"Cherryclaw?!"

Sparrowpaw gaped in horror. She opened her mouth to scream. Oh Starclan no, you don't need him yet! Not this one! Cherryclaw lay there, unmoving, until suddenly he twitched. Sparrowpaw blinked, and then took in the fact that he had just moved. He isn't dead! Or, at least I don't think he is… She studied his body discreetly, searching for signs of life. "Phew" She sighed in relief when she saw Cherryclaw's chest slowly moving up and down.

Sparrowpaw started to laugh uncontrollably. Her mind was just pulling a prank on her. He wasn't dead. "Hey! Some cats need some help!" Sparrowpaw called. The medicine apprentice, Flamepaw, turned to look at her, then set his gaze on the dying cats.

"Help" She mewed. Flamepaw simply nodded and turned to his mentor. He whispered something Sparrowpaw couldn't quite catch, and the medicine cats started to call the others.

Mintwillow was first to rush out of the crowd of cats. "Cherryclaw?" She called, "Where is he?" Sparrowpaw was confused about Mintwillow's acting of the injured tom, then realized they are kin.

"Right over here" Sparrowpaw answered. Mintwillow rushed over to Cherryclaw. "Let's get the clans back to their camps…" Mintwillow suggested. Sparrowpaw nodded in agreement, "Why don't you do it," She told the medicine cat, "I don't think a clans would listen to just a young apprentice"

"Yeah, I guess," Mintwillow turned and called out to the cats, "Go back to your camps! There are severely injured cats!" She lifted Cherryclaw onto her back. Sparrowpaw saw Pricklestar lift Mosspelt onto his back after. At least those were the only injured cats from their clan. There were many other limpcats from others clans still lying on the ground, their clanmates helping them up.

"Thunderclan, forward!" Pricklestar called out to his clan. He bounced to get Mosspelt further up on his back. The cats began to head out. Sparrowpaw kept looking back at Mintwillow, mainly focusing on Cherryclaw. She hoped he would get better.

Out of the blue, Pricklestar picked up his pace. Sparrowpaw sped up and placed herself next to Mintwillow. "Who do you think hurt Cherryclaw?" She asked the medicine cat. Mintwillow only sighed, "I don't know," She replied, "Whoever the anonymous murderers is in this forest are, they need to be put right."

Sparrowpaw flattened her ears and ruffled her fur. She shivered from the cold. The late leaf-fall weather was getting to her. Oh how I miss the all-time sunny weather in Starclan Sparrowpaw thought longingly.

When the clan got back to their camp, they were immediately questioned by the other cats who didn't go to the battle.

"Did we win?"

"What Happened?"

"Did any cats get hurt?"

"What about the other clans, what happened to them?"

Pricklestar flicked his tail to silence them. He put down the newly dead body of Mosspelt. Some cats gasped in horror. Dawnheart planted herself right next to the dead warrior's body, nuzzling him as if he were to come back if he were touched enough.

"I'm sorry, Dawnheart, "Pricklestar sighed, "But he may not be the only one. Unless Mintwillow can help Cherryclaw…"

"Cherryclaw? No my kit! My precious kit!" Leafmist wailed out loud. The she turned sharply on her sister, "You better fix him!" She snuffed. Mintwillow bowed her head, "He means as much to me as he does you," She replied, nuzzling her sister comfortingly.

"You apprentices better get some rest, you don't seem hurt, but Mintwillow will check you tomorrow just in case." Oceanfall mewed to them. "You don't have to tell me twice!" Rileypaw exclaimed as she instantly ran into the apprentices den. Heatherpaw and Sparrowpaw followed her, soon curling up in their soft nests.

Sparrowpaw shut her eyes tightly, trying to fall asleep. She tossed and turned rudely until Heatherpaw got up and glared at her, "Can you cut it out? I'm trying to sleep here!"

Sparrowpaw sighed. "Sorry," She defended herself, "But this catastrophe today! And Cherryclaw is nearly dead!"

"Whatever," Heatherpaw groaned. He turned over and nested back in place. Sparrowpaw curled back into her nest. She tried to let sleep overtake her, but it just wouldn't come. Maybe I can go see what Mintwillow and Bubblepaw are up to… She climbed to her paws and padded out.

The moon hung in the dark sky, glistening over the camp. Sparrowpaw turned on the way to the medicine den, and stopped. She saw cats huddled around Mosspelt's body, sitting vigil for him. "Ugh I can't believe they sat vigil without us!" Sparrowpaw growled to herself.

She noticed Blackclaw shooting her a glare. Well, he never liked me anyways. He is worse than Pricklestar! She continued on to the medicine den, hoping nobody would question where she was going. Fortunately, when she arrived at the den no one asked her any questions. She padded into the den, seeing Mintwillow desperately working on Cherryclaw, trying to nurse him to life.

"How is he?" Sparrowpaw asked, anxiety edging her voice. To Sparrowpaw's disappointment Mintwillow shook her head, "Not so well, I don't know if he will live another night…"

The young apprentice felt tears brushing to the rim of her eyes. She knew it was a very rare occasion for a cat to cry, but she couldn't help herself. Cherryclaw meant a lot to her, and maybe something more. Then she stared at the cobwebs on Cherryclaw's body. When she saw she nearly burst with anger. "This cobweb isn't even a cobweb! Its a wet piece of twoleg junk!" She exclaimed, "Where is real cobweb? He needs real cobweb!"

Mintwillow looked down. Sparrowpaw then noticed Bubblepaw asleep nearby, soon coming awake. "Oh well, we ran out of dry Cobwebs, Cherryclaw is bleeding so much!" Mintwillow huffed. Huh, it's unlike Mintwillow to act so… sarcastic.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Sparrowpaw asked. Bubblepaw stood up, "Actually yes," She meowed, "Could you find us some cobwebs?" Sparrowpaw nodded and ran to the entrance of the den. "Wait!" Mintwillow called, "No, we cannot have a young apprentice search for herbs in the dead of night. Go, get some sleep, Sparrowpaw."

"But… But I want to help!" Sparrowpaw protested. Mintwillow only shook her head at her, "It is too dangerous, especially after this fight. Even though it was resolved," Then she added, "And a lot of Shadowclan cats are likely to be furious at you for killing their leader, even if it was by mistake. Sorry…"

Sparrowpaw was distraught. She couldn't stand around and do nothing when Cherryclaw was on the brink of death! Maybe I don't always have to follow the rules… She thought smugly. With not a second thought, Sparrowpaw charged into the forest. She ran exuberantly.

I will help my clan…. I will help Cherryclaw!