Into The Woods

Prolouge

*Prologue was written by Akingtiedtohisthrone*

 The moon bathed two cats as they headed towards a massive tree. It looked hundreds of years old. "Birdflight, are you absolute that this is where your grandmother got a prophecy? It looks so..." The smaller one cocked her head. "Juniperpaw, it's a grand place. I just wanted to show you it." The bigger one, apparently Birdflight, smiled at her curious apprentice.

"Oh, then." Juniperpaw shuffled her paws, and they walked closer to the wolf tree. "If you receive a prophecy, tell me, unless the StarClan cats tell you not to, alright, Juniperpaw? I'll put the same rules on myself." Birdflight told her apprentice. "Alright, Birdflight." Juniperpaw nodded vigorously. They both curled up right at it's roots, immediately falling into a trance.

Birdflight walked among a grassy field, seeing a thick black tom. She smiled, walking up. "Sootmask, do you have a prophecy?" She cocked her head. "Yes, Birdflight." He put his paw on her forehead, making her step back a rabbit-length. Her eyes blacked out, then watched something. Sootmask and her were both there, invisible. "You see those two? Their not in our Clan, but their standing in camp." He pointed to a thick-pelt sorrel shecat and a tom that had a pelt like fire.

"Yes. I see them. Are they rogues?" She mused. "I won't tell you that much, but I will tell you this; *When the weak begin to reach for their highest peaks, a massive enemy will try and ruin MarshClan, and they will drown it out."* Sootmask told her, his eyes a'blaze.

"A... *The* Prophecy." She murmured, and the earth fell out under her paws like an earth-quake. She was used to this feeling of waking up, regaining her body form in real life. Juniperpaw was already awake. "Get anything? My dead sister told me some stuff but that's all. Something like a vision. I saw two cats who we don't know in mid-camp." The apprentice murmured. "I saw the same thing, and got a prophecy with it." She quickly explained the prophecy as well.

"Woah." Juniperpaw murmured. They began on their way back to camp. "Sounds pretty cool." She grumbled. "Juniperpaw, we should tell the leader when we get back to camp." Birdflight glanced at her apprentice. "Alright." Juniperpaw answered curtly.

Chapter 1

*This chapter was written by Ne0nCol0urz*

Fido had hoarse breathing. He always had hoarse breathing, for that matter. He was in his soft, comfortable pink bed, yet he still wasn't asleep. Fido was scared to go asleep. Though the moon shone brightly, and the sky was a pitch ebony, Fido creeped his way out of his house, his  matching pink collar lightly ringing. He leaped up on to the table in the kitchen and heaved himself out the window, then plopped on the dewy grass.

*That's one way to do it, I guess.*The orange tom thought, his paws still aching from the fall. He retraced his steps to the fence, the wind tugging at his fur.  He ascended up, almost toppling over, but luckily regaining the feline's balance. He yawned, fixing his emerald gaze on the dense woods in front of them. The scent of pine, oak, and birch trees filled his nostrils. Fido always had a passion for the woods.

Suddenly, Fido heard rustling. His ears perked and his stomach lurched. *Please don't let it be one of those forest cats.* He pleaded to himself. Only moments later, the rustling was his good friend Shi-Shi. The russet she-cat fixed her green eyes on him, then brushed her ridiculously long pelt against his. "What are you doing so late at night?"

Fido hesitated, then decided to tell his friend the truth. "I.. couldn't sleep, and I was looking at the forest."

"The *forest*?" Shi-Shi growled. "You're not going to *go* there, are you?"

Fido shook his head swiftly. "No. I just think it's so.. beautiful."

Shi-Shi sighed and sat down beside him. They both gazed at the forest for a very long time, silence among them. Fido hesitated, then whispered. "I wonder what it's like living in the forest." Shi-Shi nodded, as if agreeing, but Fido thought she was just doing that so he wouldn't get offended. He shrugged the thought off, and sighed. "I better get back to my housefolk."

