DOVEPAW STIRRED. SHE opened her eyes in the medicine den. The chill breeze floated into the den and ruffled her long fur. The camp was quiet. She looked around and met Badgertooth's gaze. "What happened?" she asked. She found it hard to move her head; there were cobwebs swathed on her upper neck.

Badgertooth's eyes were wide with concern. "You came into the camp warning us about a MoonClan attack, and then you passed out. I made sure that the bleeding in your neck didn't go any further. It's a good thing that that blow didn't damage your spine. Otherwise things could've been worse."

Dovepaw twitched her tail. "Is Mousepaw okay? Do you know?"

Badgertooth shook his head. "But I believe that she is okay. She is surrounded with her Clanmates who are willing to fight beside her. I think she'll be fine."

Dovepaw nodded stiffly. "Okay. I hope you're right." She stepped out of the nest. "Please tell me I can do something to assure that the warriors are safe when they come back."

Badgertooth's long whiskers quivered. "Well, usually I get bundles of herbs ready when the cats come back with injuries. Just so I don't have to rummage through my store to get the herbs."

Dovepaw nodded again and strode to the herb store. She began to bundle herbs in beech leaves and put them aside for later. Marigold and horsetail for keeping infections away, moss to help stop the bleeding, broom to heal broken bones and wounds, thyme for shock. . . .

Badgertooth stood beside her, making the bundles. He barely had to tell his apprentice what to do; she was growing into a skilled medicine cat.

"I made eight bundles," Dovepaw sighed, sitting down tiredly. "I think that's enough if you made some other ones."

Badgertooth nodded. "That's enough. Thank you. You can rest now."

Frozenfang sat up suddenly. "Let me go! I need to fight them. There was a reason I left, and that's because I want to stop them and their treacherous plots."

Badgertooth and Dovepaw exchanged looks. "I don't think you're well enough to fight those huge warriors," Dovepaw mewed gently.

"What if Nightwhisper is there? She's the one who tried to kill me! I just want to sink my claws into her." Frozenfang flexed her claws. "Then we'll see who's scared."

Badgertooth gazed at her steadily with a concerned look in his eyes. "I am with Dovepaw. If you couldn't get away from Nightwhisper without an injury, I don't think you can be in this battle without an injury. I know how much you want to get your revenge on MoonClan, but you have to believe me."

Frozenfang stared at her paws. "Sorry, I realized I got carried away . . . I guess I am one of them."

Dovepaw stepped closer to Frozenfang. "No, you're not. I know you. You are not even close to being like them. I promise."

Frozenfang sighed. "But I still can't go?"

Both Dovepaw and Badgertooth shook their heads solemnly. "I'm sorry."

Distressed caterwauls exploded from the clearing. Dovepaw turned sharply, a bundle of herbs in her jaws. Dawnsplash, Snowtail, Acornshade, Rosefeather, and Blizzardpelt pelted into the clearing while Mousepaw and Whitefoot dragged a large heap of white fur.

Dovepaw darted towards them. Badgertooth followed her close behind. The reek of death surrounded the body. It was mixed with the sweet scent of Lynxstar. "Lynxstar! Oh, no . . ." She put down her herbs and unwrapped the bundle. Badgertooth put moss on Lynxstar's neck, which was bleeding heavily. Dovepaw put a paw on her mother's side. She was barely breathing, but she was still alive.

Dovepaw pressed more moss on; right now that was all they could do. She also focused on Lynxstar's breathing. Please live, please live.

Dovepaw's heartbeat quickened when Lynxstar's chest stopped moving and she went completely still. "No, no, no . . . Lynxstar, stay with me!"

Badgertooth turned his fearful gaze to Dovepaw. "She's gone. She's losing her third life."

"Third?"

Badgertooth nodded solemnly.

"Oh, no, no, no, no." Dovepaw felt dizzy. She sat down and took deep breaths. "Not Lynxstar."

Dovepaw looked behind her when she felt a touch on her flank. Mousepaw was sitting beside her. "Lynxstar's dead, isn't she?"

