The minute Scorchstar entered camp, he made sure that his sister and the other warriors following her entered the medicine den. When their pelts disappeared into the rock, Scorchstar raced across the clearing and towards the nursery. The gorse scraped his broad shoulders as Scorchstar forced himself in – the last time he had been in here, he had just been a kit, and he fit just fine. How time flies by.

Even though Scorchstar's wounds begged him for any sort of relief, even though the battle replayed in his mind over and over, there was one thing more important to him than his own life, and that was his family. Wildheart's nest was right near the entrance of the nursery, and just as Scorchstar turned to face her, he could see his three kits nestling at their mother's stomach. Their eyes still weren't open, and Scorchstar had no idea when they would be. Just as Scorchstar looked down at his mate to say something, Wildheart's amber eyes widened with shock as she took stock of Scorchstar's battered and bruised body.

"Scorchstar!" Wildheart gasped, jumping to her paws in seconds, making the three small kits mewl when they lost their access to their food source. "Oh, Scorchstar, what happened out there?"

"Wildheart, our kits," Scorchstar said. Wildheart looked at their crying kits and sat down again, gently urging them close to her stomach to continue her feeding. She glanced back up at Scorchstar, horror swimming in her amber eyes.

"What happened?" Wildheart whispered.

"It doesn't matter," Scorchstar said. "We won, and that's what counts." The WindClan leader nuzzled his mate with a loud purr. "RiverClan is defeated, and they won't threaten you or our kits. I've protected you all." Scorchstar nudged the small kits with his paw. "Hear that, my beautiful kits? Your father will make sure nobody hurts you. No RiverClan cat will ever lay a paw on you."

Wildheart's amber eyes narrowed. "Did ShadowClan turn on you?" she asked.

Scorchstar shook his head. "No. In fact, it was thanks to Talonstar that we won."

"Is Lightningtalon okay?" Waspberry asked from the shadows of the nursery.

"And Aspenstep?" Sandfall added.

Scorchstar swung his head to see the other queens. He had completely forgotten about them. Horror turned his paws numb as he realized that the rest of the warriors still hadn't come to camp. He was so sure that they would… was there something wrong? Surely he would've known if they had been killed or injured? Scorchstar swallowed the lump in his throat. "I'll let you know when I hear of any news."

Waspberry and Sandfall exchanged worried glances.

"Actually, I'm glad you're here," Wildheart said. "I wanted to tell you I'm a little worried about Mallowkit."

"Mallowkit?" She was the smallest kit and the one who didn't share any of Scorchstar's – or Wildheart's – coloring. "What's wrong?"

"She hasn't been eating as much as Hawkkit or Redkit," Wildheart said, her gaze traveling down to the small silver kit who was curled up against Wildheart's stomach, rather than feeding like Hawkkit and Redkit were. "I'm not sure if it's normal, but Hawkkit and Redkit eat at least three times a day, and I'm lucky if I can get Mallowkit to eat once."

Fear flooded Scorchstar's body. Was Mallowkit going to be okay? Was it normal for kits to refuse food? "I'll let Violetheart know."

"Thank you," Wildheart said. "And… I'm glad you're back."

"Me too," Scorchstar purred, touching noses with Wildheart. "I promise to you, whenever I go off to battle, I'll come back. For our kits' sake… and yours."

"I love you," Wildheart rumbled.

"I love you too," Scorchstar meowed. He turned on his heel and walked out of the nursery, trying to push aside his fears about Mallowkit. He'd let Violetheart know immediately, and then he'd go and search for the missing warriors. Just as Scorchstar headed over to the medicine den, he spotted multiple wads of bloodied cobwebs just outside the den. Dovewillow and Songbreeze, the cats who had come back with Russetstripe and Scorchstar, were settled a little way's outside the den in nests, their wounds wrapped, but shouldn't they be inside of Violetheart's den to recover? What's going on here? Scorchstar pushed himself through the entrance of the medicine den, and his heart dropped in his chest when he saw his dark-furred sister, unconscious right in front of his very eyes.

"Russetstripe!" Scorchstar barked. "Oh, no, no, no!" He looked up at Violetheart, his heart dropping to his chest. Russetstripe was a limp bundle of ginger fur in the den, with her eyes closed – just like him, so many moons ago. She had saved his life… bringing him to camp immediately, after he had been attacked. But I… I waited. "Oh, Violetheart, is she going to be all right?"

Violetheart shrugged. "Your screaming isn't going to make her any better."

Scorchstar felt a flash of irritation at the medicine cat's sharp tone. "Violetheart, is she going to be okay?" he snapped, his voice harder than ever.

