Lilypetal's POV

I let out a low growl of irritation as I was being interrupted from some of the best sleep I had had in moons by a paw prodding me.

Still not fully awake, I tried to push the paw away, not even knowing who it was that was prodding me. "Keep your fur on," I murmured. "I'll be up in a moment!"

"We don't have a moment!" To my surprise, I heard the angry hiss of Jayfeather.

As I started to blink my eyes open and wake up a little more, I began to realize the overwhelming scent of fear around the warriors den, and I heard the fast pacing of many cats around the den.

Suddenly becoming very alert with the weird atmosphere, I opened my eyes fully and stood up, trying to process the surroundings.

The warriors den wasn't full, but it was abundant with cats, pacing back and forth anxiously, glancing at something behind me.

What in the name of StarClan is going on?

"Finally, Lilypetal! It seemed to take forever for you to wake up!" I suddenly heard Brightheart's voice come from behind me.

But, as I turned around to face her, Brightheart and what she had to me immediately didn't matter anymore as I saw what was in front of me.

There was Thornclaw, lying on his side a few tail lengths from our nest. He was barely moving, and there were deep wounds all over him. I couldn't suppress a gasp as I saw the deep bite in his throat.

How could this have possibly happened? Thornclaw has been next to me the whole night!

I didn't even know what to feel. I was overwhelmed with worry, pain, confusion, and a multitude of other things.

I couldn't move. I didn't want to move. If I moved, that meant that some cat would talk to me, and I would have to hear the horrible reality of what was probably going on.

But, I knew that I had to be practical. I turned to Jayfeather, who was over my mate applying herbs to his wound. I couldn't hide the worry and shakiness in my voice as I spoke. "Jayfeather, what is going on? What happened?"

As if my heart couldn't beat any faster, it managed to as I met the worried gaze of Jayfeather's blind eyes. I expected him to snap at me or to tell me to go away, but all he said was, "I don't know. I don't know at all."

He's just as amazed as I am, I realized. That's definitely not a good thing.

I quickly scanned the den to see who else was in here with me. Brightheart was at Jayfeather's side, along with Leafpool, but standing close by were Cloudtail, Brackenfur, Lionblaze, Whitewing, and Sorreltail.

"I woke up early, just as the dawn patrols were going out," Brightheart began, sounding completely distressed. "I was just about to leave the den when I saw Thornclaw. It was dark, but I could just barely see all of his wounds, and that he was barely moving, so I immediately ran to get Jayfeather."

Brightheart's words almost seemed like they were being spoken in a swarm of fog. All I could do was stare ahead at Thornclaw, sinking my claws into the ground, as the gravitas of this situation began to settle in.

Thornclaw practically looked shredded. He was barely moving. Jayfeather looked worried. If he's not dead yet, he's going to be, I thought as I let out a wail of grief out loud. The love of my life is going to be gone! This isn't fair!

I could barely process it. We had just had a lovely moment together that felt like heartbeats ago as we had both fallen asleep in our nest. All of our talks, hunts, and amazing times together would never be repeated. I would never get to look into his breathtaking pale blue eyes or hear his voice again.

As I let out another whimper of grief, I realized that two cats were at my side, Whitewing on one and Brackenfur on the other.

"Just breath, Lilypetal," Whitewing meowed softly as she ran her tail along my flank. "Everything will be okay."

I nodded to Whitewing. Everything will be okay, everything will be okay... I tried to repeat in my mind over and over.

I drew in a shaky breath, attempting to compose myself, but it didn't last long. I only found myself growing more antsy.

"How is he doing? What happens now?" I asked Jayfeather, who had not looked up since he had answered my last question.

He still didn't look up. He almost seemed afraid to meet my gaze, despite not being able to see it. "What needs to happen now, is get Thornclaw to the medicine den," he muttered, half to himself. "Brackenfur, Cloudtail, carry him, please, while I go on ahead."

Brackenfur, who was still next to me, briefly touched his nose to my shoulder before quickly joining Cloudtail, who was attempting to lift up my mate.

I realized I couldn't even bear to watch anymore. I let out a hiss of exasperation and frustration and whipped my head away, my teeth clenched together. Looking at Thornclaw, unmoving, looking like he did, was impossible to see even for a heartbeat.

But, at the same time, I knew that I had to follow Brackenfur and Cloudtail to the medicine den. I had to be there for Thornclaw and see what was going on.

I touched noses with Whitewing as a gesture of appreciation and then tried to catch up with Cloudtail and Brackenfur. As I traveled, I could hear the meows of worry and shock as cats realized what was going on. Some cats even tried to ask me questions, but all I could do was give them worried glances. I couldn't even answer them anyway, I barely knew what was going on, myself.

This literally is the most out-of-nowhere thing that has ever happened to me, I realized. StarClan, why would you do this to me?

With my head lowered to the ground, I finally made it to the medicine den and crawled inside. Cloudtail passed me as he was leaving. He gave me a look of sympathy and put his tail tip on my shoulder.

"Stay strong. That's what Thornclaw would want you to do," he whispered to me before leaving the den.

I watched him go, took another shaky breath, and then turned to see that Brackenfur was standing over Thornclaw, who was lying down in a new nest as Jayfeather gathered some herbs.

I nodded to Brackenfur before padding over to lie down beside Thornclaw, which I suddenly felt the the urge to do. I dug my nose into his golden fur, breathing in his scent as if it was my last time getting to do so.

It might be, I realized, but barely being able to hold the thought before wanting to push it away.

I turned to Jayfeather, who was padding over with more herbs. My eyes suddenly felt very heavy. "What is going to happen to him? Is he going to make it?" I asked, so terrified to hear the answer, but I knew I had to face it, and that Jayfeather wouldn't lie to me.

