Wolfstar's Story: Chapter 4-10

Second part. Not yet finished. Enjoy!

Chapter 4
 “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!”

 Cloudpelt was licking Wolfkit fiercely, and Sunfire was trying groom the twigs out of Flykit’s pelt, who was just exploring the elders’ den.

 The cats are slowly beginning to come out of their dens. Creeksky emerged stiffly from the elders’ den with Lionfoot’s apprentice, Flamepaw, helping him by his side. Firepaw, Sunfire’s apprentice, came to sit by the orange tom, congratulating him. Spottedpaw, Foxtail, and Mousecreek clustered together, whispering. Icefrost, Larkwing, and Grassleaf padded over from halfrock, leaving the remains of their meal behind. Willowkit, Olivekit, Leafkit, and Fallowkit gazed from the nursery, their eyes wide with envy and happiness for their friends. Even Jaypaw limped from the medicine den and winked at Wolfkit. Streamwater and Oakstripe sat at the foot of the Highledge, their eyes bright. Wolfkit wondered if Oakstripe is going to be Flykit’s mentor. Lucky Flykit. Oakstripe was very nice. Wolfkit pushed the thought away. She was going to be a medicine cat! She was even luckier than Flykit.

 Shimmerstar’s voice rang from the Highledge, clear and loud, “Wolfkit and Flykit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed.”

 Wolfkit wiggled with excitement. This was it! The moment she would become an apprentice!

 “Flykit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Flypaw. Your mentor will be Oakstripe.”

 Shimmerstar turned to Oakstripe, “Oakstripe, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Grassleaf, and you have shown yourself to be wise and fierce in battles. You will be the mentor of Flypaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him.”

 Flypaw went forward to touch noses with Oakstripe, whose eyes were twinkling.

 She fixed her eyes on Wolfkit, “Wolfkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Wolfpaw. Your mentor will be Streamwater.”

 Streamwater walked over to the center of the clearing. She meowed, “Cats of ThunderClan, as you know, I will not be around forever. So it’s time I took on an apprentice. I have chosen a cat who has shown talent an interest. Your next medicine cat will be Wolfpaw.

 Shimmerstar mewed, “Wolfpaw, do you accept the post of apprentice to Streamwater?

 By then, Wolfpaw was quivering in excitement. Her voice came out much steadier than she’d expected, “I do.”

 “Tomorrow is half-moon. I will accompany you to the Moonpool tomorrow, so you will be accepted by StarClan before the other medicine cats,”Streamwater meowed.

 “Then the good wishes of all ThunderClan will go with you,” Mewed Shimmerstar.

 Wolfpaw could feel her legs quivering when she touched noses with Streamwater. She saw her mentor’s gray eyes glittering with happiness, too.

 “Wolfpaw! Flypaw! Wolfpaw! Flypaw!”Jaypaw and Cloudpelt started cheering first, and soon the rest of the Clan joined in.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Joy pulsed through Wolfpaw. She was a medicine cat apprentice now! She could help her Clan in a way no others can.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> She bounded off to Streamwater, who was standing, purring, as Swiftwind and Rowanpaw congratulated her.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Streamwater! I can’t wait till we start my training,” Wolfpaw meowed.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “You have never been out of the camp, right? I will show you the ThunderClan territory today,” Streamwater stretched, her gray-blue tabby pelt glowing in the morning sun.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw nodded and hopped to the camp entrance with Streamwater at her heels.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw bursted out of the thorn tunnel, and her breath stopped in her throat. Tree trunks and thick undergrowth spread to the edge of her vision

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “It’s huge,” She finally managed to whisper.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater let out an amused purr. She mewed, “This is just a small part of it. Wait till you see the rest! Come, follow me. We will go to the abandoned Twoleg nest first.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw followed Streamwater, a new surge of energy springing into her paws. They were walking on a wide, flattened dirt track.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> As they walked, Streamwater explained, “The territories slope downwards, with the lake as the lowest point. This path we’re walking on is the Old Thunderpath. It leads to the abandoned Twoleg nest. The abandoned Twoleg nest is a high place on ThunderClan territory. Today, we are going upwards, along the Old Thunderpath, to the abandoned Twoleg nest, towards the Twoleg paths, to the Ancient Oak, the WindClan border, and before we go back to the camp to find you a nest in my den, we’ll stop at the mossy hollow for a peek at the place warrior apprentices train.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Sounds like a busy day! I am certainly going to enjoy it,” Wolfpaw commented enthusiastically.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Of course it is,”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> They both fell silent for a while. Wolfpaw noticed how nice the birds sounded, chirping in the trees. Leaf-fall sunlight dappled the ground, peeking through the leaves. Wolfpaw was glad she was in ThunderClan. She couldn’t imagine living under the darkness of pine trees or spending her whole life in windblown heather.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Finally, she saw a box like gray den that looked as if it was going to crumble into stones at any time. She snorted in disbelief. Was this the wonderful place where catmint and many other herbs grew that Streamwater had promised her?

