Wilted Apples

A/N: '''Hi, it's Moon. Like usual. Well, like usual with MY stories anyway... So, this story is for Icy's second contest, and I hope it works! This one is gonna be sadder then my usual ones (at least, that's what I'm planning), but still. I'm really excited for it. :D Happy reading!'''

Chapter One
Applepaw sighed as she prodded a dried pile of juniper berries. Glancing up, she continued, "We also need more juniper berries."

Her mentor, a surprisingly beautiful she-cat named Spiritwhisper, shook her head. "All of the juniper berries died half a moon ago. You'll have to find something else."

Applepaw streched her legs, shaking out her red-brown fur. She frowned. "But..."

"But?" her mentor prompted, blue eyes shining like stars in the sky. Spiritwhisper was aptly named, as there was no other medicine cat who had her connection to StarClan. Applepaw often wished for even half that connection. Instead, all she got was a head for herbs. Not once since her apprentice ceremony--almost three moons ago--had she ever been visited by one of their starry ancestors.

"But all the other herbs are dead too," she told Spiritwhisper. "If only there was even one late-bearing bush left."

"No use wanting things we can't have," Spiritwhisper replied, lightly brushing her plumy tail over Applepaw's head.

"I know," Applepaw muttered, getting to her paws. "Can I go for a walk around the forest? I've been cooped up in here for ages."

Spiritwhisper purred with amusement. "I don't see why not. Just don't get into any trouble, okay? You know that ThunderClan has been crossing the borders a lot lately..."

Applepaw snorted in frustration. "I'm not completely helpless, just because I'm a medicine cat. Besides, even those mouse-brains wouldn't dare hurt a medicine cat apprentice, would they?"

"Probably not," Spiritwhisper responded, her gentle tone slightly apprehensive. "But you can never be too careful."

Applepaw shrugged. "I won't go anywhere near the ThunderClan border, then."

Spiritwhisper gave her a teasing look. "Really? Don't make promises you don't plan on keeping, Applepaw. We both know very well that's exactly where you're heading."

Applepaw grinned sheepishly. "You know me too well."

Spiritwhisper purred, giving the top of her red-brown head an affectinate lick. "That's not always a bad thing."

Applepaw poked her head cautiously out of the pine woods, glancing warily around for any ThunderClan cats. Once she was satisfied that the border was clear, she turned around, padding back into the forest.

She clambered over a tree root, flicking one ear irritably to remove a dried clump of moss. She looked back over her shoulder for one last check, then headed deeper into the shadowy pine forest.

She automatically fell into the well-worn path that she usually trod when she was out in the forest alone. Applepaw knew her way so well, she could do it without looking. The young medicine cat apprentice tipped her head to the side curiously.

''Can I do it without looking? ''she wondered, shutting her eyes tightly. Without hesatating, she forged on ahead, feeling a surge of pride as she confidently weaved her way through brambles without stumbling once. Breaking into a run, she jumped over tree trunks, timing it exactly right, just by basing it on memory.

''I bet no cowardly ThunderClan cat could do this! ''she thought, ducking under a low-hanging branch, then promptly crashing into a thick wall of... fur?

''Well, that wasn't there last time. ''Applepaw opened her eyes to find herself staring up at the ShadowClan's leader's son, Bloodpaw, so named for both his bright red fur, and the fact that his father's lust for blood had been so bad, it had cost Bloodpaw's mother.

Most of the she-cats in the Clan admired Bloodpaw, but Applepaw found him annoyingly arrogant, as if the fact that his father was Clan leader meant that he had the right to do whatever he wanted.

"Do you need something?" she asked sharply, jumping to her paws. "Or are you just standing around doing nothing?"

He rolled his eyes, looking irritatingly amused. "No, and no. I was coming to ask what you were doing, running through the woods with your eyes closed."

Applepaw glared at him. "Well, you won't get to find out."

He looked suddenly shy, scuffling his paw against the pine needle-covered ground. "Actually, there was something else I wanted to ask you..."

Despite herself, Applepaw's curiousity was piqued, so she tilted her head to the side. "Yes?"

"Um..." Bloodpaw looked awkward, opening and closing his mouth several times, without actually saying anything. Finally, he blurted, "Nothing!" and turned tail and ran.

Applepaw stared after him, trying to figure out what that was about. Finally, she shrugged, resuming her wandering through the forest, though this time with her eyes open.