DOVEPAW FETCHED SOME marigold from the herb store and began to mix them up so that they could be applied to Frozenfang's wound. When they were okay to use, she applied the paste to Frozenfang's wounds, Badgertooth offered some two poppy seeds to Frozenfang. He was a bit tense due to the fact that they were saving a former MoonClan cat. "Eat these. They'll help you sleep, and ease the pain."

     Dovepaw began to wrap cobwebs around Frozenfang's wound.

     The night before, they brought Frozenfang back to the camp. Dawnsplash had let them in, promising not to say anything because Dovepaw and Badgertooth were going to by themselves. Dovepaw has been fretting about it all night.

     They tended to Frozenfang's wounds and got just a little bit of sleep.

     "Thanks," Frozenfang mewed hoarsely as she licked up the seeds. She laid her down and closed her eyes. Soon her breathing was slow and steady, and she was asleep.

     Dovepaw opened her mouth to tell Badgertooth that they should be going to tell Lynxstar, but she broke off in a gaping yawn. "We should tell Lynxstar, and then get some rest."

     Badgertooth nodded. "You sound like a real medicine cat already. Come on, let's go." He led Dovepaw from the den. They crossed the clearing towards Lynxstar's den.

     "Hey, Dovepaw!" Mousepaw came running over. "You look exhausted. How was last night?"

     Whitefoot came padding over. "It seems that they are going to share a message with Lynxstar. You can talk to Dovepaw later. Owlheart would like us on patrol."

     Mousepaw looked at her mentor with clear dissatisfaction. "Okay. I'll see you later, Dovepaw!"

     Dovepaw nodded and watched as her sister and Whitefoot left with Frostfeather and Foxpaw. She turned and followed her mentor to Lynxstar's den. The FrostClan leader was laying in her nest, deep in thought.

     "Welcome," Lynxstar mewed. "How was your journey last night? Any advice?"

     Badgertooth shook his head. "But we came to discuss something else that happened last night." He gazed at Lynxstar with a pessimistic look in his eyes. "There was a cat in danger. She was from another Clan, but she was dying. We took her in, and she's in the medicine den now."

     Lynxstar stood up. "Let me see her."

     Dovepaw and Badgertooth glanced at each other. Dovepaw nodded to her mother and they left the den. She ignored the curious looks and mutters that came from the FrostClan cats.

     When Lynxstar entered she gasped. "Is she MoonClan?"

     Frozenfang was fast asleep in her nest. Her wound was swathed in cobwebs. Her breathing was rattling in her throat, and she was twitching slightly as if she were having a bad dream.

     Dovepaw took a deep breath, glanced at Badgertooth again, and meowed cautiously, "Yes."

     Lynxstar gasped. "How could you help a MoonClan cat? They don't deserve our help! They killed our cats, trying to wipe out our Clan."

     Owlheart was coming into the den. "What is this? I was walking by, and I heard Lynxstar exclaim."

     "These two brought in a MoonClan cat without permission. I should be punishing them! They disobeyed me." Lynxstar's eyes were icy with hostility.

     "You didn't say anything about not helping a cat in need," Dovepaw growled, trying to stay calm by failing miserably.

     Badgertooth flicked his tail. "Stay out of this."

     Anger rose in her throat, sour like the tang of monsters. I convinced you to bring her here! And now you're acting like you're the leader? You mouse-brain! She sat down and watched as Badgertooth tried to explain.

     "She is correct. You never said anything about that. Plus, she says that you told her and Mousepaw about a cat in MoonClan that isn't like the others. 'This might be her,' she says," Badgertooth explained.

     And now he's telling them everything I said even though he told me to stay out of it! She clenched her teeth, holding back a hiss of disbelief.

     "I have." Lynxstar nodded slowly. "But even so, I don't like the idea of having a MoonClan member in my camp. What if my warriors get scared? What if she betrays us in the next battle?"

     "Frozenfang won't, I promise! She was running away from the MoonClan cats. They were going to kill her! They didn't want her in their camp. She told me herself," Dovepaw explained.

