Smokepaw gaped at the familiar sight of Streampaw. His eyes were downcast, his head lowered as the ShadowClan cats bristled all around him. Bonestar stood only a pace away from the RiverClan medicine cat apprentice. He looked absolutely furious.

"Streampaw," the white furred leader spat, "why have you been found trespassing on my land, again!"

Smokepaw watched as Streampaw tried to collect his thoughts beneath Bonestar's icy intimidation."I.. I just needed more watermint," he explained, "it has been the only herb to help Otterfang's vomiting!"

Her heart twisted in pity for the young tom. She could tell that getting the watermint was very important to him. "So you're telling me watermint doesn't grow anywhere else on your territory? Do you realize I've killed RiverClan cats for far less than this!"

Bonestar's yowl sent a shiver down Smokepaw's spine. But the other ShadowClan cats started to howl in agreement, their claws sliding from their sheaths as they pressed closer around Streampaw.

"Stop!" Smokepaw cried, her heart fluttering in her chest as she pushed through the crowd. The clearing fell silent, the warrior's claws retracted back into their sheaths.

"Yes, Smokepaw?" Bonestar sighed, his irritation evident in tone. She noticed that Streampaw's eyes lit up with relief when she padded into view.

The apprentice took a small gulp of air, feeling the gazes of her Clan like claws piercing her fur. "I don't think we should hurt Streampaw," she began, "he was just doing his duty, trying to heal his Clanmate. He didn't cross our border due to hostility."

Bonestar's eyes narrowed, ready to deliver a stinging retort. But Starlingsong had shuffled over to her daughter's side, her face calm but serious. "As odd as this sounds, I feel like Smokepaw speaks sense," she meowed, "he's just a 'paw. And a medicine cat at that. I couldn't imagine what RiverClan would do if we hurt him."

Smokepaw felt a rush of relief at Starlingsong's support. She could tell that Bonestar didn't know what to say, his features were gripped in thought. But all around them, the other ShadowClan warriors started to murmur in agreement.

She looked at Streampaw, who appeared a lot less fearful than a few moments ago. His tail still swished nervously behind him, but his fur was sleek and smooth. The worst was already over.

"Well, then he shall be kept prisoner," Bonestar finally ordered, "he will stay in Spikedflower's den, and have a warrior to guard him at all hours of the day."

Smokepaw felt a twinge for the poor RiverClan tom. But at least he's not injured, that's what matters. The gathered cats started to disperse.

Tornsky began to escort Streampaw to the medicine den, with Spikedflower right behind them. Smokepaw inched a little further away, not yet wanting to be herded back into the stuffy den.

She continued to watch the Clan as they started to settle in for the night. The air was crisp with a chill breeze, swept between the trunks of the pines in an exhilarating gust. The shadows in the camp had lengthened, fueled by the darkness of night as it cascaded down onto the forest below.

Starlingsong and Bonestar had stepped away to talk quietly between themselves, a few rabbit hops from Bonestar's den. Shadepaw and Hivepaw walked side by side into the apprentice's den, already heading to their nests.

Icefang and Lightsplash hadn't ventured too far from their fallen tree trunk that they claimed for a den. They still lingered by its ragged hole of an entrance, taking a moment to breathe in the scent of pine needles before they went to their nests. Smokepaw winced at how thin Lightsplash looked; her black and white fur seemed to cling like cobweb to her bones.

In her distraction, most of the clearing had emptied. All that remained was Bonestar, who was still conversing with Starlingsong close to the side of the clearing. I guess nothing else too exciting is going to happen, she decided.

"Smokepaw, come here," Bonestar's stern voice called from across the camp. She turned her attention back towards her father, who was watching her through slitted eyes.

She felt her tail quiver as she walked over. "Yes, Bonestar," she mewed softly. She could tell quite easily that he was still displeased. His muscles were rigid, his tail tip twitched like a leaf caught in the breeze.

"First of all, I never want to hear you speak out of turn like that again!" he hissed. Smokepaw felt a rush of fear as his anger spilled over her.

Starlingsong lifted a paw to gently nudge Smokepaw's shoulder. "Those situations are more a place for warriors to share their opinions," she murmured, "I know you probably didn't think it was a big deal, but a rival Clan cat trespassing is a big deal."

"But you agreed with me," Smokepaw whimpered as she looked up into her mother's teal eyes. It was hard to tell what she was thinking; her face was shrouded in darkness from the approaching night. I couldn't just stay quiet if no one was going to speak up for Streampaw, she told herself.

"I know you have thoughts and opinions," Bonestar continued, "but you're just an apprentice, a fairly new one at that! I'd like to say you're just acting out because of your injury this morning; but I'm not going to start making excuses and enabling you to do whatever you please. As of tomorrow morning, your duties will be to tend to the elder's needs, as well as Streampaw's. You will make sure they have enough food, clean bedding, and anything else they have to request from you. Do you understand?"

She could feel his stare piercing through her, waiting for her response. She couldn't muster the spirit to meet his gaze. "I understand," she whispered as she looked down at her paws.

"Good. Now go to your nest, in the apprentice den. Silverclaw will make sure you're awake at dawn to start cleaning the elder's den." Smokepaw's fur burned with shame; knowing she would be treated like a disobedient kit for who knows how long.

Without another word, she turned and scampered towards the safety of the apprentice den. She really hadn't expected Bonestar to be so upset. How am I ever going to tell anyone about that strange dream if they want me to stay silent, she wondered.

The ominous dream had all but vanished in her mind, but now forced itself forward once more. But she realized that even if she displeased Bonestar, she had saved Streampaw from injury.

"Oh, I wasn't expecting you to be back in here tonight," Hivepaw meowed as Smokepaw pushed her way into the leafy bush. The tom's dusky yellow form shifted in his nest as he turned to get a better look at her. "We thought Shadepaw had really hurt you."

"I really didn't mean to do that," Shadepaw insisted as she sat up in her moss nest, "you will be ok, right?"

Smokepaw knew that her physical pain would heal, but Bonestar's fury would scar her for a long time yet. "Yeah, I'll be ok," she breathed as she started to pick her way over to her nest.

The two siblings curled back into their moss, their whiskers drooping with tiredness. But Smokepaw wasn't sure if she could sleep. She had been unconscious in Spikedflower's den for a good portion of the day; and that was without the weight of this omen on her shoulders.

The Clans were meant to stay united. Divided, they will fall.