Waking up to something large and warm had initially shocked Swiftclaw out of his fur. Then he saw the white fur and rolled his eyes.
"You're up." A voice that was neither Cinderpelt nor Cloudtail muttered. Fireheart laid at the entrance to the medicine den, likely dozing until he heard Swiftclaw move. "Hello, Fireheart." He dipped his head to the deputy.
"If you need Cloudtail then I can get him up for you. He's got to have something better than to waste his time on me."
"It's worth it if you care." Fireheart offered. "And he wants you to get better. So does Goldenflower. She's been stopping by when you're asleep. I don't pretend to know what's going through her mind but she'll be here soon enough. I have to ask, do you remember what attacked you?"
Time seemed to slow down. His vision went blurry and he could barely hear what Fireheart was saying. He tried to blink it away and flick his ears, but then he was back at Snakerocks, standing between Brightheart and the dogs.
"-claw, Swiftclaw!" Cloudtail now stood before him, the dogs snarling at them both.
"No, you mouse-brain! You can't be here! Get out of the way!"
Cloudtail tilted his head.
"What are you talking about?"
This good-for-nothing tom had been made a warrior before him? How could he not see the huge dogs looming right behind him?!
Cloudtail's eyes widened in surprise and he glanced back before moving to press himself against Swiftclaw's left side.
"It's okay, Swiftclaw. The dogs are gone. You held them off. You held them off and told us what you saw when you got back to camp." Fireheart was talking to him, telling him that the dogs were gone, but they were right there! They were right...
His vision went dark.
He woke up not too long after that to find his mother standing over him, blocking him from whatever lay before her. He could still feel Cloudtail at his side and a quick dip of his head saw her screeching at Fireheart.
"-you were thinking, but you're giving him more nightmares than he needs to have!" She snarled. The ginger tom was backed against the entrance to the medicine den, ears flat and tail clinging to the pale orange fur on his stomach.
"I-." He broke into coughs and Goldenflower jolted into action. Soon, there was wet koss at his mouth. He lapped gratefully before he continued.
"It's okay, Mother. He was trying to help. I wanted him to know about the dogs... even if I didn't plan on seeing them again." He shivered slightly and Cloudtail shifted to give him space. The sharp whine that tore from his mouth surprised everyone, especially himself. He'd just gotten so used to Cloudtail being there...
The white tom shook himself out and laid back down.
Cinderpelt's entrance granted them a reprieve from the awkward silence that followed.
"Okay, Swiftclaw, you've been down for a quarter-moon recuperating from the worst of your injuries. Now it's time to get your strength back."
"Alright!" The black and white warrior yowled happily.
"Hear that, Cloudtail, I get out of the medicine den!" He chirped as he staggered to his paws. The white tom moved with him, letting Swiftclaw lean on him as needed.
"You get to walk around." Cinderpelt corrected him.
"The sooner I'm back on my paws, the better. I can't wait to start actually being a warrior!"
Cloudtail twitched at his side and Swiftclaw turned toward him.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing major, but you won't be out on patrols for a while. Not until you've regained your health." Cinderpelt informed the patched warrior.
"I just don't want you to get your hopes up if things don't go right the first few times." Cloudtail admitted.
"I know it'll take a while, but that doesn't change anything. Cloudtail, this is what I've been waiting for. I can finally serve my Clan for real!"
