A/N

Ok has it been four months? Yes. Did I have the time to update? Also yes. I'm not even really sure why I didn't start writing again after I graduated. My mind's been fixated on other fandoms and I just sorta… forgot.

Brambleflower: It's about to get gayer in the next chapter ;)

SavvySpirit: I'm a sibling too, I get it lol. I just always thought it was strange siblings snitched when they found out their sibling was with someone from another clan? I wouldn't share my mac and cheese with my sister but I'd kill for her, you know? Dunno about my other two sibs though.

Guest: It's a little dead but I'll keep reanimating its dead corpse till it's finished

xleafpoolx4xlifex: I'm SOOO happy you enjoy the story! It was actually your reviews that made me wanna update. And about the turtle thing, I don't really get it either, but there've been other cats with the prefix turtle so why not

Chapter 15: Summoned Hearts

The night was dry and cold. No air stirred the barren trees. Every step ached, and Runningshadow thought he was going to fall asleep on his paws.

"Hang in there," Cloverwing muttered to him.

Runningshadow squeezed his eyes shut and shook himself awake. "I'm fine."

The scent of the other clans was fresh in the air. Runningshadow could see the forms of his fellow medicine cats down below waiting. He took a careful step forward, when a rock shifted underfoot, and he slipped. He slid down the slope, dirt flying, before he was caught by Ravenwind.

"Are you okay?" The ShadowClan tom asked, steadying him with his body.

Runningshadow nodded and got to his paws. "Thank you." They shared a brief, tender look, before pulling away.

"The moon is nearly in position," Fallowleaf said. "We should go in."

"Wait, where's Milkpool?" Cloverwing asked, looking around. The ThunderClan medicine cat was missing.

Fallowleaf bowed his head solemnly. "She… she died. She got redcough before anyone else did."

Pondpaw placed her head sympathetically on his shoulder, though she said nothing. Fallowleaf gave a heavy sigh, clearly grief-stricken. Wordlessly, he pulled away from Pondpaw and headed into the cove.

The atmosphere was heavy. No one spoke as they all laid down on the cold stone to dream. Runningshadow felt Ravenwind scoot closer to him so the ends of the fur on their sides were touching.

Runningshadow opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Ravenwind standing right in front of him.

"Is this your dream?" Ravenwind whispered, amber eyes wide in awe.

"It's both of your dreams," said a deep voice.

The medicine cats turned their heads to see two medicine cats standing side by side, staring them down with serious looks. One was Silverwater, his thin form winding around the other medicine cat, who Runningshadow did not recognize.

"Bramblestone?" Ravenwind gasped, at the same time Runningshadow said, "Silverwater?"

They looked at each other, then back to their predecessors. "Why are we sharing a dream?" Ravenwind asked.

"To be given a message," Bramblestone answered.

"We're listening," Runningshadow mewed.

"Without a cure, redcough will ravage the clans," Silverwater said gravely. "You two have been chosen to leave the clans in search of this cure."

"Follow the setting sun until the trees touch the sky," Bramblestone meowed. "There you will find what you need."

"Just the two of us?" Runningshadow asked, blinking in surprise. "Alone?" It was too good to be true.

Silverwater narrowed his eyes. "Do not think this is some reward for breaking the code, Runningshadow. You two are simply the only ones who can leave the clans without leaving a clan without a medicine cat."

Ravenwind glanced to him. "He's right. Pondpaw still has training so she can't go or be left to RiverClan alone. Fallowleaf and Honeypool are the only medicine cats of their clans, so that leaves just us because we're full medicine cats but we still have our mentors."

"If we could choose other medicine cats instead, we would. Be sure of that," Bramblestone growled. "You are the clans only hope."

Everything was cold.

Runningshadow opened his eyes on darkness. Ravenwind was waking up beside him. All the other medicine cats were staring at them curiously. They sat up, confused.

"What's going on?" Runningshadow asked. A little voice in his head told him his relationship had been found out, however improbable that was.

"You two are the only ones who dreamt," Honeypool meowed. "StarClan did not appear to the rest of us."

"Were you told something of importance?" Hazelstripe asked, peering at his apprentice.

"Bramblestone appeared to me," Ravenwind explained, "along with a WindClan cat."

"SIlverwater," Runningshadow added quickly.

"They told us to travel- away from the clans," Ravenwind went on. "That we were the only ones who could find a cure."