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater was in front of her, but she meowed as if she could actually read Wolfpaw’s thoughts, “Yes, I know it seems ready to cave in, but believe me, this is a rare place where precious herbs and mice thrive.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Soon they reached the abandoned Twoleg nest. Streamwater ducked through a broken fence and Wolfpaw followed. Wolfpaw found herself gaping at the neat, vigorously growing clumps of herbs.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “A great medicine cat, Jayfeather, started planting these. He developed a brand new way of planting and collecting herbs. The medicine cats after him had followed, and kept these herbs alive for seasons after seasons. Tomorrow, I’ll show you how to water and weed them,” With that, Streamwater made her way through a bush that grew on another side of the abandoned Twoleg nest and headed that way. Wolfpaw padded after her.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> They walked through the forest in silence and after a while, and reached a clearing. A disgusting scent hit Wolfpaw’s nose and nearly made her gag.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater glanced at Wolfpaw and mewed, “Remember this smell. This is ShadowClan. Wonder why the scent is so strong when this is ThunderClan territory?” Without waiting for Wolfpaw to answer, she continued, “ThunderClan and ShadowClan fight constantly over this clearing. This is where the most recent battle took place, they one that injured Jaypaw,”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw’s heart cringed at the memory of blood spilling out of Jaypaw. He was so nice. Lucky that Streamwater was the medicine cat, or he could have died from the fatal wound

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Shaking her gray-blue head, she sighed, “That’s why I never wanted to be a warrior. When Shimmerstar just became the leader, when I was just Streamkit. I never understood why warriors would want to fight over worthless territory, driven by their unnecessary pride. Look at this clearing. You can’t see a single patch of herb, nor any mice. Just like in the forest, a long long time ago, when ThunderClan and RiverClan constantly fought over a few useless rocks called Sunningrocks. Look over there, you see those stone paths with the straight blue stones on either side of it? They look a bit like fences. That is the ShadowClan border.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw looked at the clearing. Territory is very important. If they had just let ShadowClan take it, the other Clans would think they were weak. That was not affordable. How could Streamwater not understand?

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> But then again, Streamwater and Wolfpaw herself were both medicine cats. They were supposed to stand apart from rivalry between Clans. But Wolfpaw remembered the deep look of disappointment in Shimmerstar’s piercing gaze when Streamwater proudly asked her to make Wolfkit a medicine cat apprentice, and when they were leaving the den, Shimmerstar’s whisper, “Are you sure? Your courage and talent would make you an amazing warrior.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfkit had replied, “Yes, I am sure, Shimmerstar.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Wolfpaw?” Streamwater asked, jerking her back into reality.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Yes, sorry. I was just thinking about this clearing,” Wolfpaw answered quickly.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater’s gray gaze softened. She meowed, “Your thoughtfulness is good for being a medicine cat. Unlike some bigheaded warriors, like my dear friend Foxtail, who will rush into battles without thinking.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw felt sort of irritated for some reason. Why is Streamwater saying that she will make a good medicine cat every time she does something normal?

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater started trotting downwards, to the lake. Wolfpaw walked silently. But isn’t that what I want? She asked herself. Yes, she replied, firmly pushing the thought away.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> After a long walk, they reached the lakeshore. Wolfpaw gasped. Blue-green water rippled to the horizon, where it met land. A huge oak stood in the stones, its roots twisted around a little cave-like shelter. Wolfpaw walked closer to the water, until she was standing in it. Pebbles gave way to soft white sand, and water lapped at her silver paws. She relished the coolness of the water for a long time, until Streamwater called, “Now, we can go to the WindClan border.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw turned to face Streamwater, and when she saw the gray-blue tabby’s gray eyes were serious, she padded after her, glancing back longingly at the lake.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> As they walked, Streamwater mewed softly, “Wolfpaw, there is another reason, why I want you to be a medicine cat. You will have trouble fighting with other Clans, if your heart is not hard enough.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw bristled. She growled, “What, you think I’m not loyal enough to be a warrior?”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Come here,” Streamwater meowed, her eyes gentle with sympathy.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw walked stiffly after Streamwater, and sat down, staring at her with burning green eyes. Blood roared in her ears. How dare Streamwater say she was not loyal?