     Badgertooth shot her a glare, but the anger in his eyes faded to gentleness. "Well, then, what about that, Lynxstar?"

     "Send her to another Clan!" Owlheart yowled. "She doesn't belong here!"

     "Maybe. But for now, I must tell the Clan," Lynxstar mewed coolly. She left the den and hopped onto the Snowrock, calling the Clan to gather around her. "I have some news that might disturb some of you." Her gaze drifted across the whole Clan. "This was not my intention, but there is a MoonClan cat in the camp now."

     Dawnsplash looked worried, and Blizzardpelt looked shocked. The Clan began to murmur worriedly.

     "She is the one some of you must have heard of. She ran away from her Clan because they were going to kill her. She had a terrible wound and my medicine cats insisted that they couldn't leave her to perish," Lynxstar explained.

     The Clan burst into questions and angry yowls.

     "What do you mean?" Snowtail demanded, raising her muzzle so that her green eyes sparkled with their usual hostility. "You're just going to let it slide? You are our leader! You must do something about it!"

     Lynxstar shook her head. "No, I am not letting it slide. I will deal with this. But for now, Frozenfang stays in our camp until she is rehabilitated."

     Dawnsplash, who was standing at her sister's side, looked like she was about to burst. She must have been thinking about the secret she agreed to keep.

     Frostfeather raised her voice. "Dawnsplash was guarding the camp, correct? She must have known about this and didn't think to tell any of this? Lynxstar, she should be punished."

     Dawnsplash shrank back against the other cats' disapproving glares. Lynxstar was staring down at her, too. "I—uh—I was guarding and Badgertooth made me promise to keep Frozenfang a secret until they told you, Lynxstar, but it's been so hard," she explained in a rush.

     Lynxstar swiveled her head around and glared at the two medicine cats. "You told her to keep it a secret? From your leader? How could you? I would expect more from you. Especially you, Dovepaw."

     Dovepaw gazed back at her with silent dispute, blue burning into blue. She didn't exactly have a choice. If Dawnsplash had told Lynxstar instead, she wouldn't have said it in the right way. There was no other explanation.

     "Punish them! They hid a MoonClan cat—an injured one—in the camp. They didn't even think to tell any cat immediately, and when they had the chance, they told Dawnsplash to keep it a secret!" Sparrowfeather stood tall and spoke loudly to let all the cats hear him.

     Lynxstar shook her head again. "There is no reason to punish them. At least, not until we have enough evidence to know that we should punish them."

     No! Punish us? What did we do other than keep Frozenfang a secret for a night? And saved her from death! She was going to be killed by her own Clanmates! Dovepaw glanced at Badgertooth. The black-and-white tom was staring at his paws, contemplating the whole situation. He wanted me to leave Frozenfang to die. If it wasn't for me, Frozenfang would be dead. Maybe I am special in a way. Why else would Softcloud give me that prophecy?

     "The Clan is dismissed." Lynxstar nodded to Dovepaw and Badgertooth. "I will leave you two in peace until I need you again. But be aware that this is not over." She leaped gracefully off the Snowrock and disappeared behind the waterfall.

     Dovepaw sighed. She followed Badgertooth into the medicine den before Mousepaw rounded on her. "Oh, hi. Are you here to accuse me, too?"

     Mousepaw shook her head, her blue eyes sparkling. "No, mouse-brain. I wanted to share some fresh-kill. We haven't been talking much, and I want to catch up."

     Dovepaw shot Badgertooth a pleading look.

     "Okay," Badgertooth agreed. "But you have training soon."

     Dovepaw nodded, and when she turned back to Mousepaw, she rolled her eyes. They headed to the fresh-kill pile. Mousepaw pulled out a sparrow and put it in between them.

     "How was last night?" Mousepaw asked.

     "You know how it went. I feel like a failure already. I'm not even done with training!" Dovepaw explained.

     Mousepaw rolled her eyes. "Mouse-brain. It was a brave thing to do. That MoonClan cat was in danger, and you willingly brought them in, even though Lynxstar was mad at you."

     "Yeah, well, Badgertooth thinks I have bees in my brain for bringing her here. It was my idea. But she was dying. I could leave her there," Dovepaw ranted.

