Heartstorm heard shouting and saw shapes through the snow as they trudged back towards their dens. Heartstorm headed for the nursery. The snow had picked up quickly. It battered at his face. Soon, he felt ice clinging to his fur, weighing him down. He felt himself being pulled down into the snow. He trembled hard but he kept moving towards the nursery. He could hardly see or open his eyes due to the snow. Soon, there was not only snow, small balls of hard hails pelted down. Heartstorm felt it hit his back and pain seared through him. He cried out in pain but nobody heard him. He couldn't even hear himself. He knew others were also struggling to get back into their dens. The barrier around camp was helping keep out the worst of the storm but Heartstorm couldn't imagine what it would be like outside camp. He hoped the patrols had gotten back in safely. Heartstorm kept going, keeping his head down. Hail hit his head and he felt dizzy. He couldn't move anymore. he didn't know if he was upright or not. Suddenly, he felt something grab his scruff. His muscles gave in. He was being dragged. The snow seeped into his fur, freezing his skin. 

          "Come on, you can help a bit," muttered the voice through clenched teeth. Sparkbelly. Heartstorm struggled to get up and with Sparkbelly pulling him, they made it to the nursery's entrance. They stumbled inside. Heartstorm collapsed onto the soft floor. Nothing was hitting his back. He trembled, lying on the ground, glad for some calm. He heard Sparkbelly coughing and slumping down beside him. Suddenly, Heartstorm was aware of something warm being pressed against him and even warmer words in his ears. 

           "Heartstorm," Silverdrop whispered. He opened his mouth to reply but he couldn't. He just grimaced in pain. His whole body was burning in pain. Slowly, the loud noise of hail outside was just a background noise to Heartstorm an he opened his eyes. He slowly heaved himself up. 

            "don't get up," Cloudbreeze ordered. "Just sit up." Heartstorm slowly sat up. Brightkit and Bumblekit looked up at him with wide eyes. 

             "How are you feeling?" asked Silverdrop. "Where does it hurt?" 

             "Everywhere," Heartstorm groaned. 

             "You're bleeding," Silverdrop told him, licking his cheek. He looked down at his side, blood poured down from his back and the top of his head was bleeding from the hail. 

            "All we can do is lick it to clean it," Cloudbreeze told Heartstorm. Silverdrop licked his wounds. 

             "WHere's Sparkbelly?" asked Heartstorm. He turned around and spotted Sparkbelly, a heap on the ground. His heart dropped. "I-is he.. ok?" Sparkbelly had saved his life. Sparkbelly had risked his life for Heartstorm. Heartstorm felt guilt and worry rise in his throat. 

            "He's... alive," Acornheart said. She was licking a wound on his stomach. Daisykit and Heatherkit cowered at the side. 

            "He'll be alright.., right?" Heartstorm said hoarsely. 

             "I'm sorry Heartstorm," whispered Bumblekit. "I don't have any herbs to put on any of your wounds. I wish Frogleap was here." 

             "It's ok honey, go back to sleep," Heartstorm murmured although he knew the kits weren't about to sleep. 

              "You should rest," Cloudbreeze said. "Nobody knows how to treat these wounds except licking it and rest." Heartstorm nodded. His head was swimming so he slowly lowered himself to the soft but cold ground. He didn't want to sleep knowing a storm was raging and Sparkbelly was hurt but slowly, sleep pulled him in.