Viperslide walked back to camp as the colours of dawn started to spread across the sky, still feeling uncertain and confused about his dream and Ravenwing. Nothing was ever simple in his life anymore. The forest was just starting to wake up and was still quiet.

"Why can't I just have a normal life?"he wondered out loud to no one in particular. Suddenly, the high yowl of a terrified cat burst the silence that rang in his ears, followed by a blood-curdling snarl.

Quickly but quietly he crept through some ferns and looked at where the yowl had come from. It was Ravenwing! She was backed up against a rock, crouched low with her ears back staring up at the sky. The badger was looming over her, jaws open showing sharp fangs. If he didn't act, she would die.

The little voice of reason inside his head was screaming for him to stop, that his life wasn't worth wasting, but the rest of him was leaping forward toward the badger. He knew it was stupid, leaping in front of an angry badger, and that he would probably die For once didn't care. Just on thought kept running through his head. 'Not her'

He landed right in front of it. At the last moment the badger saw him and redirected its attack towards him. It didn't manage to clamp on his leg, but its teeth grazed it and blood started flowing from his upper hind leg.

Pain tore through him but he kept on going. Rearing up on his hind legs, even though it hurt terribly, he slashed with thorn sharp claws at its muzzle. Crimson blood gushed from it's nose and muzzle. Meanwhile, Ravenwing had darted round to its side and left a large gash with her claws. The badger howled in pain and frustration. With one last angry snarl, it turned and lumbered away.

The forest was silent again except for their panting breaths. Viperslide's leg trembled underneath him, so he dropped to stomach.

"What happened? Why are you here?" he asked shakily. She seemed surprised that he wasn't snapping at her, but she answered whilst walking over to a fork in a tree to grab some cobwebs.

"I couldn't sleep, so I came out here to catch some prey. I leapt at a bird and I caught it, but I didn't see the slope behind it. The badger was at the bottom and I banged into it, so I think you can guess what happened after that. Hang on, this will hurt," gently she pressed the cobweb against his leg.

He winced in pain, but didn't make any noise. The blood running down his leg had slowed to a trickle. Ravenwing herself was hobbling round on 3 legs.

"Wait a second, what happened to you?"

" Oh, I just sprained my paw, but I'm fine. Once I get back to camp, Stormpelt will stop the swelling," she paused, then lay down opposite him and hesitantly asked" Why did you do that?

" Do what?"

" Jump in front of the badger. I know you would have tried to help any warrior, but not at the risk of your own life. No sensible warrior would have done that, so why would you? And for me of all people. I thought you hated me," The last bit was spoken quietly and shyly.

Suddenly the feeling he had experienced in camp hit him again, only ten times harder. She was truly amazing. 'Don't say anything!' shouted the voice of reason in his head, but for some reason he said the fatal words anyway

"Hate you? I don't hate you! I never have. I jumped in front of the badger because I…I love you, Ravenwing,"