"I'm the one that hurt him."

"I'm the one that abandoned him."

"I'm the one who did this to him."

"I'm responsible."

"I'm responsible."

"I'm responsible."


"Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

The hesitant voice of the ThunderClan medicine cat cut through the slight fog of the breaking dawn. Morning dew adorned the grass and faintly sparkled under the sparse light of daybreak before becoming smudged and trampled upon by the score of paws that padded across the camp.

If a cat was to have had poked their head out of their den at that exact moment, they certainly would have discovered quite the odd sight. An ensemble of varying different sizes and rank of cats were making their way across the camp headed towards the medicine den. The two in front were apprentices and the smallest of the bunch; however the similarities of the two she-cats ended there.

One was cream and white with soft, but puffy fur that somehow made the more petite she-cat appear even smaller than she actually was. The tan brown she-cat besides her with short fur had a slightly bigger, but longer and slender form that would've taken another additional her to make up the disparate difference. Her expression was hardened, eyes narrowed and rapt with focus in sharp contrast to the anxious look that gleamed from the cream she-cat.

"I feel I have to agree with Willowshade on this," a strong voice spoke up from amongst them, causing the group to halt.

The possessor of the authoritative tone belonged to that of a burly tom with black markings etched across the bottom of each eye, Hawkstar. His sharp eyes shifted across the three cats before him, two apprentices and one fairly young warrior.

"Must it just be the three of you that go? I'd certainly feel more comfortable if a few more cats were joining you on this journey."

The young warrior, a dark tabby named Dusktail, was the one to reply. "We're the three cats most closely attached to this situation. If we can't be the ones to bring him out of it, nothing can. That's what you said anyway, right, Brightpaw?"

He turned to address the cream colored medicine cat apprentice who immediately shrunk under his gaze. The medicine cat apprentice though talented wasn't the most sociable cat in the Clan, and even less forward and immensely shy when made the center of attention.

Brightpaw fidgeted under the attention of the others on her before managing to reply in a meek and strained voice, "Yes. It has to be us. I-I'm certain of it."

"Notice how she barely sounds certain herself," Sandpaw sardonically pointed out, causing Brightpaw to wince in response.

"Ease off, Sandpaw," Dusktail ordered to which the tan she-cat snorted and turned her back to the rest of them.

Dusktail could only shake his head in annoyance and cast a sympathetic look in the direction of Brightpaw, who immediately turned her back to him as well.

He looked helplessly towards Hawkstar and Willowshade for support, but the leader merely shook his head in response.

"If the three of you are going be to together, than you'll have to learn how to lead them alone. As you said, no one else can follow where it is you're going."

"And that's the problem I have with it!" Willowshade interjected in. "Though underdeveloped, I trust in Brightpaw's ability to get you there safely enough. The trouble comes afterwards when you're all left to the mercy of whatever befalls you there. If something terrible happens, I won't be able to bring the three of you back. You'll be trapped along with-"

"That doesn't matter!" Sandpaw sneered, her eyes and fangs flashing in the light. "I don't care what's there. Do you hear me? I'm not coming back without him."

She stood defiant and alight with vigor. Her form was rigid and unmoving as she glared at the rest of them, appearing coiled and ready to strike if one of them dared say anything in resistance. Seeing that her words went unchallenged she turned, whiffing, and stalked on forward alone into the medicine den.

The rest stood watching in resolute silence after her departure, a mild buzz of admiration for the abrasive cat's determination exuding from the three older cats. It seemed she had settled the score for all of them.

"I suppose it's time then," Dusktail spoke up, nodding his head towards Hawkstar and Willowshade respectively. "I promise I will do everything within my power to ensure everyone's safety and all of our return. You have my word."

Hawkstar fixated the young warrior under his gaze, glowing oddly, before briefly dipping his head to him. "I send you with StarClan's will and in ThunderClan's name. Good luck."

Hawkstar parted from them, leaving just Dusktail, Willowshade, and Brightpaw left in the middle of the camp just as the tip of the sun could be seen rising just above the azure horizon. Dusktail stood observing its ascension for just a moment before motioning to Brightpaw that it was time to move.

Followed closely behind by Willowshade, they entered the cool mint scented interior of the medicine den. It was fairly spacious in expanse able to hold six or so cats at any given time. Willowshade took the lead position of the group, despite the fact that all of them were aware of where it was they were headed and began to navigate them through the den.

They moved towards the back in a section closed off from the main portion of the den and into a small enclosed area where they found Sandpaw awaiting their arrival. Her tail gave the faintest of twitches to show that she acknowledged their presence, but otherwise the majority brunt of her attention lay on the still form of a slumbering gray tom that lay at her paws.

No matter how hard her outer exterior may be there was nothing even she could do to suppress the sorrow that swam through her eyes at the sight of him. Her expression was enough to make a large lump form in the pit of Dusktail's throat.

"Brightpaw, a moment please," Willowshade whispered softly to her apprentice.

The medicine cat apprentice turned to stare uncertainly into the eyes of her mentor. She could've been looking at her reflection in the water with how much Willowshade's expression mirrored her own. She was just as terrified as she was.

There was a lot that neither of them knew. Brightpaw was taking a great risk by attempting what it is she was currently doing. There wouldn't be room for another chance if they failed.

"If it becomes too much," Willowshade weakly began. "If things get wildly out of hand for you three to handle, please, I beg you. Don't hesitate to pull out." Her eyes were pleading as she said this. "Having one cat like this is hard enough. Three more and I'm not sure I'll be able handle it."

A moment later Willowshade looked away in shame. "I'm sorry, I'm being selfish. I should've not said that. You're doing everything in your power to save a life, the main goal of any medicine cat. Duty to our Clanmates comes first."

Brightpaw felt a knot tighten in her stomach. Despite knowing how frightened her own apprentice was about this Willowshade was still allowing her to go. She knew deep in her heart that this was something that Brightpaw had to do. That this was something that only she could do. And despite her misgivings about it all, she needed Dusktail and Sandpaw with her if there was any hope of succeeding.

Brightpaw closed her eyes and briefly pressed against Willowshade, like a kit to its mother, savoring the familiar and welcoming scent of herbs that clung to her fur while saying a hopeful goodbye at the same time. She broke away then, turning to face her two companions, and telling herself that they were going to bring him back.

"Gather around and lay down," Willowshade said to Dusktail and Sandpaw. "At the same time I want you to both be touching Brightpaw and the body."

"This body has a name," Sandpaw glowered at her.

Willowshade cast an appeasing look. "My apologies, Sandpaw. Please gather around Stormpaw and allow Brightpaw to do the rest."

The three cats stepped forward and surrounded the prone form of Stormpaw. In tandem, each cat laid down besides the body, with Brightpaw centered in the middle of them all.

"Close your eyes and allow yourself drift. You'll all be waking soon. I wish you luck and a speedy return. Be careful."

Brightpaw slowed her breathing to a steady hum and allowed its tranquil nature to seep over into the others. She continued this process slowly, very slowly until all their consciousness began to ebb away and fade off, redirecting into the psyche of Stormpaw.