Cloverwing and Hazelstripe exchanged glances. Honeypool's eyes were completely unreadable, while Pondpaw and Seedcloud looked concerned. Fallowleaf only stared.

"Let's talk," Cloverwing said to Hazelstripe.

When the other clan cats went their separate ways, Cloverwing and Hazelstripe were whispering a few mouse-lengths up ahead.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Runningshadow mumbled.

"I dunno," Ravenwind replied. "It's out of their paws. We're going whether they like it or not."

Runningshadow couldn't take it. He curled his paws into the dry grass, shaking with anger. "This isn't fair!" He hissed. "I prevented the meadow saffron poisoning, for what? Just for my clan to die of a new sickness?"

Ravenwind blinked numbly as Runningshadow let his temper loose. "We don't even know where we're supposed to go!" He shouted. Cloverwing and Hazelstripe were looking now. "Can't StarClan ever be more specific? The clans are dying! And all they do is spew riddles!"

"Runningshadow!" Cloverwing snapped.

"It's true!" He growled back. "I'm so tired, and frustrated." His anger flickered out quickly. "Can everyone stop dying for just one minute so I can breathe? I want all the terrible things to stop. I don't want to save anyone just for them to die from something else. It's not fair."

Ravenwind didn't care about the glare he received from Hazelstripe as he pressed his forehead to Runningshadow's. "We're going to fix this," he whispered. "I know we can."

Cloverwing cleared her throat. "Ravenwind, come to WindClan at dawn. You two should leave as soon as possible."

Runningshadow blinked slowly. "I'll see you then."

Hazelstripe lashed his tail, silently ordering Ravenwind to follow him. He lingered for a moment before disappearing after his mentor. Runningshadow stared after him until he felt Cloverwing's tail on his flank. He turned to walk at her side back to camp.

"This has been hard on all of us," Cloverwing whispered softly.

His body ached. "I know."

The rest of the walk was quiet.

Slinking through the heather tunnel and into camp brought a sudden change of atmosphere. He felt trapped, with an oppressive air filled with the smell of sickness.

Runningshadow dipped a wad of moss into cold water and brought it to a sick cat laying in a nest, coughing roughly. "Here you go, mom," he murmured, bringing the moss to her lips.

Brownthistle drank, then looked up at him with bleary eyes. "Runningshadow…" she rasped. "You didn't go to the Moonfall?"

"I already went," he said back gently. He looked down at his paws. "Look, you… you won't see me for a while. I don't know how long." He pressed his nose to her warm forehead. "So stay strong until I'm back, okay mom?"

Brownthistle sighed quietly, closing her eyes and laying her head down on her paws. Runningshadow looked at her sadly. "I'm not letting you go," he hissed under his breath. "You're gonna get better."

Runningshadow did not sleep.

He sat outside, staring up at the sky. The few healthy cats that remained in WindClan were up when the sky began to lighten. Turtleheart looked about as exhausted as Runningshadow now, and with so many of their warriors ill, Sparrowstar had taken to going on patrols too.

His mother had tossed and turned all night. But she made it through, he had to remind himself.

Runningshadow felt Cloverwing sit down beside him. An orange line traced the horizon where black blended into various shades of blue. White clouds glowed with pink and yellow where the rays of young dawn light shone.

"Ravenwind will be here soon," Cloverwing said.

"I already gathered our traveling herbs," Runningshadow said.

The sun had risen halfway from the horizon when the heather tunnel rustled, and the thick-furred form of Ravenwind entered camp. He was carrying a small bundle of herbs in his teeth.

"Runningshadow has already put together your traveling herbs," Cloverwing mewed. She had taken the bundles from the medicine den for him.

"Hazelstripe sent me with some herbs for you," Ravenwind said. "He thought they might be of use." He laid the ivy leaf wrap on the ground at Cloverwing's paws.

"You two should be off," Cloverwing said. She pushed the traveling herbs closer towards the two medicine cats.

They swallowed the bitter herbs with screwed shut eyes and scrunched up noses. Runningshadow was suddenly very terrified.

"Cloverwing?" He mewed. "Will… will you tell Turtleheart I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye? I- I don't want to face her."

His mentor dipped her head. With a pounding heart, Runningshadow lead Ravenwind to the edge of WindClan territory. Pine trees made the forest dim, as if it were still night.

"Are you ready?" Ravenwind asked.

"No," Runningshadow said. He turned to his partner. "Let's go."

