Hawkpaw watched as Autumrayne walked away. Hawkpaw was stunned at what Stormstar had just done. The tortoiseshell cat disappeared into the bushes, leaving Rainpaw, Ripplepaw, Songpaw, Oceanpaw, Stormstar, and Hawkpaw.
Hawkpaw stared up at Stormstar. His stormy grey pelt was soaked with water, and his kitty pet mate was dead, laying on the cold ground, never to wake again. Hawkpaw walked over to Songpaw.
"W-what just happened?" she asked. She was shivering from the cold weather, and some blood was dried onto her ginger pelt. She huddled close to Hawkpaw for warmth, and he felt her body temperature decrease slowly.
Hawkpaw rose, with Songpaw following him. "C'mon, let's go!" he shouted. The cold weather would soon infect the injured warriors. He lead the walk toward camp, with the other apprentices following closely.
Hawkpaw led the group into Skyclan camp. Hawkpaw looked around. Blossomcloud was outside with her kits, sulking at Stormstar. Hawkpaw caught her glance, and she looked away.
"Let's take you to Dragonwing," Hawkpaw murmured to Songpaw. She was now struggling to keep up, and gave a yelp of pain every step. Songpaw gave a small nod, and they headed toward the medicine den, where Dragonwing and Firepaw lived.
"Firepaw!" Hawkpaw yelled. Firepaw shot out of the den, and looked at Hawkpaw.
"Yes?" he answered; lying on the ground with his paws crossed and tucked in.
"Songpaw's sick," I told him. He quickly rose and took Songpaw into the Medicine den. Hawkpaw started to follow, but was stopped by Firepaw. "I've got patients with Blackcough in there, Hawkpaw. Do you really want to follow in?" and with that, he slipped in with Songpaw.
Hawkpaw felt his paws travel over to the fresh kill pile. He saw Meadowpaw sitting with Flightpaw, who had recently recovered from her Green Cough. They were sharing a stray rabbit, and were talking with solemn faces. Hawkpaw picked up a vole and padded over to join them.
"Hello," Meadowpaw said as he walked over. There was an edge of hostility in her voice. Flightpaw shot a look at Meadowpaw, and then Meadowpaw finally looked up.
"What's up?" Hawkpaw asked. Flightpaw and Meadowpaw looked at each other.
"Fine, we'll tell you. A giant adder is roaming the territories of all clans, and there's going to be a search patrol soon to find this monster, and to kill it too!" Meadowpaw said, excited. "But only the young warriors and their apprentices are coming along with the clan leader to fight it. So you're no included!" she sneered.
Just then, Merrysong exploded out from the nursery, her face clouded with panic and worry.
"Help! Help!" she shouted loud enough for StarClan to hear her. "My kits are gone! They're going to be eaten by the Giant Adder!"