     Mousepaw nodded. "Of course. Which makes Badgertooth and Lynxstar even bigger bee-brains."

     "Don't say that! They are the most important cats in the Clan, aside from Owlheart. Don't let them hear you."

     Mousepaw lashed her tail. "Doesn't matter. I'm stating facts. Lynxstar and Badgertooth are scared, and they let fear get the best of them. You didn't."

     Dovepaw took a bite of the sparrow to give herself time to think. "Sure. You have a point. But also, there was another medicine apprentice there. Her name is Swallowpaw. She is so energetic, and she reminds me of you."

     Mousepaw twitched her ear in acknowledgement. "Then she must be a great cat. Right?"

     "She can be a pain in the tail, but yes. Her mentor, Fawnspots, says that too."

     "I feel bad for her. If Swallowpaw is that bad, then having to be around her all day must be the worst." Mousepaw's eyes glittered with amusement and her whiskers quivered.

     Dovepaw nodded.

     "You look like you have something else on your mind. What is it?" Mousepaw's eyes shone with worry for her littermate.

     Dovepaw drew back. How did she know? I have been thinking about the prophecy a lot. I guess I'm just trying to push it to the back of my mind and never go back looking for it again. "Oh, well, I guess I can tell you. But you have to promise not to tell anyone. I'll do that."

     Mousepaw nodded, earnestness lining her face.

     "I saw Softcloud in StarClan. She says that she is watching us—but that's not it. She told me of a prophecy that shapes our future." She fixed Mousepaw with a look of exigent. "When the moon shines in the sky, many will be lost and betrayed. But light will shine from the darkest storm clouds, but only if one can find it."

     Mousepaw's blue eyes were wide with shock. "She told you that? Really? Wow. That must be a lot, especially for you. What do you think it means?"

     Dovepaw shook her head. "I don't know. That's what I've been thinking about all day."

     "Dovepaw! You shouldn't worry yourself with these things. Tell Badgertooth about it. He'll know what to do, and he'll split the pressure between you and him."

     "I guess," Dovepaw mewed, "but I don't know. I just . . . he doesn't believe me in a lot of things, like faith in Frozenfang, and I just don't have a good feeling about this."

     "Just because he didn't believe in your trust in Frozenfang doesn't mean he won't be with you on anything else. He's your mentor, Dovepaw. Have some faith." Mousepaw cuffed Dovepaw's ear affectionately with a paw.

     Dovepaw nodded. "Thanks, Mousepaw. I'll do that."

     Mousepaw purred. "Anytime. I am the wisest cat around, after all."

     Dovepaw rolled her eyes.

     They finished the sparrow in silence, out of words to say. When they finished Dovepaw was the first to stand. "I have to go see what Badgertooth wants from me. I'll see you later."

     Mousepaw flicked her tail-tip in acknowledgement and left. Skypaw greeted her with a twitch of his ear when she approached him.

     Dovepaw purred again and limped to the medicine den. Badgertooth was sorting herbs that he had collected the day before. Frozenfang, who was stirring and waking from her rest, was laying on the nets across the den. "Can we review herbs? I'm not sure if I've got them all down."

     "All right." Badgertooth glanced at Frozenfang, who was still fast asleep, and turned to the herb store again. "Here. Come over here. What are these and what do they do?"

     "Okay." Dovepaw stepped forward. She angled her ears to a blue and white flower. "That's bindweed. If you put it with sticks, you can wrap it around a cat's broken leg."

     "Good. What about this one?" Badgertooth angled his ears to an organized pile of dark green, oval shaped leaves.

     "Those are daisy leaves. When they are mashed into a paste, they can be used to soothe aching joints. They're used for the elders. Most of the time," she responded matter-of-factly.

     "Okay. This one?" Badgertooth angled his ears to a fragrant purple flower.

     "That's lavender. If it's placed under a cat's nose and inhaled or rubbed onto a cat's fur, it can hide the reek of death. It can also be used to soothe fevers, chills, and bee stings," Dovepaw explained.