His fur was raised with dread. He had been to the outskirts of the woodlands, but the further they ventured outside the territory of the clans, the more Runningshadow felt way out of his depth. Pine needles crunched as they brushed through the undergrowth from one patch of shadow to the next.

Runningshadow had his mouth open to taste the air for scents; specifically any other cats. "There's squirrels here somewhere," he reported. He cocked his head at Ravenwind. "How good are your tree climbing skills?"

"Ha ha," Ravenwind barked dryly. "I think we'll stick to mice."

"Oh, I dunno," Runningshadow said. "I bet one of us could fish adequately. Whaddya say?" He was egging him on at this point.

"I think if you ever bring back a fish I'll kill you," Ravenwind growled.

Runningshadow let out a low coo. "Aw, you wouldn't. You love me."

Ravenwind shoved him in the shoulder. "Shut it."

"Mmm, no," Runningshadow chuckled. "Tell me."

Ravenwind spared him a glance. The WindClan tom was piercing him with big blue eyes. "Fine," he grumbled. "I… I love you. Happy?"

Runningshadow's purrs were deafeningly loud. "Yes. Very."

The ShadowClan tom rolled his eyes, but he was fighting a grin. "So, do we even know where we're going? It's not like Bramblestone or Silverwater were very helpful."

Runningshadow's shoulders sagged a little. "Honestly, no. I mean, they told us to go west, right? 'Follow the setting sun' is what they said after all. There's an old barn here and I thought we could make shelter there while we look for… whatever it is we're looking for."

"Well, at least one of us has a plan," Ravenwind sighed. "The barn's a good idea. We can eat mice till we pass out."

"It shouldn't be too far now," Runningshadow laughed. "It's been a while since I've really eaten anything."

That much was evident. The frame of his ribs was visible against his mousey-brown fur, and the nubs of his spine poked out along his back. If Ravenwind looked at him too long, Runningshadow could see the pained worry in his eyes.

Ravenwind suddenly stepped in front of him. "Wait," he growled softly. "Do you smell that?"

Runningshadow lifted his nose. "I can't smell much through all this pine," he admitted.

"It's rogues," Ravenwind said. He was speaking in a hushed whisper. "There must be some staying at the barn." He turned concerned amber eyes on Runningshadow. "How good can you fight?"

Runningshadow gulped. Fight? Does he think it'll get violent? "Not good," he mumbled. "I chew my claws too much, and my form's always all wrong, and I trip, and-"

Ravenwind cut him off. "That's okay," he whispered. "I can protect you. Stay here, I'll go check it out." He turned in the direction of the barn.

"Whoa, wh- Ravenwind!" Runningshadow hissed. "Wait!"

The ShadowClan cat turned back to him. "What?"

"There's probably more than one," he pointed out. "Do you really think you can take them? We're just medicine cats, we're not meant for battle. Wouldn't it be better to just avoid the barn then?"

Ravenwind shook his head. "No. On our own, it'll take too long to build a den. And who knows if we'll luck out and find an old set or something. This is our best bet."

Runningshadow flexed his stubby claws in and out of the chilly dirt as he contemplated. "Okay, okay," he finally said. "Just… be careful. If it gets too dangerous, I'd rather sleep in the cold than have you get hurt."

Ravenwind pressed his nose to Runningshadow's briefly before he turned away. The bushes ahead rustled quietly as Ravenwind crept forward. Through the foliage and where he was hiding, Runningshadow could see the faded red color of the barn.

The grass surrounding it was wispy and dry looking, and the structure of the barn looked worn. The roof was sunken in a little, and Runningshadow had no doubt rain would leak through during storms.

He pricked his ears to try and listen, and he was peeking through the bush to try and see Ravenwind. The dark tom was padding to the mouth of the barn, shoulders hunched in suspicion.

A deep yowl cut through the air, one that Runningshadow knew did not belong to Ravenwind. A flash of white darted out of the barn and pinned the ShadowClan tom to the ground on his back. He gasped for air, struggling.

"Ravenwind!" Runningshadow shrieked. The fur along his spine rose.

"No!" Ravenwind choked out. "Stay back!" The rogue brought claws down to his face, and Ravenwind moved just in time for them to only graze his cheek.

The ShadowClan tom jabbed his back paws into the belly of the rogue and with all his weight behind his paws, shoved him off. They circled each other for a minute, tails bushy and eyes wild.

