Firepaw remained huddled in the medicine den over a pile of herbs as the battle roared outside.
ShadowClan had suddenly attacked the camp, catching the clan off guard.
Spottedleaf left him in the den to treat cats that came to him and ensure their herbs were protected while she went out to help the injured warriors out there.
Something blocked the light streaming into the den, causing Firepaw's fur to prickle.
A large ShadowClan warrior loomed in front of him with a sneer. "So, you're the apprentice Yellowfang mentioned? Good. Needed a proper replacement for that old flea bag."
Firepaw hissed, lashing out with his claws as the scarred tom approached, his fur bristling as panic began to trickle into his mind.
Snorting, the tom brought his paw up and, in one fluid motion, brought it down on the apprentice's head and sent him flying into the hard den wall.
The apprentice groaned as spots danced in his vision, distantly feeling himself being moved.
It was fuzzy from there. He felt himself being carried by the scruff, but couldn't tell where he was being taken. At one point he heard another cat talk before they began to move again. He felt something small and fuzzy brush against him, gently swinging.
Groaning, Firepaw slowly blinked awake and looked around, immediately on guard when he found himself in an unfamiliar den.
Looking at his side, he spotted Frostfur's kits.
He stiffened as light suddenly streamed into the foreign den, the entrance being unblocked by who the apprentice recognized as ShadowClan's leader. With his head still throbbing, the name slipped his mind.
Looking down at the five young cats, the leader sneered. "This is what ThunderClan have to offer? We'll get one proper warrior out of them if we're lucky."
The scar-faced tom from before stood beside the leader, his tail twitching. "The ginger isn't a warrior apprentice, Brokenstar."
Pausing, the tabby glanced at his warrior. "Oh? What is he, then?"
Firepaw snarled weakly, spots dancing in his vision again as he struggled to stand. "A medicine cat apprentice, mouse-brain."
Brokenstar looked at the tom, malice and a hint of surprise lighting his eyes. "I see. A replacement for Yellowfang, then? Fine, Clawface take him to Runningnose."
The warrior nodded, padding over and dragging the struggling tom out of the den and across the clearing.
Spitting, the apprentice was unceremoniously dumped onto the ground. Familiar scents of herbs hit his nose and his head began to clear.
Clawface said something the ginger didn't hear before leaving.
Runningnose jumped up, racing over to the smaller tom with wide eyes. "Firepaw? Are you alright?"
Murmuring, the apprentice drank in the familiar and comforting scents. "Head.. fuzzy..."
The medic went to his herb store, returning with something. "Here, eat this."
Firepaw sniffed it. "Feverfew... and thyme.." He muttered before lapping the leaves up, chewing before swallowing with an audible gulp.
Nodding, the medicine cat gently nudged him over to a nest. "That's right. Get some sleep and you should feel better, alright? I'll explain properly then."
Yawning, the apprentice curled up and promptly passed out.
Firepaw grumbled as a paw poked into his side. "Mrrhh... just a little longer Spottedleaf..."
"You're not with Spottedleaf, Firepaw." Runningnose murmured, still poking the apprentice. "Get up."
The tom shot up, eyes wide as he stared at the medicine cat. "Wh- Where?"
"ShadowClan camp." Runningnose dipped his head apologetically. "Clawface brought you with the kits last night. He must've banged your head at some point. How are you feeling this morning?"
Firepaw slowly sat, his fur prickling with unease. "Uh.. Fine, I think? My head hurts a little, but I'm alright."
Nodding, the older tom sighed. "Firepaw, until ThunderClan retrieve you and the kits, you'll be staying here. I can teach you in the meantime.. but.."
Frowning, the apprentice glared at his paws. "I'm a prisoner, then? What about the kits? Are they okay?" He looked up hopefully.
Runningnose offered a small smile to comfort the apprentice. "Brokenstar has yet to touch them. They're alright. Hopefully ThunderClan will be coming for you all today." Sighing the medic frowned. "Until then, Brokenstar said you're to help me with the injuries from the battle."
His face soured at the idea of healing his captors, but he nodded and took a bundle of herbs from the medicine cat and followed him out of the den.
They got to work immediately, chewing up poultices and patching up warriors.
Looking around, Firepaw noticed a massive difference between two groups of cats. Brokenstar, Runningnose, and the strongest warriors looked fairly well fed while the rest of the camp looked as though they were starving.
Noticing the apprentice's fur prickling, Brokenstar strode over. "What has you so on edge, apprentice?" The leader sneered, his broken tail twitching.
Firepaw glared at the leader, his hackles rising. "Your Clan is starving. Is that why you need more territory?"
Brokenstar scoffed, staring the ginger down. "Those who aren't useful to the Clan eat last, that's all. My warriors don't waste time with hunting."
Runningnose quickly nosed his temporary apprentice away. "Apologies, Brokenstar. He's just adjusting."
The leader chuckled, still eyeing the apprentice. "No need to apologize, Runningnose. I like his spirit. Perhaps he should spend some time with the warrior apprentices. A medicine cat still needs to defend himself, after all."
The medic glared at the leader, lifting his chin defiantly. "Medicine cats don't fight. You'll not get a warrior of him, Brokenstar."
Glaring, the tabby eventually nodded and stalked away.
Firepaw looked at Runningnose with a small, nervous smile. "Thanks."
Nodding, the older tom led the apprentice back towards the medicine den. "No problem. We're not fighters."
As they entered the den, the apprentice realized why he felt something was off. He paused, eyes wide. "Runningnose, where is Yellowfang? Clawface and Brokenstar said something about.. me replacing her.. where is she?"
Runningnose's eyes darkened, slouching a bit. "She... Brokenstar exiled her when she called him out about taking kits, and you, from ThunderClan. I'm not sure where she is."
They stood in silence for a moment, mourning the she-cat a bit, before they began to sort herbs in a quiet understanding.
Firepaw perked up as he heard the sounds of battle outside, racing to the entrance, his heart soared to see his clanmates fighting ShadowClan.
Runningnose stood by his side, eyes dark. "The kits are in the enclosed den beside Brokenstar's. They'll be unguarded."
Understanding the implication, the apprentice bolted from the den and began to sneak around the edges of the camp.
Reaching the den, he ripped the cover from the den and looked inside.
The four kits clustered together with wide eyes.
Thornkit looked at him, eyes shining with hope. "Firepaw?"
The apprentice ducked inside, checking them over. "Are you four alright? Did they hurt you?"
Brightkit shook her head, tail bushed. "N-no, we're okay."
"Apprentice. Step away from them." Clawface growled from the entrance, his shadow looming over the five.
Firepaw slowly turned, vowing silently to not let the kits stay here. "No."
Sneering, the warrior stalked closer. "Oh? I'd be happy to-"
Firepaw cut him off, racing forward and ramming into the tom's chest. Panting, he glanced at the kits. "Run, now! Find a ThunderClan warrior!"
The four exchanged a glance and they nodded, racing past the apprentice and downed warrior.
Clawface snarled, getting to his paws with a scowl. Leaping at the apprentice, he grabbed the tom by the scruff and threw him against the ground repeatedly until the ginger was unconscious.
Firepaw groaned, blinking as he woke up.
Brokenstar loomed over him, bent tail flicking. "Good, you're awake. You have quite a few wounds to attend, apprentice."
Blinking, the ginger glared at the leader. "Excuse me?"
A gray tom joined the leader, sneering at the apprentice. "Your little ThunderClan friends chased us out. You're our medicine cat now."