she-cat, picking my way between the rocks and boulders, struggling to keep up with Appleblossom's much longer strides. " Since we were unable to complete the tour the other day, I'll show you around the territory real quick then we can work on your hunting."

" But isn't learning to fight more important than learning to hunt, especially considering that Poppystar promised war after our failed attack the other day?" I questioned, glancing at the scratches on her flank that she'd gotten during the attack on Ravenclan's camp while I'd been stuck in camp.

" No warrior can fight on an empty stomach, it leaves them weak and vulnerable in battle," Appleblossom meowed, leading the way out of camp, but instead of heading down the slope, she led the way up the slope, deeper into the mountains. " Hunting is a vital part of being a warrior, if you can't hunt you can't feed yourself or your clan, and if you can't eat, then you have no strength to fight." Scoffing, I dug my paws into the hard ground, unsheathing my claws for a better grip when my paw slipped, barely managing to catch myself before I took a tumble down the mountain.

" That's why you have clanmates," I grunted, lashing my tail for balance. " Some cats are born to hunt, and some to fight." Appleblossom paused and glanced down at me, a visible frown on her muzzle as she sighed in annoyance.

" When you catch your first piece of prey I'll take you battle training," Appleblossom meowed, clambering onto a ledge. " But that means you'll listen to every word I say, no complaining and no back-talking. Understand?" I nodded, pulling myself onto the ledge with her, eager to rest my aching legs despite it being such a short climb. " Think you're tired now? We only just started, wait till we reach the top."