A familiar scent filled Runningshadow's senses when the wind shifted. It had been four or five moons, but he recognized it due to it being so unique.

"Wait!" Runningshadow cried, leaping out from his hiding spot. "King, Don't hurt him!"

Both the rogue and Ravenwind stopped grappling with each other to gawk at him. Ravenwind took his chance with his enemy distracted to buck the rogue away.

"Runningpaw, is that you?" The rogue asked, getting to his feet. Runningshadow almost didn't recognize him with how he was positively glowing. He had barely broken a sweat fighting Ravenwind.

Ravenwind was panting. "You know this rogue?" His voice was rough, and his pupils still slits.

"I do," he confirmed. "He's one of the rogues I tended to a few moons ago. I told you about him."

Ravenwind licked his chest fur. "I remember," he huffed.

"It is most delightful to see you again, Runningpaw," King proclaimed, pressing his nose to the medicine cat's forehead. Ravenwind snorted and looked away.

"Actually, I'm Runningshadow now," he mewed. He quickly explained the tradition of earning your name. King looked puzzled.

"That is somewhat of a disappointment," King admitted. "Cookie and I named one of our kits after you."

Runningshadow blinked in surprise. "I- you did? I mean- uh- thank you! Are- are they here?"

King gave a curt nod. "Yes, I told them to hide when I thought we were being attacked." He turned to Ravenwind. "Sorry."

"S'fine," Ravenwind said gruffly. "You didn't know."

"You're bleeding," Runningshadow pointed out. They made their way into the mouth of the barn and he forced Ravenwind to sit. "Let me," he mumbled. Tenderly, he licked the shallow scratch on Ravenwind's cheek.

"Dear, are you- oh!" Runningshadow glanced away from his partner to see Cookie emerge from a haystack. "Runningpaw!" She looked healthy.

"He goes by Runningshadow now," King meowed. "It's a clan tradition."

Cookie nodded thoughtfully. "I see. I wish we had known," she giggled. "We would've named Running Paw Running Shadow instead."

At the mention of his name, a brown and white tabby tom popped out from behind his mother. His eyes were amber just like Cookie's. "My name could have been Running Shadow?" The young rogue whined. "That is so much cooler than Running Paw."

"You're still named after him, Running Paw," Cookie laughed softly. "Don't be so rude."

Running Paw came forward first, sniffing the air warily. Hesitantly, three more cats came out of hiding. Only one was completely white like King; the others all had some sort of brown on them.

"This is Cinnamon, Flax, and Duke," Cookie purred, referring to her kits. "And you've met Running Paw."

Though Cinnamon was the only she-cat of the litter, she was in no way the runt. She had a stocky figure like her father, and a dusty reddish coat. Duke had his mother's eyes, but otherwise looked like an exact copy of King. Flax was the lithest, white with brown paws and ears.

"You smell weird," Cinnamon said bluntly. Her nose was pointed at Ravenwind.

"I'm Runningshadow," the WindClan medicine cat said. "And that's my- uh- Ravenwind. We're from east of here."

"We know about the clans," Running Paw huffed. "Mom and Dad told us how you helped them get better before we were born."

"I've smelled WindClan before, but he smells different," Cinnamon said. She was still looking at Ravenwind, who had averted her gaze, uncomfortable with the attention.

"I'm ShadowClan," Ravenwind said coolly, narrowing his eyes. "And we ShadowClanners eat kits. And I'm getting hungry."

Cinnamon yelped "eep!" as she looked up to see Ravenwind flashing her his shiny fangs and took a few steps back. Runningshadow stepped in between them.

"He's not once for socializing," he laughed awkwardly.

"Well, if he's a friend of yours, he's a friend of ours," King said warmly.

The fur on Ravenwind's back stood on end. "I'm not his friend! I- I'm… ugh!" He stomped out of the barn and rounded the side of it, disappearing from view.

"He means we're- we're mates," Runningshadow gulped. "Well, I guess not officially… but still. We can't tell anyone back home and… I know it bothers him."

Duke cocked his head in confusion. "Are two toms not allowed to be together in the clans?"

Runningshadow shook his head. "No, no that's not it, we- we're from two different clans, and that sort of relationship is forbidden. And we're both medicine cats, so even if we were from the same clan, that would keep us apart too."

Cookie hung her head. "Will you get in trouble if you're found out?"

