Chapter 2

Voices could be heard as Willowpaw strained to open her eyes. She felt a terrible amount of pain on her shoulders as she struggled to see what was happening. Willowpaw tried to piece together what had happened before the images of Rosefang and Fogwhisker faded. Cats were surrounding her, providing comfort and asking where she'd been. She could see Mistybird standing in the background, eyes dark with worry as she tried to figure out whether her daughter would survive or not.

Willowpaw groaned and tried to get up. Each movement caused another bout of pain, and she was forced to lay down once more. A larger, slimmer cat stood beside her and tried to work with on her shoulder as she began to understand what was happening. She was weak, and what made it worse was that she couldn't fight back.

"Easy, Willowpaw," a voice murmured as she forced back a hiss of pain. "You suffered a lot of injuries when Rosefang attacked you." The voice was filled with anxiety as it faded in the background. Willowpaw opened her eyes to see Sparrowpaw standing beside Ruststripe. The medicine cat was looking at her sister anxiously.

"Will she recover?" Mistybird asked as she stepped forward. The pale gray she-cat glanced down at Willowpaw, eyes burning with anger and anxiety. "She must get better—" Ruststripe cut her off with a sharp glare.

"Sparrowpaw, why don't you take Mistybird out to get some fresh-kill," the medicine cat meowed calmly.

Sparrowpaw ducked her head, looking slightly embarrassed as she nudged her mother out of the den. Willowpaw was about to open her mouth when Ruststripe looked back at her. The pale ginger tom looked more annoyed than worried as he grumbled under his breath.

"Why apprentices do such mousebrained things is beyond me," he muttered crossly. "You should consider yourself lucky that you're alive."

"What happened back there?" Willowpaw managed to ask before resting her head between her paws.

"After asking Ghostpaw where you were, Thornstar wanted to come up with a better punishment," Ruststripe explained. His voice was filled with annoyance when he spoke of Thornstar. "We found you near the border, being dragged by Rosefang. Seems the two were determined to take you back to their camp. Luckily they were easily taken care of." Ruststripe glanced towards the den's entrance as he looked at something Willowpaw couldn't see.

"So…what does that mean than? Am I…going to get better?" Her voice stuttered at the last heartbeat.

Ruststripe watched her in concern before turning back to his herbs. "This should help you out," he meowed after chewing them into a pulp. Without another word he forced her mouth open and made her swallow it. Willowpaw sputtered out bits and pieces of the leaves.

"What in StarClan's name was that?" Willowpaw demanded after shaking her head in disgust.

"Something that will make you feel better," Ruststripe replied. "Herbs are the best cure for anything." He paused when another cat appeared at the entrance. Willowpaw was able to lift her head this time, and she looked to see that Thornstar had approached the den. "Looks like your punishment has arrived," Ruststripe muttered.

Willowpaw fought back a groan as she watched Thornstar pad forward. The black-furred leader's expression was unreadable as he stared down at her. Ruststripe had returned to his pile of leaves while he listened to what Thornstar had to say.

"What you did out there was mousebrained," Thornstar spat. "You could have been killed, but maybe that would have been a good thing. Not only did you disobey orders, but you deliberately had yourself get injured by rival warriors." Willowpaw narrowed her eyes as he swept on with insults, "On top of it, you made us look like fools." Thornstar's tail lashed from side to side before he glared at Ruststripe, who'd stopped organizing his herbs at this point. "But…it seems you have been punished enough. For now I will let you recover. Until than, rest."

Thornstar turned around and left before she could say another word. Willowpaw glared after him, suddenly feeling a web of hate form around her heart for the LeafClan leader. She'd never liked Thornstar to begin with, but now he was pushing it. Ruststripe had looked just as shocked when he watched Thornstar leave.

"That was uncalled for," Ruststripe spat after heartbeats of silence followed.

"I guess I deserved it," Willowpaw muttered as she tried to move her legs. They refused to respond, and her teeth ground together as she was forced to lay back down. Ruststripe glanced at her worriedly and moved back towards her. By now Sparrowpaw was entering the den, a plump looking mouse clamped between her teeth.

"Thornstar thinks that punishing you by not eating will get you somewhere," Sparrowpaw muttered after dropping the mouse at her sister's paws. Willowpaw and Ruststripe gaped at her in disbelief. "Mistybird chewed him out about it though," Sparrowpaw added when she realized she was the center of attention. "He's moping in his den now."

"The mousebrain is getting worse with old age," Ruststripe snarled with a lash of his tail.

Maybe he's right, Willowpaw thought with a sigh. I've done nothing but harm the Clan. Leaving could be an option, but where would I go? Besides, if I left everyone would consider me a coward. I couldn't do that to Mistybird. She's too proud for her own good. But sooner or later one of us has to give. Thornstar's a good leader, he just needs patience before he can give orders.

She quickly grabbed the mouse, thankful that her sister was on her side for once. By now she had forgotten about Ghostpaw and his constant badgering. The pale gray apprentice would likely become a warrior long before her. She knew that Thornstar would punish her by keeping her a warrior.

A/N: Blech, this chapter was disgustingly short, but I wanted to end it at this. Next chapter won't be coming out for a while, just to warn you. Spring Break is approaching, and I'll be on vacation from the computer for some time.