Dovestar led her patrol out of the gathering place. The medicine cats stayed back to help the injured warriors. Mossfur was tending to the elders while Moonpaw was searching the island for herbs that her mentor might be able to use. So far, she could only find cobwebs to stop the bleeding. As she continued to search, she wondered if Snowpaw had any better luck. As if to hear Moonpaw calling her name, Snowpaw padded next to her and asked, "Can you find anything?"

"No, but if you are ever in need of coltsfoot, there's a thriving patch right over there."

Snowpaw giggled, "Yeah, there really isn't much to work with here."

The two sighed. "Rumor has it that you were going to be a medicine cat, is it true?"

"Yes, my old mentor was Twistclaw. She wasn't bad or anything but-" Moonpaw stopped herself. She didn't want to tell Snowpaw about her visit from Sootstar. Snowpaw's eyes were burning with interest but she didn't ask about it.

"So Mossfur just agreed with you that you should become her apprentice?"

"No, not exactly. A quarter moon ago, Mossfur was waiting for a sign from StarClan. I was coming up to ask her a question when she went wide eyed. She told me that her sign had came and I became her apprentice."

"Why? what happened?"

"I don't know what happened. I just walked up to her and-"

Snowpaw's jaw dropped. She tipped her head and padded closer to Moonpaw. "What?" Moonpaw inquired. Snowpaw watched as Moonpaw's eyes became starry.

Moonpaw blinked and her world disappeared from under her paws. Lush forest and rushing water replaced it.

"Hello again, Moonpaw."

Moonpaw whipped her head around to see Sootstar sitting on a rock in the center of a stream.

"Sootstar? Am I in StarClan?"

"Yes. Moonpaw, there is something very bad coming over the Clans. As you have already noticed, a band of rogues have attacked the Clans. But there is something even worse to come. I can't tell you what but you need to be prepared."

"No! Please tell me what is going to happen!" She wailed, shaking her head.

"Unfortunately, I cannot. But, I know Snowpaw will be very worried if I keep you any longer. Until next time, Moonpaw," Sootstar murmured, and faded from sight. Moonpaw gave an angry hiss and leapt for where Sootstar was standing. His scent drifted in the air for only a few more heartbeats, and vanished. "Mouse dung!" Moonpaw spat. "Come back, Sootstar! You need to tell me more!"

"Moonpaw? Why are you murmuring about Sootstar?" Snowpaw's question awakened her back into the hollow. She shook her head attempting to knock the fear growing in her belly. Moonpaw briskly shook her head. "I can't tell you," she murmured. "Medicine cats cannot share their dreams about StarClan."

Snowpaw's tail slightly drooped. The she-cat dipped her head. "Okay," she mewed. "Wait, StarClan just visited you? Right there, right now, on the spot?"

Embarrassment rushed in a wave as Snowpaw's question sank in her. "Uh, I mean, yes. But I can't tell you anymore."

"Oh, I get it. Okay, let's get back to finding herbs we need."

It took Moonpaw barely a heartbeat to find a large patch of marigold in an open space between two trees. She was bubbling with excitement.

"Snowpaw, I found a huge patch of marigold! Help me take it back to Mossfur!"

Snowpaw shared her excitement. The white apprentice raced back over to Moonpaw and the two picked up as much as they could and carried it back to their mentors. Mossfur was very pleased on the amount she had brought back.

"This should be enough for all of these cats," Mossfur turned her attention back over to Embersong, who had a large gash on her side. The wound was dripping blood onto the forest floor. It flowed in scarlet rivulets and stained the ShadowClan warrior's paws. Moonpaw watched nervously while applying poultices. Mossfur gave Embersong's wound and beckoned Moonpaw with a flick of her tail. Moonpaw bounded over. The scent of infection was hot in the night air.

"It's infected," Mossfur murmured. "Moonpaw, get me some borage, cobweb, and thyme from my extra herb store in that bramble bush over there. Hurry!" Moonpaw weaved through the ShadowClan cats. Their faces were dark with worry. She picked up the herbs and headed back for Embersong and Mossfur. The gray medicine cat was hunched over the injured, golden warrior. The young, black apprentice pawed the herbs to Mossfur, who was frantically applying cobweb to the bleeding gash.

Mossfur opened Embersong's jaws to give her the thyme, but the warrior closed them, a spasm of pain ensuing. "Herbs won't save me anymore," she rasped. Mossfur hissed angrily. "You lost a lot of blood. Stop speaking nonsense and take the herbs!" Embersong's gaze flickered to Moonpaw. Her amber eyes were clouded with agony. "But… StarClan calls to me," she protested weakly. She closed her eyes, her body convulsed, and then her eyes glazed over and stared at nothingness. The warrior lay perfectly still.

Embersong was dead.

Moonpaw's nose was overwhelmed by the scent of death and an infected gash. She nosed Embersong's limp body on the slight chance that she would wake up. Mossfur rested her tail on Moonpaw's shoulder. "I couldn't save her, Moonpaw. She was in the hands of StarClan the moment I found her," the medicine cat mewed softly.

"What will we tell Frostpaw? How could we possibly tell her that Embersong is dead?" Moonpaw choked. Her heart ached with sadness. Moonpaw longed to bury her face into Embersong's cold fur, but she had to stay strong until they got back to camp.

Mossfur shook her head slowly. The aging medicine cat's eyes were clouded with grief and a smoldering fury for letting a warrior die on her paws. "I don't know if we can put is softly on her shoulders," Mossfur meowed. "Death is not something that can be announced without some cat's heart breaking in two. However, somebody has to tell Frostpaw that Embersong is dead. You know her well, Moonpaw. I am growing older. I don't say things as sympathetic as I used to. You are her kin. You should tell her Embersong has gone to hunt with StarClan."

Moonpaw's eyes widened with shock. "W-what?" Moonpaw stammered. "I-I can't! I can't be that cruel to Frostpaw!" Mossfur's expression grew dark. "You must," she growled. "It is the way of the medicine cat."

Frostpaw was at the camp so Moonpaw figured she would have time to consider what she would say and how she would say it to her. But Frostpaw was her dearest friend. How could she break Embersong's death to her? Moonpaw gazed back at Mossfur, whose eyes were clouded with grief. Then it hit her, Embersong was Mossfur's sister.

Moonpaw imagined herself losing Frostpaw or Eclipsepaw. She pushed that thought away. Mossfur's muzzle was buried in Embersong's pelt. For one heartbeat, she thought she saw a starry figure with a fiery, golden pelt padding away in the sky and she thought, safe travels, Embersong. Live well in StarClan.