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “You have kin in every Clan.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw stiffened.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Your father’s mother was a loner that came from the Tribe. Her name was Scarlet Phoenix. Her mother was loner and her father was a ShadowClan deputy that died, fighting for that worthless clearing. Scarlet Phoenix traveled to the mountains and fell in love with a Tribe tom called Boulder, and Boulder was special. He was the son of Stormfur’s kit. Ask Creeksky about Stormfur. Stormfur himself had the blood of WindClan, ThunderClan, and RiverClan. Now, do you see? Your father has the blood of all four Clans, but I never told him. Not knowing, he never showed any sign of his ancestry. Nor did your brother. But you, you are special. I can see the blood of every Clan awakening inside you. You could pounce on Flypaw when you were play-fighting, and he would never know you are there until the last second. That is a skill only ShadowClan can master. And I have seen you chasing Spottedpaw around in a game. You could run faster than her, even when you were just a kit and she was already a grown apprentice. Only WindClan cats would be able to do that. Scarlet Phoenix’s loner blood made you enjoy quiet freedom. You have sneaked out and watched the moon during the night on the Highledge, when everyone is sleeping and you think no one is watching, am I right? Your mother’s kittypet blood is also starting to show. Don’t bristle, It is not necessarily a bad thing. Remember today, just before the apprentice ceremony? You and your brother were exploring the elders den. He got twigs and moss all over his pelt, but your fur was clean and smooth when you came out. That is an advantage of kittypets that most Clan cats can’t see, being able to always keep clean. That is from your mother. And now, did you feel it? The way the water calls at you, and how you enjoy it when most ThunderClan cats shudder at the thought of it? Your brother would be exhausted if he had came with us, but your hard pads and strong legs had kept you from being tired the whole time. This is from the Tribe. Ah, so, let’s see. You are descended from Graystripe, a deputy that got captured by Twolegs and ended up as  an ordinary warrior of ThunderClan, Sootstripe, the recent deputy of ShadowClan, Reedfeather, an ancient deputy of WindClan, Crookedstar, a long ago leader of RiverClan, Brook Where Small Fish Swim, a prey-hunter of the Tribe, Dappled Dawn, Scarlet Phoenix’s mother, who was a loner, and, finally, the most recent one, Claudia. Your mother was called Claudia when she was a kittypet.” Streamwater mewed.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw listened to all of it without interrupting. She had no reason to disbelieve anything. Now that Streamwater reminded her, she realized the medicine cat was right. How she could do things not even apprentices could when she was just a kit.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater seemed to know that Wolfpaw didn’t want to say anything, so she simply turned and started walking again.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Come, I’ll show you the WindClan border, the mossy hollow, and then you can go and eat something.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw followed without a word.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> The birds chirped cheerfully from the trees.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';">

Chapter 5
Wolfpaw padded out of the medicine den. She looked back at Jaypaw’s sleeping form. Wolfpaw felt sort of sorry to leave him there alone. Jaypaw had shifted closer to her when she sighed, not being able to sleep. She had flinched away, and Jaypaw had turned back to where he was sleeping.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw stared at the stars. They blinked down at her, bright and unreachable as ever.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Why am I the one?” She wondered out loud.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Is she even supposed to be a medicine cat? Is everything Streamwater told her a lie? “You showed great talent and enthusiasm,” Were Streamwater’s original words. Was that true?

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> A tail brushed her shoulder, making her jump.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> She whipped around to see Jaypaw calmly sitting down beside her.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “What are you doing here? You should rest,” Wolfpaw hissed.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Don’t you want some company?” Jaypaw asked, looking up at the sky. His blue, blue eyes reflected the stars.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw kept silent, staring at her paws. They looked gray in the night.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Something is bothering you,” Jaypaw observed, “Something that can’t bother others.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw sighed. Jaypaw’s tail stroked her ears.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Tell me. I won’t tell anyone. You have to spill it out, or else, locked in your heart forever, the nuisance will explode one day, sooner or later,” Jaypaw meowed, his voice soft.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw twitched her ears, and Jaypaw’s tail fell still. She thought of how nice Jaypaw was to her. Maybe he was right. Maybe she will have to tell someone. And Jaypaw, surely, was the cat who would listen. Right?

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> She sighed, “Fine.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> And all the words came tumbling out. Jaypaw listened without a word, his eyes gentle and blue as ever.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> When she finished, she buried her nose in her paws and whimpered, waiting for Jaypaw to yowl and run away in fear, from her. From Wolfpaw the freak. Wolfpaw the monster.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Instead, Jaypaw licked her ears.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Don’t worry, Wolfpaw,” Jaypaw whispered, “ It’s nothing. Everyone is special. And you, you are just more special than any of them. Your blood makes you stronger. It will help with everything, right?

