Dovepaw flicked her tail at the new warriors. She then walked over to the medicine then.

Crowpelt dipped her head.

"Yes?" The black she-cat meowed hoarsely. Dovepaw sighed.

"Never mind."

~

Dovepaw followed Bluepelt into the forest. The two cats bounded through the undergrowth. they stoped abruptly.

"I smell badger." Bluepelt warned, ears pinned. The wind flowed swiftly. Badger? She wondered. Badgers can kill cats! She trotted closer to the scent.

"What are you doing you mouse-brain!" Bluepelt yowled. The stubborn apprentice didn't listen. A low growl came, and all of a sudden, Dovepaw felt an excruciating pain. Jaws snapped. Teeth bared. A long muzzle with a black stipe was looming over Dovepaw. Dovepaw wanted to shriek. But as she did, all that came out was a weak hiss. The badger snarled and snapped his huge jaws once more, before tumbling down and smashing its head on the base of a tree. Whisking around, the white apprentice saw Bluepelt bristling, claws unsheathed. Dovepaw would barely breathe. Craning her neck, she notices blood gushing out of a wound on her hindquarters, staining her white fur blood red. Bluepelt grabbed Dovepaw by her scruff and yanked her away, dragging her towards camp.

"You dandelion-headed apprentice," the blue-gray warrior was muttering gruffly. Dovepaw didn't move her eyes from the badger. Terror was still looming over her like a shadow. The large creature's head was turned menacingly toward them, a huge wound right behind its ear. The tree it banged its head on must've been spiky. Good, Dovepaw mused grimly. Only StarClan knew what would happen if that badger killed Bluepelt. What would Dovepaw be able to do? Now she was as useless as a kit. Her wound would prevent her from training for atleast half a moon. Grunting in pain, Dovepaw slowly backed away, keeping her eyes on the menacing creature. She turned to Bluepelt.

"I'm going to fetch help, okay?" she asked, her ears pinned. Bluepelt cast a glance at his apprentice, then dipped his head, before quickly unsheathing his claws.

"Just don't take too long."

Dovepaw whirled around and, even though the pain in her haunches was nearly unbearable, used all her might to pound through the trees, letting out long, exhausted pants. As soon as she stumbled over the ravine, she yowled as loud as she could.

"Quick! Help! Badger!"

Dovepaw took a step forward but, as she did, harsh waves of pain shot up her leg and too her body. Pangs were in her wound, and Dovepaw cried in agony. She glanced over, only too see even more blood.

No, she thought. I mustn't waste time. I have to save Bluepelt.

But nothing could prevent the wave of blackness as it hit Dovepaw, sending her reeling into a dark, bottomless pit.

~~~

"Is she okay . . . ?"

Stonestar loomed over her daughter, using her grayish paw to prod Dovepaw in the side. Dovepaw squirmed around and, as her painful memories flooded back in her senses, shot up.

She looked around wildly. "Blue . . . Bluepelt! Is he oookayy . . . !" The off-white apprentice groaned as the feeling in her leg tugged at her senses. "Oww-rrr!" she cried, gasping. Stonestar's eyes widened as she glanced at Crowpelt.

"Is this supposed to be happening?" the leader asked, her tail quivering. Crowpelt furrowed her forehead, tilting her heavy head to the side.

"She shouldn't be in this much pain . . . I gave her quite a few poppy seeds."

Dovepaw howled. "Well , you didn't give enough!" she snapped, clawing at the dirt to help take her mind off the pain. Far off, in the back of the den, her mentor crouched, his eyes closed and his breathing quick but steady. As Dovepaw let her gaze drifted off, she stifled a gasp as she observed Bluepelt's body.

"N-No!" she cried. "It can't be!"