Birdpaw was tasked with inspecting Featherleg when they entered the den, which both relieved Badgerpaw and made her feel a bit sad. Willownose was chewing up a yellow flower and smearing it on any cuts that Badgerpaw had received from the WindClan apprentice.
"Honestly," Willownose meowed, "we need the four Clans, but the way you lot fight causes so many problems."
"Aww, it's not our fault. Those WindClan cats crossed the border," Featherleg practically whined. "Besides, you wouldn't have your duties if we weren't out hurting ourselves."
Willownose snorted, but kept inspecting Badgerpaw's pelt.
Badgerpaw kept glancing at Birdpaw, almost wishing she could catch her eye. But the medicine cat apprentice deliberately kept her gaze locked on a particularly nasty scratch on Featherleg's shoulder. Badgerpaw's heart twisted a bit.
"Alright, you're good, Badgerpaw," Willownose meowed. "Come back for the next few days for me to apply the polutice as needed. Featherleg, she shouldn't be doing any battle training, but hunting is alright."
Her mentor nodded. "Alright. What about me?"
"Same goes for you," Birdpaw meowed. Her voice held much more authority than Badgerpaw expected. "Any wrestling will agitate this wound. Stick to just working with your apprentice on hunting."
Badgerpaw flinched. Just "your apprentice"? Not even Badgerpaw?
Featherleg dipped his head, looking almost amused. "Alright then. Badgerpaw, try and get some sleep in your den. It's late, after all." He stood and shook himself. "StarClan knows I'll be resting."
"I will," Badgerpaw promised. She stood too, and tried once again to meet Birdpaw's eye. The brown tabby caught her gaze, though her expression was unreadable.
A strange mix of joy and satisfaction filled Badgerpaw's belly. She gave a small jerk with her head, motioning outside of the den.
Featherleg padded out, and Willownose glared at Badgerpaw. "Well, go on! We don't need you crowding us up!"
"Sorry!" Badgerpaw mewed quickly, but she glanced at Birdpaw again.
The she-cat hesitated for a moment, then mouthed, "Give me a heartbeat."
Badgerpaw discretely nodded and moved out of the cave, but sat down just outside. She groomed herself silently, glancing up every few heartbeats, waiting for Birdpaw to exit.
It felt like ages before Birdpaw finally stalked out of the den. "Sorry," she mewed. "I had to wait for Willownose to fall asleep, or she'd've had my pelt."
Badgerpaw couldn't help but smile. "I thought you'd never speak to me again!"
Birdpaw looked a bit surprised. "I wanted to," she insisted. "Willownose just wouldn't let me. I don't believe what she thinks, though. You wouldn't-" She cut herself off. "Willownose must have something wrong."
"I just want to know what she said," Badgerpaw meowed. "I have a right to, if it's about me. Please, Birdpaw? You're my best friend."
Birdpaw looked at the ground and scuffed at it with her paws. "I- I can't. I don't know what even happened, exactly," she admitted. "I know you told me not to tell her about your dream, but it seemed so odd to me and I didn't think it would matter much. But Willownose freaked out." Birdpaw shook her head. "She said she knew something was off, and that I wasn't aloud around you anymore."
"But I didn't do anything!" Badgerpaw cried. "I just had a weird dream about my dead brother. Surely that's not uncommon?"
"I don't know," Birdpaw meowed. "I only remember my dreams after I've been to the moonpool."
Badgerpaw sighed. "You're still gonna have to stop being my friend, I guess," she meowed. "At least, as long as Willownose thinks I'm bad news."
"She can't control everything I do," Birdpaw pointed out. "After all, I snuck out to talk to you."
Badgerpaw grinned. "I guess that's true." She yawned. "I guess I better get some sleep. Flypaw was hard to fight."
"I can imagine," Birdpaw agreed. "Be careful with those scratches."
"I will," Badgerpaw promised. "Goodnight." She turned and walked into the apprentice den. Palepaw and Harepaw were sleeping soundly. She stepped over them carefully and settled down in her own nest, and let sleep wash over her.
And once again, she dreamed of Breezekit.
The small white kit was watching her fight Flypaw. The black tom was winning. Badgerpaw felt each swipe of her paws take more and more of her energy, and the WindClan apprentice seemed to be gaining speed and strength with each blow that he landed. He was laughing.
Badgerpaw was calling to Breezekit. "Get me help!" she called. "Please! He'll kill me!"
But her brother shook his head sadly. "It'll be better if you're gone," he mewed. "Just like me."
"No!" Badgerpaw cried. "It's not better! Please! You need to get help!"
"They told me no," Breezekit meowed. "No help for you."
Badgerpaw felt Flypaw pin her to the ground. The dark tom flashed his pointed teeth, smirking. "How does it feel to lose, Badgerpaw?" His claws dug sharply into her shoulders and she yowled in pain.
"Please!" she yowled. "No!"
The tom lunged forward and sank is jaws into her neck. Searing pain raced through Badgerpaw and she shrieked before everything went dark.
She felt so very cold.