She stared at him for a few heartbeats, then answered. "Alright. See you tomorrow?"

Fido narrowed his green eyes. *What for?* He thought, but didn't dare ask the question aloud. He just nodded and leaped from the fence, back into the house for the rest of his day.

Chapter 2

*This chapter was written by Akingtiedtohisthrone*

Shi-Shi walked around the garden of her owner's house. It had lovely roses. She walked back in through the cat door, the small bell on her pink collar jingling. "Shi-Shi!" A small girl squealed. Fido was outside, perched on the white fence. She looked at her food, walking over to it and eating.

She walked outside, hopping onto the fence with Fido. "Why do you always stare out at the forest, Fido?" Shi-Shi cocked her sorrel head, narrowing her deep emerald eyes. "I don't really know, I just like it. It's... Beautiful, I guess." Fido answered half-heartedly. "You say that every time I ask that. You're not gonna leave the Upright's nests. We live here." Shi-Shi scoffed rather aggravatingly, licking her extremely fluffy, rust-colour pelt.

"But... Well, Maybe we could see what's out there? We'll return back here!" Fido stared at Shi-Shi with hopeful eyes. "Why can't you just go out there without me?" She raised her brow. "I don't know, I just want company." He answered quickly, paws landing swiftly on the other side of the fence. "Fine." She grumbled, jumping down as well.

The grass was rougher than in their Upright's yards. It was unusual-feeling, and almost felt uncomfortable. "Think we'll see one of those, forest cats?" Fido looked over at Shi-Shi who was almost in front of him. "Forest-Cats, huh? Oh, *Those.* Those are just the old cat's fantasies." She rolled her eyes.

Trees were everywhere. Birds chirped from their nests, and they flew off when they heard the bell jingling on Shi-Shi's collar. Fido could hear rustling, gasping. Shi-Shi turned around when she heard him gasp. "What, Fido? Did you hear something?" She cocked her head rather blankly. "Yeah. Rustling." He breathed, and gave a shiver to the thoughts of the forest cats.

Cats. A grey-blue shecat was on the other side, and had just noticed them. She walked through, smiling at them. The shecat had saw their collars, finding they must be no threat. A smaller orange one trotted out after, dropping a few plants that had been clasped in her jaw. "Birdflight! Kittypets!" The apprentice, Juniperpaw, gasped. Shi-Shi's eyes widened. "There *are* forest cats, huh!" She chuckled.

"Are you gonna hurt us?" Fido asked under his breath. Birdflight walked closer, making both go back a little bit. She widened her eyes. *Those two look like the cats in the vision!* She looked back at Juniperpaw, whispering in the smaller cat's ear. Shi-Shi and Fido just watched, a little stunned. "Do you want to see the Clan cats; In your case, probably Forest cats?" Birdflight asked with a smile.

"Sure." Shi-Shi scoffed curtly. Fido gave a rapid nod and a grin. *I've always wanted to see forest cats! And now I can!* His thoughts screamed. Juniperpaw led the way, Birdflight just a tiny bit behind. The two house cats followed rather willingly.

Chapter 3

*This chapter was written by Ne0nCol0urz*

Fido padded through the dense forest, following the forest cat's every step. He forced himself not to crunch on the leaves, but he crunched a few anyway. The fifth time he did it, Birdflight shot an irritated glance, so he stopped. He glanced at his friend, but she didn't look at him. Fido's tail twitched with annoyance, so he said aloud. "Are you excited to see the forest cats?"

Shi-Shi grunted. "Whatever."

Fido inhaled, and walked faster, struggling to catch up with the forest cats.  He was wheezing by the time they finally got to camp entrance.

"Just so you know," Juniperpaw started, her orange tail swaying side to side. "Our leader is kind of-"

"Shush!" Birdflight snapped at the apprentice, then awkwardly smiled at Shi-Shi and Fido. "Let's get a move on, shall we?"

