I am soooooooo sorry about not updating! I got so busy, I was also late in finishing it. I'll try my hardest to get the next chapter after this one done on time! I hope you like this chapter, I put a lot of heart into it. ~Leopardsong~

I trotted over to them and dipped my head respectively. "You ready?" Flinteyes asked, I nodded and we set off for the marsh. My heart leapt, only the older apprentice's got to train in the marsh, me and Mosspaw had only trained there once. I looked at Leafpaw and Silverpaw, they looked as excited as I felt.

Soon the trees grew darker, and more pines sprung up around us, making it look darker than it really was. The mud got deeper and I could hear frogs croaking all around me, the smell of lizards, frogs and rats lingering in the air. We waded through a large puddle and pushed through the shield of trees into the clearing.

I was happy to be out of the mud, but to my dismay, small puddle's dotted the clearing. "You're all going to get a little muddy today." Sagepelt sighed.

Silverpaw flinched beside me. "But it will take forever to get the mud I already have in my fur out!" He hissed. Sagepelt shot him a warning look and he shut up quickly. They both moved to the side of the clearing and whispered softly about what they were going to teach us. I felt Mosspaw shift beside me, his pelt was soft and warm.

I looked at him, he was looking nervously around the clearing. I nudged him with my nose, he jumped and swung his head around to meet my gaze. "What was that for?" He breathed out relived to see it was just me.

I was surprised to see he was so nervous. "Why are you so jumpy?" I questioned him. He sighed and looked down at his paws.

I felt him shiver before he looked back up at me. "Well, I don't really like coming into the marsh." He confessed. "It's too dark and muddy."

I pressed closer to him and purred softly. "It's alright, you'll forget about all that when we start." He nudged me affectionately before Sagepelt and Flinteyes called to us.

We walked over excited to start our training. "What are we doing today?" Silverpaw asked, he couldn't keep the excitement from his voice. Leafpaw shifted from paw to paw and Petalpaw's tail was held high.

Flinteyes smiled "Battle practice. Petalpaw, I need you to help demonstrate the move. Come with me." He led Petalpaw into the clearing and told him where to stand.

I stood watching with excitement, I loved learning new battle moves. Flinteyes made his way to the other side of the clearing and called to Petalpaw. "Are you ready to try blocking the move?" Petalpaw nodded and braced himself. His muscles rippled under his shiny black coat and I watched as Flinteyes set out in a full out run toward him.

He leapt into the air, I thought he was aiming right for Petalpaw but was surprised when he landed right behind him. He turned on his left foot and whacked Petalpaw's hind legs, sending him to the ground in a heap. He landed right in the mud. Worry rose in me like a tide, because Petalpaw wasn't moving, I stepped forward, then he dragged himself out of the mud.

"Tidepaw, are you okay?" Silverpaw hissed, I looked at him and nodded quickly. Silverpaw smiled at me and I sat back down, I shifted uncomfortably from side to side as the pain in my stomach blossomed again. The scratches stung as I moved, I hadn't got Quickfoot or Berrypaw check them at all.

Flinteyes was talking to Petalpaw and showing him how to block the move as Sagepelt walked over to use. "Alright, Leafpaw and Sliverpaw you two can work together, Mosspaw and Tidepaw you two can work together. Flinteyes, you can show Leafpaw and Silverpaw right? I'll work with Mosspaw and Tidepaw." Flinteyes nodded, Silverpaw and Leafpaw trotted over to where he stood with Petalpaw.

I looked at Sagepelt who led us deeper into the clearing. "Alright, the trick to this move is to aim just behind them, but act like your aiming for them. Catch them off guard, they will brace to throw you off but won't expect to have their paws knocked out from under them." She explained, we nodded hanging off her every word, egger to learn.

She told us where to stand, I was up first, by now the pain in my belly was almost overwhelming. As I got ready to run my joints locked and gave out as the pain grew to a unbearable level, I fell to the ground and onto my side.

"Tidepaw!" Mosspaw shouted as he ran towards me, I began to pick myself up but the pain shot through me and I fell again. I looked around to see that Petalpaw bolt over and got down beside me. Worry swam in his eyes and was written all over his face, I looked away as Mosspaw knelt beside him. "What's wrong?" he demanded and began to sniff me.

I smiled. "Nothing." I said quickly and tried to get up again, but Sagepelt held me down. I looked up at her.

