A/N: Hi again guys! Glad to be bringing you another update! YAY.

Now. Before you read this, I just need you to know. I didn't plan on things happening this way, okay? It uh... It's not quite what I had in mind when I started the chapter so just... you know. Just... understand that I'm sorry. I really am. I hope you enjoy it anyway! I'm actually kind of proud of how it turned out, surprising myself and all that jazz. To my reviewers (I love you):

Pandean: I thought she and Dustpelt would clash nicely, but she'd still be able to learn a lot from him :3

Sierra: Things will be happening with Hawkfrost soon, but I can't disclose what just yet (as I'm still a bit undecided myself xD)

Thank you guys so much!

Chapter 21

Hollystep trudged towards the thorn tunnel practically drooling at the thought of getting into the shade of the hollow. Green-leaf had crept up on them, bringing with it long days and sweltering heat. Even as it was setting the sun cast a blistering beam through the forest. Hollystep had taken her patrol down WindClan's border, unsurprised to see that WindClan's markers were still faint. At the last Gathering warriors of WindClan and RiverClan alike bore the wounds of their ongoing dispute. It wasn't the fighting that unsettled Hollystep though—it was the cause. The dark tabby she-cat just couldn't imagine Onestar allowing one of his warriors to kill Mistyfoot. Something wasn't adding up, and Hollystep couldn't shake the feeling that it was right in front of her nose.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"

"Let's hurry," Hollystep put on speed, knowing Brightheart and Spiderleg were just as excited for this particular Clan meeting. They made it just as the Clan was settling, and Hollystep wove through her Clan-mates to sit by Rainwhisker. The gray warrior's chest was puffed out, and his eyes were as full of pride as the lake was of water.

"Green-leaf is upon us," Firestar began, his pelt like fire in the last rays of sunlight. "And now more than ever, as tensions rise between WindClan and RiverClan, we have a need for warriors." Eager murmurs swept through the Clan as he continued, "And it's been brought to my attention that our three eldest apprentices are more than ready to take their warrior names." Their leader leapt down from the high-ledge to face the three apprentices as they stood before their Clan. Sunpaw quivered with joy, and beside her Hazelpaw's tail swept dust from side to side as it lashed. Fennelpaw was completely still, but his amber eyes blazed with the passion Hollystep remembered feeling on the day she was made a warrior. It was a passion she still felt every day—a passion she put towards becoming deputy.

"I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Sunpaw, Hazelpaw, Fennelpaw," his eyes met each of theirs as he spoke their names. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Hazelpaw looked ready to leap out of his fur.

"I do," Fennelpaw echoed, more quietly but more firmly. Sunpaw's voice followed his, soft and determined.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Sunpaw, from this moment you will be known as Sunpetal. StarClan honors your compassion and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." He bent to touch his nose to her head, and she stretched to lick his shoulder respectfully before joining Brambleclaw.

"Hazelpaw, from this moment you will be known as Hazelfang. StarClan honors your courage and enthusiasm, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." When Hazelfang had moved to sit by Thornclaw, Firestar turned to Fennelpaw. Hollystep felt Rainwhisker sit a little taller, and she twined her tail with his.

"Fennelpaw, from this moment you will be known as Fenneltail. StarClan honors your honesty and quick thinking, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." As soon as Fenneltail rasped his tongue over Firestar's shoulder Hollystep jumped to her paws.

"Fenneltail!" She yowled, as proud as if she had trained him herself. "Sunpetal! Hazelfang!"

The cheer was taken up immediately as the Clan pressed around their newest warriors to congratulate them.

"Honesty, huh?" Hollystep snickered, giving Rainwhisker's former apprentice an affectionate nudge. For once, Fenneltail didn't have a quick comeback. He only blinked warmly at Hollystep. Rainwhisker shouldered his mate aside to greet the young warrior, and Hollystep turned to Snowpaw.

"You know what this means, don't you?" She could see the ambition smoldering in his eyes.

"I'm next!"