Fido bit his lip. *What was Juniperpaw going to say?*He tried to shrug off the feeling. They all walked through a very neatly made entryway, and once they got in, Fido gasped with amazement. The grass was so floccose, and all the cats there looked so happy. He glanced at Birdflight. "Can I stay here for a bit?"

"Uh.." Birdflight stuttered, glancing at Fido. "Ask.. Harestar."

*Harestar?* Fido gulped, remembering Juniperpaw's comment. *Here goes nothing.*

Chapter 4

*Written by Akingtiedtohisthrone*

Shi-Shi looked at what was supposedly the leader's den. Her deep emerald eyes flashed. Fido trampled the ground with his paws in severe anxiety. "Alrighty!" Shi-Shi announced in determination. She led Fido into the leader's den, where a thick tom with a brown pelt with white splotches was laying in a moss circle. There was a half-eaten lark next to him, and he was grooming himself.

Birdflight pushed in front of Fido and Shi-Shi. Shi-Shi gave her an irritated glare, grunting quietly. "Harestar, two kittypets were spotted in our woods. Please hear them out." Birdflight exclaimed, making Harestar look up with a blank, and aggravated look.

"Fine, fine." The tom had a deep voice, which was sort of misleading for the name Harestar. Birdflight walked out, the vines obidiently moving with ease as she brushed by them. "C-Could we join your Clan!?" Fido stammered out, nearly immediately.

"What? Kittypets? MarshClan?" Harestar shot him an utterly rageful glare. "Yes, Harestar." Shi-Shi blurted out, even if earlier she had acted completely bias to it. Fido gave her a surprised glance, ears perked. "Firstly, what are you two's names?" The splashed tom, got up, tail whipping. "I'm Fido, and she's Shi-Shi." Fido answered, again quickly.

"Shi-Shi? Fido? What ridiculous names." Harestar flattened his ears with a sneer. Shi-Shi felt hot air come from her nostrils. "You little..." She growled, stepping towards him, and being held back by Fido, who shook his head at her to say not to. "How do I know your not just a couple of meek kittypets?" He smirked at them.

"We'd willingly take a test!" Shi-Shi spoke, just as Fido was about to speak; Interrupting him. Fido gave her a skeptical look. "Harestar, would you not take the words of 'kittypets', Who would be so weak and inexperienced as to probably not have the heart to lie?" Fido smirked, trying to use the title 'weak' and 'kittypet' to him and Shi-Shi's advantage.

Harestar appeared very irritated now, tail lashing. "Speaking to the leader that way?" He growled. Fido flattened his ears and bit his lip, Shi-Shi just snarling in retort. Harestar's face now turned to a lopsided grin-smirk. "Fiesty, Clever little kittypets, aye?" Harestar chuckled, with a stoic hint to his words.

"Well, how about, I do test you? You can battle our two strongest warriors." Harestar meowed. *Isn't that kind of unfair? We're not very battle-smart...* Fido's thoughts haunted him. "We'll take the test!" Shi-Shi blurted out loudly, charging into this death possibility as if it were nothing except words.

Chapter 5

*Written by Akingtiedtohisthrone*

The two kittypets were led immediately outside. "Coalpool! Shredsplash!" Harestar yowled out to the sky. A jet-ebony tomcat and a tan-beige shecat ran out immediately. "Yes, Harestar?" The shecat's adorable blue eyes glimmered.

"Shredsplash, you will be sparring this kittypet." Harestar directed the she-cat's attention to Shi-shi, who bore her dentures dauntingly, almost enough to make one think that wasn't a kittypet except for her pink bell-collar. "Coalpool, you shall be fighting this one." He commanded the tom to Fido.

Shredsplash seemed weaker, but probably just was more clever, slender and fast. Harestar planned this out, probably. Fido being faster would have an interesting time against the lumbering badger-like tom, and Shi-Shi against a speedy one.

