I tear down the steep slope of stone as gravel and grit rake my pads and claws, and I try to find a grip on the rock to keep myself from hurtling into the frothing brown water below. The shouts and screams of hate and anger grow nearer, and I find myself trapped between them and the torrid river. I make a choice. One I may come to regret. As the vengeful patrol rounds the corner, I retract my claws, and I notice I cannot keep this victorious smirk from my face as I slip into cold, rushing water, and then, oblivion. My vision blurs as I am swept through foam and sticks and mud, I blink once, and the world fades to black.

"Is she okay?"

"Where did she come from?"

"Get help, she may be hurt..."

"And Reedheart, he'll know what to do..."

Voices fade in and out of my ears, and I retch, the after effects of a pounding headache. Water pours from my mouth, bitter and filled with grit. My eyes open and close, catching a glimpse of red rock, and four sets of paws. My own sting, I realize, and open my eyes again. A furry face has been lowered to my current level, green eyes flashing, first with worry, than a façade of happiness.

"Ah, you're awake. That must've been quite a ride, huh? Even our bravest warriors don't try the tides this time of year."

Warriors? I try to shake the mud out of my ears, but my body seems to be paralyzed with cold. The cat, male, seems to notice my struggle. He crouches, folding his paws beneath his chest, next to me. My fur is plastered against my skin, wet and grimy for some reason. It comes to me that I have no idea where I am, or who... The tom, pale ginger with black and white splotches here and there, seems calm, his heartbeat slow and steady as another cat approaches. I flinch away, nervous, and distrustful. Who are these cats?

I bare my teeth in a snarl, and the second cat stops. He is also male, but smaller, and uncertain. His fur is dark grey and his muzzle and ears are a faded white. His eyes are clear blue, and wide with... Fear? My snarl fades away to an uncertain grimace. He takes a step closer when the other tom (who is very warm I might add) nods to him. Beside him, a small rusty red she-cat bounces with excitement. A loud buzz in my head drowns out the words exchanged between them, and I cough in hopes to clear the grit from my throat. My body spasms with pain as I do so, and I taste the tang of blood as it slips through my clenched teeth.

The tortoiseshell tom looks worried, and the she-cat stops moving. I look around, afraid of my image. That thought makes me let out a choked laugh. I already look like hell, who cares what I look like after coughing up blood?

"Sorry." My voice grates on my ears. "I had an... An amusing thought." They probably think I'm crazy. I might have been, before I forgot... But they smile, and soon two cats are racing from around the corner. One, a large pawed pale yellow tom with little to no tail, stops as he lays eyes on me, taking in my appearance. I blush, once more self-conscious of my body. He's frightening, to say the least, but the tortoiseshell tom reassures me with a smile in his voice. "Don't worry. Reedheart couldn't hurt a fly. He's our medicine cat, after all." What?

"M-medicine cat?"

"Healer." Reedheart's voice is considerably softer than expected, and it puts me at ease. The black she-cat behind him smiles as my muscles noticeably relax. As the yellow tom - Reedheart- wraps an injury on my hind leg that I hadn't even noticed, he shoos the tortoiseshell away, and reprimands the others. "Well, go on, introduce yourselves! How rude of you, wasting this she-cat's time without even mentioning a name."

The others gape in shock- how had he been able to sense their lack of introduction? I laugh again, a startling sound to me, at the least. The tortoiseshell grins, stepping forward. "I'm Falconclaw, the deputy of MountainClan."

The grey tom dips his head, obviously shy. "Slatepaw. Warrior apprentice." There's that word again. Warrior.

The black she-cat, who has made her way over to Slatepaw, flicks his ear with her tail. An action of endearment? "Hollyfall. Warrior, and mentor to this munchkin."

I gasp in pain as the smaller she-cat trips and lands across my stomach, earning a glare from Falconclaw and Reedheart. She hurries to her paws, dipping her head apologetically. "I'm Robinpaw. Before you ask, Slatepaw and I both have 'paw' in our names because we're training to become full-fledged warriors!" She crows, throwing her head back and puffing out her chest with pride.

They look at me inquisitively. "Now, who are you?" Reedheart asks in his softest voice, not looking up from his work. I frown, looking down at my paws, searching for some kind of memory. "I... I don't know..." I admit. "Though I think my name might have been Sorrel." I don't miss the worried look that passes between Falconclaw and Reedheart. To be honest, I can't keep my eyes off of either of them. Both are extremely attractive, but so is that she-cat, Hollyfall.

"Well, Sorrel, you might be concussed." Reedheart stands up, shaking each paw to rid them of mud. "So we're going to have to bring you to our camp. Okay?"

I mutter an 'okay' in response, and try to stand, my wobbly legs collapsing under me after a few seconds. "Well don't try to stand, you might hurt yourself even further!" Reedheart is obviously flustered as he sniffs at me, checking for new injuries. I must look up at him with a look of such heartbreak, because his eyes grow softer and he smiles as Falconclaw and Hollyfall hoist me onto his back, cautious of my injured leg. I can't resist shouting, "Onward, slave!" as we head through the gorge. Everyone laughs, including me. I get a warm feeling in my chest, and my heart flutters.