Nearly a half-moon after the ceremony, green-leaf had still yielded no rain. The stream that marked WindClan's border had dried to a trickle, and the lake receded a little more every day. Prey was thin—too thin. Like the streams, Squirrelflight's milk was drying up, and every patrol was told to hunt for prey and for borage. It was easier ordered than done, though; even the grass was drying and wilting in the fierce heat.

"The Clan can't go on like this," Hollystep spat out a borage leaf as she spoke. Rainwhisker only sighed in response. "We have to do something."

"What can we do?" Brackenfur looked as frustrated as she felt. Unable to answer, Hollystep bent to find another leaf that wasn't too wilted to use. Rainwhisker pricked his ears and dropped into a hunting crouch before slithering away.

"No use," Hollystep finally straightened. "The others are either wilted or singed."

"One is better than none," Brackenfur forced optimism into his tone, though his eyes betrayed his troubled thoughts. "I'll go ahead and bring this back, I'm sure Leafpool will appreciate it."

Hollystep nodded. "I'll send Snowpaw back soon," she decided aloud. "I'll have him soak moss in the lake to bring to Squirrelflight and the elders."

Brackenfur blinked his approval as he gingerly picked up the borage leaf. With a flick of his ears the golden warrior was gone, the undergrowth crunching beneath his paws.

"Were you talking about me?" Snowpaw emerged from a thicket of sorrel with a pair of mice dangling from his jaws. He was bigger than Hollystep now—and nearly bigger than Rainwhisker.

"Yes," she flicked her tail towards the lake. "We're going to head towards the lake, catching what we can. Once we get there, I want you to soak a ball of moss in the lake and bring it back to the elders and Squirrelflight."

"Yes, Hollystep." Snowpaw tucked his mice into the small space between some roots before slinking back into the undergrowth, this time heading towards the lake. Hollystep took a different path, her jaws parted as she desperately tried to pick up the scent of prey. Rabbit! Her heart stuttered as she sank into a more careful crouch. If it's full grown it could feed Squirrelflight twice! The scent got stronger and stronger until the tabby warrior spotted its ears sticking up out of some dead grass. They twitched and swiveled, and before it had a chance to notice her, Hollystep erupted out of the undergrowth and lunged for it. It was faster than she expected—and larger. There was no way she could let it go. She raced after it like StarClan was on her heels. She was beginning to lose ground when a sound like no other rang through the forest.

SNAP!

Birds squalled and took flight some ways to Hollystep's right. The rabbit tripped, and Hollystep barely snatched it as she tripped over it and rolled to an ungraceful halt. As the blood eased out of Hollystep's ears a new sound made itself present: the pained yowl of another cat.

"Did you hear that?" Rainwhisker's eyes were wide as he rushed to her side.

"Yes," Hollystep rasped as she stood. "It sounded like…" She didn't want to think of it. She buried her rabbit haphazardly and took the lead as she and Rainwhisker ran towards the agonized howls. As they got closer and closer, the thick smell of blood filled the dry air. Oh StarClan no. Images flooded Hollystep's mind from when she had rescued Snowpaw; his mother, lying with her neck broken in the jaws of a shining fox trap. Let them be alive! She begged silently. Please!

The warrior's blood ran cold as they burst onto one the most common hunting trails, heading towards the Sky Oak. Lying before her, panting harshly and writhing in pain was Dustpelt, his front leg grotesquely bent in between shining metal teeth.

"Dustpelt!" She rushed to her father's side. "What happened?"

"I saw… a strange track…" His body convulsed as pain visibly washed through him. "Following… the scent…"

"Hush," Hollystep shook her head. "Never mind, you're hurt, that's all that matters. Rainwhisker!" She looked desperately at the gray warrior, who seemed frozen in shock. "We have to do something!" She insisted.

"I sent… Nettlepaw back…"

"To get Leafpool," Hollystep nodded fervently. "Good, that's good, we need her."

"We need to get his leg free," Rainwhisker finally spoke, approaching slowly and thoughtfully.

"How?" Hollystep spun, searching for anything they could use. "Could we pry it open?"