"She's lost her third life, but yes." Dovepaw leaned into her, and Mousepaw buried her muzzle in her sister's shoulder fur.

Mousepaw nodded, clearly unable to speak.

Dovepaw understood. She stayed silent.

Lynxstar stirred. Mousepaw and Dovepaw looked up. "What—what happened?" she asked.

"MoonClan happened," Mousepaw growled, hatred filling her voice.

Lynxstar sat up. She flexed her shoulders. "My neck hurts. What actually happened?"

Badgertooth nodded. "There was a MoonClan attack. But don't strain to look at it. Follow me, I'll wrap that up in cobwebs for you before the bleeding gets bad."

Lynxstar nodded stiffly and followed Badgertooth and Dovepaw to the medicine den. She sat in a nest and watched as Dovepaw dabbed some marigold poultice onto the wound and wrapped some cobwebs around Lynxstar's neck.

Badgertooth let Lynxstar take a couple of poppy seeds. "These will help the pain, and help you sleep. With a neck wound, it's best to rest and let it heal."

Lynxstar nodded again and laid down in her nest. Her breathing deepened and steadied, signaling that she was fast asleep.

Dovepaw looked at Badgertooth hesitantly. "Can I go on a small walk? You know, to get some fresh air."

"Sure. I can take care of the rest of these injuries, don't worry."

Dovepaw flicked her tail. "Thanks. I'll be back before moonhigh." She left the den, looking over her shoulder, her thoughts being consumed with thoughts of Lynxstar, and left the camp. She veered into the woods that led into ThunderClan territory.

She couldn't help but feel a sensation that someone was following her.

Dovepaw walked along the sun-dappled path. Snow covered the ground, but it was melting already. She gazed around, musing at the beauty of the territory.

Dovepaw was dragged from her thoughts when there was a loud rustle in the bushes. She unsheathed her claws instinctively, prepared to defend herself. "Come out right now!"

She walked closer to the bush where she heard the noise. The scent of Foxpaw wreathed around her comfortingly. "Okay, Foxpaw, you can come out."

The bushes stopped moving for a heartbeat before Foxpaw crawled out. "Sorry to disturb you, Dovepaw. I was just worried about you. I know that Lynxstar losing a life is terrible for you. Especially since it's her third."

Dovepaw gazed at him gratefully. "Thank you. And you aren't disturbing me. You never do." She stepped closer so that their fur brushed against one another.

Foxpaw's amber eyes glistened. "There's a place I want you to see. Come along." He flicked his tail and led Dovepaw down the sparkly white path. They wandered through the woods until they reached a gently rushing stream with a small waterfall at the end. "Here."

Dovepaw gasped. "How'd you find this place?"

"When Leafpaw died, I came here. It's soothing in a strange sense. I like to just sit here and think. Sometimes just not think at all." Foxpaw nudged Dovepaw to the edge and sat down.

"Really? It's wonderful," Dovepaw mused as Foxpaw twined his tail around hers.

Foxpaw turned to look at her. "Tell me what you feel. I'm here for you, you know that."

Dovepaw ducked her head.

"Come on . . . Is there any other cat you feel comfortable talking to about things like this?" Foxpaw pressed.

Dovepaw searched his gaze. Concern glittered in those amber depths, strong and selfless. But maybe they shone with a light that betrayed the fact that he wasn't sharing some dark secrets. . . . "Okay. When Lynxstar finally lost her third life, I knew that she would be completely gone forever before you can say 'mouse.' You know, with MoonClan on the hunt and everything."

Foxpaw nodded. "Makes sense. Yeah, with MoonClan, it seems like cats are dying wherever you look."

Dovepaw fell silent again, but as her bottled-up feelings rose in her chest, she found herself telling Foxpaw everything. The prophecy, Sparrowfeather, concerns about MoonClan, and everything else. When she finished her legs were shaking and she felt as though her throat closed up.

Foxpaw pressed against her harder yet more gently. "It's okay. Take deep breaths." He licked the top of her head fiercely and with affection. "Everything will be alright."