following the loner

Pain. Terrible pain. The thought flashed through Rosepaw's mind. The pain, like lightning, pierced the tender skin on her back. Her vision went dark, the world blurring before her eyes. The apprentice felt the ground slip away from under her paws. Well, this is it... I'm going to StarClan now... A ringing filled her ears. And suddenly, a gray-reddish whirlwind swept her up and carried her far, far away. "Don't you dare die! Don't close your eyes, I said! Fallenpaw... drag her to camp..." Dustpaw's voice came as if from far away. Suddenly, her hearing and sight returned to the she-cat, and it all hit her like a waterfall. Before her stood Fallenpaw, practically carrying her on his back. The pain continued to tear, to torment her skin. Then everything went dark again. The she-cat opened her eyes with a groan. At first, she didn't understand where she was, but then the memories came flooding back. Before her sat a gray-reddish tom, whom she recognized as Dustpaw — the one who had saved her. Seeing her awake, Dustpaw's eyes brightened happily, and he called for the medicine cat. "W-where... am I? W-what... happened?" "It's alright, you're in the medicine cat's den. Fallenpaw dragged you all the way to camp," the apprentice mewed excitedly. Then he stood up, and Rosepaw could see the powerful muscles rippling beneath his pelt. "You should have seen me fight that badger! Of course, for our little escapade, we... both got an earful." Dustpaw turned sideways to show her a few pinkish scratches and a couple of bald patches on his fur. Suddenly, the calico medicine cat pushed the indignant apprentice aside and scolded him gently, "Dustpaw! You'll have plenty of time to chatter her ear off later!" The medicine cat turned anxiously to the patient. "Does anything hurt?" Dustpaw is so handsome... maybe... he's my destiny? "Hey! I'm still here. I'm asking — does anything hurt?" Rosepaw shook her head weakly and laid her head back down on the nest, exhausted.