Peace was finally starting to spread throughout the clan. Orangefoot and Darkfur's kits had finally come. Tortoisekit and Turtlekit displayed a wide range of orange, brown and black splashed across their fur. Everyone in the clan praised their beautiful litter. 

I wondered what it would be like if I was that beautiful.

Cream had started to atone for the trouble that she'd caused at first. She volunteered to go on patrols whenever she could, and started to openly express her undying loyalty to Mistystar. Only Morningflower was unconvinced.

"I will go on a patrol with Morningflower and Honeypaw." declared Mistystar, "To see how Honeypaw is going in her training."

I puffed out my chest, throwing back my shoulders. Mistystar wanted to personally see me hunt! I glanced proudly at Cloudypaw, who was nibbling on a mouse. She blinked supportively back at me in a distracted manner. There was a light breeze today, so her fur was slightly puffed against the wind, her nose was red. 

Beestripe came up beside me, a purr in her voice, "You'll do great, Honeypaw! Don't be nervous."

Stormcloud and her started licking at my fur and I struggled away indignantly, "Stop it! It's not like I'm becoming a warrior already!"

Morningflower flicked my ear with her tail, "Let them fuss. This must only mean good, for Mistystar to want to hunt with you!"

From when I was a kit, I'd heard how Mistyclan's leader only hunted with a specific few cats. It was very obvious which cats she was assessing in their trust and capability. It was also rumoured that Mistystar was worried about having to replace Fallenleaf if ever necessary. So far, Lilypad seemed to be 'next in line'. 

Suddenly, Cream stood from where she was gossiping with Pearlstorm and Swanwind. 

The she-cat padded up to us and mewed enthusiastically, "I would love to accompany you as well, Mistystar!"

I looked to Mistystar, waiting for her to deny Cream from the patrol. 

But she simply meowed, "If you are to come, then Stonepaw must surely come as well."

I felt Morningflower stiffen beside me as the two cats join our patrol on the way out. I was bewildered, how would she be able to concentrate on helping me pass Mistystar's assessment if Cream was with us? 

Mistystar interrupted my thoughts, "Come, Honeypaw. Tell me what you can smell."

I raised my nose to the air and opened my mouth to taste the wind, "There's a rabbit somewhere to our left and a mouse in the bushes in front of us. I can also smell the squirrels in the trees."

Morningflower's paw shot forward and speared a blackberry bush. A mouse scurried out of it and straight into my paws. I killed it with a swipe. 

My mentor purred proudly, "You were right. But, of course you were!"

Mistystar seemed unimpressed, looking away, and my heart dropped. 

Her nose was sniffing the air and her eyes widened suddenly, "Fox!"

Not a second later, two blurred shapes burst out from a bush, crashing into Mistystar in a flurry of snarling teeth and bristling fur. Mistyclan's leader fought valiantly, injuring one and swinging around to face the other one. Both foxes were vixen, but they fought with the combined strength of ten badgers. I was frozen in terror as their pungent scent wreathed around me. 

How had I not smelled them? 

Morningflower and Cream, after a moment of shock, threw themselves into the battle, tearing viciously at the equally vicious enemy. I shrunk back, suddenly realising how small in size I was compared to the foxes. Looking across to Stonepaw, I saw him advance on the brawl, his eyes shining. I stared at him with renewed respect and confidence. 

If he could face them, I could face them! 

With a caterwaul, I lunged for the nearest fox, claws sinking into its neck and face. Stonepaw barreled into its side with flying claws. The vixen howled in pain as we pummelled simultaneously. It whacked me away with a claw. Before I could get up, it had turned around and was flying at me. But, before I was squashed to death, Morningflower and Stonepaw leaped and knocked it off aim, causing it to crash onto its side. 

My mentor turned to me and hissed, "What are you doing?! You're not experienced enough to help!"

I couldn't help but realise that she only looked at me, and not Stonepaw, who was holding off the vixen by himself as we talked.

"Morningflower! Cream - "

We both turned to see Mistystar being brought to the ground by the other fox. With a cry, we charged forward as one. However, Cream staggered up and hauled the vixen off before we got there, then slumped to the ground in defeat. She was bleeding from the side and her ears were half shredded. 

I wondered if she would make it to Tropicpalm. 

The vixen snarled at her, ready to tear her apart, then raised its head and saw me and Morningflower. Stonepaw was fighting the other fox bravely, and losing badly. As all this was going on, Mistystar struggled up and clawed at the fox's hindquarters. 

With a startled yelp, the vixen fled, with its friend chasing its tail. With a groan, my brother fell to the ground, exhausted and severely hurt. He had been clawed so much that I couldn't even tell which wound was bleeding. 

Shame crept up my throat and I let out a whimper. 

If I had smelt the foxes, maybe we wouldn't be in this situation now. 

How had I not smelled them? Was something wrong with my nose as well as with my size?

Morningflower rushed up to Mistystar, who had collapsed once again, studying her for a moment before gasping, "She's stopped breathing!"

Cream cried out, her voice filled with sorrow as she stood up, "No! I wasn't fast enough! Oh! I will always remember how Mistystar accepted me against all odds!"

I glanced at her and realisation broke through the surface of my grief. Cream didn't know that a leader could have nine lives! 

The thought of correcting her crossed my mind, but then I saw Stonepaw, splayed out on the dirt, "We have to get them back to camp! Tropicpalm and Yellowbelly will be able to help Mistystar."

Morningflower shook her head, "I can't move her without making her injuries worse. She might lose another life if that cut widens!"

I turned and started to run back to camp, "I'll get them!"

My heart jumped frantically in my chest. 

How had this happened? 

Mistystar wasn't supposed to lose a life! 

She was supposed to see how great I was at being an apprentice! But then, Cream wasn't supposed to come either. Gratitude suddenly filled me. I guess it was a sign from Starclan that she came, after all! 

As I finally skidded into the camp clearing, I yowled, "Tropicpalm! Yellowbelly!"

Cloudypaw's eyes widened as she stared at my wounds, "Honeypaw! What happened?"

Beestripe wove around me, her mew filled with shock and worry, "Honeypaw! Are you okay? No, you're not! Where's Stonepaw?"

"Honeypaw!" Tropicpalm strode confidently to me, "What happened? Was it rogues? Badgers?"

I pushed past my mother and said, hiccuping as fear overwhelmed me, "Foxes! They came from nowhere! And I didn't smell them! They attacked Mistystar and -" My voice hitched, "And she's dead!"

As more cats gathered, eyes wide, I went on, "Stonepaw's really, really hurt! But he was so brave! And he's also probably dead! And Cream was great! She tried so hard! It's all my fault! I didn't smell the foxes! And I'm the least hurt of them all! It's so unfair!"

Tropicpalm shushed me, "Quiet, Honeypaw. You are barely more than a kit. You couldn't have done anything." 

With a flick of her tail, she summoned Yellowbelly, "You should look at her wounds, they're not serious, but use marigold in case of an infection. Swanwind, Liontail and Spiderfur, the marigold and tansy are over there, you can take some to help me with Mistystar. And those leaves are for bandaging -"

As she talked, she had made a small package of herbs and was starting to hurry out the camp. The three warriors stumbled to do as they were told, before pelting after her, a blur of fur. Panting, I let myself be guided into the medicine den by Yellowbelly. Guilt pained me more than the cuts that would surely leave scars. 

I had caused this. 

Maybe Stonepaw was right. 

I could never be a good warrior.