As the cats walked back to camp, Honeypaw could sense everyone's fear and anger, including his. The territory is small. This war is going to be a good thing, he thought to himself. But that didn't exactly reassure him.

Robinpaw, the medicine cat apprentice, was sitting outside of the thorn barrier near the pool. When Honeypaw passed by, she put her tail in front of him. She pulled him to the side and stared directly at him. "Tell me what happened. I didn't want to miss the Gathering, but Dawnleaf needed me."

Honeypaw glanced at the group that was going through the barrier. He wanted to join them, but he didn't want to leave Robinpaw confused. "Uh…"

"Well?" she asked, her ears pricking. She leaned forward, her tail curling around her paws. "Fox got your tongue?"

"No, the Gathering was just overwhelming," Honeypaw finally said, looking at his paws. "ThunderClan declared war on ShadowClan, and StarClan didn't like that, so it covered the moon."

"That's why I'm asking you. We can't afford to go to war with ThunderClan, Honeypaw! StarClan help us," she whispered. "Thanks, though. Thanks," she echoed, then raced into the camp. Honeypaw's ear twitched, and he followed her inside.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Highbranch for a Clan meeting," Brindlestar called. The leader's voice was shaking with rage, and his tail was lashing. When the Clan was situated, he continued.

"ThunderClan has declared war on our Clan!" Brindlestar yowled, his long claws digging into the soft wood of the Highbranch. "They are liars. They say we've been trespassing and hunting on the clearing, but we haven't. They have no proof!"

"But soon, we will be hunting on the clearing. Once we are done with this war, the clearing will belong to ShadowClan again!"

The Clan let out yowls and exclamations of excitement. Brindlestar waited for the mirth to die down, before speaking again. "Badgerfoot will lead a battle patrol to the clearing tomorrow – but for now, we have more important things to focus on. I will remind you all when the time comes."

"Dismissed! I want you all to get rest."

Honeypaw turned around and headed for his den, but Brightpaw and Smokepaw skidded towards him, flanking him. Honeypaw reeled back in surprise, his gaze fixed on the two older apprentices. "What are you doing?"

"Honeypaw! Where's Cherrypaw?" asked Brightpaw. Her light amber eyes sparkled with excitement, despite the recent news about ThunderClan. "We're gonna go see Firenose's kits! She kitted while you were gone. Come on," she smiled, before turning around and heading for the nursery.

When the three arrived, they poked their heads through the leaves. The nursery had a milky, warm scent to it, which reminded him of whenever Ivyfoot was nursing him.

Robinpaw, who was in the nursery, turned around. "Can't you see I'm trying to help this poor cat? She's so worn out," she meowed sympathetically, glancing back at the queen again. "She gave birth to three kits. A tom and two she-cats. And from what I know, kits are a pawful, so you might want to get out."

Fogheart was also nearby. He glanced at Robinpaw and shrugged, his whiskers twitching. He looked ecstatic to finally be a father. "Let them have a look. They'll all be den mates one day. Come in, you three. We won't bite."

Smokepaw stepped inside, her eyes widening at the sight of the small kittens. "Look at them!" the gray tabby cooed. "They're so cute! What are their names?" she asked, looking up at Fogheart eagerly.

Fogheart smiled, and began to nod to each kit.

"The ginger tom's name is Hornetkit," he started. "The larger gray she-cat is Nettlekit, and the smaller she-cat is Ashkit. Aren't they beautiful?" the gray tom asked. He gave his mate a quick lick on the ear.

Honeypaw suppressed a gag at the sight. If I ever have to father kits, then I'm not going to be as cheesy as… this. I never knew Fogheart had a soft side, he thought, but reluctantly nodded at Fogheart's question. "Yes, they're beautiful."

Firenose nodded tiredly, wrapping her fluffy tail around her kits. She looked up at the three apprentices, yawning. "You three should probably go to sleep. Or get some feathers for my nest," she suggested. "You too, Robinpaw."

Robinpaw nodded and backed out of the nursery, her tail dragging in the sand. Smokepaw turned to her friends and tilted her head. "Well, what are you waiting for?" she asked, her voice high-pitched. "Let's go get Firenose some feathers and water. It won't kill us to stay up a bit longer."

"I have training in the morning, Smokepaw," huffed Honeypaw. "I can't afford to not sleep. You know how strict Plumstorm is," the dusky tom frowned, his gaze set on the gray tabby. Smokepaw shrugged and cracked a smile.