"I don't know," Violetheart replied. "Asking me that when you were ill was an impossible question to answer. Asking me now when she is sick is also impossible. Just give her some time, Scorchstar. She's a strong cat, she'll fight it."

Scorchstar swallowed the rock in his throat. It felt wrong to tell her about Mallowkit now that he saw his sister, nearly lifeless in her nest. "Violetheart…"

"What is it?" the medicine cat asked.

"I wanted to tell you… but…" Scorchstar stared at his sister. "You have her to worry about… and she's my sister."

Violetheart let out a sigh. "Seriously! You act like I haven't been the medicine cat for longer than our oldest elder has been alive! Scorchstar, what is it?"

Scorchstar was still gazing worriedly at his sister when he replied, "Wildheart is worried about Mallowkit. I know she's still really young, but Wildheart says she's not eating as much as Hawkkit and Redkit are."

"I'll take a look at her after the rest of our Clanmates come," Violetheart told him. "Please, find them. The longer they're missing, the more fearful I am."

"Yes." Scorchstar gave his medicine cat a nod. Seriously, where are they? The ginger-and-white tom cast a sorrowful look over his shoulder at his sister and then padded out of the medicine den. He raced over to the entrance of the camp, about to climb out of it to start his own search for his Clanmates, but his breath was immediately taken from his body when he looked up and saw a pale tabby cat looming over the ridge, soaked to the bone.

"Brambledusk?" Scorchstar echoed as his deputy slipped down the hollow. After him were several more members of the patrol who had fought, each of them completely drenched and shivering. Harewhisker's brown pelt was bruised and battered, and Briarsnow was coughing out water. Brambledusk's pelt was mixed with water and blood, and he was blinking out drops from his eyes. After him, Heathercloud landed in camp with the rest of her cats. The entire battle patrol – save for the three cats Scorchstar had come back with – was here, but it looked as if they had nearly drowned. What the hell happened?

"What in all of the…" Scorchstar's voice was cut off by Brambledusk.

"Shimmerwing decided it was a nice little idea to take us on a swim," Brambledusk growled, his voice rigid with fury. "She chased us and led us straight into the waterfall."

Scorchstar's fur bristled with outrage. "She what? Are you okay?"

"Other than being soaked to the bone, we're fine," Heathercloud said, walking over to Scorchstar. But the usually calm, composed she-cat was trembling with rage. "Tell me she won't get away with what she did!"

"Shellpaw did the same to us," Harewhisker added. "But he sent us into the lake. Thank the gods we didn't drown."

Scorchstar stared at his warriors, his hackles raised. They had won the battle, but they had suffered grievous wounds, Russetstripe was unconscious, and RiverClan's warriors had nearly drowned WindClan warriors. Why did it seem like, in a way, it was a loss? Scorchstar chewed his lip and finally said, "Good job, all of you. Get treated by Violetheart, and we can discuss the next steps."

Brambledusk watched as the WindClan warriors headed to Violetheart's den, and he padded over to Scorchstar, examining his pelt flatly. "Are you okay?" the deputy asked. "It doesn't look like you've been to Violetheart."

"I haven't," Scorchstar replied. "Russetstripe is in there. She's unconscious."

Darkness spread over Brambledusk's face. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"But she's strong," Scorchstar said. "She'll make it."

"Just like you did." Brambledusk's voice was so soft that Scorchstar barely heard it. But he did – and it made his fur fluff up defensively. Brambledusk cleared his throat and went on. "We're going to have to face RiverClan again. I don't know when, where, or how, but there's no way they'll stop fighting us, especially now that Talonstar turned on them. Are we ready for that?"

"We have to be," Scorchstar replied, exhaustion tinging his voice. "We have no choice."

Brambledusk nodded. "I understand. I'll try and lift morale. After all, we did win. And if Talonstar helps us again, then we'll still have an advantage, next battle." He took a deep breath that shook his brown tabby figure. "Hopefully it'll be the last one."

"I agree," Scorchstar meowed, hunching his shoulders over. The pain in his searing wounds was getting the best of them. He'd have to see Violetheart. "Brambledusk, go see Violetheart before me. You did well today. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, Scorchstar." Brambledusk gave his leader a curt nod before turning on his heel and disappearing into Violetheart's den. Scorchstar watched him go, exhaustion making his limbs heavy as he studied the number of cats lining up to get into Violetheart's den – most of them the soaked cats who had been tricked by Shimmerwing and Shellpaw.

I would've thought they'd just retreat and hole up in camp, Scorchstar thought. I never would've assumed that a group of them would've stayed to fight behind their leader, and then trick us right after. Is this what RiverClan has come to? Are they stronger than I could imagine? He shook his head. No. Dapplestar is just arrogant. We'll defeat them next time. We defeated them now, and we'll defeat them again.

