Mousesky emerged from her den, a split rock, and headed into the clearing. It was nearly sunhigh, and almost all the cats were up. Mousesky thought back on last night. The warrior Runningclaw had come across a badger in the woods. He had chased it off, but his tail had been badly wounded. All last night, Mousesky had been with him, desperately trying to save his tail. But in the end, she had been forced to admit defeat. She had taken off his tail to save his life.

"My tail!" cried a voice

Mousesky spun around, afraid that some other cat had been hurt, but it was only Runningclaw. He seemed to have regained consciousness and was missing his tail. Mousesky hurried over to him and pressed his side to hers in comfort. After several moments of desperate wailing, he calmed down.

"Better?" asked Mousesky

"You had to take it, didn't you?" asked Runningclaw, ignoring her question "You had to take my tail!"

"Yes," murmured Mousesky, pressing herself closer to Runningclaw's side.

"How is my leg?" asked Runnningclaw "you couldn't take that off, could you?"

Runningclaw's tail was not his only wound. His leg had been severely wounded, and Mousesky was not sure of all she could do for it. But she forced herself not to let Runningclaw see her worries. Instead, she stood up and smiled weakly at him.

"Let's take a look," she said

Runningclaw obediently turned over and Mousesky examined his wound. It was healing, but Mousesky was beginning to doubt that he would be able to be a warrior again.

"How is it?" grunted Runningclaw. His voice sounded dazed from all the poppy seeds he'd had. Mousesky figured he was going into a state of shock.

"Fine," replied Mousesky "but you should get some sleep. I'll put some marigold on it first."

Mousesky hurried into her den and picked out some marigold leaves. She hurried out again, chewing the leaves as she went. By the time she reached Runningclaw, she had chewed up the leaves completely. She spat the pulp into Runningclaw's wounds.

"Sleep," she commanded. At first, Runningclaw just stared at her, but eventually, he put his head down, and he was sleeping in seconds. Mousesky lingered only a few moments before going to Mossstar's den.

Mossstar's den was a small hawthorn bush with a clearing inside. Mousesky hurried to it, and meowed a small greeting through the branches.

"Come on in, Mousesky," came Mossstar's voice, which was heavy with sorrow.

Mousesky hurried through the branches. Mossstar's golden-brown pelt was still curled up in a moss and bracken nest.

"Mossstar," Mousesky said, dipping her head respectfully "How are you?"

"I have no wounds," snapped Mossstar "Runningclaw is the one to be worried about!"Suddenly, her voice softened "How is he?" She lifted her head, her deep amber eyes gazing at Mousesky.

Mousesky hesitated. Mossstar and Runningclaw were brother and sister, and the last thing Mousesky wanted to do was upset her leader. Only recently, Mossstar and Runningclaw's mother, Shrewpelt, had died.

"Better," she began tenderly "he will not die," At these words, Mossstar let out a sigh of relief. Feeling guilty, she added in a small voice, "I had to take his tail."

Mossstar looked stricken. "B-but why?"

"It would have gotten infected and . . . I'm so sorry, Mossstar," she finished awkwardly, dropping her head

"Does he know?" asked Mossstar

"Yes," Mousesky answered "I . . . he . . . I don't think he really understands it yet. I believe he is in a state of shock."

"Can I see him?" asked Mossstar, jumping to her paws

Mousesky shook her head firmly. She felt bad for Mossstar, but she didn't want the leader to overexcite Runningclaw "He's sleeping now. It's not advisable. I shall send for you later."

"All right, Mousesky," sighed Mossstar, settling down again "I suppose you know best." There was a short pause as they thought of Runningclaw. Eventually, Mousesky stood, dipping her head, to leave.

Mossstar stopped her. "Could you fetch me Rainpaw? I want to take her out hunting."

"Yes, Mossstar," replied Mousesky, slipping out of the den. She headed straight toward the apprentices den, which was a hole in the ground under a tree.

Mousesky peered into the hole, figuring Rainpaw might still be in there, but reluctant to go somewhere where she couldn't have a view Runningclaw.

"Rainpaw?" she called "Are you in there?"