"What's wrong?" She repeated. I sighed and spilled it. "Why didn't you tell Quickfoot or Berrypaw?"

I looked down at the mud I was laying in. "I didn't want to take up any of their time, there's other cats who need them more." I sighed and she grunted in anger.

Mosspaw pressed his muzzle to mine. "You're just as important to them as all the other cats in Earthclan." He whispered, I pressed back and nodded as he pulled away. Sagepelt grabbed hold of my scruff and pulled me to my feet, she held on as Petalpaw and Mosspaw supported me.

She finally let go after Flinteyes persuaded her that they had me. "You can go with them, I got everyone else. I can teach them the move, you just worry about getting her some help." Flinteyes reassured her and we walked back to camp at a slow pace.

I felt bad about worrying them. "I'm sorry about this." I whispered.

Mosspaw laughed "Don't be." He told me with a kind smile. I gave a purr of gratitude and looked at Petalpaw who kept his eyes focused somewhere else. Then I realised that Petalpaw was the other cat helping me!

My heart raced with emotion, he looked away from me and growled so only I could hear him. "I'm not worried, I knew that Sagepelt wanted to help and as her apprentice I have to help."

I pressed my nose into his fur "Thank you" I whispered. Then we reached camp and we slipped through the tunnel into the clearing.

There went many cats in camp, just the queens, the elders, and a few warriors that had finished their hunting. Bounceheart was amongst them, she raced over and took Petalpaws place, she was talking but I wasn't listening.

I looked back at Petalpaw, who stood beside Sagepelt, he was watching me as we kept walking toward the medicine cats den. I could tell he wanted to come and started to but Sagepelt called him back and they headed toward the tunnel. I watched him stop right before he slipped out he cast one last glace my way and then disappear into the tunnel. I looked back, and thought to myself about what just happened.

I was warmed with the thought that Petalpaw cared about me, then I shook my head. Petalpaw was just helping me because Sagepelt was making him! He didn't care about me. I looked down at my paws as we slipped into the medicine cat's den and they helped me into a nest. I stared at the wall as Quickfoot walked over and said something to Bounceheart and Mosspaw, but I wasn't listening, I was still thinking about Petalpaw.

I didn't know what I felt anymore. Why did thinking he cared about me make me feel warm inside. I shook my head. I know how I feel about him, I didn't like him anymore then I had ever.

Quickfoot walked over to the herbs and I snapped back into the world around me, I looked over to Bounceheart who sat beside me, she looked worried.

Panic rose in me. "What's wrong?" I asked hoarsely.

She looked at me with a tiny smile. "It's alright, they said some cuts on your stomach were infected badly." She whispered. "But it's going to be alright, they're going to put something on it to help the infection."

Quickfoot came back with a cobweb with something green. "This will help the infection, and we can give you some poppy seeds to help you sleep. You're going to have to sleep here, you can't move." He told me as he pressed the cobwebs onto the scratches. "This is a poultice made of Horsetail, Goldenrod and some Marigold."

I nodded then Mouestar pushed his way into the clearing. "Is she alright?" He asked, concern lacing his voice.

Quickfoot nodded "It's not that bad, but she's has to stay her for the next few days so I can keep an eye on it so it doesn't get any worse.

Mousestar sighed "So she can't go to the gathering." My heart dropped. I wanted to go to the gathering to find out why Airclan had attacked us. I laid my head on my paws, then Mousestar pressed his muzzle to my flank. "I'll come here first thing in the morning to tell you what happened at the gathering." He told me, I looked at him with a smile. He smiled back then looked at Quickfoot. With a nod he pushed his way back out of the den.

Later that night Quickfoot was preparing for the gathering by giving the herbs to the sick cats, and the elders before he left. He was rushing around sorting as many herbs as he could.

I looked at him sorting the big pile of herbs, sorting as fast as he could. "Why do you gather so many?" I asked, he looked at me for a moment then went back to the herbs.

"Well, this is going to restock all the herbs we were low on. We just got behind with all the sick cats, Stonepelt is getting sick now and I'm still not close to the cure." He sighed. My heart sank, if they couldn't cure it then all the sick cats would die. I watched him and Berrypaw work away at the herbs and murmur softly to themselves.

Berrypaw looked back at me then back at Quickfoot "Could I stay here tonight, I could look after the sick cats and Tidepaw." He murmured, Quickfoot sighed and said something I couldn't make out, then they argued for a little before Quickfoot caved. He nodded then Mousestar called from outside, Quickfoot nodded to Berrypaw then hurried out of the den and into the clearing.