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw purred. Jaypaw groomed her back, without a sound. Feeling the steady, soft strokes on her spine, Wolfpaw purred until all her misery and frustration was gone, replaced with happiness and calm.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Come on, now,” Jaypaw mewed, “Go back to sleep. Don’t you have to learn to water and weed catmint tomorrow?”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw purred again, and together they walked back to the medicine den.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw settled down in her nest. Jaypaw shifted in his. He inched closer, closer, until he finally pressed his side against hers. This time, Wolfpaw did not move one bit. === Chapter 6 === Wolfpaw yawned.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Woke up?” Asked Streamwater. The medicine cat was at the entrance of the den, sunlight shining through the hanging ivy tendrils, dappling her gray-blue tabby pelt as she stretched. The sunlight shone into her eyes, turning them pale gray. They were overshadowed with concern.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw’s ears twitched, and affection for her mentor warmed her heart. Streamwater was still worried that she might be upset about being special.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Yes. I’m perfectly awake. Can’t wait to learn to water the plants!”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Relief lit up in Streamwater’s gray eyes. She purred, “Good, my dear apprentice. We leave now. Remember, tonight, we will be traveling to Moonpool.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw looked back at Jaypaw’s sleeping form and nodded. “Let’s go.” As they left the den Wolfpaw swept her tail over Jaypaw’s black ears. The tom’s paws twitched.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> The two medicine cats walked out of the camp. Wolfpaw was going to go upwards, along the Old Thunderpath. Instead, Streamwater brushed her cheek with a gray-blue tail and led the confused apprentice down towards the lake. Stopping by the Sky Oak, Streamwater jerked her ears toward the roots and started clawing the moss into balls, telling Wolfpaw to do the same. Then, Streamwater soaked a moss ball in the lake water. Wolfpaw followed suit. Carrying the moss ball tenderly in their jaws, the she-cats went back upwards, towards the abandoned Twoleg nest.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> After a while, they reached the abandoned Twoleg nest. It didn’t look half as old as yesterday now, to Wolfpaw’s eyes.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater and Wolfpaw ducked through the fence, side by side. Streamwater bent down and spat the moss out on the ground, leaping forward. She circled the herbs. There were four main patches, surrounding the abandoned Twoleg nest.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “This patch, is catmint, good for curing greencough,” Streamwater meowed, pointing her tail to a leafy patch of plants. Moving along, she bounded to another patch and called, “Sorrel, part of the traveling herbs.”Then, she leaped towards a patch of white flowers and mewed, “Chamomile, another part of the traveling herbs. My favorite.” Approaching the last patch, she meowed, “Lavender—”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Dropping her moss, Wolfpaw mewed, “Cures fever,” She added when she realized she had interrupted Streamwater, “Sorry.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Waving Wolfpaw’s apology away with her blue-gray tail, Streamwater peered at her curiously, “How do you know?”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Pelt burning, Wolfpaw shrugged, “I just know. Sometimes—most of the times—I can recognize a herb and what it cures when I look at it. Like when you asked me to be a medicine cat apprentice, you told me to sit in front of a rock. Under that rock was some beech leaves, right? You use them to wrap other herbs, since they are so smooth and broad.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> A new light lit up in Streamwater’s gray eyes, “You do have the talent of a medicine cat. Your ancestry is not the only reason I asked you, you know. Now, let’s water the plants first.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater picked up her moss again and pressed it lightly to the soil under the catmint. Pointing the tips of her ears toward the patch of sorrel, she ordered, “Go and water the sorrel. Press the moss to the ground gently, just so that a bit of moisture would soak into the soil. The plant will drown if you drench the ground. I’ll do the chamomile and you can do the lavender.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw did as she was told.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> After they finished, Streamwater rid her claws of the now useless moss and praised, “Good. You controlled the amount of water carefully. Now I can teach you how to weed the herbs.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater swept her tail across the catmint, “See, the catmint is leafy, and it looks different from other plants. Just pull out the plants that don’t belong here.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw nodded, and as she started with the sorrel, she thanked Jaypaw silently in her heart. Just when she thought her life was going to become miserable and heavy last night, the nice apprentice soothed her, and she was the happy and gentle Wolfpaw once more. === Chapter 7 === Wolfpaw could hardly keep herself from bursting with excitement. She padded around the camp, stopped to stare at the rising moon, and padded around the camp some more. Sunfire poked his orange head out of the warriors den and meowed, “Wolfpaw? Can you stop? You are disturbing Foxtail. We are both going on a dawn patrol tomorrow. I’ve already had him complaining at me three times in a row. I know you are going to the Moonpool tonight, and I understand that you are very excited, but I don’t want Foxtail thinking that you are a bothersome apprentice.