Remember when I said that I was going to be moving chapter around? Well, here's one. OwO

You guys already read this but this is Chapter 8: Healing Wounds by Bramblenose01

Hope you guys enjoy it again! 8D

"Light is Fading and Darkness is Falling, but the Stars will Rise and end the Long Night."

Chapter eight:

Healing Wounds

The smell of herbs wafted up from Leafpool's white paws making Bramblekit's nose tingle.

The light brown tabby medicine cat was applying herbs to Bramblekit's wounds and Jaykit was sleeping in the corner of the medicine cat den, his pelt plastered to his body with the sticky poultices.

"So what exactly happened?" Leafpool asked.

Bramblekit glanced cautiously at Leafpool's face; she didn't want to get in any more trouble than she was already in. Firestar, Squirrelflight, and Brambleclaw had already given them a severe talk; and with their apprenticeship on the line Bramblekit didn't want to make it any worse.

"We found the sky oak and with it the dead fox, then tracked the scent of milk to the fox den… After Hollykit went to see if the coast was clear we went in to chase them out. Only once we got down there we were the ones being chased." Bramblekit shivered as she remembered the pounding of the fox cubs paws as it chased them through the undergrowth. Apparently Hollykit had been chased solo by the third fox cub, went straight past Thorneclaw's patrol and kept on running until she found Brambleclaw's, then she and Lionkit went back to camp with their father and found that Jaykit had fallen into the hollow.

"So how did you end up with these?" Leafpool pointed with her tail to the scratches on her cheek. Bramblekit squirmed, that was the subject she had been hoping to avoid.

"I-I well." She took a deep breath. "After a while the fox cub just stopped and stood there with its head cocked for a bit, and then ran off. I told Lionkit to go find Brambleclaw's patrol and tell him what happened while I…Um… went after Mousekit." Bramblekit stared at her paws, waiting for Leafpool to say something but she just nodded for Bramblekit to continue with her story.

"Well I tracked her all the way to the hollow, Jaykit had already fallen and she was just standing there… Shocked I guess. Anyway the cub was rearing beside her and I was scared it would hurt her so I kind of attacked it." Again Bramblekit waited for a negative comment but Leafpool remained silent. (I wish she would say something.) She thought.

"Then Leafpaw saved me." She finished lamely.

There was a seemingly long pause while Leafpool picked up a stray herb and put it in the pile with its kin.

"Well that was stupid."

Bramblekit looked up from her paws to see Leafpool's whiskers were twitching and amusement was on her face. Bramblekit did a double take. (amusement?)

"Why are you laughing?" Bramblekit asked, confused. "I thought you would be mad at me!"

"I just never expected Leaf- Well; I guess you'll figure that out on your own." Leafpool purred.

Despite the fact that she had no idea what Leafpool was talking about, Bramblekit

felt her pelt grow hot.

(what about Leafpaw?!) Bramblekit wondered. (Never mind… Leafpool can be so

odd sometimes.) She shook her head to clear her mind.

"I think you realize that this won't be taken lightly by either Firestar or Brambleclaw. He'll probably prolong your apprentice ceremony, and even that's

getting off lightly." Leafpool went on more seriously.

"I know… I just hope Jaykit will be okay." Bramblekit murmured. And as if the sound of Jaykit's name summoned him; the gray tom raised his head and opened his jay feather blue eyes.

"I hurt." He moaned.

Leafpool glanced at Bramblekit. "You can leave now. Just try not to re- open those gashes."

"Okay." Bramblekit said. She headed for the den entrance and stopped by Jaykit, giving him a lick between his ears.

"Feel better Jay." She mewed.

"'Kay" He mumbled looking anything but better.

Out in the clearing Mousekit, Lionkit and Hollykit lay huddled in a circle, a mouse lying un-eaten by their paws. Hollykit looked up as Bramblekit sat down beside them.

"Is he okay?" Hollykit mewed her green eyes round with concern.

"He's fine. Leafpool says he's going to have to stay there for a while though." Bramblekit replied.

"Oh… Well at least he's okay."

(I think this is officially the worst day of my life.)

No stars decorated the sky that night, their absence left behind a cold and empty feeling like all things beautiful had been stripped from the forest. Bramblekit lay awake in the nest she shared with Mousekit now that Maplekit had passed away, exhausted but unable to fall asleep.

(For once can I please get some sleep?!) She thought angrily as she flipped onto her belly for the fifteenth time.

Listen… A familiar mew echoed in her mind. Bramblekit glared suspiciously at Mousekit who has snoring softly.

(Mousekit if you're trying to prank me again I swear I will shut you out of my mind forever… Do you hear me?!) She mentally yowled at her friend. There was no reply.

Bramblekit laid her head on her paws and squeezed her eyes shut.

"Well I'm glad to know SOMEBODY can sleep around—"

Listen… The voice whispered again, interrupting her quiet mutter. A burst of white light flared behind Bramblekit's closed eyelids.

Bramblekit shot up and out of her nest and the nursery went pitch black.

Listen and hear… Achingly familiarthe voice faded from a whisper to a yowl and back again, making Bramblekit's heart pound as she twisted around trying to pin-point where it was coming from.

Watch and see… As the last echoes faded awayBramblekit froze as she realized who the voice belonged to.

(Maplekit?! Wait! What do you mean! Why—) She called after her sister.

(Bramb? Bramblekit!) Mousekit mewed telepathically interrupting her thoughts. (Bramblekit, would you please get these things to go away?! I can't see a thing!)

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts Bramblekit cleared away the shadows to see Mousekit sitting up in their nest her forest green eyes wide and her thick golden brown fur on end.

(Oops…) Bramblekit replied her whiskers twitching.

(It's not funny!) Mousekit snapped. (You know I hate it when you do stuff like that…)

(Sorry Mousekit.)

Bramblekit turned and padded out of the nursery entrance.

(Where are you going?) Mousekit called after her, and Bramblekit poked her small gray and black head back into the nursery.

(I can't sleep; I'm going for a walk.)

Mousekit scrambled out of her nest and darted around her sleeping littermates, nearly tripping over Hollykit.

(I'm coming with you!)

(We're supposed to be confined to the nursery remember? You should go back to bed.) Bramblekit said half heartedly as Mousekit skidded to a halt beside her.

(Like you can stop me!) Mousekit meowed flicking her fluffy white tipped tail into

Bramblekit's face. Bramblekit couldn't stop a quietmrrow of laughter as raced after her friend into the night.