Bramblestar clearly wasn’t happy about letting in the two kittypets, but eventually he nodded. “I suppose you can stay until the fire is out and your Twolegs come back,” he meowed with a snort. “But not a heartbeat longer.”

Fuzzball let out a long, excited screech and began jumping up and down. “Thank you! Thank you!”

“Thank you,” Velvet mewed more quietly, her amber gaze warm. “I promise you, we won’t be any trouble.”

“See that you’re not,” Bramblestar grunted. “And stay out from under every cat’s paws.” With that he stepped back and gathered his warriors around him with a wave of his tail, beginning to give them instructions about checking out the camp after the storm.

“Come with me,” Alderheart directed the two kittypets. “My name is Alderheart, and I’m a medicine cat. You can stay in my den while—”

“What’s a medicine cat?” Fuzzball interrupted, gazing up into Alderheart’s face.

“I heal cats who are hurt or sick,” Alderheart explained, leading the way to his den, “and I’ll heal Velvet’s burn and check you over if—”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Fuzzball assured him. Alderheart wondered if he would ever be allowed to finish what he was saying. “I’d like to help. What can I do?”

Alderheart thought that the best way of shutting him up would be to give him a job to do. But what could a kittypet do to help Clan cats? Then he halted, blinking. I’ve just had a great idea!

“Come with me,” he told Fuzzball. “I’ve got the perfect job for you.”

“Great!” Fuzzball squeaked. “I’m going to be a Clan cat!”

On the way back to his den, Alderheart spotted Twigpaw carrying a bundle of wet bedding out of the nursery. He beckoned her over with his tail.

“Twigpaw, is the nursery okay now?” he asked.

Twigpaw nodded vigorously. “Brackenfur’s really good at repairs,” she mewed.

“We won’t disturb the kits until tomorrow,” Alderheart continued. “But when you’ve dumped that bedding, will you go up to the tunnel and tell Ambermoon and Sorrelstripe that they can bring Briarlight back? I’ll come and see her when she’s settled in the nursery again.”

“Sure thing!” Twigpaw responded, spinning around and bounding toward the thorn tunnel.

“Thanks!” Alderheart called after her.

He padded on, with Velvet and Fuzzball still following, gazing around at the camp with wide and wondering eyes. As he reached his den, Birchfall limped on three legs, holding up one of his forepaws. Cherryfall was just behind him.

“Alderheart, I trod on a thorn in all this mess,” Birchfall announced. “And I can’t get it out. Can you help?”

“And I slipped in the mud and wrenched my shoulder,” Cherryfall added.

“Okay, I’ll deal with you in a minute,” Alderheart responded. “Wait out here, and I’ll be back when I’ve seen to these kittypets.”