Runningshadow's tail flicked. "Probably. But we're careful!" Sure, we are. Except when Duskcloud saw us. "I- I love him."

He felt King's tail on his back. "You should go talk to him," the rogue said. "Love is worth fighting for, even if you're not allowed."

Dipping his head, Runningshadow exited the barn. Ravenwind hadn't gone far. He was sitting in the tall, dry grass around the corner of the barn slicing at dandelion weeds with his claws.

"What're you doing?" Runningshadow asked, sitting beside him. Their bodies touched, and he had to fight the trained instinct to pull away. Allowing himself to be affectionate still felt… strange.

Another flower crumpled under Ravenwind's claws. "Taking my feelings out on these weeds," he growled.

"Aw, what'd they ever do to you?" Runningshadow teased. Ravenwind stayed quiet, slashing at the pale green stems with a blank stare forward. Runningshadow sighed. "You know you're not just my friend, right?"

"I know," Ravenwind mumbled.

"And you can't get mad at King," Runningshadow pointed out. "He just didn't know."

Ravenwind huffed. "I know. I just…" he trailed off, struggling to find the right words. Runningshadow waited patiently. "I wish we could just exist," he finally said. "Without anything against us. I want to be able to call you my mate."

Warmth spread across Runningshadow's cheeks. "You can," he blurted. "Here, I mean. We're not in the clans. We don't have to be a secret right now."

That was news to Ravenwind. His eyes went wide as the thought bounced around in his head.

"And, by the way," Runningshadow added, "you looked pretty great fighting. You know... protecting me, and all that. It was... you were... I- I'm just sorry you got hurt."

Ravenwind shook his head, scuffing a torn up dandelion to the wind. "Nah. We're both medicine cats after all. You coulda patched me up."

Runningshadow raised an eyebrow. "Were you hoping I'd have to fix you up just for an excuse to be close to me?"

The ShadowClan tom's ears shot up. "Wha- n- no! Shut up!"

Runningshadow devolved into a fit of laughter, and when he opened his eyes, tears pricking at the corners, he saw Ravenwind staring at him with such a powerfully lovestruck look it shook him to his core. Ravenwind stood up abruptly and dragged Runningshadow back into the barn with him, looking fiercely determined.

His shadow fell in the barn and King and Cookie turned to look at the both of them.

"Runningshadow is my mate," he said firmly. Runningshadow's heart felt like it had stopped. "I love him. He is my friend, but he's so much more than that. We're mates."

The ShadowClan tom looked pleasantly surprised when the only reaction the rogues had were smiles. "Ah, you two do look cute together," Cookie sighed.

"If you're mates, does that mean you have kits too?" Flax asked innocently.

"No," Runningshadow and Ravenwind said decidedly in unison. They looked at each other and laughed.

Runningshadow looked about the barn. Something clicked in his head. "Hey, where's Nan?" He swallowed thickly. "Is she… gone?"

King looked almost amused. "Oh, it'll take more than fleas and ticks to get rid of my mother," he chuckled. "No, the cold just makes her tired. She's sleeping in the loft still."

"Loft?" Ravenwind asked, bewildered. Runningshadow had learned from his time with rogues to just pretend you knew what some words meant.

King nodded in the direction to a higher part of the barn. "Climb the ladder and there's a smaller area up top. It's nice and warm."

"I'm glad she's healthy," Runningshadow purred.

"So, what brings you so far from WindClan anyways?" Cookie asked. "No clan cats have even come close to here while we've been here."

Ravenwind and Runningshadow exchanged dismayed looks. Runningshadow spoke first. "We're sick," he said. "Well, not us specifically, but the clans. It's bad. Really bad. We were sent to find a cure."

King and Cookie's eyes went wide. "Hey, sweetings," Cookie called to her kits. "Go wake Nan. If you're nice, maybe she'll show you some cool moves or tell you a story."

The four kits scrambled away, pushing one another to try and get up the ladder. They looked about four moons old, but more well fed than any rogue Runningshadow had seen before. Probably all the mice. The scent was heavy in the air.

"How bad?" King asked seriously, once his kits were out of earshot.

"We didn't bring it, did we?" Cookie whined, looking incredibly guilty.

"No," Ravenwind said certainly. "It was a cat ThunderClan took in and it spread from there. We can't stop it, only delay it. At the rate it's been spreading, all of the clans will be sick within two or three moons."

"We found something that helps prevent it," Runningshadow added. "But once someone has it…" he swallowed a lump in his throat. His mother popped in his head.