But as Scorchstar examined his Clanmates, tattered and injured from the tough battle they had endured, he wasn't quite sure if he was holding onto a false belief. Just as the last cat left Violetheart's den and the sun slowly started to set, Scorchstar finally limped over to the rock, forcing himself inside as Violetheart was going through the last of her herbs. Russetstripe had been moved to the edge of the den, and Scorchstar held his breath as he studied her eyes. Were they awake? Yes! There was a shade of green, and Scorchstar gasped as he realized she was looking straight at him.

"Didn't I tell you?" Violetheart asked, a smug grin on her face as Scorchstar walked over through the medicine den towards his sister.

"You're okay," Scorchstar purred, ignoring Violetheart's quiet boasting as he licked his sister's cheek. "I'm so glad."

Russetstripe curled up in a ball, wincing with pain, but the life never left her voice as she said, "You really thought I'd die on you?" Her voice was tight with pain, but it didn't matter – she was awake, and that was all that counted.

"I hoped you wouldn't." Scorchstar sat next to his sister, shutting his eyes as he allowed Violetheart to tend to his wounds. The world began to drift away slowly from him as he rested his head on his paws, and a comforting sleep took hold of him, erasing the day's events away from him, even if it was just for a few hours.

The next morning, when the pale sunlight beamed through the medicine den and forced Scorchstar's eyes open, he let out a long yawn. The straining of his muscles as he groggily pulled himself to his paws caused a fire to burn inside of his body, reminding him just how hard the fight had been the other day. Scorchstar studied his wounds, fearing that they had reopened as he felt the pain, but they were still patched tightly with cobwebs and poultices. Scorchstar looked over at his sister, who was fast asleep. The ginger-and-white tabby walked out of the medicine den.

For the first time since he got home from the battle, his amber eyes examined his camp in its entirety. His warriors laid, splayed in their nests with their wounds wrapped and coated from the battle. Although exhaustion glazed their eyes, Scorchstar could still see their strength, their resolve, something that could never be taken away from them. I've got to defeat RiverClan. I can't let them destroy us again.

Letting his warriors rest and regain their strength, Scorchstar left the medicine den and walked over to the nursery, remembering Wildheart's concern for Mallowkit. He slipped in the gorse bush, and much to his surprise, Wildheart was wide awake. Scorchstar nudged her as he settled next to her.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Wildheart nodded.

"Did Mallowkit eat last night?" Scorchstar inquired.

Wildheart shook her head.

Worry heightened Scorchstar's senses and he swung his head to look at the silver tabby kit. She was so much smaller than her siblings. Why hadn't they noticed this before? "Did Violetheart come?"

"She did," Wildheart replied. "Violetheart called her the runt of the litter."

"The runt…?" Scorchstar echoed, puzzled. "What's that?"

"It's the weakest kit in the litter." Fear clouded Wildheart's gaze.

"Is she going to be okay?" Scorchstar asked her, fear making his heart quicken. Just because Mallowkit was the weakest kit in the litter didn't mean she would die. Right?

"Violetheart says to keep her warm, help her suckle, and give her more attention than the others." Wildheart's voice broke as she said those words. "I need to keep Mallowkit alive. I will never forgive myself if she dies. Violetheart says that, even if she pulls through, it's possible she may need to spend some extra time in the nursery. She may not be apprenticed on time. Scorchstar… I need to focus on Mallowkit. Can you give Hawkkit and Redkit the attention they need?"

Scorchstar met his mate's gaze. Sorrow, dismay, agony, and fear kindled in her usually confident yellow eyes. He had never seen her look so defeated before. She wants to keep Mallowkit alive, but by doing that, she won't be able to give our other kits the attention they need… I can't exactly blame her. Scorchstar licked his mate's ear roughly. "Anything to keep Mallowkit alive."

"Thank you." Wildheart's voice was exhausted as she looked down at the tiny silver tabby she-kit. She was at the edge of the nest, barely hanging off, and Scorchstar bent over to grab her gently. He nudged her towards Wildheart's belly, but the she-kit didn't grab on. Wildheart pushed her closer and held her against her stomach with her paws, and the two parents watched to see if she would feed.

She didn't.

"She'll need some time," Wildheart murmured. "But I'll wait."

"Of course." Scorchstar touched his nose to Wildheart's. He hoped that he could calm her, trying to act as composed as possible, but deep inside, he was equally as frightened – or perhaps moreso – than Wildheart was. I don't want to lose my daughter. My precious daughter. She's so young, and she hasn't even opened her eyes yet. StarClan can't be as cruel to take her away so soon! Scorchstar lifted his head, trying to look at the sky, but all he could see was the roof of the nursery. He couldn't break down in front of Wildheart or her kits. He was the father, the rock of the family. He had to keep them together.