"Tried…" Dustpelt's tail lashed as fresh pain assaulted him. "It's wound… tightly…"

"The bleeding," Hollystep's mind jumped frantically as she paced the clearing. "We should try to stop the bleeding while we think, he's lost so much blood…"

Rainwhisker vanished at once, moments later he came back with a small wad of cobwebs and a mouthful of moss. "It's not perfect, but it should help." Hollystep bent carefully near Dustpelt's leg.

"This is going to hurt," she warned him.

"It… already hurts…" A flash of his sharp tongue came through, and Hollystep felt her heart beginning to break. We won't let you die, not like this. She pressed the cobwebs and moss to the wound as gently as she could while Rainwhisker did his best to pin the thrashing warrior. With a temporary fix in place, Hollystep took to pacing again.

"There has to be something," muttered the dark tabby. Again and again, she paced in circles and muttered, her tail lashing helplessly.

"The stake," Rainwhisker gasped.

"Stake?" Hollystep spun to face him. The gray warrior had pawed some grass and leaves aside, revealing a thick wire than led to a large wooden stick that rose half a tail-length from the ground. The wire was pulled taut by the trap, and with a flash of clarity, Hollystep understood. "We've got to release the tension! Then it'll open." She dove at the stick, digging forcefully. Rainwhisker worked silently at her side, his pelt brushing hers.

"There!" Hollystep didn't turn at the sound of Nettlepaw's mew and Leafpool's gasp of horror.

"We've almost got him out," Rainwhisker called over his shoulder. Hollystep didn't even feel her claws tearing, but she saw the blood splattering the dirt. She felt the stick wobble. "Move." Raiwhisker shouldered her aside and gripped the stake between his jaws. With a mighty heave, he tore it loose. The wire slackened immediately, and Hollystep spun to help Nettlepaw open the silver jaws. Dustpelt let out a hiss of pain as his broken leg came free, the bone poking out of his bloody fur.

"I'll have to bind it here," Leafpool mewed grimly. "Fetch a stick, he'll need something to bite."

Hollystep brought back the thickest stick she could find. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't bring herself to look away as Leafpool tended to her father's wound. She remembered idolizing him as a kit; watching him come in from hunting with his tail high and his sharp eyes warming as they swept over her and Birchfall playing outside the nursery. She remembered bumping against his forelegs while he carried her through the thick snow in the mountains and listening with wide eyes as he told her stories about his mentor, Redtail, and the adventures he'd shared with Sandstorm when they'd been apprentices. Finally, Leafpool sat back.

"I've done what I can here," she murmured. "He's losing consciousness, we need to get him back to camp."

"I'll carry him," Rainwhisker padded to Dustpelt's side and gripped his scruff firmly.

Hollystep hurried to help. "I'll keep his leg from bumping things." On trembling paws, she helped Rainwhisker carry her father's limp form through the forest. Leafpool circled them restlessly, her eyes never leaving her patient.

"Gently now," she'd whisper, then let out a sigh of relief when they'd clear the obstacle. As they pushed their way through the thorn tunnel, Ashfur hurried to help. Hollystep let the bigger warriors support Dustpelt's weight between them, trailing behind as they vanished into Leafpool's den. Snowpaw emerged from the elders' den, his eyes wide and his chest fur damp.

"I heard," he meowed as he joined his mentor. He brushed his pelt comfortingly against hers. "I'll go fetch the fresh kill."

"I caught a rabbit," Hollystep told him numbly. "It's…" She tried vainly to remember where she'd buried it, but Snowpaw shook his head.

"I'll find it."

She turned quickly and stopped her apprentice. "Be careful," she growled, a tremor entering her voice. "There may be more traps like that one out there."

Snowpaw nodded his understanding before bounding to the thorn tunnel and disappearing into the forest again.

It wasn't until sunhigh the next day that Leafpool announced that he seemed stable and allowed Ferncloud to visit. Hollystep stopped in before taking her hunting patrol, her heart constricting when she saw how small her father looked lying in the nest in Leafpool's den. Shame crashed over the young warrior, followed by unfiltered rage and determination. I will never, she vowed silently, be so helpless again. She remembered making similar vow when she lay in that very nest, recovering from a wound given to her by a badger. I will never let my Clan-mates and kin suffer like this. Never.