Hawkeye was the last apprentice to rise the next morning. He slipped out of the den and stretched, looking for Foxpaw or Rabbitpaw. He wasn't going to eat without at least one of them around. Otherwise he might actually have to focus on the "food."
A terrified yowl distracted Hawkeye. He turned to the entrance tunnel where Mudpelt was charging into the main clearing. "Ravenfrost, come quickly! Foxpaw needs help; he was attacked by a fox!"
Hawkeye's heart dropped. Foxpaw? Attacked? And by a fox, too. Damn, cruel irony!
Ravenfrost met Mudpelt in the center of the clearing. "A fox?"
Hawkeye saw Smokepaw standing in the entrance to the medicine cat clearing. He disappeared back in and came back a moment later with a bundle of herbs in his jaws.
"A fox came from downwind so we didn't scent it until it was there. It was merciless! No matter what we did, it wouldn't leave Foxpaw alone! I suppose because he's smallest…"
Mudpelt's frenzied story ended when Tigerstripe came slowly into the camp, dragging Foxpaw by the scruff of his neck. Hawkeye's claws unconsciously slid into the ground at the sight of his friend. Deep bite marks were all over his shoulders and back and his fur was slick with blood. His ever-bright eyes were half closed and his paws and tail dragged in the dirt. Cats were gathering around the edge of the camp, wide eyed with shock and fear. Rabbitpaw and Shadowleaf ran into the center with a wild light in their eyes and their ears laid back.
"Lay him right there, Tigerstripe," Ravenfrost instructed as the dark brown warrior came to stand next to Mudpelt. He gently lowered the battered cat onto the ground.
The apprentice lay on his side, his flank moving rapidly and shallowly. Smokepaw and Ravenfrost madly rushed to quell the bleeding by patting cobwebs on his wounds. Foxpaw's mentor, brother, and parents stood in a ragged circle around the medicine cats and their patient. The rest of the Clan stayed farther back, still in the edges of the camp. Hawkeye staggered forward to stand next to Rabbitpaw and watch the young cat.
Foxpaw turned his head to face Rabbitpaw and Hawkeye. It seemed to take most his strength. "You're going to have to become warriors without me, you two. Don't worry, though. I'll be happy when I watch you from StarClan. I'm really glad to have trained with you."
He went stiff for a second, and then went limp and his eyes glazed over. Ravenfrost and Smokepaw halted their attempts to save the dead cat. There was a moment of eerie silence as the Clan realized the vital young apprentice would never bounce into camp again or animatedly tell a story to his denmates.
Rabbitpaw threw back his head and wailed. Shadowleaf buried leaned against Mudpelt as if she suddenly couldn't bear to stand. Tigerstripe's eyes darkened and he turned away. Ravenfrost and Smokepaw started to wash the blood from Foxpaw's pelt.
It's not fair! This is what I wanted to get away from! Youth being cut down and dragged to the doctors bloodied and broken! And this is- was my friend! Hawkeye's grief worsened when he thought of what could be happening to his other friends back in Korea. Back where he belonged.