Nightpaw rolled over. She groggily opened her eyes and yawned. Nightpaw realized with a jolt that she had, actually, opened both eyes! She looked around, delighted. The medicine den appeared empty, except for Waterberry, who was asleep in a nest a few feet from her. Sunlight was streaming through the den entrance, filling Nightpaw with warmth and hope. She started to stand up, when a herb-like scent filled her nose. She felt a tail on her back, it felt like leaves, but it was still soft.

"Sagepelt," She breathed. The Leafeon slid into view. "Did you fix my eye?" The leafeon nodded, gesturing to a few herbs by the wall.

"So. You have a lot of explaining to do." She whispered in a kind voice. Nightpaw slowly nodded.

"Ok... But we can't talk here." Nightpaw glanced at Waterberry. Sagepelt followed her gaze and nodded.

"Come." The medicine eevee led Nightpaw out of the den. Nightpaw followed nervously, glancing at the guard. To her surprise, it was Iceynose guarding the camp. Nightpaw narrowed her eyes at the glaceon, and then ran to catch up to Sagepelt.

"I know I can trust you.. right?" whispered Nightpaw, "You wouldn't tell.. say.. Lightstar?" She remembered her leader and the espeon with a shudder. Sagepelt looked surprised.

"Of course you can trust me!" She gasped, then lowered her voice to a whisper, "You're the prophesied one! I wouldn't betray you!" Nightpaw smiled.

"Then may I take the lead?" Nightpaw padded ahead of Sagepelt. The Leafeon looked at her weirdly. 

"Sure." The medicine eevee followed Nightpaw, all the way up to the territory line.

"Wow," panted Nightpaw, "This trip sure is quicker when flying." She padded over the scent marks. Sagepelt stiffened, and then followed nervously. Nightpaw got to the hollowed tree, and turned to glance suspiciously at Sagepelt. The leafeon smiled weakly.

"Um.. please tell me why you led me here. If you'd just tell me what really happened, I could clear it all up for the clan.." Nightpaw's eyes widened. "No!" gasped Sagepelt, "I mean.. Cover up for you!" Nightpaw nodded slowly, took a deep breath, and swiped away the vines.

"Mama!" cried Zapkit, rushing forward and cuddling into Nightpaw's soft belly fur. "daytime mama, why here?" 

"What? Prey?" gasped Sagepelt. Zapkit slowly looked around Nightpaw's legs at her.

"Other eevee?" he gasped, clutching Nightpaw's leg.

"Zapkit, this is Sagepelt, my clan's medicine eevee. Don't worry, she won't hurt you." She shot a warning glance at the stunned Leafeon.

"Talking prey? Ok. Explain Nightpaw. Now." Sagepelt said firmly. Nightpaw was silent for a second, and then spoke.

"Chillypelt and I were hunting, and she killed a Pikachu...." Nightpaw proceeded to tell the story. Sagepelt's expression didn't change, she stayed still except for the occasional nod. "and now i'm here," Nightpaw finished. She licked Zapkit's head gently. "with him."

"You realize this means you won't be able to have kits." Sagepelt finally spoke, "Gazepaw will be disappointed."

"I know.. but.. wait, GAZEPAW?" Gasped Nightpaw, outraged. "I am not..we are not..!" she felt her cheeks go red. Sagepelt chuckled.

"I've seen the way you look at him, or should I say, Gaze at him." the Leafeon retorted. "Anyways, you have your hands full with the pichu." She padded towards Zapkit. Nightpaw stiffened, but Sagepelt just nosed Zapkit affectionately. "I've heard rumors of other clans," muttered Sagepelt, her expression hardening. "I just never thought.."

"I know, but that's what Lumos said. And Rose." Nightpaw started towards the entrance. "We better go, our clan will get suspicious." Sagepelt nodded.

"I have just the cover. Follow me!" the Leafeon sprang out of the tree trunk in a single bound. Nightpaw secured the vines over the hollow once more.

"Goodbye Zapkit," she whispered.

"Bye mama!" Squeaked Zapkit. Nightpaw heard him curl up again, before she took to the air, flying low until she spotted Sagepelt picking her way through the underbrush. Nightpaw flapped down beside her, flying high enough just so her paws didn't touch the ground. 

"So, wh-what are we doing?" panted Nightpaw. Sagepelt didn't look at her but smiled slightly. 

"Herb collecting." She broke into a run. Startled, Nightpaw flew after her. She dropped to the ground and ran beside the Leafeon. Nightpaw didn't know how far she had run, before Sagepelt stopped suddenly. Nightpaw planted her paws down firmly and skidded in the moss and soil. She turned to face Sagepelt. The leafeon pointed to a berry bush with her paw.

"Normal berries." she said flatly, "They heal you slightly." Sagepelt slid something off her neck. Nightpaw realized for the first time that she had been wearing some sort of leaf satchel. Sagepelt passed the satchel to Nightpaw. "Put the berries in here." she instructed. Nightpaw grabbed a few and put them in the bag before Sagepelt whisked her off again. they stopped at what looked like a bush with cherries on it. "Cheri berries, they cure paralysis." Nightpaw grabbed some, before they ran off again. This went on for awhile. Chesto berries, Pecha berries, Rawst berries "they cure burn, you know your mother was burned in a trainer battle, that's a different story", Aspear berries, Persim berries.. the lot. The two eevees came upon a bush with three green berries on it. Sagepelt squealed like an excited kit. "Lum berries! Lum berries!" She carefully picked them each and placed them gently in Nightpaw's satchel. 

"What's so great about them?" asked Nightpaw, who was exasusted. Sagepelt rolled her eyes.

"They cure any illness!" Sagepelt smiled. Nightpaw sighed.

"That's great, but I'm exhausted." she murmured. Sagepelt smiled kindly.

"Come, we can return to camp." she led Nightpaw back through the woods.

Lightstar sat in her den, thinking. She flicked her tail. Psypelt padded in slowly.

"Well?!" snarled Lightstar. Psypelt cowered before her.

"S-Sagepelt left camp with Nightpaw. She has returned now, they both just went out to collect berries." The espeon gulped. Lightstar narrowed her eyes.

"I bet the little rat told Sagepelt everything. Psypelt, bring the Leafeon to me." she growled. Psypelt left hurriedly. Lightstar waited impatiently. Psypelt came back a few minutes later, shoving Sagepelt in front of him. Lightstar smiled slowly. "Nice work Espeon," she chuckled to Psypelt. "I trust you fed the little rat poppy seeds? many? She's asleep?" The espeon nodded. Lightstar smiled, and turned to Sagepelt. "Now, Sagepelt, am I to understand that you went out with Nightpaw today?" Sagepelt nodded slowly. "Great!" Lightstar smiled, then her face darkened and she glared at the leafeon. "Tell me what the whelp said. Now." Sagepelt's eyes widened. she gulped. Lightstar dashed forward, pinning the Leafeon to the wall by her neck. "TELL ME!!!" Lightstar roared. Sagepelt gasped and shook her head slowly. Lightstar threw her to the ground. "Psypelt!" she called. The espeon nodded and raced to his leader's side. His eyes glowed for a second, he telepathically raised Sagepelt to her feet. When Psypelt's eyes dimmed, Sagepelt's eyes were white. "Now," Lightstar smiled evilly, "tell me."