Ravenkit blinked open his eyes. His vision was a blurred swirl of gray color, and his whole body ached.
"Are you okay?" a she-kit said. Ravenkit saw a blur of ginger hanging over him. He blinked a few times so that he could see. He was in a huge cave, a small stream running through the back. A ginger cat stood in front of him. The ginger she-kit had striking blue eyes. She smiled down at him.
"Who-who are you?" Ravenkit stuttered the question.
"My name is Rose! And you are?" she replied, tilting her head.
"You're a rogue!?" Ravenkit squeaked, his eyes widening. He made an attempt at climbing to his paws, but his head throbbed, and one leg was covered in a wrapping of cobwebs. Blood seemed to soak through the white pile, which made his stomach roll. Rose pushed him back to the ground.
"It's not safe for you to get up. You banged up your head and leg pretty severely." she meowed. "And yes. You still didn't tell me your name."
"Ra-v-venkit of F-forestClan."
"Cool! When do you think someone will come to find you?"
Ravenkit shrugged, trembling. Rose put her nose to his forehead. She jerked away as if she had been burnt.
"You have a bad fever," Rose observed, a thoughtful look twisting her features. "I'll go get some herbs!" She ran out of the cave. After what seemed like forever, she came back with something that looked like a small bush with small, daisy-like leaves. "Eat this feverfew. It should help bring your fever down."
Ravenkit strained his neck, licking at the leaves. They tasted bitter, like most herbs. They were a little moist, and their smell was zesty and tangy.
"Thanks," he said through a mouthful of leaves. Rose smiled at him.
"Sooo..." Rose meowed awkwardly. "How are you going to get home?"
Ravenkit opened his jaws, but she interrupted him. "How about I help you up and you lean on me? Then we can walk there!"
Ravenkit thought about it for a moment, nodding his head in approval. "Let's go!"
Rose went over to him, her teeth biting at his scruff. Ravenkit slowly put each paw on the floor. Rose's breath was hot on his neck, and she turned so that her head was next to his. He leaned on her body, keeping some weight on his good three legs so that she could carry him.
"Let's go. Your parents must be worried." Rose meowed. Ravenkit walked forward in time to Rose's pawsteps.
"I doubt so."
"Why wouldn't they care?"
"Well..." Ravenkit began. "There was this prophecy when I was born. My mother and father and most of the Clan think that it is about my brother, Crowkit. So they think that he can do nothing wrong. And they almost neglect me."
Rose gasped. "I'm so sorry about that."
"I-it's fine. Besides, when I ran away, no one followed me to see where I went, or if I was okay." Ravenkit added.
They walked in silence for a while until they came to the camp walls.
"This is it." Ravenkit meowed. The walls were three warriors tall and thick as tree roots. Vine tendrils curled around the bramble wall and there was a hole dug into the plants.
"Good luck in there." Rose mewed, her voice sympathetic. "You'll know where to find me if you need me."
"Thank you," Ravenkit responded, tilting his head to touch hers. "You're the only friend I ever had."
Rose copied his movements. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too." Rose flicked her ear and pulled away. She waved at him with her tail in goodbye and loped back to her cave. Ravenkit felt an overwhelming sadness crossing over him. The only friend he had was a rogue, and now she was gone. He sucked in some air and limped into the camp.
"Ravenkit!" Someone exclaimed. Seedleaf ran over to him. Ravenkit's eyes swept over the medicine cat. He hadn't changed much since he had seen him. His golden pelt was still covered in pollen. "Come to the medicine den. I have to check on that leg."
Ravenkit was pulled by the scruff to the den. Seedleaf rummaged through his stores and pulled some sticks and bindweed. He made a splint over Ravenkit's leg.
"All done. I suppose you want to go to your family now."
Ravenkit nodded and limped into the nursery. Someone knocked him off of his paws, his hindleg throbbed.
"Hey, Ravenkit." Crowkit sneered, pushing him. Hollykit and Ashkit were behind him, smiling menacingly. "I see you have your leg banged up. Would be a shame if someone..." he trailed off, pushing Ravenkit's leg unnaturally. Ravenkit cried out, and Hawkwhisker slid into the den.
"What's happening? And Ravenkit, what happened to your leg!?"
"R-ravenkit hit me!" Crowkit fake wailed, falling to the ground dramatically.
"Ravenkit!" Hawkwhisker yowled. She shoved Ravenkit, which made him cry out again. "Crowkit is the prophecy cat. You can't hurt him like that. Out! I never want to see you and your unimportant face in this nest again!"