Berrypaw came over to me with the poppy seeds again and shook out three seeds. "Thanks." I whispered and lapped up the seeds. "Why did you want to stay behind? I would give anything to be at that gathering right now."

He took the poppy seeds back to where they were stored, then looked back at me. "I feel really bad, I should have looked at the cuts, then I would have been able to help you before this happened." He whispered.

I smiled at him. "Don't, I should have had you look at them." I insisted. He smiled, then went back to sorting herbs. I rested my head on my paws and breathed in the scents of herbs, they soothed me. The poppy seeds began to work and soon I was pulled into a deep sleep.

I opened my eyes in the clearing. I looked around quickly, knowing who would be waiting for me there. I spotted her looking into a pool of water on the other side of the clearing, her eyes where laced with sadness.

I watched her for a little before she looked up at me in surprise. "Oh, I didn't know you were there. I'm sorry." She called, smiling at me, but this smile was forced. I walked over to her slowly and looked down at the pool, but I didn't see anything in it. "You won't see anything, it's a pool that shows Starclan cats what's happening back down in the forest."

I nodded and looked back at her. "I don't know what to do…" I whispered, she smiled at me and pressed her muzzle to mine.

"Don't deny your feelings, that's what you need to do." She mumbled in my ear, then she pulled away from me and with a smile she licked my ear and pointed with her tail to the pool.

I looked at it and gasped, Petalpaw was reflected on the pool. He was trotting through the forest with Mosspaw. "Was she the cat you were talking about the other night?" Mosspaw whispered. They were with the other cats, headed to the gathering, Petalpaw was watching his paws. Mosspaw smiled a little.

Petalpaw looked up into the sky then spoke in a very low voice and my heart leapt. "Of course."

My jaw dropped and I couldn't speak. My heart raced and a small squeak came out of my mouth. Was what he was saying true? Or was it all a trick? I shook my head, of course he didn't like me. Softpelt made a noise and I looked at her.

She shook her head then looked back at the pool, I looked down. "How long have you known?" Petalpaw whispered.

Mosspaw laughed. "For ever now, I think I started to see it when we were kits. She was always watching you." Petalpaw looked at him.

"Do you think she likes me back?" He hissed. Mosspaw laughed again and nodded, my heart almost stopped in my chest. I couldn't drag my eyes from the pool, not even when it stopped reflecting them and all that was left was my face.

Softpelt touched me with her tail and guided me away from the pool. She sat beside me, waiting until the shock died down.

I looked at her, my heart beating fast in my chest. "Was that really what's happening right now?" I asked.

She nodded with a tiny smile. "You shouldn't deny your feelings." She whispered. I thought for a moment, was that really what I had been doing all my life? Denying my feelings for Petalpaw? I dropped my head, yes, that had been what I was doing. I loved Petalpaw. There was nothing I could do about it, we were meant to be together.

I looked back up to Softpelt. "Don't look so down about it!" She laughed. "Love is an amazing thing!"

I nodded and she began to fade away. When she had fully disappeared I was left alone in the clearing. I looked around, wondering why I was still here.

"Tidepaw. It's my turn to warn you." I looked quickly, turning around to face Flamestar. "A great danger is coming, one that could destroy the whole forest. None of the clans are safe if they do not band together. You must hurry Tidepaw. You are our last hope." She whispered. Confusion clouded my mind.

"What do you mean?" I asked quickly. She shook her head with a smile.

"That's all I can tell you, for now." She told me.

I shook my head. "That can't be it! I need to know more! What am I supposed to do?" I demanded. She licked my ear then faded away, and I was dropped into darkness.

I woke in the medicine cats den with a jolt, pain bloomed in my stomach and I cringed. Berrypaw was sorting herbs again, he looked back at me and hurried over.

"Don't move." He barked, I lay still as he peeled away the cobwebs. "It looks better, but still bad. I'm going to put on some more Horsetail and Goldenrod."

I watched him gather the herbs. "But Quickfoot also put Marigold in it too." I whispered. He looked back at me and thought for a moment.

"That's strange, Marigold is used to prevent infection not treat it." He murmured, then shrugged. I looked at the entrance, the light of early morning washed the ground and my nest, bathing me in warmth.

