With heavy hearts, the cats left the camp-turned-burial-site. The JuniperClan cats were quiet and subdued. Emberglow led the way, his tail and ears drooping. Chickadeepaw followed close behind, occasionally trying to coax him into conversation. Eventually, she gave up and walked in silence, too.

Robinfrost and her sister, Elkpaw, brought up the rear of the group. The cat that had been so optimistic before wasn't cracking jokes anymore. She just stared blankly at her paws as she plodded along, letting her younger sister lean into her shoulder.

Sage felt like an intruder. She hadn't known the JuniperClan cats who died. Their loss was sad, a tragedy, even, but she just couldn't feel it the way that the others did. It felt wrong to be there with them, a witness to their grief. She exchanged glances with Willow, who was walking beside her at the middle of the group. She clearly felt uncomfortable too, but gave a small shrug as if to say, "Where else can we go?"

It was starting to get dark. Sage was just starting to wonder if the young warrior and apprentices had gotten them lost when she heard voices ahead.

"Should we go out and look for them?"

"They should be back by now, shouldn't they? Did something happen to them?"

"Maybe they found Eaglestar and the others! We should go find them!"

"Maybe they're lost? Why did you send such an inexperienced warrior with only apprentices to help him?"

The sound of arguing cats grew louder as they approached, then fell silent as Emberglow and Chickadeepaw led them into a clearing.

About a dozen cats sat in a disorganized huddle. They all looked up from their argument at them as they approached. Sage felt suddenly worried. Would they let her and Willow stay? Would they chase them off? Attack?

"You're back," said a tall, muscular tom with a torn ear. "We were getting worried."

Emberglow opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by Robinfrost.

"Quietstorm!" she cried, running to a big amber-colored cat. He was the biggest, most terrifying cat Sage had ever seen.

Robinfrost buried her face in the giant tom's fur. "I'm so glad you're safe," she whispered.

He licked her head gently, allowing the she-cat to press herself against his chest. They must be mates, Sage guessed.

"Who are these two?" asked the cat with the torn ear. "Did you find Eaglestar?"

Emberglow didn't seem to know how to respond. Sage mustered her courage and stepped forward to address the intimidating tom.

"I'm Sage, and this is my sister, Willow. Our home was destroyed in the fire, just like yours. Your clanmates have helped us, and if we can, we'd like to stay with the Clan, at least for a little while."

The scarred cat narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "We hardly have what we need to take care of ourselves. Why would we take in two kittypets?"

Sage bristled. "We're not kittypets!"

"Please." Willow stepped forward and sat next to her sister. "We have nowhere else to go, and I'm expecting kits… please."

The tom's face softened. "Kits?"

Willow nodded. "My first litter. And my mama… I don't have anyone to help me. Can't we stay? Just until the kits come?"

"We will have to ask Eaglestar when we find him, but I don't see why not," said the tom. "If everyone agrees?" he added, looking at the rest of the gathered cats.

"Eaglestar is dead." Emberglow said flatly before anyone could respond.

The group gasped, then quickly dissolved into chaos. Shrieks and wails filled the clearing.

"Enough!" roared the tom. The JuniperClan cats fell into an uneasy silence. "Emberglow, what are you talking about?"

The younger tom just shook his head miserably. "He was at the camp… with the rest of them. They all died. We buried them."

"Everyone?" a small voice asked.

Emberglow nodded. "Eaglestar, Shadowfoot, Poppyclaw, Moonflower and the kits… everyone. We're all that's left."

The JuniperClan cats seemed too shocked to speak. The horrified silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity.

"Actually, that's not entirely true." Chickadeepaw had a look of forced hopefulness on her face. "Thistletail wasn't there."

The tom with the torn ear gave the apprentice a pitying look. "Thistletail was old, Chickadeepaw. I doubt he made it-"

"No." she interrupted. "I'm sure he's out there somewhere, and we need to find him. We need a medicine cat now more than ever!" Her big eyes filled with tears as she spoke.

"I'll help look for him," Sage offered.

"Me too," said Willow, ignoring Sage's pointed glances.

Why won't she just rest and take care of herself? Sage thought with a sigh.

The scarred tom raised an eyebrow incredulously. "A couple of kittypets are going to find us our medicine cat?"

"Oh, enough, Cougarstrike." Robinfrost marched up to him. "You're not the leader, you can't tell them to leave."

"Why don't you come with us, Robinfrost?" Sage suggested.

Robinfrost smiled. "Good idea, Sage. Chickadeepaw's right- I think we could use our medicine cat right about now."

The tom, Cougarstrike, was scowling.

"You should come, too," Sage added impulsively.

He shot her a look of such animosity that she flinched.

"Don't tell me what to do, kittypet," he snarled. "I'm coming, but not because you thought to invite me along. Someone needs to make sure you don't get yourself lost."

Robinfrost smiled awkwardly. "This should be fun."