Chapter two
Ow… It hurts. Pain sparked and dipped as Briarpaw dipped in and out of consciousness. Am I going to join starclan? Wait… I'm moving? "M-me-meep" She whimpered, before everything went dark.
The first thing Briarpaw felt was pain. But it left her confused. Why did it only hurt half her body? "I—I c-can't feel my hind legs" Swiftly, Leafpool reached out, dabbing a poultice onto Briarpaw's legs. Yuck! She thought, licking it off. "Mum! Dad! Where are my back legs? Are they still there?" Millie, staring at her, let out a muffled squeak. "Are they there?" She insisted, her voice becoming a shrill cry. "Are they there!?" "Yes, they're there." Leafpool gently meowed. "Then why can't I feel them?" She mewed, her voice an anguished whisper. Millie looked accusingly at Jayfeather. "I don't know. I'm sorry." Briarpaw let out another whimper and buried her head deep into her paws.
Briarpaw stretched in her nest, awakened by the sound of voices outside of her den. "I'm going to take her some food." She heard her mother, Millie, mew. "Why?!" She heard one of her clanmates yowl. They don't think I'm worth their prey? They're probably right. If I don't hunt, I shouldn't eat. It's not fair! She heard Millie growling at the warrior. "Calm down," Brightheart meowed. "Briarpaw is our clanmate. You should feel proud to look after her." The warrior gave a large 'Harumph' and stalked away. "Briarpaw, darling!" Millie called, stepping into the den with a small brown shrew. "Do you want some prey? "No." Briarpaw mewed sadly. "Well you must eat!" Millie exclaimed, shocked. "I-I'm not hungry" Briarpaw lied. Truth be told, her stomach was growling. "Just eat a little!" Milie begged, staring into my eyes. "Leave her alone." Came a new voice as Jayfeather stormed into the den. Jayfeather was the Thunderclan medicine cat. He was known for being grumpy and rude, but Briarpaw had seen him show his kind and caring side more than once to cats in need. "She's my kit!" Millie growled at him. "I'm her medicine cat!" Jayfeather yowled back. All this fighting because of me! Briarpaw churned her paws, distressed. "I just want to help my clanmates rebuild the camp!" Briarpaw wailed. The other cats left the den, talking in hushed mews. Briarpaw leaned in closer, attempting to catch a few words of the conversation. All she managed to hear was Jayfeather's last words; "I will do everything I can to save her". Save me? Briarpaw thought in a panic. From what?