"I'm so, so sorry! I got scared when I heard all the rats and I just panicked! I didn't mean to- um…" Sheep was following, blushing profusely from sheer embarrassment. Thunderstrike laughed through the bundle of herbs that was in her mouth, "It's all right, we're all still alive. I think," she turned back to the ladder and bounded up. Everyone greeted her with concerned looks as she busily sorted the herbs into piles, placing the one she had in her tail on the floor as well. "You look like a monkey," Budderhats managed to laugh.

"And I smell like one too. I rolled in the garlic that was growing over in that old twoleg garden; I'd suggest some of you do that as well. It may not smell great but you'll thank me later," Thunder laughed as she curled her tail to look like a monkeys, "oh, ook, ook."

That got a few giggles and Thunderstrike noticed Kittypet and Sheep finally heading up the ladder themselves. Back to sorting the herbs for her, everyone was going to need them. Poppy seeds, burdock root, and dock leaves. Just enough for everyone, "Hey Kittypet, could you find some cobwebs?"

"What for?"

"To seal on the poultices I need to get started on." Kittypet nodded in reply and bounded over to all the crevices and corners as Thunder padded over to each cat, she gave them all poppy seeds to chew on as she worked on poultices, applied them then having Kittypet bound over and give her a wad of cobweb.

"There. That should hold everyone until tomorrow morning," Thunder finally let herself breathe normally as she finished dressing a couple ragged wounds on Kittypet's forelegs.

"What about you?" Berryjay asked. Thunder smiled subdued and padded over to a wall, "There aren't any more herbs left, and besides, I rolled in the garlic, I'll be fine." BerryJay seemed as if he didn't quite believe her but he let the subject drop and curled up in some hay in the far corner. Budderhats gave her a grin and went to join BerryJay who had been quickly joined by Tessa as well.

Sheep looked on nervously then continued to stare at her paws as she had been doing almost the entire time. "T-thanks for going out to find me you guys… I was really scared," she was stumbling over her words and fidgeting. Kittypet stood by her and rested her tail on Sheep's shoulder comfortingly, "It's just fine, come on I think we all need rest," she murmured, "Coming Destiny?"

"No," she huffed bristling, "I'm going to watch for the rats." Kittypet looked at Thunder and gave a shrug before heading for the hay, as soon as she sat down however, Thunderstrike groaned. She knew she wasn't looking for the rats; she was keeping an eye on her. Thunder watched the other cats drift into sleep, Budderhats especially who was twitching in her sleep. Finally Thunderstrike let herself surrender to sleep.

It was still dark but the moon was high in the sky, Thunderstrike looked over at Destiny bleary-eyed who was lying with her paws over the side of the loft. She was still awake and sitting there defensively. Thunder got up and padded quietly to join her, lying to her left. "What?" Destiny growled under her breath.

"I'm not asking you to like me," Thunder sighed, "But I'm not going to pull anything, I just ask for trust, just a little bit."

"Why should I trust a clan cat?" the response was hissed.

"Stop it. I really never was; the only reason I came with you was because Budderhats was the first cat to call me friend since I was six moons.

I was hoping to escape the judgment. But I guess that'll never happen."

Thunder sighed and got up, turning back to her nest. She didn't notice the surprised expression that followed her there.

Author's note

I'm going to be updating less frequently for a while, my computer is broken and we're waiting on repairs, I'm using my brother's machine at the moment, so don't expect a lot.