The snow had turned shallow that evening. Cherryleaf was curled up tight in her nest, with a kit tucked close beside her. He was a handsome one. His flame colored pelt was darker than average. It was like he was burned. So Cherryleaf and Finchwing decided to name him Burnkit, for his 'burning' pelt. This was the only kit that Cherryleaf ever named. Flamecloud, Dawnstrider, and Rockclaw were all named by her vexatious mate. Cherryleaf felt protective for this particular kit. She was going to love him the most.

Mossflower entered the nursery. She settled down beside Cherryleaf, who opened one eye.

"Greetings Cherryleaf. How's Burnkit?" Mossflower rumbled.

"He's fine." Cherryleaf growled. "Let me get some rest."

"You never cease to make me laugh." Mossflower chuckled; Cherryleaf glared at the old medicine cat.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cherryleaf snapped.

"When you were merely a kit," Mossflower started, "you were kind and caring. Now you are stubborn and curt. What happened?"

"Nothing you need to know about." Cherryleaf hissed; Burnkit gave a wail of protest.

Cherryleaf licked her favorite kit soothingly. Even though her words were bitter and rough, her tongue was as soft as it could be. Mossflower heaved herself to her paws and exited the den. Cherryleaf nuzzled Burnkit. The kitting left her weak like never before. She hadn't felt this vulnerable in a while. Cherryleaf let her eyes droop. Burnkit's tiny body rose and fell. Darkness entered Cherryleaf's mind, and Cherryleaf welcomed it.

The next morning, Icepaw trotted out the apprentice's den gingerly, Mistpaw right beside her.

"How are those wounds?" Mistpaw glanced at Icepaw's pelt.

"They're doing fine." Icepaw replied, "You did very well at the battle yesterday."

"Thanks, you too!" Mistpaw purred, "We make an excellent team!"

The two apprentices strolled around the camp, catching up on other cat's day's and visiting family. Mistpaw's mentor, Sassytail, interrupted the apprentice's break.

"Mistpaw, you are like in a patrol with me and Honeypelt." Sassytail muttered, "So yeah, like come with me."

Mistpaw rolled her eyes and followed Sassytail, nodding a quick goodbye to Icepaw. Icepaw blinked for a couple of moments. Maybe I could go and play with Leafkit. Icepaw thought hopefully.

Icepaw headed for the nursery, willing to see the tabby tom again. Once she entered the nursery, the first thing Icepaw saw was Cherryleaf and Burnkit. Icepaw snorted. She crept past them, but a layer of snow crunched under her paws, Cherryleaf's head shot up like a rocket. She swiveled her head towards Icepaw, her teeth were bared and her eyes were narrowed.

"What are you doing here?!" Cherryleaf demanded, "This is the nursery! Not the apprentices' den you hare-brain!"

"I'm just here to play with Leafkit." Icepaw explained, "And you might wake your kit up with that meow."

"Don't you dare tell me what to do!" Cherryleaf sprang to her paws, Burnkit still sleeping peacefully in the warm nest, "You've come here to hurt my kit! You are a murderer! Like your hare-brained sister and your hare-brained family!"

All the queens and kits in the nursery woke up. Heatherfur tucked her three kits in closer to her belly, and Mallowleaf bared her teeth.

"Cherryleaf stop! Icepaw only wanted to play with Leafkit!" Mallowleaf snarled; Burnkit wailed.

"Shut up!" Cherryleaf spat; with all her might, she lunged at Icepaw.

The two she-cats went tumbling out the nursery. Icepaw tried to get Cherryleaf off of her with sheathed claws, but her attempt failed. The cats around them stared at the dueling she-cat's with interest or worry. Nightstar bounded across the clearing and broke up the hissing she-cats.

"What is the problem?" Nightstar growled.

At once, Icepaw and Cherryleaf began to tell Nightstar about each other's problems.

"Cherryleaf attacked me when I was just trying to play with Leafkit!" Icepaw hissed.

