Crescentpaw waited in the pouring rain. Sootface and Rainpaw were sharing the grouse beside her.

Lightning lit up the ground and treetops above them, accompanied by the thunder that came soon after. She watched Racconstripe duck into the apprentices den, jumping with fright when a thunder-clap split.

Tinypaw and her friend Cheetah looked tired when they emerged, but their eyes lit up with delight upon seeing Crescentpaw.

"Boy, have we got some things to tell you," Tinypaw muttered under her breath. She glanced over with an impressed gaze at Crescentpaw's company.

Cheetah rubbed muzzles with her, and Tinypaw twined tails with her sister briefly.

"You did it, Crescentpaw. You brought some of them back!" Her spotted friend sounded enraptured, standing on the tips of her toes.

"I can't wait to meet the other clan cats." A smile was placed across Cheetah's spotted face. "They smell weird. I want some of them to be my friends. Like the little sad-looking yellow one that's around my age."

"That's Oatkit. He's grieving right now," Crescentpaw explained. Pangs of guilt seized her again. "It may be best to approach him later on."

Cheetah's eyes crinkled with understanding. "Okay. That's fine because I'm just so glad my best friend is back and yay you have to tell us all about it!"

"We're so glad you're okay." Tinypaw trilled, sitting down with her tail flicking to and fro.

"And I you guys." Crescentpaw's eyes gleamed as she studied Tinypaw, and her sister looked right back at her. They couldn't say what they wanted to in front of all the other cats.

We need to talk about her training. Surely Houndspots suspects something of her claws if he hasn't found out already?

Rowanpaw stood stark in the gloom behind them, her yellow eyes strangely watchful. As per usual, the cinnamon-brown she-cat was alone. She hardly twitched an ear under the sheen of falling rain.

"Hey, Rowanpaw. I missed you!" Crescentpaw called, but her chestnut sister stayed quiet.

The warriors were walking up. They gathered between Crescentpaw and Jadestar predominately. Sootfur huffed as he was forced to the back of the crowd.

A gust of wind swirled through the cat's pelts. It was so vigorous that it turned some of their ears inside-out.

"Crescentpaw, let's start with what you've got to tell us. Then we'll move onto what I've got to tell you."

Crescentpaw gave a nervous grin, nodding acceptance at Lagoonstripe's no-nonsense words.

"Where's the Shadowclan and Windclan cats?" Quietdew probed, but her voice was nearly lost on the wind.

"Wait. First let's gather in the largest den we have available." Alpinefog declared. "The warriors den will have plenty of room for us, even with these other clan warriors." The rain cascaded down in a watery torrent, so that they could hardly see their own paws.

Jadestar opened her jaws to agree as a clap of thunder lashed the cat's nerves all over again. The warriors nodded in eager agreement.

Emberfawn glanced at the sky with a concerned expression. His soaked reddish-brown pelt was slicked against his frame.

"Grab some prey if you want." The tomcat's husky mew lifted above the wind as they rose to their paws.

Crescentpaw grabbed a pike off the fresh-kill pile. I told Alpinefog there would be prey! They had stopped to hunt for nothing.

Cloverkit could still be here. And Hillflower. Familiar clanmates passed her on their way through the den mouth.

She caught the scent of their wounds. One of them smells like infection.

When all of the cats had settled Crescentpaw felt relieved. The trees were almost doubling over outside.

She heard the wind blasting against the roof as she curled her paws beneath her. She immediately felt warm beside Tinypaw and Cheetah. Taking another bite of pike, Crescentpaw's belly expanded to accommodate the well-deserved prey.

"You got back just in time, it seems. Now, Crescentpaw. Start by explaining your thinking when you left before dawn the other day." Alpinefog swished his plumed tail across the den floor.

It took a long while for the apprentice to explain her antics. She finally got to the part about Windclan's camp, then their loss of Hillflower and Cloverkit.

Some of the Riverclan cats didn't look surprised, but Pepperpelt's expression was growing dark and contorted all over again.

"Starclan no. Not a kit!" Emberfawn tensed and stared at her seriously.

Jadestar nodded, while Crescentpaw looked at the grass and thought of Cloverkit's missing presence.

"And we still have no medicine cat. Back to the root of the problem!" Quietdew negatively added.

"Hillflower was seasoned and skilled. She had plenty of time left to train an apprentice." Lagoonstripe exclaimed.

The wisdom she could've given us...

"May Starclan light their paths." Trufflefur dipped his head.

If I were a different cat, like my father or Jadestar... could I have protected them? The Riverclan apprentice wondered. Even if it had killed me, I think I'd have saved their lives.

What's wrong with me? Crescentpaw couldn't help but blame her lost claws.

I miss you, Everfrost. I hope I never fail Tinypaw or Cheetah the way that I failed the Skyclan cats today. Her white paws were barely visible amongst the dark, mossy den floor. Crescentpaw felt a hefty weight settle in her chest.

"I was supposed to travel around the territories the day after Crescentpaw left." Lagoonstripe growled and looked over at her temporary apprentice with a simmering stare.

She flattened her ears and gave a shrug. "Sorry. I mean, I am supposed to be a warrior by now."

"Crescentpaw went in my place without telling anyone but Cheetah. Who in turn shared it with me, and thank Starclan she did." Lagoonstripe's meow was full of annoyance.

Alpinefog grinned. Tinypaw looked defensive, while Cheetah glanced over at her friend with admiration.

The woven bramble ceiling above them creaked underneath the lashing rain. Luckily, the warriors den was one of the last strong-standing dens. No water managed to get through the thick woven vine above their heads.

"My sister brought the clans back. Give her some credit," Tinypaw snapped. "They just faced down a wolf on the way here, and barely escaped with their lives." The tiny black she-cat's voice held the hint of a warning. "Some of them didn't, actually."

Jadestar turned her head and began to meow shrewdly.

"I can see that it's not just Crescentpaw who's outspoken. That seems like a common trait amongst Riverclan apprentices." Her gaze was mild, but her tone condescending.

"You've only just arrived. Let's not go there just yet." Lagoonstripe sounded sardonically sweet, as if she could flip that behavior backwards on the flick of a minnow.

"Besides, our apprentices have grown up with hardships. I'm sure yours have as well, and that makes them more independent and intent on making their own decisions. Whether they're the RIGHT ones or not," she added loudly at the end. Crescentpaw hunched her shoulders and gave a nervous laugh.

"Sorry, Lagoonstripe. I get it." She kept quiet after that.

But I can't say I won't do it again.