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw lowered her head, “Yes, father.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Good. I love you,” With that, Sunfire ducked his head and went back into the warriors den.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw stopped pacing and glared at the warriors den instead. Foxtail is such a stupid know-it-all. According to Creeksky, he wasn’t a warrior for a long time. It was fitting that Streamwater called him a big-headed warrior when she was showing Wolfpaw the ThunderClan territory.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Thinking of Streamwater, the medicine cat appeared behind her as if summoned by her thoughts.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Are you ready?” The medicine cat asked, stretching.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Er, yes. I mean, yes, of course.”She replied quickly.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Then it is time, if that is so.”Streamwater stretched.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw purred and bounded towards the camp entrance without bothering to be quiet, ignoring Foxtail’s angry hiss.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> She dashed towards the WindClan border, running full speed with wind streaming through her fur, energy pulsing in her paws. This is how it should be, running swiftly and tirelessly. When she reached the WindClan border, she stopped guiltily, remembering her mentor. After a few moments, Streamwater caught up, panting.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Ugh, WindClan!”She growled to Wolfpaw, her gray eyes shining with humor.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Wolfpaw ducked her head and licked her mentor’s chest and purred. Then, she let Streamwater lead her, going much more slowly this time.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> A scent she had never smelled before reached her nose. Watery with the stench of fish. RiverClan? She guessed.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> A white she-cat with blue eyes dipped her head, “Greetings, Streamwater. And who may this be?”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater bowed her head, “Greetings, Daisypetal. This is Wolfpaw, my new apprentice. Wolfpaw, meet Daisypetal, the RiverClan medicine cat. She became a full medicine cat not long ago, just before her mentor, Ravenwing, retired to the elders den.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Hello, Daisypetal, nice to meet you,” Wolfpaw mewed.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Nice to meet you too, Wolfpaw. Since we are medicine cats, we are not rivals. In fact, you are a dear friend,” Daisypetal purred politely.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Thank you, Daisypetal,”Wolfpaw answered.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> They traveled in silence, until they reached a stone hollow.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Ready?”Streamwater asked.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Yes,”Wolfpaw replied, her heart beating.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater led Wolfpaw into the stone hollow, walking along a narrow path, she felt her paws slipping into ancient paw prints. Who had left them? She wondered. A steep cliff stood on the other side of the Moonpool, with silver water pouring out from a cut in the wall. “It’s beautiful,”She whispered.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Of course,”Streamwater glanced at her, “It’s StarClan territory.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Another cat was already by the Moonpool. He was a dark tabby smelling of heather and windblown grass. Wolfpaw guessed he was from WindClan.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater dipped her head, “Greetings, Brambleleaf.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Greetings,”Brambleleaf bowed his head, “May this be your new apprentice?”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Yes,”Wolfpaw introduced herself, “My name is Wolfpaw, and I am honored to meet you.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Brambleleaf looked satisfied, “You have a polite apprentice there, Streamwater. Most young cats today don’t know how to respect old cats like ancient me.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater purred and brushed her tail tip against his brown flank as she padded to the pool, “Now all we’re missing are Webfrost and Beechpaw.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Daisypetal nodded and sat down, her tail wrapped neatly around her white paws. Wolfpaw noticed her own similarities to the RiverClan cat and the WindClan tom. Wolfpaw found Daisypetal’s fur as glossy as her own, and how she shared Brambleleaf’s light frame. She pressed down a shiver. No. She was a loyal ThunderClan cat, no one cat change that. Wolfpaw shot an unnoticeable glare at Brambleleaf. He was from another Clan. They were rivals.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> Streamwater did notice that. She frowned and whispered, “Wolfpaw, you are a medicine cat. We stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and care for all cats equally. Do not see these cats as rivals. They were friendly to you. And so you should do the same.”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Yes, Streamwater,”Wolfpaw meowed obediently, pushing down her instincts. She was a medicine cat, not a warrior.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Good,”

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> After a few moments of cold silence, two gray cats arrived.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Greetings, Webfrost and Beechpaw,”Daisypetal mewed.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> “Greetings, Daisypetal. You look good today. RiverClan must still be rich in prey in a late leaf-fall moon like this,” Webfrost dipped her head.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:'HeitiSCLight';"> To be continued: I'll work on it as soon as I can.

End of Second Part
Second Part of Wolfstar's Story.