"These are Plumstorm's grandkits. I think she'd be grateful that you're helping their mother out. Maybe she'll even be so grateful that she'll tell Brindlestar to make you a warrior!" Smokepaw joked. She ran a paw over her own ear, resting her fluffy tail on Honeypaw's shoulder. "Come on, Honeypaw. Let's go."

Honeypaw rolled his eyes. "Fine. But if you make me sleep in, I'll chase you to the ThunderClan border," he muttered. Smokepaw giggled, rose to her paws, and strolled through the thorn barrier. Honeypaw and Brightpaw followed her, but the only thing Honeypaw could see was his own shadow. It's too late for this.


The following morning, Honeypaw was woken up by the voices of Robinpaw and Dawnleaf outside of the den. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, he glanced around the den. Smokepaw and Brightpaw were nowhere to be seen, but Cherrypaw was sitting up, his eyes glazed with concern.

Dawnleaf poked his head inside and mewed softly, "You two. Come out here. You're helping us during the battle, since you don't know how to fight just yet." The medicine cat turned around and flicked his tail, beckoning them out of their den.

Honeypaw pressed his ears against his head. "How would we be able to help you? We're not medicine cats. Wouldn't it be dangerous for us to join the Clan?"

Dawnleaf snorted. "A ThunderClan cat who attacks a medicine cat and a couple apprentices has no honor. They would be breaking the warrior code more than they already do. It's for convenience – a cat who sees the medicine cat who's at the site of the battle would have a better chance of living or not having infected wounds."

Cherrypaw nodded in understanding. Before Honeypaw could speak, he asked, "Are you going to teach us which herbs are which?"

"As quickly as possible," answered Dawnleaf. "Follow me, you three. I'll show you which herbs are necessary for this fight." The cream-furred tom turned away and headed for his den. The three apprentices followed him closely.

The medicine cat sat down in his nest and pointed his tail to the herb storage. "Let's begin, shall we?" He turned around and gestured to a lush green plant. It had white flowers blooming on it, and it smelled sweet. "For starters, this is chervil. Chervil is used for infected wounds – you chew it and put it on. You can tell if a wound is infected if it is swollen and hot to the touch."

The medicine cat continued. "That yellow flower over there is goldenrod. You mainly find it on the moors, but it can be found in ShadowClan and ThunderClan territory, too. You chew this as well. There is another yellow flower called marigold, which serves the same purpose."

"Can you think of anything else, Robinpaw?" tested the medicine cat, exchanging a glance with his apprentice. Robinpaw looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Oh! Cobwebs are found everywhere. They're used to stop bleeding," she meowed proudly. Dawnleaf gave her a nod of approval. Both heads turned whenever they heard Brindlestar's call.

"Today is the day we reclaim the clearing," called Brindlestar. Everyone in the Clan was silent. "Badgerfoot. Who is going to the clearing?"

The deputy nodded and jumped next to her leader. "Thank you, Brindlestar. The cats who will be accompanying me and Brindlestar to the clearing are Darkflower, Fogheart, Plumstorm, Juniperfoot, Ivyfoot, Smokepaw, Brightpaw, Crowcloud, Starlingfur, and Morningheart!" she yowled. "Mothtail, Pebblefang, Aspennose, Maplefoot, and Rosewhisker will guard the camp."

"Ready?" asked Badgerfoot, puffing her chest out proudly. The clan let out yowls of excitement in response. Badgerfoot nodded and jumped from the Highbranch with her leader. "Come on!"

Dawnleaf glanced at Honeypaw and Cherrypaw. "You two, follow me. Robinpaw, go get the herbs," instructed Dawnleaf, his voice hard with seriousness. He walked after the group of leaving cats as Robinpaw went over to the medicine cat den, and emerged with herbs in her jaws several moments later.

Brindlestar turned to look at his Clanmates when they were several fox-lengths away from the camp's entrance. "Roll in the mud near the pool. It won't be pleasant, but it's better than being smelled by ThunderClan cats. The battle patrol did as instructed, and continued onward.

Honeypaw looked nervous as he crossed the ThunderClan border. I've never been in ThunderClan territory before, he thought. He looked at Cherrypaw, and he knew that his friend was feeling the same way about this battle. What if someone dies?

"I know you're nervous," murmured Dawnheart to the two. "Just stay close to me and Robinpaw, and you'll be fine."

"I hope so," whispered Honeypaw. He looked at his paws, and then at the strange oak treetops above him. He sent a silent prayer to StarClan, hoping everything would turn out alright.