     "Great. Last one." Badgertooth pointed to some soft, dark green leaves with white flowers on them.

     "That's feverfew. It's also good for fevers, and it reduces the body heat of cats. It can also soothe aches and pains, especially headaches," Dovepaw finished off.

     "Excellent. Come over here, let's review these—"

     She and Badgertooth paused. Her heart was quickening when there were paw steps in the shadows of the back den. There was the faintest hint of MoonClan, and it was getting stronger. It's not Frozenfang. There's too much MoonClan scent on them. Must be a MoonClan intruder! "Get someone! And take Frozenfang to safety!" Dovepaw meowed hurriedly to Badgertooth. Her mentor seemed to have the same idea because he was already leaving, helping Frozenfang along. They left from behind the den where no one would see them go.

     A huge brown tabby stepped out from the shadows, his amber eyes glowing ominously, threateningly. Dovepaw could see her reflection in his eyes, scared and bristling. She was alone.

     It seemed it was her turn to die.

     "C-Cypressstar? What are you doing in the medicine den? Get out!" She raised her voice to a yowl of fear. She hoped Cypressstar would see how useless this was and leave.

     Instead, Cypressstar hissed and curled his lip in a snarl. "An apprentice in the medicine den? What a treat. And no cat is here to help."

     Dovepaw crouched down, baring her teeth, and readied herself to spring.

     As she pounced and landed on the MoonClan leader, he rolled over, twisted, and pinned her down with one powerful paw. The sharp points of his claw pierced her chest, and she fought for breath. "Your time is over, apprentice." His yellow teeth and amber eyes gleamed with the thirst for blood.

     A tortoiseshell-and-white cat burst into the den, claws unsheathed and eyes blazing with amber fire. "Stop!" She leapt at Cypressstar and scored her long claws along his flank. Blood immediately oozed from deep gashes. Cypressstar yowled with pain and anger.

     Tawnyflight whipped around to face Dovepaw and yowled, "Hide!"

     No! You'll die! Dovepaw stood, frozen. She couldn't let her brothers' caretaker die! She was like a mother to all of them. But she turned around and darted towards the clearing where she trained with Badgertooth. She slipped behind the many rocks and curled inward as much as she could. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping desperately that Tawnyflight would be okay.

     Dovepaw stayed in her hiding place and kept her ears pricked for danger. She listened, bristling, as more cats burst into the camp and more fighting broke out. She was confused by the fact that fighting broke out when only Cypressstar attacked her. Then it hit her. Cypressstar must have come for Frozenfang! And the medicine supply, too. . . .

     The sun had started to fall and the first stars appeared in the sky. Moonhigh was the time MoonClan was strongest. Dovepaw felt the fur along her spine bristle and her heart started to pound in her chest.

     Dovepaw peeked around the rock she was hiding behind and saw ripped leaves and squashed berries all over the floor of the medicine den. Paw steps led from the outside of the den and into the clearing where Dovepaw was. But where was the cat that came into the clearing? Dovepaw looked around nervously and caught a faint whiff of MoonClan. It was mixed with the tang of blood and earth. She shakily turned her head and met face to face with a small yet scary-looking black tom. He had a yellow eye and one blind eye with a long scar along it—Bloodfur.

     "W-what do you want? I don't want any trouble!" Dovepaw backed away, ears flat and low to the ground.

     Bloodfur narrowed his eyes. "I can tell you already know what I want. Where is Frozenfang? The trail she left ended with mingled FrostClan scents. And led to your camp."

     Dovepaw opened her mouth to respond, but she knew she genuinely didn't know where Frozenfang and Badgertooth went. "I don't know! I promise you, I don't know!"

     Bloodfur pounced, and instinctively Dovepaw jumped back, but her bad leg slipped and she fell on her back, her belly exposed. Mouse dung! She struggled to get to her paws. The black tom pinned her down, both claws digging into her shoulders.

     "It's going to be much harder than trying to run to get rid of us," Bloodfur growled. He lifted his head and aimed for Dovepaw's throat, but a flash of white and brown fur blurred past, knocking Bloodfur to the ground. Dovepaw gasped as the small tom's weight was lifted off her chest.