I could tell the gray tabby tom was hesitant to answer me, but after a few heartbeats, he said, "It's not likely, Lilypetal, I'm so sorry," he murmured, "But I'm going to do all that I can."

The shock of Jayfeather actually showing some form of remorse didn't really process, as that wasn't what was on my mind.

If Jayfeather says so, it's probably true, I realized. Thornclaw is going to die.

At this point, I wasn't even in panic anymore. I was so weakened and numb with grief, that if a cat were to tell me that the whole of ThunderClan had left and each cat had gone their separate ways, I wouldn't have much of a reaction.

As I stared blankly ahead, with Brackenfur's tail on my back, I suddenly heard quick footsteps come from outside, and I slowly turned to see Goldenshine appear at the den with Swiftkit in her mouth.

"I heard that Thornclaw was hurt!" she exclaimed through a full mouth. Goldenshine then put down Swiftkit, who looked extremely annoyed.

"I'm almost an apprentice, Goldenshine!" Swiftkit hissed. "You didn't need to carry me."

Goldenshine ignored her kit. "What happened?" she asked, her eyes wide as she suddenly got a look at her father. All that I could do was meet her gaze and give her a weak shrug.

That seemed to answer every question Goldenshine could have had, as I saw a shudder run down her flank and she closed her eyes, seeming to be overwhelmed with emotion. I wrapped my tail around her back and let out another sigh.

I quickly glanced over to where Swiftkit was, standing near the entrance of the medicine den. It seemed that his annoyance with Goldenshine was moons behind him already. He was staring at Thornclaw, his eyes wide and clouded with fear and guilt, and he looked like he wanted to run out of the den.

I understand that he is probably grieving as well, Thornclaw is kin, I thought. But why is he acting as panicked as I am?

It suddenly hit me, and I almost felt as if my heart physically dropped. Looking back up at Jayfeather and seeing his dark gaze, I had a feeling that he was suspicious of something as well.

...What if the dream I had and the Ashfur's visit was real? I realized. That would mean that Swiftkit really is training in the Dark Forest.

I shuddered as everything began to come together. And that would mean that Ashfur's threats to me were real too. What if Thornclaw told Swiftkit that he shouldn't be there, and Ashfur did something?

I let out a quiet growl, not loud enough for any cat in the den to hear, and dug my claws into the earth once again.

Has Ashfur harmed another cat in my family?

As this realization hit me, I tried my best not to show my anger and fear. As far as I knew, Goldenshine and Jayfeather didn't know that Thornclaw was training in the Dark Forest, nor Swiftkit.

Maybe Jayfeather does, considering as a medicine cat he is closely connected to StarClan, I realized. But what about the Dark Forest?

As I was deep in my thoughts, I didn't realize for a while that Jayfeather was calling my name, Brackenfur was leaving, and Goldenshine was standing up.

I shook my head quickly and looked at Jayfeather. "What?" I meowed weakly. I already knew that any words I would speak for the next few days would take a lot of effort to get out.

"As much as I hate to ask it," Jayfeather meowed, clearly in distress but trying to hide it, "I need everyone to leave this den while I treat Thornclaw. I can't have any distractions."

Obviously not wanting to, I shook my head quickly to Jayfeather. "I would never!" I insisted. "I am not leaving my mate."

Jayfeather sighed and rolled his eyes. "Lilypetal, listen" he meowed in a surprisingly gentle voice, "If there is any chance of Thornclaw living, then I need to take it. I can't do that with cats swarming the den."

All I could do was sigh and look down at Thornclaw, who was showing signs of the slightest rise and fall of his flank.

"You know what Thornclaw would be telling you if he was awake," Jayfeather continued. "He'd want you to not fuss over him and focus on your Clan."

Wow, even being as prickly as he is, Jayfeather can really manage to bring out his caring side as a healer and talk some sense into cats, I realized.

"Jayfeather's right," Goldenshine meowed softly as she padded over to stand by Swiftkit, who still looked incredibly shaken. "We can come to check on him later. Brambleclaw will probably need you for a patrol."

Before continuing, she nodded to Jayfeather. "I also know that if Thornclaw was able to talk to you, he'd be telling you to not let Brambleclaw down and to go on patrol."

All I did was nod in response and take one last glance at the love of my life before padding slowly to leave the den, Goldenshine and Swiftkit following closely behind.

As I was traveling through camp, my eyes met Brambleclaw's sympathetic gaze. I quickened my pace to meet Brambleclaw, and Squirrelflight who was sitting next to him.

"Lilypetal, I am so sorry," Squirrelflight meowed. "Try not to lose hope."

Brambleclaw nodded, as if to tell me to listen to Squirrelflight. "Are you up for going on a border patrol with Squirrelflight, Leafpool and me?" he asked.

As much as I wanted to say no and just curl up into a ball and think and worry, I nodded as Brambleclaw called Leafpool over.

Leafpool gave me a sympathetic nod, and then we began to travel out of camp. Brambleclaw led the way, with me following closely behind with Leafpool and Squirrelflight on each of my sides.

It was then that I realized that I was surrounded by my oldest and probably closest friends in ThunderClan.

I'm so thankful, I realized to myself. Not much is going to make me feel better right now, but they'll be quite a help!

As we left camp, I took one last glance at the medicine den, a shudder running down my spine.

StarClan, be with Thornclaw, please, I prayed to them silently. I am nowhere near ready for him to join you yet.

Still flanking Squirrelflight and Leafpool, we all crawled through the camp entrance and followed Brambleclaw into the forest.