There was a muffled rustling noise, and Rainpaw poked her head out, her brown fur ruffled "Yes?" she asked, blinking the sleep out of her eyes

"Mossstar wants to train with you," replied Mousesky

"Okay!" cried Rainpaw, jumping out of the den, suddenly bursting with energy "where is she?"

"In her den," replied Mousesky, darting out of the way as Rainpaw hurried toward Mossstar's den.

Chuckling, Mousesky headed toward her den to get some borage, and deliver it to Mudtalon. When she picked up the borage, she stopped to check on Runningclaw. He was sleeping peacefully, and Mousesky decided she could leave him for a while longer.

The nursery was a hollow in the rock that surrounded the camp. It could be quite dark in there, so the kits and their mothers spent most of their time outside getting some sun to soak into their fur. That was where Mudtalon and her kits, Fuzzykit and Bramblekit, were right now. Mousesky padded casually up to them and sat the borage down at Mudtalon's paws.

"More borage?" asked Mudtalon, peering at her curiously

"Yes," replied Mousesky, staring back into her gaze "we must insure that you have enough milk to feed these two growing kits."

"Well, okay," meowed Mudtalon, gulping up the leaves "but they started to eat fresh kill a long time ago."

"Their healthy kits," commented Mousesky

"Yes, they are," answered Mudtalon, with a gleam in her eyes "Lively bunch, too!" she added as Fuzzykit jumped onto Bramblekit

Mousesky purred in agreement, and sat there for a while, talking to Mudtalon. Eventually, she meowed a goodbye as she headed off to where Mossstar was returning from a hunting mission with Rainpaw.

"Hello, Rainpaw, Mossstar," Mousesky greeted the young apprentice

"Hello, Mousesky," Rainpaw greeted her medicine cat with a dip of her head

"Rainpaw, why don't you take this fresh kill over to the pile?" suggested Mossstar "and be sure to take a share for yourself. You've worked hard today!"

"Yes, Mossstar," said Rainpaw, bounding off towards the fresh kill pile

"Can I see him now?" Mossstar asked anxiously

Mousesky hesitated. She could tell that Mossstar was obviously worried for her brother. Still, Runningclaw needed his rest, and Mousesky wasn't sure that she was ready to tell Mossstar that her brother might not be able to be a warrior anymore. Still, she was the clan leader, and Mossstar had to know eventually.

"Okay, Mossstar" mewed Mousesky "but only if he is awake."

Mossstar replied only with a curt nod of her head and Mousesky led the way to her den. When they arrived, Runningclaw was still asleep, but Mousesky didn't try to make Mossstar go away. Mousesky padded over to Runningclaw and prodded him gently with one paw.

"Runningclaw, you have a visitor," she meowed gently

Runningclaw jumped up immediately, wincing at the pain in his leg. From the look in Runningclaw's eyes, Mousesky could tell that he had forgotten about it. She shot a quick look at Mossstar, and saw that she had not missed this either.

"Mossstar!" he exclaimed "why are you here?" he looked expectantly at Mossstar, who didn't answer

"Sorry to wake you," Mousesky cut in quickly "but it's nearly sunhigh. I thought that you might want some fresh kill . . . and Mossstar wanted to see you."

"That's right," said Mossstar quickly, as if she had never hesitated "it's good to see you, Runningclaw."

"And you, Mossstar," replied Runningclaw formally, dipping his head

"I'll go get that fresh-kill," Mousesky offered, feeling awkward at being in the center of a family conversation.

Mousesky hurried over to the fresh kill pile. It was near empty. Left were a starling, a squirrel, and a mouse. After a moment's thought, Mousesky grabbed the mouse. It was quite plump, and would be enough for Runningclaw.

Once Mousesky was back at the den, Mossstar and Runningclaw seemed to be done talking, and Mousesky could see that Mossstar wanted to leave, but didn't want to offend her brother.

"All right, Mossstar. You have other things to do, and Runningclaw needs some sleep."

"Well, all right," meowed Mossstar, sending one last glance at Runningclaw

"Now you," she said, turning to Runningclaw "how does that leg feel?"

"All right," Runningclaw mewed bravely "better. My tail aches, though."
"I'll get some marigold for that. While I'm gone, eat that mouse." meowed Mousesky briskly, flicking her tail at the mouse that she had set at the entrance to her den.