"Fido and Coalpool first. Spar!" Harestar announced. Quite a crowd had gathered. "You're crowfood." Coalpool threatened, leaping and missing Fido by a whisker. The orange tom's eyes widened, breath taken by the blood-lust in that tom's leap.

Fido jumped in, making a thin cut on the tom's cheek, but the tom seemed to little heed this. The jet-black tom leapt, this time pinning Fido and claws sinking into the skinny one's flesh. He let out a shriek of pain. Fido kicked at Coalpool's stomach violently until he let go, writhing until back on his paws.

"Heh." Coalpool snarled, leaping again. In the thin moment while Coalpool was in the air, Fido immediately thought of a plan.

Jolting out of the way, Coalpool landed with a thud on the gravelly dirt. Fido in the slim moment of stunnedness leapt, biting into the tom's flesh with his mandible and maxilla clamping down firmly. Coalpool snarled, lashing back but not able to reach the tom.

Fido kept sinking deeper, not letting go as if his life depended on it. *Help me! I'm scared! I can't do this!* Fido's mind screamed loudly. Coalpool struggled like mad until fainting of blood-loss. Fido seemed utterly shocked. *How? How did I beat a well-trained...?* The orange tom just stared.

"Now it's the she-cat's turn." Harestar snarled, clearly having not expected success in the battle. Shi-shi and Shredsplash lined up. "Prepare to die, Clan-cat!" Shi-Shi announced, unlike what would be expected, which would be the warrior threatening the kittypet.

Shi-Shi pounced, landing on Shredsplash savagely and biting into her neck. *Isn't this sparring!?* Fido thought, kinda worried as to why Shi-Shi was being so savage. Shi-Shi dug her hind claws into Shredsplash's stomach, who writhed about under Shi-Shi's impressive weight.

Chapter 6

*This chapter was written by Akingtiedtohisthrone*

Shredsplash managed out of the heavy shecat's grip, recoiling a bit from the severe wound on her neck that soaked her fur with blood. "Die!" Shi-Shi yowled, leaping again and biting into her stomach. Harestar had his brow raised. "Stop."

Shi-Shi jumped off. "This is sparring, not kill the other." Harestar growled. "But you win, just so that Shredsplash won't die, because she's following the rules." The leader grumbled. "So we can join?!" Fido yowled with joy, hopping in a circle.

"Fine, Fine." Harestar growled. "Shredsplash, Coalpool, you know what to do." Harestar beckoned. They limped forth, and unsheathed their claws in unison. *What the!?* Fido thought. *Another battle? Heh!* Shi-Shi grinned to her thoughts.

Shredsplash's claws landed into Shi-Shi's pink collar, tearing it. The bell jingled as it landed. Coalpool's claws did the same. The kittypets looked at each other for a heartbeat.

"Any cats old enough to trudge through our maddening swamps, come to high-rock!" Harestar shouted, hopping onto high-rock. Crowds of cats came. "We have new members. Fido, step forth." Harestar seemed sour as he said this.

Fido grinned, trotting forth a few steps. "You have proven yourself against one of our best warriors, and have earned yourself a place in the Clan. You are now Flamefoot!" Harestar announced, beckoning that he would step back.

"Shi-Shi, Step forth." Harestar repeated but with Shi-Shi's name. The russet she-cat smirked, clearly making fun of the leader's failure to scare them off, stepping forward. "You have proven yourself against one of our best warriors, and have earned yourself a place in the Clan. You are now Sorrelmask!" Harestar announced.

"Sorrelmask! Flamefoot!" The cats announced, but it was quieter than normal, some not quite approving of kittypets joining the Clan. Fido was beaming. They did it! Joining a wild cat's Clan!

