Maplefoot quickly padded into the Nursery, and stared at Thrushkit. "I brought some catmint and some tansy for Thrushkit." However, no cat until now has ever received Blackcough. Maplefoot didn't know if Blackcough is even treated by catmint and tansy. She felt ashamed by that, but to not worry Featherstem, Petalheart, and Hawkpaw, she kept that a secret.

"Thank you for everything, Maplefoot. Because of you, Thrushkit could survive." Featherstem whispered, and grinned at the Medicine Cat. She carried so much hope in Maplefoot.

Maplefoot could feel Featherstem's feelings, as well as Petalheart's. But now, Maplefoot even felt guiltier. How could she be a Medicine Cat any longer if Thrushkit dies of Blackcough, and poor Featherstem never doubted any Medicine Cat? Maplefoot slowly gave Thrushkit the catmint and tansy. She stayed silent as Thrushkit quietly squealed for the comfort of Featherstem and Hawkpaw. "I will be back later…" she quietly said under her breath. She then walked off back to her den silently.

"Hawkpaw, I think it's best for you to hunt for the clan. Petalheart and I will tend to your brother. Don't worry, okay? Maplefoot has it covered." Featherstem explained to Hawkpaw, her eyes gleaming.

"Yes, Mother. Keep Thrushkit safe. I don't want to see him in anymore pain." Hawkpaw whispered, and smiled. But, her smile was absolutely unreal. She was worried to death. She didn't feel like hunting for the clan, but she knew it was her duty to serve Thunderclan. It's in her blood, after all. She slowly pushed Thrushkit out of her mind, and went off to hunt in the forest. As she slowly walked through the forest, she noticed a plump rabbit nibbling on some grass. Hawkpaw grinned, and quickly crouched into a hunting position. She slowly crept towards the rabbit silently. One step after another, she was only a few tail-lengths away.

Rustling came from the bushes behind the rabbit. The rabbit, alert, quickly darted off deeper into the forest.

Frustrated, Hawkpaw sprinted off for the rabbit, determined to catch it for Thrushkit, even though he was too little to finish a rabbit that big. She followed the rabbit's scent all the way to the halfbridge nearest to the Thunderclan camp. The rabbit scent grew stale as Hawkpaw wondered how the rabbit would've swum across the lake. She walked back to where the bushes were rustling. She believed it was Swallowpaw or Foxpaw teasing her since yesterday, she failed on catching a weak squirrel. "Foxpaw! Swallowpaw! I know it was you!" she meowed in anger.

The bushes rustled again. A pair of yellow eyes stared at Hawkpaw through the shadows. The creature sniffed the air, and a face slowly peeked through the leaves. Suddenly, it bolted at Hawkpaw with vigorous strength. It hissed and meowed, trying to make Hawkpaw surrender.

Hawkpaw didn't back down, though. She managed to pull the trespasser off her, and she scratched at the cat's foreleg. She quickly sniffed the cat, and immediately knew the cat was from Shadowclan. "Stop hunting on Thunderclan territory, or I will give you a scar you will never forget!" she hissed loudly, and arched her back.

The cat glared at Hawkpaw, and arched its back as well. "Shadowclan is starving! I'm only helping my clan to survive!" the cat swiped its claws at Hawkpaw.

Helping their clan to survive, Hawkpaw thought. If Thunderclan was starving she probably would've done the same by hunting on another clan's territory, even if doing that would break the Warrior Code. "How do I know you're not spying? Trust me, Thunderclan wouldn't trust Shadowclan that easily." She growled softly.

The black cat stared at Hawkpaw, never taking his eyes off her. A few moments went by until he finally spoke, "Please…Just let me hunt one squirrel…Please?" His voice sounded disappointed, almost like he was about to burst into tears. "Please?"

"Why should I?" Hawkpaw asked, glaring at her opponent.

"My little brother, Darkkit, is sick with Blackcough. I want to catch the best squirrel there is to make him feel better. I can't stand to see Darkkit in pain." The black cat answered softly. He looked down at his paws in shame.