"Icepaw was trying to hurt Burnkit!" Cherryleaf announced.

"That is a lie!" Mallowleaf exited the nursery with her two kits trailing behind her, "Icepaw is innocent! Heatherfur and I can tell you about it!"

"Enough! Cherryleaf, I know that my daughter would have never attempted to hurt a innocent kit." Nightstar silenced the debating cats, "You have attacked her for no reason at all."

All at once, the Clan started throwing insults and rude comments at Cherryleaf. Cherryleaf's eyes were round and terrified, Flamecloud and Rockclaw yowled the word traitor and Dawnstrider scowled at the presence of her mother. Finchwing spat at his mate.

"I should've never mated you!" Finchwing yowled.

Cherryleaf fluffed up her pelt and roared, the insulters were silent.

"You traitors have a brain the size of a grain of sand!" Cherryleaf howled, "You have no evidence on whether Icepaw is evil or not! Lionstar thought that Icepaw was evil! Why can't I?"

"Because he was proven wrong!" Breezefur retorted, "When he did think Icepaw was evil, look where that got him!"

"I am loyal to Lionstar!" Cherryleaf snarled. "Unlike you traitors!" She threw the words directly at Finchwing, Flamecloud, Rockclaw, and Dawnstrider.

"You aren't loyal to us or Lionstar," Nightstar concluded, "You are only loyal to DumbClan. Bring in the catapult!"

Crazystorm and Snowpelt started hauling in the massive invention. Cherryleaf flinched.

"Are you cats really going to fling a nursing queen?" Cherryleaf demanded.

"Yes, yes we are." Nightstar ran his eyes over the catapult, "We don't need anymore traitors here. We never needed them. We do not care about their health or their status. Get on the catapult Cherryleaf, you are officially exiled from this Clan. May MoonClan have mercy, whether you live or die once you hit DumbClan territory."

Cherryleaf was shoved onto the catapult, and Nightstar pushed the button with all his might. Cherryleaf went flying in the air, her legs sprawled out as she flew away.

"Any cat else we shall fling?" Nightstar's eyes had turned a little scarlet. "While we have this wonderful invention?"

Some cat pushed Sassytail into the clearing.

"W…what? Who would, like, fling me?" Sassytail stammered.

"Dad, what about Mistpaw?!" Icepaw yelped.

Nightstar was only partially listening to his daughter, he turned to Mistpaw.

"Mistpaw do you wish for a better mentor than this overly sassy piece of dumb fur?" Nightstar questioned.

Mistpaw, terrified, looked at Icepaw for help. Icepaw just gave her just listen to your heart look. Mistpaw took a deep breath.

"Yes."

Sassytail shrieked, and Crazystorm threw himself in front of his sister.

"You will not fling the only family I've got left!" Crazystorm howled, "Fling me instead!"

"Some cat move Crazystorm!" Nightstar ordered; Finchwing and Honeypelt came to their leader's aid.

Nightstar dragged Sassytail by the scruff and flung her on the catapult. He pushed the button, and away Sassytail flew. Crazystorm was horrified.

"How dare you!" Crazystorm broke free from Finchwing and Honeypelt's hold, "How could you!"

"That was Mistpaw's decision." Nightstar mewed simply; Crazystorm scowled at Mistpaw.

"The flinging is over!" Nightstar declared, "Crazystorm, I am sorry for your loss."

Cats departed one by one, soon, there was only Crazystorm hunched over where Sassytail last stood. Mistpaw crept up slowly towards Crazystorm.

"I'm so sorry…" Mistpaw murmured, "Please… forgive me…"

Crazystorm turned around, his eyes were filled with tears.

"I must go on with life." Crazystorm sniffed. "I… I will find… a new family."

From the nursery, a small kit with a dark red pelt stared out the nursery. His curious blue eyes filled with wonder. What had these cats just done? Was it bad? Was it good? Why does one have water coming out of his eyes? Thoughts and questions poured into the little kit's mind, he wailed with agony. This scene was too much to overcome.