Chapter 7

*This chapter was written by Akingtiedtohisthrone*

It was a sunny day today. MarshClan was enjoying it's peace; Unknown to Sorrelmask and Flamefoot, many wars had been happening. There was ThrushClan; a much bigger Clan that were savage and was constantly trying to get the better parts of MarshClan's swamp.

"It appears to be the full moon." There was a rumor around camp, which meant a Gathering. "What's all the ruckus!?" Sorrelmask commanded, stomping her left paw to the earth. "It's the full moon, which means a Gathering." Flamefoot answered.

"Mmm... Of course you'd know." Sorrelmask grumbled, biting into her half-eaten squirrel. "And what's so special about this 'Gathering'." She mused under her breath. "Well, I think their trying to find out who'll go, but at the Gathering... Uh..." Flamefoot tried to remember what he had learned from the tales of his friends.

"Oh, right. Any Clans in a nearby area will gather, and they'll talk and reconstruct bonds and share news... I think." Flamefoot stared at the roof. "Mm." Sorrelmask grumbled. She finished off her mouse, stretching. Flamefoot gazed at her, suddenly realizing he was staring and looking away, cheeks warmed and lightly shaded.

They found that Harestar was going around camp, telling cats who was going. "Sorrelmask, Flamefoot. *You* two will be staying here at camp to supervise the kits with Featherwind." Harestar growled. Flamefoot's jaw dropped. "B-but, why?" He stammered.

"I'll be staying, too." Coalpool commanded. He lightly brushed against Sorrelmask, who snarled and walked a few fox-lengths away. "Flamefoot, Featherwind, you go." He said. "Mm... Normally I wouldn't allow this, but since you're the deputy." Harestar rolled his eyes.

Flamefoot stared for a moment, but his excitement took over. *I'm going to the Gathering!* The orange tom-cat's eyes were glazed with joy. As the moon rose, Harestar called all who were going to the camp middle. Flamefoot, though overjoyed, was a little worried for Sorrelmask.

*Don't worry about it. She's stronger than me, she'd be able to get Coalpool away if needed. And she's a she-cat. She'll be happy to watch over kits...* Flamefoot told himself, still disoriented. As the majority of the Clan walked, they came upon a giant tree, where the other Clan leaders were seated upon, and cats were conversating.

*The Gathering!*

Chapter 8

*This chapter was written by Akingtiedtohisthrone*

Flamefoot beamed. There were pretty she-cats, strong males, the few medicine cats, and such. One of the she-cats gave him a look of *You're cute.* Flamefoot grimaced a bit. "I wonder which Clan lets their she-cats be like that..." He mused.

"Harestar, get up here." The one female leader announced. Unlike most shecats here, she was elderly. This was Mothstar, the eldest of the leaders with wisdom but only two lives left, who led JadeClan. There were two other leaders; Pantherstar, who had seven lives and led FalconClan; And Kinkstar, the most youthful leader of nine lives and BashClan.

Harestar jumped up onto his corrosponding root. Flamefoot was still absolutely joyous. He remembered all those days of enjoying the sun, dreaming about these Clans, even if he knew it was impossible; Or so he thought. There was a tingling feeling in his fur while the leaders spoke in turn what had been happening in their Clans.

"JadeClan has been prospering deeply; Plentiful prey out in the valleys, and three new kits; Emberkit, Cinderkit, and Dustkit. Honeypaw has been promoted to Honeyslash!" Mothstar yowled, and cats chanted out the names of the four cats.

"FalconClan, out in the mountains, has trouble with two mountain lions, who had cubs and are now stealing our prey. They killed two apprentices, Windpaw and Moonpaw. No new cats, or anything." Pantherstar snarled. Flamefoot grimaced. No wonder FalconClan was so aggressive.

"BashClan has had it's usual; No extra prey, no less prey, and no problems. We accepted a rogue in, who is named Wolfslam." Kinkstar meowed. Harestar seemed to cheer up in Flamefoot's eyes; Probably because saying he let Kittypets into the most strict Clan would be shameful.