Just as Wildheart fell into a deep sleep next to Scorchstar, Scorchstar realized that his Clanmates were most likely waking up. He'd have to address him. He hadn't spoken to them since the battle. Scorchstar quietly got to his paws in an attempt not to disturb Wildheart. He licked her cheek, watching his three kits snuggle alongside her belly, joining their mother in their sleep. "I love you."

With that, Scorchstar turned around and left the nursery. The gorse bush scraped his shoulders as he exited the den and faced the hollow that stretched out wide in front of him. Several of his warriors were getting to their paws, despite the injuries they had sustained. Determination glowed in their gazes, and in some of the warriors, Scorchstar noted, a need to fight again. Brambledusk sat on one of the boulders in the clearing, his tabby tail twitching back-and-forth. Scorchstar thought that the pale tom would be furious about the battle – but it seemed he had something he wanted to protect just as much as Scorchstar did.

Scorchstar walked over to the Tall Branch and leaped on top of it. As his body stretched to jump, every nerve in his body twitched and sent a cry through him. He clenched his teeth to stop a yowl from coming out. How can we fight if we're still injured? he thought miserably. Dapplestar will surely attack us soon, injured or not. But her Clan will be injured as well. "Clanmates!" Scorchstar yowled.

At Scorchstar's call, several of his warriors started to rise and walk towards the clearing. Even Russetstripe, who Scorchstar had noted as unconscious the other day, pulled herself out of the medicine den. A newfound strength glittered in her green eyes, and she looked ready to plunge herself into battle again. Songbreeze's pelt was stained with dry blood but her claws swiped through the air as if she was imagining herself facing a RiverClan warrior. Harewhisker and Briarsnow wore deep wounds, but the only visible sign that it affected them was a wince of their eyes when they walked over to the Tall Branch. His Clan, although battered and bruised, was still standing. Violetheart really is a skilled medicine cat to have healed my Clanmates, isn't she. But it's not just that. It's their courage and their persistence. They won't let defeat sully the WindClan name, and neither will I. They won't let Dapplestar try and attack us again.

"I want to praise you all for fighting in the battle yesterday," Scorchstar said. "Even though you all came back with wounds, we won the battle, and that's what counts. RiverClan is in their camp, defeated, but Brambledusk and I have come to the conclusion that Dapplestar will most likely attack again. Which means… we have to fight again." The WindClan leader tried to stop the sigh from escaping him, and hesitation flickered on his Clanmates' faces.

He understood. After all, even though they had won the battle, several of them were wounded. How could he lead the wounded into battle? Would they come back alive? I'll let them choose if they want to come or not. I won't force any cat.

"But, listen to me," Scorchstar said. "I see the courage in all of your eyes. It's one that surpasses even the courage of the old gods, when they fought the battles that wrote history. If we don't come together as WindClan cats, with our combined courage, to fight against the enemies that prod at our borders, we'll fall victim to cowardice. I won't make any of you fight. You don't have to. You're injured. But I'm going out there, because I won't let any RiverClan cat defeat me. Who's coming with me?" His rousing words bounced off the camp walls and rang through the ears of his warriors, who immediately straightened their shoulders and exchanged determined glances.

"I am!" Thrushwing yowled, lifting his head to the sky.

"Me too!" Dovewillow added, lashing her tail in determination.

"Count me in," Heathercloud said, her blue eyes blazing.

"I'll always be by your side, Scorchstar!" Russetstripe called out.

"I'm in!" Harewhisker yowled, jumping to his paws.

The chants of approval from his Clan rang out through the crowds, and pride swelled in Scorchstar's heart as he listened to them. But there was one voice he hadn't heard. Scorchstar swung his gaze to look at Brambledusk, who was sitting on the rock he had seen him on earlier. Scorchstar locked glances with Brambledusk. And then…

The brown tabby gave Scorchstar a nod. "I'm with you, Scorchstar."

Relief swamped over Scorchstar. Thank the gods. The WindClan leader gave him a nod. "Thank you, Brambledusk." Scorchstar looked back towards his Clan. "WindClan, when we fight together, there is nothing we cannot face!" He let that cry of triumph hang in the air, and then he leaped down to the Tall Branch. How would he know where Dapplestar planned to strike once? ShadowClan promised to be by their side. Would he have to wait for a messenger before he could move? That's the right thing to do, I think. I need to let my Clan recuperate for a little bit.

Then, we'll see where the cards fall.