Foxpaw came bounding over at the mention of his name. “I know where there are some really big cobwebs,” he mewed. “There’s a hollow log just outside the entrance. It’s full of them.”

Lionpaw glanced at Brambleclaw. The ThunderClan deputy was standing below Highledge while Jaypaw pressed a sticky poultice onto a wound in his side. “Is it okay to go out?” he called. “Leafpool needs cobwebs.”

“Yes, but be careful,” Brambleclaw warned.

As Lionpaw and Foxpaw headed away, Leafpool turned to Hollypaw. “There are herbs piled beside the pool in my den,” she meowed. “Take them to Whitewing and the others. You’ve had enough training to show them how to chew them up and lick them into their scratches.”

“I know how to do that!” Cinderpaw mewed suddenly.

Hollypaw blinked. “How? You’re not a medicine cat’s apprentice.”

Leafpool stopped wrapping cobwebs over Honeyfern’s wound. “She’s spent so long in the medicine den, she must have picked it up.” She waved Cinderpaw away. “Go with Hollypaw and help her. Just be careful of your leg.”

“I will.”

As they headed for the medicine cat den, Hollypaw noticed that Cinderpaw was hardly limping. “How’s your leg?” she asked.

“Much better,” Cinderpaw mewed. “I don’t think I could do every battle move yet, but it won’t be long till I can. The swimming helped just in time,” she added somberly.

They padded past Squirrelflight. The dark orange she-cat was sitting awkwardly at the edge of the clearing, her haunches drawn up, with one hind paw jutting out.

Hollypaw nodded a greeting, but Squirrelflight only stared dully back.

Hollypaw felt uneasy. “Has Leafpool checked you?”

“Not yet.” Squirrelflight’s mew was taut.

Something’s wrong.

Hollypaw glanced down and saw that the sand around Squirrelflight was stained dark red. Blood. “You’re hurt!” Her tiredness forgotten, she darted to her mother’s side and sniffed at her pelt. Fresh blood was oozing from below her chest. Squirrelflight’s forepaws trembled, and she dropped into a crouch, a groan jerking from her as she moved.

Paws pattered behind Hollypaw.

“What’s wrong?” Sandstorm was pressing in beside her.

“She’s bleeding,” Hollypaw whispered, feeling her paws go numb with alarm.

Groaning again, Squirrelflight rolled onto her side, revealing her blood-soaked belly.

Sandstorm gasped. “Why hasn’t this been seen to?” She flicked Hollypaw with her tail. “Fetch Leafpool!”

Hollypaw stared at her mother. Squirrelflight was panting, her flanks fluttering unevenly.

“Now!” Sandstorm shoved Hollypaw away.

Leafpool was squatting down at the far side of the clearing, chewing herbs.

“Squirrelflight’s hurt!” Hollypaw didn’t have to say any more. Leafpool was already on her paws and racing toward the she-cat.