Chapter 17

Moons and moons ago…

The crescent moon shone brightly above, stars twinkling through the cloudy night sky. Such a serene sight, in stark contrast to the heated argument happening between the two warriors in the depths of the forest.

Flight fluffed out her fur, glaring at Hawk. "What do you mean, you're leaving?!"

Hawk bristled, glaring back with equal intensity. "I mean just that. Why is it such a big deal!?"

Flight stared at him, anger and frustration coursing through her. "Have you lost your mind!? Where will you live? What will you eat? What do you do when you're sick?"

Hawk drew back his lips. "Do you honestly think I'm so mouse-brained as to not think of that? Why can't you see that this is hard for me too?"

"Then stay! You don't have any reason to leave!" Flight cried out, becoming more desperate.

"NO! I have to go! Snow meant the entire world to me, and now she's gone too!" Hawk screeched, fluffing out his black fur.

Flight stared at him. "Is this all just about Snow? Have you got thistles for brains!? What about Dream, Daisy, Feather, Mom, Dad, everyone! Me! You're just going to walk away from it all, leave us all behind? If that's the case, then you are a coward! A big, fat coward who can't see reason behind anyt-"

Hawk snarled, and slashed his claws across Flight's cheek. The blow caused her to stumble. Flight looked up at him in shock.

"Can't you see this is hard for me too? I don't want to leave! But I need to! Can't you understand that!?" Hawk hissed, staring desperately at her, hoping, pleading, begging for her understanding.

Flight stared at him for a few more seconds, then slowly straightened up. Staring at her brother coldly, she spoke. "No. No I don't." With that she turned around, and walked back to camp. She never looked back.

Present Day

Flame sat outside the den, watching the snowy clearing. A cough came from inside the den. She flattened her ears, glancing back. Flash was sitting upright in his nest, coughing violently. 'Enough is enough.' Flame thought, and padded over. "Flash. You are sick. Don't say you're fine, you are clearly sick, and need herbs."

Flash gazed at her tiredly. "...Okay." He meowed quietly.

Flame raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected him to give in so easily. Flame nodded, and headed back out of the den. She looked around the camp, and headed toward Heather and Fish, who were sharing a small vole. "Do either of you know what type of herb deals with coughs?"

Heather flattened her ears, looking up. "Oh no, is Flash really sick then?"

Flame twitched an ear.

Heather widened her eyes, looking over at Fish.

Fish flicked his tail. "It took him this long to admit it?"

Flame flattened her ears, not liking that the conversation was straying off topic. "Herbs." She meowed crossly.

Heather blinked. "Oh! Yes, sorry about that Flame. I think Moss mentioned that catmint, tansy, and chickweed helped. But it's unlikely that any herbs in the forest are still usable at this point."

Flame flattened her ears, a stab of fear shooting through her. She glanced around the camp. Grass and Flight were nowhere to be seen, presumably off hunting or patroling. A thought struck Flame. She turned back toward Heather and Fish. "I have an idea."

A while later, Flame and Fish were padding silently through the snowy forest. Upon hearing the plan, Heather immediately insisted that she stay. Flame agreed. She wouldn't be much use in a fight anyway.

Fish glanced over at Flame. "You really want to do this?"

Flame nodded, determination set in her eyes. It had been moons since they had left the Leafclan, and they were probably a little over halfway into leafbare. Flight had taken it upon herself to teach the four about their powers the best she could, and show them how to execute a few moves. But using her power still took a lot out of her, and made her feel tired after, so she didn't like to use it. Flame and Fish rounded a corner, and crouched down. Flame narrowed her eyes, quietly watching the Leafclan camp. The plan was to run in, grab whatever herbs they could, and run out. They could only hope that they grabbed the right ones.

Fish glanced over to her. "You are insane if you think this will work."

Flame glared at him, bristling slightly.

Fish shook his head, and turned his attention back to the camp.

The camp had only a few cats moving inside it. The prey-pile seemed almost completely empty. From where she was, Flame could see Wolf and Reed laying together. They both looked sickly, Reed more so. Flame watched silently as Moss padded over to them, and gave each of them some dried herbs.

Flame flattened her ears, and took in a breath. She hated to see her clanmates in this state, but family came first. She glanced over to Fish, and gave him a small nod. The two leapt forward, haring down toward the camp. They burst through the camp entrance, generating startled reactions from the cats inside. Yelps and the scrambling of paws filled Flame's ears as she rushed into the medicine cat den, Fish following after.

Dream looked up, startled by the sudden entrance. She flattened her ears. "Who's there?" She hissed.

"No time." Flame replied, heading toward the herbs. She stared at them, not knowing what to take. She narrowed her eyes, and just snatched as many as she could.

Fish did the same, coming up with a mouthful of different plants, and even a couple berries.

Flame nodded at him, and darted out of the den. She started running toward the camp entrance when a force slammed into her, making her skid across the ground, and drop all the herbs she just collected. She looked up, furious.

Frost glared down at her, lashing his tail. "Well well well, what do we have here?"

Flame snarled, and unsheathed her claws.

Frost smirked, and flicked a paw. A dagger of ice shot toward Moss, stopping just in front of her neck. "Ah ah ah. Not too hasty."

Flame growled, but sheathed her claws. She glanced around quickly for Fish, relieved to find him still holding his herbs, and slinking his way through the crowd to the entrance.

Frost watched her, flicking his tail. "Now, what to do with you…"

Flame smirked. "Do whatever. I've already got what I came for." Before Frost could decode what she meant, she spit in his face.

Fury lighted his eyes, and before Flame knew what was happening, ice slammed into the side of her head, and all went black.