Hawkpaw looked astonished. Blackcough? That was the same thing that happened to her brother! "I feel your pain…" she whispered in empathy. "My brother…" her voice trailed off slowly. She closed her eyes, not wanting to speak again.

"So Blackcough has gotten another kit?" the black cat asked in confusion. He seemed worried for Thunderclan! It was unusual for a Shadowclan cat to care for Thunderclan's wounds. "Bramblefur, Shadowclan's Medicine Cat, said that catmint and tansy will help Darkkit feel better. What about your Medicine Cat?" he looked interested, and worried.

"Maplefoot? She said the same thing as well. But, it looked like she doubted it." Hawkpaw answered. She did not want to talk about it.

The black cat pondered for a few moments. "I'm Nightpaw, by the way." He meowed softly. He smiled, trying to look friendlier.

Hawkpaw hesitated to say anything. Did I just make a Shadowclan friend? she thought in astonishment. Perhaps he would help if she needed anything. "I'm…I'm Hawkpaw." She whispered.

"It's nice to meet you, Hawkpaw." Nightpaw replied happily. His ears pricked up as he looked across the territory of Thunderclan. His ears twitched a few times. "I can hear Shadowclan patrol near the Thunderclan border. I should go. I don't want to get in trouble again."

"What do you mean 'again?'" Hawkpaw softly asked in confusion. Does Nightpaw mean that he has been on Thunderclan territory more than once? She wondered. Hasn't Thunderclan patrol ever caught Nightpaw's scent before? She was confused, but she waved good-bye to Nightpaw as he padded away.

"See you later, Hawkpaw." Nightpaw called out, and disappeared into the shadows of the forest. All you could hear were the quiet blowing of the wind.

Hawkpaw stared out into the shadows, wanting to keep talking to Nightpaw. He seemed much friendlier than any Shadowclan cat she has ever known. Something just made Hawkpaw want to know more about him. Suddenly, something nudged her side heavily.

"Hawkpaw! Where's your prey?" the cat asked. It was Swallowpaw with a plump squirrel in his mouth.

Hawkpaw jerked her head towards the apprentice. "I was busy."

"Busy doing what?" Swallowpaw asked, his voice muffled because of his kill. He stared at Hawkpaw in worry, and in disappointment.

"Just…Talking to someone." Hawkpaw whispered under her breath. She looked down at her paws. She could smell the scent of Shadowclan on her when Nightpaw tackled her to the ground. Her heart raced, but she stayed calm, trying not to look guilty.

"You won't be able to have a share from the fresh-kill-pile, you know? You have to hurry and catch something before the sun begins to set, or else you will have to go another day without eating." Swallowpaw clarified, and then he padded off with his squirrel back to the camp.

Hawkpaw sighed, and set off to look for some prey. She recalled the day when she never caught anything, even though there was a few times when squirrels and voles were just tail-lengths away from her. Mudtalon reported her to Tailstar, and she wasn't allowed to eat. She was starving until the next day when she had to go and hunt once again. She could barely keep herself from eating the prey that she caught. The thought made Hawkpaw even more determined to catch prey for Thunderclan.

She finally found another plump rabbit, and quickly killed it with one swipe of her claws. She took it back to camp, and placed it on the fresh-kill-pile. It looks like I can eat now, she thought, and she took a squirrel from the pile. She carried it off to the Apprentice's Den where Swallowpaw and Foxpaw were busy devouring their share of the fresh-kill. "Hey, guys. Sorry if I am late." She stated the apprentices, and sat down in her nest. She then began wolfing down her squirrel, relishing each morsel.

Foxpaw inhaled the air. He then looked at Hawkpaw confused. "Why do you smell…Different? It's like you rolled in some dirt for the entire day."

"I just chased off a trespasser that was hunting on Thunderclan territory." Hawkpaw answered, hiding the truth from her beloved friends.

The two apprentices nodded slowly, and went back to eating their kill.

Hawkpaw said nothing, and observed at her kill. Now, she has lost her appetite, and set aside her prey.

"Are you going to eat that?" Foxpaw asked, gulping down the last portion of rabbit.

Hawkpaw nodded her approval, and curled up in her warm nest.