Is this a prophecy? Why am I in StarClan? Squinting his eyes, Beechpaw tried to make sight out of the fog covering the starry surroundings. He then was able to see all-too-familiar yellow eyes staring at him through the mist. The eye's held sadness and peace, of which belonged to a dark gray tabby. He blinked in a silent greeting towards the light brown tom, to which the latter held confusion in his own, yellow eyes. Is that Eaglefeather in StarClan? He can't be dead.... The fog clouded his senses, leaving him in a different place. 

Blood was everywhere. Branchkit and Eaglefeather lay, mauled lumps of blood-soaked fur. The spectator was almost certain that they were dead.What happened? When..... Beechpaw felt disgusted; Who would do this? Did this actually happen? He took notice of the location. This scene faded into another; the focus upon a massive dark brown tabby. He helplessly watched as the tabby cat's jaw dripped with blood, fighting another cat - to the death. He couldn't see the other's pelt, but realized it was missing a leg. Why is that cat missing a leg? Is this a rogue?  Many cats were also there, and they were fighting as well. Is MistClan going to be in a war against rogues? His vision shifted to a beautiful calico she-cat. He watched as she grinned while two cats attacked each other. He couldn't get a clear look at who the other cats were, much to his dismay. Then, it all disappeared, leaving him back at StarClan's hunting grounds, to which he was greeted by a different cat. "The future must remain unclouded....use this vision wisely. You help hold the fate of MistClan...StarClan counts on you to know what to do." The small she-kit who spoke to him was Leafkit - Fernshade and Eaglefeather's daughter who died during her mother's kitting. Before having time to respond, he found himself in the waking world.

He shot his head up, looking around. It was nearly dawn, and he suspected that he was the only cat awake. The abrupt jolt of his dream's contents sent him rushing to Stonefeather - sleeping soundly in his nest; awaking him with a jab to the side. The medicine cat looked panicked, before seeing Beechpaw looming over him. "What is it," the gray tom hissed, obviously not pleased with how he was awoken. "The clearing! Branchkit and Eaglefeather - I think they are dead! StarClan came to me; Eaglefeather and Leafkit were there! We need to go, now!" His yellow eyes held uncertainty and fear. Beechpaw hurriedly began to shove herbs in a pile for them to bring. "There was blood, we need cobwebs and comfrey root. Definitely dandelion and horsetail!" Beechpaw's mew came in short breaths and muffled due to him grabbing all he could and wrapping it with laurel leaves. Trusting in his apprentice, Stonefeather wiped the deluge of sleep from his senses, and joined in his urgency.

"I'll tell King Kestrelfall; you should look in the nursery to see if Branchkit is there, Beechpaw." The gray tom's pelt was ruffled. He looked as if the whole of Place of No Stars were about to attack him. Beechpaw ran, skidding to the entrance of the nursery, just as a yowl sounded from its hollow. It was Fernshade, "Branchkit is missing!" Beechpaw now knowing, backtracked to Stonefeather whom he found in the center of the camp. With a nod they sprinted out of the entrance made of brambles.

There was no speaking as they went down the familiar path they knew led to uncertainty. Stale dog scent could be identified, along with the putrid smell of blood. They heard many pawsteps behind them crushing pinecones; knowing that Kestrelfall probably sent a patrol. Beechpaw saw Leafstreak, Jayflight, Swiftclaw, Gorsepaw and Ripplescar; and together they made way to the bloodied place. A yowl of shock from Gorsepaw upon seeing the mutilated body of his mentor was heart-breaking. Stonefeather took shaky breaths, stumbling over to Eaglefeather's corpse. "He's dead..." Beechpaw sighed, voice holding grief. Remembering his vision, he quickly shuffled over to a particularly tall patch of bloodstained grass - which in them held Branchkit. I didn't see him in StarClan...could he still be alive? He held his ear towards the tom's blood-caked chest, hearing a very faint heartbeat. "Stonefeather, Branchkit is alive...!" 

The gray flecked tom swiftly approached - Beechpaw sensing a strong emotion coming from his mentor at the sight of his sister's kit's still form. Stonefeather didn't speak, working alongside Beechpaw as he chewed the comfrey into a poultice, spreading it across his back and leg. Stonefeather chewed the dandelion into another poultice - a painkiller. "Use horsetail...we don't want him to get an infection." Beechpaw inwardly winced at how pained the medicine cat sounded. After the kit's wounds were patched with horsetail, cobweb was placed to stop any bleeding. Beechpaw then looked up at his mentor. The gray tom's eyes were fixated on the mangled leg; and Beechpaw knew what he must be thinking. His leg is dead, he can't use it anymore....it will need to be chewed off. Beechpaw stiffened, Could he be the three-legged cat? 

The patrol had gone, bringing the body of Eaglefeather with them. The unconscious kit, remained on site with the medicine cats, unknowing his impending loss of limb. The leg was only hanging on by a small strip of skin; the bottom portion completely butchered. Although Beechpaw was a medicine cat apprentice, the thought of having to chew the kit's leg off seemed objectionable. Stonefeather did it instead; not even giving Beechpaw a chance to try to volunteer in light of his familial tie. Gnawing, sloshing, and tearing sounds, which lasted only but a few moments, freed the kit of the broken burden. Beechpaw watched in duty to his position, his misted eyes foregoing the atrocity in front of him and refocused upon his visions....a life was saved. What role does this little life play to save MistClan? 

The Clan was respectfully quiet at their return to camp as they settled Branchkit in the medicine den. With his bleeding stopped, though still unconscious, Beechpaw felt certain of Branchkit's recovery - for he had a role in the future of the Clan yet unbeknownst. Leaving Branchkit and Stonefeather in solemn silence; Beechpaw, feeling the pains of hunger, set out to the fresh-kill pile. He saw Fernshade and Frondkit grieving, while Thornkit, eyes expressionless, was off to the side under Snowleap's counsel. The older, white pelted cat, seemed to have taken a liking to the young, brown tabby. Stepping closer to where Eaglefeather lay, he stiffened at the sight of another body there too.

Chapter 4 is finally published! Sorry everyone...took a while to post this. I wrote 2 other versions of this, but nothing really fit, so I decided to go with Beechpaw's point of view.