Soon, Honeypelt has three little bundles at her belly, suckling. Two toms and a she-kit. The she-kit was light gray with white flecks, and one tom looked just like Honeypelt. The other, looked just like Barktooth.

Honeypelt couldn't look at the tom that was a replica of her mate who left her.

Creamleaf smiled at the kits. "Wow. They're beautiful."

Horsemoon noticed how the kits weren't very lively, and the one that looked like Barktooth was barely moving. She told that to Creamleaf, and they checked the kits again. Creamleaf concluded that they were just tiny, and needed to be watched carefully.

"What're their names?" Creamleaf asked.

"Well," Honeypelt answered, not taking her gaze off her kits, "I'm going to wait until their eyes are open."

Horsemoon nodded.

Once they were sure the kits and Honeypelt was okay, the medicine cat's left the queen to rest. They padded back into their den.

"Horsemoon," Creamleaf began. "Go get some herbs from outside the camp. We're running low on borage."

Horsemoon nodded and padded out the den. She excited the camp, and dipped to her head to Falconwing, who was on guard. He nodded back.

She walked near the ThunderClan border, where she learned from Creamleaf was the best spot for borage. And to think.

Horsepaw arrived at the spot, next to the border. She picked a few borage leaves off of their stems, and filled her mouth. After she filled that up, she picked leaves and tucked them underneath her chin, and on her chest. She was about to trot back to camp, when she heard rustling in the bushes on  ThunderClan's side of the border. She turned to see a ThunderClan patrol emerge from the bushes.

Hazeclaw was in the lead with Shrewpelt, Leafwind and her apprentice Quickpaw following. They looked annoyed.

Horsemoon smiled. "Hello!" She said silently when they were looking. "How's ThunderClan?"

Hazeclaw snorted. "Why do you need to know?"

Horsemoon's eyes widened. Who put dirt in their fresh-kill? She wondered. "Well, I'm the medicine cat now, and I'm allowed to ask." She answered mutely.

This time, Leafwind answered. "Well, why?" She retorted. Her apprentice, Quickpaw, nodded in fierce agreement.

Horsemoon rolled her eyes. "Because I care. Unlike you."

"Well..." Quickpaw's gaze instantly softened. He looked at his paws, and shuffled them. "This new-leaf is really hot and we're all kinda snappy." He meowed quietly.

Shrewpelt slapped her tail on the apprentice's mouth. "Don't tell them anything!" She hissed.

Quickpaw looked ashamed, and stared at the ground.

Horsemoon felt sympathy, but it was soon washed away as the patrol mocked her.

"How could a mute and three-legged cat be a medicine cat?" Hazeclaw scoffed. The others laughed, except Quickpaw.

"Yeah," Shrewpelt added. "How could she help them, by keeping quiet?"

That did it for the ThunderClan cats. They laughed and giggled, and fell down on the undergrowth. Horsemoon scowled, and spun around and left angrily.
I hate this! She thought furiously. She was angry because of herself. Her disabilities. Her life.  I wish they'd die! All of those fox-hearts!
   
She started to strut back to camp with her borage when she heard a wail of a cat coming towards her. She turned sharply and saw Quickpaw hurtling towards her, ears flat and panting. He stopped in front of her with wild eyes.

Horsemoon was surprised to see he apprentice in WindClan territory. She scowled at him. "Wh-" She began to mouth.

Quickpaw wailed again. "Hazeclaw's been attacked by a fox near the border!" He yowled. "Come help, please!" He pleaded.

Horsemoon wa shocked. Part of her didn't want to save them, because of the way they treated her, but part of her wouldn't let a cat die.

Horsemoon nodded. "Let's go," She mouthed.

Quickly blinked gratefully, then spun around and raced towards the border. Horsemoon followed, abandoning the borage and sprinting after him.

They crossed the border line, ignoring them scent-marks. Quickpaw led the way a little right of the border, and they skidded through the trees. Horsemoon was having a heard time keeping up from all the trees in the way.
I hope we make it there in time! She thought, heart pounding. All these stupid trees are in the way! I'm used to open moor. She continued to run, and then Quickpaw halted suddenly. Horsemoon skirted to a stop, just mouse-lengths away from the apprentice's hindquarters.

Quickpaw gulped. "He's in there." He said shakily, and pointing to a little den in the brambles with his tail. Horsemoon padded in quickly to asset the damages.

She was going to help Hazeclaw, no matter what it took.