Chapter Two

Flamekit blinked. Light streamed into her eyes. She suddenly felt the worst pain she had ever felt. Then again she was just a kit. She let out a moan.

" Flamekit?" Dappleleaf's mew arose Flamekit a little more.

"Da-dappleleaf? Am I dead?" Her weak mew startled the medicine cat.

"You are alive!"

The medicine cat ran outside her den and yelled, " Greycloud, Flamekit is alive!"

The grey queen lifted her head, her eyes stretched wide in disbelief. She darted into the medicine den without a word.

Flamekit lifted her head weakly. "Mother?"

"I'm here my brave kit, I'm here." She settled down next to her kit.

Flamekit let out another moan. Pain was clawing at her like a hawks talons. She let out a gasp as another wave of pain hit her like a wave.

Greycloud looked at Flamekit anxiously. "Dappleleaf, do something!"

"Flamekit where does it hurt?" the anxious medicine cat asked.

Great Starclan, it hurts everywhere!

" Everywhere, especially my head." Flamekit answered, her voice shaking.

Dappleleaf began to gather up some herbs from her stock.

"What happened to me?" No one answered her.

Then Flamekit remembered something, "Sharpkit! Where is my sister? She can't be dead! No,NO!"

I actually thought that I saved her.

Flamekit struggled to get up. Blood started to trickle into her eyes and her vision was growing blurry.

"You lay back down now!" Greycloud fiercely meowed.

Flamekit collapsed in her nest and coughed up a clump of blood.

"Your sister is safe and sound." replied Dappleleaf, " However, she is in a heap of trouble."

Thank Starclan!

Flamekit suddenly remembered the dream she had. "Bluestar! Did she die?!"

Dappleleaf and Greycloud looked at Flamekit with concern. "Of course she is dead, she's in Starclan!" Greycloud mewed.

"But Tigerstar, he was fighting her and-"

Dappleleaf cut her off, "I think you need to rest."

"But-"

"No, you are obviously not thinking straight. You need all the rest you can get. Don't argue."

"At least tell me what happened." Flamekit mewed.

Greycloud sighed, then began to explain, " Your father, Addertooth, was leading a patrol, they smelled badger. That's when I found you kits missing. I was so worried. Anyways, he led the patrol towards the badger, he saw that you were fighting it! It flung you to the ground, it was about to kill you, and it would have if Addertooth hadn't have saved you."

Dappleleaf pitched in, "The badger, well, when your better you'll see for yourself."

"What is it?" asked Flamekit no one replied.

A head peaked through the entrance, it was Ambertail, "I heard Flamekit is alive, Thank Starclan! I'll go tell everyone!"The queen scampered off.

" Everyone has been worried sick about you. After all you've been unconscious for three days." Dappleleaf meowed quietly.

"WHAT?!" Flamekit huffed in surprise.

"You need to get some rest, you can talk more after you get some sleep." Dappleleaf murmured.

Flamekit let out a sigh and drifted into, for once, a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Three

Flamekit woke up to the feeling of cobwebs being wrapped around her head. She opened her eyes. Dappleleaf was applying more herbs to her injuries.

"Go back to sleep, little one." her smooth voice meowed.

Flamekit didn't argue. She closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

...

Flamekit yawned and opened her eyes. She couldn't remember how long she had been in the medicine den, or even been asleep for that matter.

She looked across the den. Dappleleaf was sorting through a pile of greenish herbs. The beautiful medicine cat was so light on her feet.

I wonder if I can walk yet?

Flamekit wobbled to her feet and gained her balance. I can do this. She glanced at a long gash across her flank. It was all red and puffy. Little hairs were starting to poke through. At least my fur is starting to grow back.

Flamekit cautiously put one paw in front of the other. I can walk!

"Dappleleaf look!" Flamekit squeaked.

The medicine cat whipped her head around. "Great Starclan, what are you doing?"

What does it look like?"

"I'm walking!"

Dappleleaf darted to Flamekit's side and helped her walk around the den. "Now, you listen to me. Let's walk a little in the den, then you can possibly go outside."

Flamekit nodded her head and looked down at her paws, they were much larger. Wow, I've really grown since I've been in here.

After a few laps around the den, Dappleleaf turned to Flamekit, "Now, I'm only saying this because you look like you can," she took a deep breath then continued, " Do you want to go outside?"

Flamekit's eyes widened, "Of course! Thank you!"

Dappleleaf rolled her eyes, "Okay then, let's go."

The two she-cats padded towards the entrance. Flamekit ducked under the hanging lichen and stepped out in to the camp.

...

The light hit her like a monster on a thunderpath.

Flamekit staggered. Dappleleaf propped her back up. "Hey, take it easy." Flamekit nodded slowly.

Dappleleaf suddenly yelled, "Hey, everyone, look who decided to come out!"

Flamekit snorted, You decided, not me!

Greycloud poked her head out of the nursery, then bounded towards them. The elders strolled out of their den, their eyes wide in surprise. Apprentices, warriors, elders, and queens gathered around Flamekit.

"How are you?"

"We were so worried!"

"You were so brave!"

Flamekit's paws began to sweat, the crowd was huddled close to her trying to here her responses.

"Flamekit!" A voice called behind her.

Sharpkit?!

Flamekit turned around, the speaker was Lillykit.

Lillykit's eyes grew wide, "Oh Starclan." She whispered.

Flamekit tilted her head, "What? What's wrong?"

Greycloud gently rubbed her tail across Flamekit's back, "It's just, the badger um..." Greycloud's words trailed off.

"Come with me." Dappleleaf's voice sounded beside her.

Flamekit and Dappleleaf walked over to a small puddle.

"Well?" Flamekit asked.

"Look into it." Dappleleaf commanded.

Flamekit leaned over, the image she saw there was terrifying. She had a small gash in one ear, the fur across her forehead was ripped away, and red, peeling scabs dotted her cheeks.

She turned to look at Dappleleaf.

How could they?

Anger welled up inside her, "Why didn't you tell me I looked like a piece of crow food before we left the den?!" She hissed.

Dappleleaf's eyes widened, " Flamekit, don't say that! You'll heal and be back to your old self soon enough."

Flamekit heard pawsteps, she turned around and saw Greycloud padding towards them. "Is there something wrong?" She mewed.

Yeah, my face.

Flamekit ignored her mother's question and turned to Dappleleaf.

"Why didn't Addertooth just let the badger kill me?!" Flamekit seethed.

Greycloud pressed next to her, "Everything is going to be okay."

Flamekit pulled away from her. "Just leave me alone!"

Flamekit struggled to stand up. Her legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground.

"Flamekit!" Dappleleaf squealed.

I won't give her the satisfaction of helping me.

She got up, wincing with pain, and limped back to the den.

Starclan, why didn't you let the badger kill me?