Berrypaw came back over holding the herbs in his mouth, with some new cobwebs. He set them down and began to chew them up, then spread it onto the cobwebs. He placed in onto the cuts and I flinched at the cold. Then he picked up the rest of the herbs and brought them back.

I rested my head on my paws as Berrypaw brought me one poppy seed for the pain. I ate it then looked at him. "Is everyone back?" I asked, hoping he would say yes, I wanted to talk to Petalpaw as so as possible.

He nodded with a smile. "Petalpaw, Mousestar, Bounceheart and Mosspaw were all in here as soon as they got back. But Quickfoot and I sent them to bed. They'll be back at some point." He laughed. My heart beat faster at the thought of Petalpaw coming to see me even if he was tired. "Petalpaw told me to tell you that Mosspaw dragged him along, but I don't believe that. He looked more worried than everyone else was."

I was warmed by the thought, and rested my head on my paws as Berrypaw rambled on about herbs and Quickfoot. I was enjoying the warmth, when all the sudden the light was blocked. I looked up quickly to see Bounceheart.

I smiled at her then I was confused. "Why are you not sleeping?" I asked.

She laughed a little then sat down. "It's sun high." She replied. I was surprised, I hadn't known so much time had passed. She sat down beside me and sniffed my head, then she pulled away sharply. "Why does your ear smell funny?" She asked sharply. I looked at her and then at Berrypaw who was looking back at us.

He walked over and sniffed my ears, then he pulled away too. "I know that smell, it's from the herbs." He said slowly, but the look on his face told me something different. Bounceheart looked convinced then licked my ear to try and wash the scent away.

She sat there for some time licking my ear, every once in a while she stopped and sniffed it, only to pull away again every single time. "Berrypaw, why won't it go away?" She asked. Berrypaw stopped sorting and walked over with a sigh.

He sniffed my ear then looked at Bounceheart. "I don't smell it anymore." He told her then went back to the herbs, Bounceheart quickly sniffed my ear again then pulled back with a surprised look.

She shrugged and licked it once more. "How are you feeling?" She asked.

I shrugged. "It hurt when I woke up, but Berrypaw took good care of me. He redressed my wounds, and gave me a poppy seed for the pain." I replied. She smiled and looked at Berrypaw who was sorting without looking at us. The pile of herbs was smaller than it was last night.

Then a sound came from the den where both of them slept. "Great Starclan! Berrypaw, your nest is a mess! There's moss everywhere!" Quickfoot shouted. He slipped out of the den and looked at Berrypaw. "Go clean it up now!" Berrypaw's tail dropped and he hurried into the den. Quickfoot looked at us and dipped his head. "Sorry about that."

Bounceheart dipped her head back. "It's alright. Leafpaw used to make a mess with the nest when we stayed in the nursery." She laughed.

He nodded and walked over to us. "Alright, let's check these." He sighed and peeled away the cobwebs, he sniffed the green stuff. With a smile he licked my cuts, I sucked in a breath as it stung a little. He sniffed the cuts and nodded. "You should be alright in a few more days." He told me then pressed the cobwebs back onto the wound. "Until then you will have to stay here."

I groaned. "Will I be able to go right back to my training?" I whined. He smiled and nodded, then walked over to the pile of herbs. He purred happily to see all the work Berrypaw had done, he began to sort them again until Cloudheart pushed his way into the den.

Quickfoot turned around with a smile, Cloudheart coughed as he made his way, unsteadily, toward Quickfoot. Then he collapsed onto the ground, Quickfoot called to Berrypaw then began to examine Cloudheart.

Bounceheart stood up and hovered close to them. "It he alright?" She asked with a worried tone.

Quickfoot looked worried at her. "He has the sickness." He whispered. "It looks bad, like he's had it for some time." He grabbed hold of Cloudhearts scruff and began to drag him out of the den. "I need to get him to the sick den." He murmered. Bounceheart began to help me, I tried to stand up, worried about Cloudheart, but Berrypaw pushed me back down.

"Stay here." He told me through a mouth full of herbs. "He'll be alright." He nodded and trotted off after them.

I was left alone, with nobody to tell me what was going on, how Cloudheart was, or if he would live. I had never felt more alone in my life.

Wow... I have no idea what to say about that... so intense. I'm so proud of Tidepaw, she's being so brave. The days grow so few in number, I hope the prophecy will be for filled before time runs out...

Scarclaw.