"MarshClan has enjoyed the peace. Like BashClan, the swamps haven't a single difference. Feathermoon had two kits, Smokekit and Bumblekit. We accepted two kittypets in, who we named Sorrelmask and Flamefoot." Harestar put out blankly. Cats exchanged murmurs, and then some chanted out the two names. Flamefoot quietly hid his face.

From the news, he could tell MothClan had a large line of grand, great leaders who had wisdom, and so the Clan had made good decisions and much prosperity. It was probably the biggest Clan.

From FalconClan, he could tell it was the most aggressive and bulkiest. Most likely to make rash, angered decisions...

BashClan was probably the smallest and eager to make alliances, and willing to give any Clan anything; probably not good.

Chapter 9

*This chapter was written by Ne0nCol0urz - yes I'm alive ;)*

Flamefoot stared at the sky with a bored look on his face. "I thought Gatherings were exciting.." He whispered to himself., although the deputy must have heard because she answered him. "Sometimes they get exciting, but the more boring Gatherings are, the less trouble the Clans are in." Flamefoot glanced at her with displeased optics. "Still. I bet Sorrelmask is having a better time a camp than what I just did back there."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Birdflight meowed, but before Flamefoot could ask what she meant, she bolted off to walk behind Harestar. *Whatever. '**I'll be fine if I don't have to go to a Gathering next time.*****Flamefoot fixed his gaze back on the the starry empyrean above, his thoughts wandering into the distance. It was almost as if he did this for a measly five seconds, but he had to look away when Harestar claimed they were back.**

Flamefoot trotted into camp, his gaze immediately trying to wander back to the atmosphere. His plan was interuppted when he heard Sorrelmask call to him. "How was the Gathering?"

"Boring." Flamefoot replied. "You're lucky, staying here."

"Don't be too sure." Sorrelmask grimaced, flexing her claws. "My experience wasn't all that great either."

"What happened?" Flamefoot questioned her, his tail flicking from side to side in curiousity.

"Nevermind." Sorrelmask grunted. Flamefoot inhaled sharply, but he didn't say anything. He simply trotted to the Warriors den and lay down in his nest. Flamefoot was lucky enough to have a nest near the entrance, so he could look out at the stars above him. Flamefoot sighed, his emerald gaze fixed on the stars and only the stars, until he eventually fell into a deep slumber.

Chapter 10

*This chapter was written by Akingtiedtohisthrone*

The sun heated Flamefoot's pelt. Him and four other cats were grouped up. Shredsplash, Sorrelmask, And two unfamiliar ones, who were apparently Yarrowclaw and Whitescream, were those four. Yarrowclaw's lucious, exsquisite integumentary gleamed.

"Alright, out we go to the patrol." Shredsplash announced loudly, beginning to lead the four others. "A patrol, though! Our first patrol! This should be better than the Gathering." Flamefoot whispered to Sorrelmask. "Mmhm." She grumbled blankly.

Flamefoot recoiled a bit at her stoicness, and sighed. Her carelessness to absolutely everything always got him down. As they emerged into the beautiful greenery, the canopy above hid the sun. It relieved him to cool off, and not be heated up by the sun.

Whitescream licked Yarrowclaw. "Darling, everything's alright with you, right?" Flamefoot could hear him cooing to the alabaster fae. Yarrowclaw replied with sugar-coated, sweet nothings. He rolled his eyes. *How cheesy.* Flamefoot thought grouchily.

Sorrelmask grunted loudly. "What, Sorrelmask." Shredsplash turned around. "I smell canine." She replied coldly. *How!? I We were kittypets less than a week ago! Sorrelmask is kinda freaky...* Flamefoot shuddered, And saw Shredsplash giving Sorrelmask a sneer.

