Nightheart stood at the edge of the Thunderpath looking this way and that, watching for a break in the endless line of monsters where they could cross.

"Ready..." Nightheart whispered to Frostpaw at his side, "Now!"

And the two of them took off.

Ever since Nightheart had volunteered his services to help Frostpaw find whatever was at the end of this vision she was following, he had vowed to protect her, and making it across dangerous Thunderpaths was not the least of their challenges.

Nightheart and Frostpaw made it to the other side just as a monster dashed away behind them. Nightheart stood there catching his breath.

"You're getting pretty good at timing those," Frostpaw said, moving to stand in front of him.

"Thank you," Nightheart thought, pleased by the complement. How would Sunbeam think of him if she could see him now? Thunderpath Crossing Expert. He could get back to ThunderClan and tell her all about it.

He was so busy reminiscing on these thoughts, he was no longer paying attention to the monsters hurtling by on the path behind him.

Until suddenly, a monster dashed by right behind him, its round paws catching unevenly on a rock left on the Thunderpath...

And the rock shot out, under the monster and off the Thunderpath, straight in the direction of Nightheart, back still turned, tail held high in his pride.

SMACK!

The rock found its place right in the opening of Nightheart's back legs, dropping to the ground under him right once its target had been reached. Nightheart stumbled, taking off guard by the unexpected hit.

And then the pain hit him.

Nightheart dropped, yowling in agony, paws struggling to reach the sensitive place he'd just been hit, pain worse than anything he'd felt before flooding over him and drowning out his entire surroundings.

"Pain!" he yowled, pulling his head up, "Make it stop!"

Frostpaw could feel herself going red, as a former Medicine Cat Apprentice, she had been aware of the special tom weakness, but she had never actually seen it happen before. According to Mothwing, usually there was nothing a Medicine Cat could do, it was usually not serious, and you just had to wait it out although it supposedly hurt worse than any number ailments Medicine Cats could take care of.

Poor Nightheart. From his reaction, he must be in so much pain! And she couldn't do anything. It seemed so unfair. She had to do something.

"Nightheart?" She asked, stepping up to him, "Is there anything I can do?"

"Make it stop!" Nightheart growled, clutching at himself desperately. "I go on this quest like StarClan wanted and this is what happens! Augh! Just be glad you're a She-Cat."

Was she really immune just because she was a She-Cat? She gave a quick glance at herself. That would explain it.

Frostpaw felt like she was intruding, being here to witness Nightheart going through something so personal, but she really had nowhere else to go.

"This would've never happened to Sunbeam," Nightheart grumbled angstily.

That would be correct, Frostpaw thought to herself.

Unfortunately Sunbeam would go on to see his journey with Frostpaw as something brave and heroic, a model of what all adventures should be, she'd never know that during that journey, her closest mate with whom she could talk to about anything had gone through this! She'd never know the maximum pain her mate had endured. It wasn't because he'd be keeping it from her, he would just never have a reason to bring it up.

Nightheart moaned again through unspeakable pain. "Can you just kill me now."

"That's not how I work," Frostpaw said, "You'll get through this. Eventually." She took an uncertain glance at him. "It might be awhile," She admitted finally.

Nightheart moaned miserably, not encouraged by this news.

As they continued back on their journey, Nightheart once again able to walk with no more than a slight limp, Nightheart stepped up beside Frostpaw and spoke quietly.

"Hey, about what happened back there, do you mind if we keep quiet about it, just keep it to ourselves?"

Frostpaw glance at him, a bit of amusement glinting in her eye.

"Of course," she said.

And so, Nightheart was able to let out a sigh of relief. He may never get around to sharing this experience with Sunbeam, but at least no other cat would hear about it either.

Except for Frostpaw, she'd always know, any time she looked at him. Now that was an embarrassment he didn't relish holding.