When Emberpaw exited the den, bounding down Highledge and stumbling over her paws in haste, rocks rolling down with a clutter of noise, the sun was already creeping over he horizon, eager to come up and start a fresh new day. Emberpaw wasn't so eager, sighing at the weariness clouding her mind. First the battle, then the meeting. She glanced around, searching for a particular cat. Badgerpaw was nowhere to be seen. Emberpaw frowned, worried. She bounded through a throng of cats and peeked into the apprentices' den. Her worry increased when Badgerpaw wasn't curled up in his nest. She padded over to the medicine den slowly. Finding Badgerpaw would have to wait, she needed her wounds treated before infection set in. She pushed through the entrance to see Sagehawk hunching over one of the patient nests, his fur bristling only slightly to show his discomfort. As she entered and tried to see who was in the nest Pikepaw appeared, pricking his ears in shock when he saw her and rushing to stand between her and Sagehawk. Emberpaw narrowed her eyes. Pikepaw stepped up to her bravely, though the younger apprentice was nearly twice his size by now. "Hello, Pikepaw. I'm here to get my wounds treated." The young vixen said levelly.

"Sure. I'm just going to get the right herbs," The brown medicine apprentice hurried off immediately. While he was busy finding the right herbs, Emberpaw decided to have a look at the nest Sagehawk was sheltering so precisely. When she slowly, silently peeked over she almost fell to the soft sandy den floor. The cat had a wide, bloody gash in its side and an ear nearly all ripped off.

It was Badgerpaw.

To be honest, I'm pretty sure everyone knew Badgerpaw was gonna be here way back in the chapter lol.