"Yeah right-" Shredsplash smelled the air quietly, and cringed. Flamefoot did the same. *She was right, I think. The neighborhood dogs smelled similar to this, so I guess wolves smell like that.* He concluded. "Told youuu." Sorrelmask smirked, walking in front of Shredsplash and waving her tassel in her face mockingly.

"Be quiet." Shredsplash growled, and they continued walking, following the aroma of wolf. Suddenly, a large, black canine catapulted up towards the heavens, and landed on top of Sorrelmask. She snarled viciously, but the canis lupus didn't bother.

"I knew I smelled cat." It drooled, the liquid dropping onto Sorrelmask's cheek.

Chapter 11

Sorrelmask screeched the most terrifying, horrific screech Flamefoot ever heard. It echoed through the trees, probably across the entire land. He flattened his ears and snarled at the dog. Attempting to look intimidating, his fur puffed out his tangerine fur and hissed.

The wolf cackled. "You won't scare me, you pathetic cat." He leaned down to take a bite at Sorrelmask's neck, but before he could reach all the way, the four felines leaped onto its back and started vigoursly biting and scratching it. The wolf howled in pain and attempted to shake them off. Unfortunatley he couldn't, and he was forced to limp away in great pain. Flamefoot glared at him with amusement. He then turned to Sorrelmask, who's eyes were wide, and she looked as though she were paralyzed. *Poor Sorrelmask. I've never seen her like this. The wolf must of scared her.*

Sorrelmask had a huge scratch across her stomach. Flamefoot cringed. He took a step closer to her and declared. "We have to get her to the medicine cat, now!"

"Good thinking, Flamefoot!" Shredsplash declared, then she turned and muttered something out of his earshot. Flamefoot stared at her for two seconds, then he snapped out of it. "Let's go, hurry!"

Yarrowclaw and Whitescreen supported Sorrelmask as she struggled to keep up. Flamefoot ran ahead to warn the medicine cat what happened. *I hope Sorrelmask will be alright...*

Chapter 12

*This chapter was written by Akingtiedtohisthrone*

As they headed towards the camp, everything seemed to calm down, mostly. Sorrelmask was utterly silent and not making crude remarks for once, and the canis lupus's aroma hadn't re-appeared. Flamefoot glanced back at Sorrelmask constantly.

Once they reached the medicine cat den, Birdflight was in the main part of it, sorting herbs. She looked up instantly as if the scent of sanguine fluids awoke her from a trance. "She needs help!" Shredsplash and Flamefoot spoke in unison.

"Get her over here!" Birdflight urged, and they lay down the bleeding, sorrel fae. Sorrelmask didn't appear to be completely awake, as if she had half-fainted. Birdflight instantly got herbs out. "Where's Juniperpaw? Shouldn't she be helping?" Whitescream intruded the moment of silent intensity.

"She's out flirting with her new tomfriend." Birdflight answered carelessly. Everyone who could exchanged looks. *Tomfriend?* Flamefoot cringed at the thought of such a young she-cat flirting with a tom. The silence continued after this.

After what felt like ages, Birdflight looked up. "That's all I can do. I doubt she'll die, though, if that helps you." Birdflight meowed. Relief flushed Flamefoot's face.

Everyone was urged out of the den, and went into their dens...

The next morning, Flamefoot shoved himself up\* as fast as he woke up, and ran to the medicine cat den. It made him dizzy to get up so fast. When he entered, he saw Birdflight leaned over still-asleep Sorrelmask, applying more herbs to the wound.

It was as if his aroma woke her up, because not long after he entered, her emerald eyes opened up a bit. She stared at him with a half-hearted look. "Are you okay? You were awful scared back there." He remarked, Tense.

As if the thought of being scared appalled her, she sneered at him. "He just surprised me, I wasn't scared." She scoffed. Flamefoot smiled a bit. *Already back to her stubborn self,* He thought. "Owie." She grumbled when Birdflight applied an herb that vaguely stung.

Flamefoot just didn't stop smiling.

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15