Flamepaw was terrified. She never heard, much less be, in a cave-in. Her breathing sped up dramatically. Foxdung, how will i get out of here, how can i get out?

Flamepaw soon started doing circles, not knowing what to do. Does she start digging where the tunnel blocked off, does she wait, or should she call for help? So many things popped in and out of her head, she could barely hear her mentor's call until it seemed right next to her.

"Mothheart!" Flamepaw cried joyously, "Mothheart, how do i get out of here?"

Mothheart sounded soothing as she mewed back, "First off, you need to calm down. Breath in and out slowly, then steadily shorten it. You won't have much air in there, so you need to use as little of it as possible."

Flamepaw did as her mentor told her almost reluctantly. The amber-eyed apprentice soon calmed down.

"How-"

"No time," Mothheart mewed hurriedly, "Try slowly digging out the blockage. I'll do so on the other side as well."

Flamepaw nodded, then realized that Mothheart couldn't see her and mewed, "Okay."

Both seemed to work for a long time. The cave-in was huge and it took the better part of the sunrise before they even got a quarter way done on both sides. Suddenly, Flamepaw heard five voices.

"Hey, Mothheart," the ginger tabby mewed hesitantly, "Is that a rescue patrol?"

"Yes! Blizzardwhisker, Hollyfur, Dawnflower, Falconstripe, Morningtail, down here!"

Flamepaw, invigorated by her clanmates' voices, started digging again with renewed vigor. It wasn't long before they broke through the cave-in.

"Flamepaw!" Mothheart cried with obvious relief at her apprentice's well-being, "Are you okay? Do you need help to get out?"

Flamepaw only shook her head and sighed with relief about her surviving the sudden cave-in. Flamepaw barely paid attention when the small patrol led them back to the cave, and from there into the medicine den.

As she slowly sank into sleep from the exhauting day, she remembered feeling the kittypet rhythmically lick all the dirt off of the ginger tabby.

"Don't worry," she whispered, "I will help take care of you as you helped take care of me."