Mousesky padded into her den and grabbed some marigold. Nosing around, she realized that was the last of it. With a stab of panic, she thought that she would have to hurry and get some more. When she backed out of the den, Runningclaw had eaten the mouse and was in his nest, half asleep.

Careful not to disturb him, Mousesky gently pressed the marigold on the base of his tail. By the time that she was done, he was snoring loudly. She headed toward the tunnel, leaving the camp to go and get some more marigold. The tunnel led the way out of the camp and was the general way to go. On her way, Mousesky felt a pelt brush up against hers. She looked and saw Bluemask beside her. She stopped abruptly.

"Hello, Mousesky," said Bluemask pleasantly "where are you going?"

"Collecting some herbs," Mousesky explained "I'm out of marigold."

"Mind if I come along?" Bluemask asked

"I don't mind," Mousesky answered.

At this, Bluemask walked ahead and out the tunnel. After casting one last look toward her patient, Mousesky hurried after Bluemask. She caught up with her quickly, but fell silent just as quick as she had come. Bluemask was stalking something the Mousesky couldn't see. Bluemask jumped up, and Mousesky saw a black bird perched on a low branch above them. But Bluemask had hesitated too long, and the bird fluttered away, calling out an alarm.

"Too bad," Mousesky called over

"I hesitated much too long, didn't I?" asked Bluemask

"Yes," meowed Mossstar

"I'm not much of a use, am I?"

"Don't say that! You nearly had it!"

Bluemask shifted uneasily from foot to foot. "Mousesky, there's something I've been meaning to tell you . . ."

"What?" asked Mousesky curiously

Bluemask looked up to Mousesky, her blue eyes sparkling with happiness and fear. "I'm having kits!" she announced proudly

Mousesky didn't respond at first. When she studied Bluemask carefully, she could vaguely see a small, swollen belly. "Who's their father?" she asked after a moment

"Rockface," replied Bluemask

"How long have you known?" asked Mousesky

"A moon," replied Bluemask

"A moon?" gasped Mousesky "You should have been in the nursery ages ago!"

"Yes, but what about Dawnpaw?" asked Bluemask quietly, referring to her apprentice

"I don't know about Dawnpaw," replied Mousesky "I'm not the Clan leader, I'm not even a warrior. I don't know anything of the sorts about apprentices – only medicine cat apprentices."

"I do know," Bluemask lifted her head "he has trained hard and long. Perhaps he should be made a warrior."

"I'm sure he is ready. Perhaps I should go talk to Mossstar tonight?"

Bluemask considered "All right. I think I will go with you."

Mousesky nodded. "All right. Let's go get some marigold."

"Then tonight, we will have a new warrior and a new nursery queen," Mossstar announced "As for right now, Bluemask, why don't you go tell Dawnpaw the good news and take him out for one more training session?"

Mousesky walked to Mossstar's den with Bluemask. When they entered, Mossstar looked troubled.

"Ah, Mousesky. Just the person I was hoping to see."

"Mossstar?" Bluemask asked "I . . . I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Yes?" Mossstar looked at Bluemask carefully

"I was wondering if Dawnpaw could be given his warrior ceremony tonight."

"Why?" asked Mossstar, confused "his ceremony should be next moon. Why now?"

"Well," Bluemask began "I'm expecting kits, and Mousesky wants me in the nursery."

"Oh," Mossstar said "I see. How's his training coming? Is he ready?"

"I believe so," Bluemask said, looking at Mousesky.

"All right, then," Mossstar said decisively "I'll take him out hunting."

"Thank you, Mossstar," Bluemask dipped her head and left. Mousesky started to go too, but Mossstar stopped her.

"Mousesky, I think that Runningclaw should join the elders."

Mousesky stopped in her tracks. She stared at Mossstar. "I . . . I . . . I completely agree."

"He does too," Mossstar said quietly, her voice firm with resolve "I was planning on announcing it tonight. I suppose I shall do it during Dawnpaw's ceremony."

"Good idea," said Mousesky gently

"You may go, Mousesky," said Mossstar. Mousesky left without comment