Loud screeches rang over the clearing as cats streamed around Pearpaw. Her mind swam as she fought to remember the fighting moves Applestripe had taught her. It was her first battle, and an unexpected one, too. In the corner of her eye, she saw Tansycloud getting knocked over by a huge yellow tom with one swipe of his paw. Her mother hissed as the tom smirked and began nipping at her neck. Flecks of blood soon showed on her pelt, and her mother's blows became weaker. Pearpaw couldn't do anything but watch, numb with distress.

"Get a move on, Pearpaw!" A strained yowl sounded nearby. Pearpaw whipped around to see her mentor, Appledusk, pinning an orange tabby to the ground. There was a shining gold triangle on the cat's collar that made clear, ringing sounds every time the tabby moved. Applestripe was panting hard, his wounds trickling blood.  There was a huge scratch beneath his neck, and it was pouring blood like a waterfall. "This is what I've trained you for," he rasped, grabbing the tabby's throat. 

"Nobody lays a claw on me without dying!" the tabby snarled. He tried to churn his legs on Applestripe's belly, but Applestripe dodged neatly out of the way. His eyes caught with Pearpaw. "Go help the other cats. I can take care of this filthy kittypet," her mentor hissed. As Pearpaw bounded away, she could see the two toms grappling again. 

"Tansycloud!" yowled Pearpaw. In one bound, she leaped on the tabby and knocked him away from her mother. She sent him reeling with blows after blow, and suddenly a shape hurtled towards her. It was Tansycloud, her eyes set with determination. The yellow tom slumped against some rocks jutting out from the ground and didn't move again. Her mother was covered in blood, and she collapsed on the floor. Her breaths came in ragged gasps. Her heart lurched as she saw the yellow tom's lifeless body splayed beside her, his eyes glazed with fury and fear. Suddenly everything went quiet. Smokenose, Lightwillow, Harepaw and Treepaw were driving the rest of the intruders away. Pearpaw's panic turned to sorrow as her mother closed her eyes. 

"You can't die! I haven't even become a warrior yet!" wailed Pearpaw, burrowing her head in her mother's flank. Her sweet scent filled her head. Pearpaw was shocked when a familiar purr rose from Tansycloud. "I think you'll need more training! What will you do when you can't even recognize a cat's wounds?" Her mother rose again, showing no signs of tiredness as she gave Pearpaw's ear a lick. "This isn't my blood. It's that mange-pelt's," sighed Tansycloud, staring contempedly. Affection warmed her gaze as she stared at her daughter. "You fought so well, my daughter. I think you deserve to be a warrior after this."

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"Please, save my son!" An agonized yowl rang across the clearing. Smokenose, Snowytail, and Blackspring were huddled around a she-cat. Blood dripped from her wounds, and even as the life escaped from her body, the tail curled around the kit with gray and brown fur stayed there. "Who are you cats? And why is Molly crying red tears?" squeaked the kit, worry clouding his gaze. 

Blackspring's eyes were hollow and full of grief. "What's your name, little kit?" she asked, staring hopelessly at Heatherleap. She could only sigh and shake her head, sadness piercing her heart when she heard the kit's answer. 'I'm Gorse. Molly said it was because her favorite spot was a patch of gorse in the sunshine!" he squeaked, his eyes brightening. 

"And now she's died in a gorse bush," whispered Umberfoot sadly, pointing her tail at the flowers scattered across Molly's mangled body. Heatherleap felt responsible for the she-cat's death - she hadn't been able to stop the attack as a medicine cat. "Oh, sweetheart," murmured Blackspring, her voice husky. She glanced at Minkpelt, who looked heartbroken as though Gorse were her own kit. Blackspring padded towards the warrior, who looked like she knew what the leader was going to say. 

"You're our most tender and compassionate queen, and you have raised two loyal apprentices," she began. "It is partially our fault for the kit's mother's death. The least we can do for him is protect him as our own." Minkpelt nodded in acceptance, and gingerly grabbed Gorse by his scruff. "He doesn't look very young. He'll be an apprentice in less than a moon," the queen noted. She rubbed her nose to the curious-looking kit. "Who are you?" he rumbled, purring as Minkpelt's whiskers tickled his nose. 

"I'm Minkpelt. You are going to be the best warrior you can under my care. Your name will be Gorsekit now," sniffed Minkpelt softly. Heatherleap could already sense tender affection in her actions. Treepaw and Harepaw exchanged sorrowful glances, and rubbed their pelts against the kit's. "Will I see Molly again?" Gorsekit squeaked. His eyes were full of questions, but he held his tongue as the older cats murmured. "Molly will always be watching you," Heatherleap mewed. "So you have to be the best warrior and care for this Clan. Show her that you are big and strong." Suddenly a spark of emotion glinted in the kit's eyes.

Gorsekit struggled, and fell to the floor with a thump. His expression as furious. "I know Molly is dead. And that I'll never see her again. I also know that some cat here killed her," snarled Gorsekit, his fur bristling. "So why do I have to be a warrior here?" His outburst caused more muttering among the cats.

"Because your mother wanted it." A new voice sounded. A sly black tom slinked out of a pile of ferns, and dried blood stuck to his pelt. His eyes were full of tiredness, but he looked certain as he pushed his way to Gorsekit. "Fitz!" he exclaimed. He looked skeptical, but allowed himself to be licked all over. "Who are you?" demanded Blackspring, drawing her teeth back in a snarl. "And are you Gorsekit's kin? Why didn't you run off with all your kittypet friends?"

Fitz gave a solemn nod."I am Gorse's father." 

The tom ignored the gasps and hisses from the cats and turned to face them. He either couldn't sense or ignored Blackspring's hostility. "Molly heard about you cats. She knew she would be killed by our brutal ways before Gorsekit would be fully grown. She wanted him to live a safe, fulfilling life," he muttered. Grief clouded his eyes. "That's why you brought a kit to a battle?" snorted Wavestorm, glowering at Fitz. The small tom stared defiantly back at the warrior. "It wasn't meant to happen like this. Ebo gave the order to attack foolishly," protested Fitz. 

"It doesn't matter how or why Gorsekit got here," growled Quailnose, pelt bristling. "Yeah, get out of our camp right now!" snarled Snowytail, advancing at the tiny tom. Heatherleap was surprised to see that Fitz was barely bigger than Pearpaw. The apprentice was sitting huddled next to Hayclaw, Tansycloud and Treepaw, licking each other's wounds. Heatherleap made a mental note that Applestripe and Lightwillow had the worst injuries.

"Stop!" ordered Blackspring. She turned to Fitz, who had a blank expression on his face. "Leave now. Gorsekit will be well cared for here, and is no farther than a fellow Clanmate."

this is such a crazy chapter.. i'm not really proud of it but oh well ㅠㅠ

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