.: -.-Prologue-.- :.

" NIGHTKIT!" Sandkit screamed in terror as she stared open-mouthed at the horrible scene before her. "Nightkit, Nightkit! This isn't happening, no! This isn't happening, it's all a dream!"

Nightkit raised his head weakly and blinked slowly to show indication. He opened his mouth and a trickle of blood fell out. Sandkit stood petrified to the spot when suddenly her brother was tossed aside and the badger turned instead for her.

"Eeeeeeeh!" Sandkit shrieked in fright as it charged straight for her. "Nightkit, just hang in, OK? Hang in and wait! I'm coming!"

She could only dodge nimbly aside as the badger crashed in the undergrowth. That could-a been me, I would-a been mincemeat. The fully-grown and furious badger veered away and aimed again at her.

"Yeeeeeeeehh!"

Sandkit's cries bounced against the trees and shattered the lingering silence over the forest. Birds flew out of the trees in alarm. Prey everywhere scurried in fear and dove into their nests. Sandkit squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself for the impact. Then suddenly, her mom's words floated in her mind. Look at the size of the badger! Don't try to withstand the assault, if you can dodge it, then dodge it! You're weaker than the badger, but you can't always run away…Sandkit's eyes flew open and without hesitating, she flew onto the badger's back, her claws unsheathed and dangerously sharp. The badger cried in agony as she clawed it again and again.

"This is for hurting my brother, you evil!" She declared before leaping off as it lumbered off into the woods once more.

She immediately spun around and dashed over to Nightkit, out of breath and panting hard.

"Y-you OK? (gasp) You're…tougher than you (cough) think. You can't…cry over that little…wound…" Sandkit gasped and fell down in a heap. "Oh, StarClan…get help! Get Burningcold or…Frostpaw. I'm…so tired."

But the woods remained silent and Sandkit reluctantly gathered herself up and headed for camp.

"Sister…it's no use."

Sandkit whirled around to face her brother, flinching at the look of pain in Nightkit's eyes.

"I'm getting the medicine cat, Burningcold. She'll just need some cobwebs and marigold, or horsetail. How far is camp? Oh, we're nearly at Fourtrees! It'll take ages to get back! I have no choice but to get them myself. StarClan help me! I don't think I'd be the best medicine cat."

"No use, Sandkit. Bring me back to camp and bury me…on the hill looking over the meadow of flowers…"

"Don't talk like that!" Sandkit snapped. "You're going to live, a badger can't kill you! Believe you'll live!"

"No…no use…bye Sandkit. Say bye to mother for me." Nightkit sighed for the last time and dropped down limp and cold.

"Night…Nightkit?" Sandkit whispered worriedly. "Nightkit! Brother? Speak! Nightkit!"

Sandkit whirled around, her throat tightened in tears as she fought hard not to cry, but her eyes brimmed with tears. He was the only one. My only brother! My best friend, what will I do without him?

She turned around and padded back to his side.

"What will I do without you?" she grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and started dragging him to ward camp.