     Tawnyflight was struggling with Bloodfur. It looked like she was winning. She clawed at his nose, and blood splattered onto her pure white chest fur. She dodged the black tom as he aimed to claw at her spine. She caught his tail in her teeth and yanked it back, throwing the black warrior off balance. Bloodfur clawed at her ear, tearing a huge scar in it.  Tawnyflight yowled and twisted around to meet face-to-face with her opponent.

     "Bloodfur, are you mouse-brained?" Cypressstar called from where he stood in the medicine den. "Kill the piece of fox dung!"

     Bloodfur snarled as he shot back upward and leapt at Tawnyflight, aiming his teeth at her throat. Tawnyflight jumped out of the way, but Bloodfur ended up biting the center of her throat. She yowled with agony and collapsed on the ground, legs splayed out on the earth.

     Dovepaw gasped sharply. She stared, frozen, as blood pooled around Tawnyflight. Bloodfur ran from the scene and into the rest of the fighting, his job done. "T-Tawnyflight?" she stammered, stepping forward to the dying she-cat.

     Bloodfur growled. "That should teach you not to lie. But for now, we just have to go back without Frozenfang." He glanced at Cypressstar, who looked thoroughly disappointed.

     "Retreat, MoonClan! Our job is done . . . for now," Cypressstar yowled. The MoonClan cats fled from the camp.

     Dovepaw stared after them.

     Mouse-hearted fox-hearts. Dovepaw growled low in her throat and turned back to the clearing. She noticed Frostfeather standing in the middle of the clearing, trying to catch her breath. "Frostfeather! Tawnyflight is injured!" Frostfeather turned her attention to Dovepaw, seemingly full of energy again. She shot after her.

     "Tawnyflight! Oh, no . . . no, no, no." Frostfeather gazed down at her dying Clanmate. "Can you hear me?"

     When Tawnyflight didn't move, Dovepaw meowed panickedly, "Wake up, please!"

     Tawnyflight slowly opened her usually-glittering amber eyes. "Dovepaw . . . Frostfeather," she rasped lovingly. "I-I don't think I'll make it."

     "Don't say that!" Frostfeather gasped. "You'll make it. I know you will." She turned to Dovepaw. "What can I do?"

     Dovepaw stared at her, her mind blank with shock. "O-oh, you can get some moss or cobwebs to soak up the blood. If there are any."

     Frostfeather nodded determinedly. She turned and left towards the medicine den.

     "I'm so proud of you." Tawnyflight's mew was barely audible.

     "I got some moss!" Frostfeather burst into the clearing carrying some moss. She dropped it in front of Tawnyflight. She grabbed a bundle in her jaws and put it on the tortoiseshell she-cat's throat wound. The whole thing was soaked immediately.

     Dovepaw grabbed some more and pressed it on. "It's too much!" she gasped.

     Tawnyflight was slipping in and out from consciousness. "It's no use," she gasped weakly. "I am already in the paws of StarClan."

     "Stop," Frostfeather hissed. "You will make it."

     "Go get Badgertooth. I will stay here," Dovepaw ordered. She turned tail and fled into the clearing. Badgertooth was tending to wounds there. "Badgertooth! Tawnyflight is injured!"

     The black-and-white cat murmured something to Spottedpaw and Cloudpaw, then turned around and followed his apprentice to the back clearing. He grabbed some healing herbs from the messy den. "What in StarClan . . . !"

     Frostfeather seemed to be losing hope. Her green eyes were dull with loss already. "This is the last of the moss." She nodded to where she pressed the green leafy substance onto Tawnyflight's wound.

     Badgertooth calmly stepped forward and put down his herbs. "Cobwebs are the only things we can use now." He gave Dovepaw and Frostfeather some cobwebs. They began to wrap it over Tawnyflight's wound.

     Tawnyflight didn't respond to the touch of the sticky cobwebs. Dovepaw put a paw on the tortoiseshell's side. It wasn't moving, and her fur was cooling down. "Tawnyflight. Tawnyflight, wake up." Her legs began to shake when she realized what really happened.

     "She's d-dead."