Chapter 2

She raced to Milkleaf's den forgetting about the fresh-kill only to see Littlepaw crying over a body. At first Applepaw's heart stopped beating then realized that this small body was too small to be Maplebrook's.

"Who is that?" she asked.

"This is a kit we found in the woods while we were finding berries, Littlepaw was taking care of it; then the little thing caught Maplebrook's greencough. Maplebrook should be strong to be okay but this kit was too small to make it through," replied Milkleaf sadly.

"Where is Maplebrook?" Applepaw asked, "Is she okay?"

"Yes she should be fine, if she doesn't go and eat deathberries, that is," Milkleaf chuckled.

"I'm right over here Applepaw. Next to the herb storage," Maplebrook's excited

voice that she usually had was obviously gone from her gravely tone.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes I'll be fine but I wont be able to do any mentoring today, that's too bad its

only your fifth day of apprenticeship," her voice sounded like it was pitifully straining to talk.

"Relax, your voice doesn't sound that good, should I go ask Pumpkinpaw's

mentor if I can go with him?" Applepaw asked.

"No. I have things planned for tomorrow that they will be doing today, so you can take the day off."

Then Applepaw realized that she had forgotten her friends. She ran to the fresh-kill pile and picked out a mouse and a vole. Then she ran to the Nursery dragging the kill inside and sat down next to Gingerkit.

"Sorry I took so long, Maplebrook has greencough and I wanted to make her feel better," she explained.

"That's okay, we weren't that hungry," Dewkit forgave.

"But we are now!" Gingerkit joked.

"Oh, Mousedung, I forgot to get me something," Applepaw walked out the door towards the pile.

"Here we go, what do I want?" she asked herself, "How about a water vole?"

She picked up the vole and walked back to the Nursery.

"Finally, let's eat!" Gingerkit took a huge bite of her rather large mouse.

They ate their kill and talked until Goldenpaw came over from the apprentice den with a worried look on his face.

"Hi guys, you remember that Blacknight cat?" he asked with fear on his face.

"Yeah, how could we forget?" Dewkit replied.

"Well he came back with another patrol and he's in the den talking to Wovenstar, Coppertail was on guard duty and Blacknight hurt him badly to get in. He's in the Medicine cat den right now."

"You mean we were attacked and we didn't know?" Applepaw was appalled.

"I'm afraid so," Goldenpaw answered, "they might take us all as prisoners for all we know."

"StarClan help us! What will we do if they attack?" Dewkit asked.

"We have more warriors than them, it should be easy," Goldenpaw shrugged.

Just then a cat with a black-brown pelt came into the nursery.

"Get a move on you kits!" he ordered, "we don't have all moon!" he beckoned 6 other cats inside and they one by one formed a circle around the kits and all 4 queens.

"Oh dear," Rubystem looked petrified, "What are you going to do with us?"

"I don't know," the first cat replied with an evil grin, "that's for your new leader to decide." He let out a menacing laugh as he led them out of the Nursery.