Blackspring paced anxiously around the warriors' den, tight knots of worry forming in her belly. It weighed down like a stone, and she couldn't do anything to help it. Dawn light seeped through the trees as the sun slowly peeked out from the hills.

Applestripe, Snowytail's new mate, was mumbling to Minkpelt, annoyance and worry sparkling in his gaze. Minkpelt's kit, Harepaw, had also developed a bellyache after she complained of a strange herb in her pile. Applestripe had also fathered Harepaw and Treepaw – Blackspring couldn't imagine how helpless the tom felt.

Pearlight, a newly made warrior, slinked towards her. "Quailnose looks uncomfortable, too," murmured the she-cat, looking apologetic to be carrying the news to her. "He's been tossing all night, and he stayed in the dirtplace for hours." Blackspring gave a worrying glance at the warrior, who was lying motionlessly on a patch of moss, his eyes glazed with pain. His mate, Tansycloud, licked his flank worriedly.

"I'll have to have a word with Heatherleap," answered Blackspring reluctantly. "Don't worry about your father. He's strong – he'll recover in no time," she mewed, trying to convince herself as much as the warrior. Pearlight dipped her head respectfully, still looking skeptical. She carefully nudged her father to her paws. "Come on, Heatherleap will fix you up," she meowed, supporting the tom. "Yeah, I'm sure she will, when she put nettles in my herb pile!" snarled Quailnose, stumbling into the entrance of the warriors' den.

What was wrong with Heatherleap? It was unusual of her to start losing her focus when something so important was about to take place. Just at that moment, Heatherleap slipped out of the den, Umberfoot following her. Umberfoot was helping Heatherleap with their patients, as she had some knowledge about herbs and healing. Both cats looked exhausted. Umberfoot's usually glossy pelt was matted with burrs and was spiking all over the place. Giving herself a shake, Blackspring flicked her tail for her old friend to come over.

"Lightwillow!" Blackspring called to the silver warrior sharing tongues with Wavestorm near the nearly bare fresh-kill pile. "Take Wavestorm, Smokenose, Treepaw, and Gorsepaw to hunt!" The warriors slowly gathered before trooping out of camp. "Follow me." Heatherleap shuffled dafter Blackspring, yawning.

"What in the name of StarTree is happening to you?" hissed Blackspring as soon as they entered her den, a sheltered area hidden between boulders. Heatherleap looked taken aback at her friend's sudden outburst. "You're poisoning our best warriors, and a new apprentice! We have to leave to find Brindlesong as soon as we can, but your mistakes are delaying the journey!" 

Heatherleap stared blankly back. "I don't know what's happening to me, either. Perhaps I should just let Umberfoot take over," mewed Heatherleap. "I didn't even get a clear sign from StarTree anyways." Her friend looked gloomy, like a shadow had taken over her. Usually Blackspring would have comforted her, but she had no patience this time. "Stop blabbering nonsense!" snapped Blackspring. Anger filled her from toe-tip to her ears after hearing Heatherleap being so unresponsible. "There's nothing we can do about this now. Heal them as quick as you can." And with that, Blackspring swept out of her den, leaving Heatherleap feel wretched. 

-----

"Come on, I think a family of squirrels went this way."

 Wavestorm leaped over a fallen log sprouting mushrooms, energy springing into her legs. His mate, Lightwillow, pattered beside him, pelt shimmering as she walked. She offered a comforting silence, her soft pelt brushing against his. 

"I'm expecting kits," mewed Lightwillow suddenly. Wavestorm stopped in his tracks. Gorsepaw crashed into him from behind, but all Wavestorm could feel was happiness and surprise blooming in his chest. "That's amazing!" he purred. He rubbed his muzzle against hers, practically vibrating with excitement. Lightwillow looked relieved and slightly embarrased as the cats around them began congratulating them. 

"Congratulations! I was waiting for the announcement," purred Smokenose, giving Lightwillow an approving nod. Treepaw gave an excited bounce while Gorsepaw's eyes twinkled with surprise. Wavestorm was about to usher his mate back to camp when he remembered Lightwillow's strongheaded personality. No matter how much he pestered her to stay in the nursery, Lightwillow would sneak out somehow. 

Suddenly a wisp of squirrel filled Wavestorm's nostrils. Nodding at the patrol, he spotted ginger and brown fur scuffling around near a beech copse. Pulling his paws together slowly, he advanced on the squirrel, and pounced when he was within distance. Confusion pricked at his head when the squirrel bounced off, and another joined it. He stifled a purr when they arrived in the paws of Lightwillow and Treepaw. They killed the squirrels with quick nips to the spine. "Well done!" nodded Smokenose approvingly. She dug out the sparrow she had caught earlier, and flicked her tail. "Let's head back to camp for now," she mewed, her voice muffled by the prey. 

Suddenly Wavestorm saw a flicker of uncertainty and anger in Lightwillow's eyes, and it made his pelt prickle. Was something wrong with Lightwillow?

----

"Quailnose!" wailed Pearlight. She buried her muzzle in her father's fur, unable to believe that he was dead. She flattened her ears as Heatherleap padded towards her, looking miserable. "You killed him, didn't you?" hissed Pearlight. Tansycloud looked appalled, and flattened her ears.

Cats mourning the warrior gasped at the accusation. To her surprise, Heatherleap nodded. "I gave him the wrong herb," wailed Heatherleap, collapsing on the ground. Pearlight's vision faded into darkness as she screeched in grief for her father, Tansycloud staring blank-eyed beside her.

"We will all grieve for Quailnose. I might have not known him for long, but he was a determined warrior for the time that I spent with him." Blackspring's voice rang over the mourning cats, steady and clear. She looked uncertain as she opened her mouth again to speak.

"Umberfoot will now act as medicine cat." Gasps and murmurs erupted from every cat. "What about Heatherleap?" called Hayclaw, looking worried.

 "Heatherleap, you are exiled from LightClan."