The straw nests were pokey. Cookie and King were mirroring each other, paws tucked under their chests as they absorbed all what Runningshadow and Ravenwind knew, which admittedly, wasn't much. The two medicine cats kept shifting uncomfortably.

"It sounds like bloodlung," Cookie said after a moment. "That's what we rogues call it. It comes from farm cats cause they can get chilled, or catch it from sheep or cows."

"I'm afraid we can't help much," King admitted. "Rogues who get bloodlung go to the vet. That's the only way we know how to cure it."

Runningshadow's eyes widened. "Wait, you had redcough and survived?"

King nodded. "I was probably about four moons old. I didn't know nothing about healing, so I made myself known to some upwalker who took me to the vet and got me better."

Ravenwind made a disgusted face. "You went to a twoleg for help? I'm pretty sure starClan doesn't want us to do that."

Runningshadow ignored him. "Did they give you anything? What sort of medicine?"

King frowned. "Upwalker medicine is very different than clan medicine. Sometimes it's some foul liquid, and other times it's a little pellet you're made to swallow whole. You usually get better within a few days, though."

The two toms sighed in defeat.

"Don't look so defeated," came a raspy voice.

"Nan, where are the kits?" Cookie asked. "I sent them to you."

"Oh, so it was you who woke me up," the elder grumbled. "Bah, they're chasing some crickets out back. I showed them a crouch and they want to be better than each other at it."

The pale grey she-cat hobbled over and sat down, albeit with an "oof" of pain. "I know a thing or two about bloodlung," Nan said. "Took my parents when I was a kitten. My brother and sister had it too, and I eventually caught it as well."

"What'd you do?" Runningshadow asked.

"We didn't want to be separated," Nan said. "If we went to upwalkers, we knew that would happen. We eventually found an old hedgecat to help us, as long as we promised to hunt for her when we got better."

"So there really is an herb!" Runningshadow exclaimed. "I can save my mom?"

Nan's posture drooped. "Sadly, I don't know where to find it. It was bright pink, and heart-shaped, I remember that much. Smelled nice. And the hedgecat kept telling us it was poison in large amounts, so she had to administer it little by little. Worked fast though. Two quarter-moons and we were back on our paws."

Runningshadow stared off straight ahead hopelessly. He felt Ravenwind's tail on his back in an attempt to comfort him. It pulled him away from his beginning of a spiral.

"You should try the woodlands a ways west," Nan suggested. "It's a lot like where I grew up; moist, a little humid, you know."

Ravenwind pressed his nose to Runningshadow's cheek. "It's true we'll probably find it in a similar environment."

"Is it far?" Runningshadow asked abruptly.

Nan exchanged looks with King and Cookie. "It's a three day journey," King answered. "And three days back."

"We should go now then," Runningshadow said numbly. He stood up and headed towards the forestline. Ravenwind stammered and chased after him.

"We can't go right now!" Ravenwind exclaimed. "We're tired, we're hungry, we need to get our energy back before we can go on."

Runningshadow fixed him with serious blue eyes. "The more time we waste, the sicker our clanmates get. The sicker my mother gets." He looked down in shame. If we don't go now… what if she's already...

Ravenwind's tone softened. "I'm not saying we don't go. We will. But we should stay a few days here. We can patrol this pine forest a little more each day, expanding a perimeter to look for it."

Gently, he turned Runningshadow's face so he'd look at him. "Once we're well rested and well-fed in a few days, we'll go. Our clanmates are strong. I promised you we'd get through this together, didn't I?"

A heavy sigh escaped Runningshadow. He practically collapsed into Ravenwind. "I don't want to lose her too," Runningshadow whimpered. "She's the only family I have left."

A flash of remorse shot through Ravenwind. It often slipped his mind that Runningshadow had no littermates, not anymore. His father had died with his sisters during the leaf-bare when they were kits. Brownthistle really was the only family he had left.

"We'll save them," Ravenwind whispered confidently. Runningshadow's ear fur brushed his nose. "We'll save them all."

A/N

Gosh I hope my slight burnout isn't showing. I've been writing some stuff on my secret ao3 account but it was all in present tense so switching back to past tense was a CHALLENGE.

I have most all of this story outlined, but I'm still missing something for chapter 17. Any ideas would be much appreciated, as long as they stay Runningshadow/Ravenwind POVs since the story is centered on them.