Scorchkit's body tensed, his eyes frozen to the scene. He couldn't get it out of his head. Mossheart. Bloody and wounded, his body strewn across the ground like a limp piece of prey. He could be dead, who knew? The image replayed itself over and over in Scorchkit's mind, repeating until he grew sick of it. He was just a kit; he wasn't supposed to witness such a horror at his age. Scorchkit pleaded to Starclan to make it stop, and it finally did. He shook his head, trying clear the horrifying sights he'd just relived every moment of.

Finally, the numbness that had encased his entire body began to subside. Scorchkit's senses gradually returned to him, and he suddenly became aware of a thick, hot liquid seeping over his paws. He looked down and saw a trail of blood pouring from Mossheart's body. He hadn't realized he was so close to the three cats. Before he himself had time to move, a firm shoulder pushed him aside.

Scorchkit looked over and saw Amberfur, gently pushing him away from the blood and the terrible sight that would surely haunt him in his dreams.

"Go find your mother," she meowed sternly, her face serious. Scorchkit nodded convincingly, but he didn't leave. Instead, he weaved his way around the crowd of frantic cats, finding a quieter spot with a better view.

I have to see if Mossheart's ok. Scorchkit told himself as an excuse for not following Amberfur's orders. He could see her now, rapidly tending to Mossheart, snapping at the clan to give her some space. Apart from Mossheart, the rest of the patrol didn't look too bad. Cedarspring had a few scratches, a couple might be deep, but nothing too serious, and Oakclaw didn't look like he was touched.

Scorchkit heard pawsteps to his left, and looked over to see Lightfeather sprinting over to him.

"Where have you been? I've been searching the entire camp for you!

"I was just-"

"No, no buts. Come on." Her tail wrapping around him, Lightfeather guided Scorchkit away from the clearing and back into the bleak nursery. He tried to push back, desperately glancing behind him for one last look, but Lightfeather wouldn't allow it.

"Will Mossheart be okay?" He finally managed to get out.

Lightfeather's gaze clouded, but she quickly covered it up.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, dear. Now, why don't you get some rest? It's been a rather...intense day."

Scorchkit nodded, knowing he wouldn't win if he tried to protest. He padded over to where his siblings were already curled up, his pawsteps growing heavier by the second. A newfound weariness smashed into him, hitting him like a wall. He soon slipped into a fitful sleep of plaguing nightmares.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Sunlight filtered through the nursery, creating dancing spots that dappled the den walls. Scorchkit yawned and got up.

Where's Clearkit?

His sister's usual spot was empty. Scorchkit guessed she was probably helping Amberfur; she always seemed to be trailing after her these days.

Amberfur!

Suddenly, all the events from yesterday came flooding back to him, and he swayed on his paws. It took a minute to steady himself, and he then hastily shook Pinekit and Crimsonkit awake.

"Come on, wake up, you featherbrains." Scorchkit waited impatiently, wanting to see what had happened to Mossheart and who, or what, gave him those wounds.

Pinekit blinked his eyes open, a look of confusion etched on his face. "Where are we going?"

"To the medicine den! Don't you want to know what happened?"

Crismonkit pushed herself to her paws. "What did happen? All we saw was a huge group of cats gathered around something, and then Mother came and snatched us away before we had time to even see what was going on," Crimsonkit meowed, her face cross.

"You didn't see?" Scorchkit proceeded to tell Crimsonkit and Pinekit what he had seen yesterday, the details still fresh in his mind. Both of his siblings gasped, their eyes widening as Scorchkit described what he had seen.

"What about Mossheart? Is he ok?" Pinekit asked anxiously.

Scorchkit rolled his eyes. "That's what I'm trying to find out."

"Well let's go then! Race you to the medicine den!" Crimsonkit called as she streamed past Scorchkit.

He took off, his tiny paws carrying him as fast as they could. He was determined not to let Crimsonkit win; however, the odds weren't entirely in his favor. Scorchkit reached the medicine den a split second after Crimsonkit, Pinekit finishing shortly after him.

"Ha! I won!" Crimsonkit boasted, her tail raised and her head high.

"Only by a whisker! Besides, you had a head start!"

Crimsonkit sniffed. "Excuses, excuses..."

She slowly trailed off as the reek of herbs wafted into the air. It was so strong Scorchkit resisted the urge to gag. He didn't understand how Clearkit could stand being around this stuff. A light breeze caused a new scent to arrive, one Scorchkit wasn't familiar with. It smelled harsh and rotten. With a jolt, he realized it had to be coming from Mossheart.

"Come on," Scorchkit whispered, his playful mood disappearing like mist into the fresh air. He padded inside, fear tightening in his belly at what he might see.

At first, Scorchkit could only make out darkness and the lingering scent of herbs. His eyes gradually began to adjust, and he saw Amberfur leaning over a stilled figure, her paws massaging something slimy into who Scorchkit guessed was Mossheart's fur.

For a moment, Scorchkit, Crimsonkit, and Pinekit stood absolutely still, as if not to disturb Amberfur's work.

"It's alright, you can watch." At her words, Scorchkit startled.

How did she know we were here?

"Is he...is he dead?" Pinekit asked, finally daring to put words to the question they had all been thinking.

"Not yet. And if there's anything I can do about it, that's how it's going to stay."

Mossheart looked unconscious, but Scorchkit now noticed, if you looked hard enough, you could see the slow rise and fall of his chest. Amberfur finished tending to a large slash on his side, then turned and opened her muzzle.

"Clearkit? Can you bring some water for him?" Scorchkit heard a muffled, "Sure!" and then watched his sister scurry off. He hadn't even noticed she was there.

Well, that figures. She's about as quiet as a mouse sometimes.

"Will Mossheart be okay?" Scorchkit asked, embarrassed as his voice came out a squeak.

Amberfur eyed him and his brother and sister cautiously before she replied. "It's up to Starclan now; I've done everything I can."

Before Scorchkit could ask her more questions, a yowl rang out.

"Let all cats gather beneath the High Tree for a clan meeting!"

Scorchkit paused, confusion covering him for a brief second. Usually, Blazestar only permitted cats old enough to hunt to be at a clan meeting. There must be something important that every cat needed to hear. Oh well, Scorchkit wasn't going to complain. This would be his first clan meeting! Excitement fizzed in his paws as he sprinted out of the medicine den, Pinekit and Crimsonkit as equally enthusiastic. A doubt suddenly pricked his mind.

What about Mother?

She might not absolutely love the idea of her three "little" kits attending such a serious meeting before they were six moons old. He hoped his mother would just allow him to listen to whatever Blazestar was going to say, and maybe, just maybe, he'd find some answers to the overwhelming questions in his head.