Destiny

CHAPTER FOUR

Silverpaw saw Mallowpaw come back into camp happily with a small, but plump fish in his jaws. She twitched her ears delightedly. All the apprentices and kits have come toward her brother in awe, even Rockpaw, who tried not to seem so impressed. At least he had a better day, she thought. Her foot throbbed with pain as she made her way to her brother. She had been swimming with Ivysplash until her back left paw hit against a big stone that was hidden underneath the water. Her mentor hurriedly took her to Lilyheart, who put marigold and cobwebs onto her foot, in case of infection. She could still remember the soft, warm scent of the medicine cat, and how carefully she had treated her wound. It must be great being a medicine cat.

“Did you really catch it on your first try?” Pebblekit asked excitedly. “Is it easy?”

“No.” Mallowpaw admitted. “You have to be very patient, and strike at the right exact time.”

“But you did it.” Stonekit squealed. “You can become a warrior now.”

Bushpaw let out a mrrow of laughter. “It takes moons to train and become a warrior. Besides, this is Mallowpaw's first day. If he keeps up like this though, he'll hunt as good as any warrior.”

Mallowpaw's eyes shone at Bushpaw's encouragement. “I'll do my best.” he promised, as Bushpaw led the kits back to the bramble nursery. He turned his head and noticed Silverpaw with her foot lagging behind her as she limped to him. Concern showed in his eyes. “What happened?” he mewed worriedly.

“It's nothing.” she assured him. “I accidentally scraped it against a hidden stone while Ivysplah was teaching me how to swim.” Her eyes glowed brighter as she remembered her mentor being impressed. “Ivysplash says I'm a great swimmer and I'll be as great as her someday.”

“Shellheart complimented me too.” Mallowpaw exclaimed. “Maybe Stonekit's right. We'll be warriors sooner than we can say fish!”

Silverpaw flicked his ear with her tail playfully. “Only if you stop acting like a kit.” Her comment made them play fight gently for a while and shared a vole together at the fresh-kill pile. “I have to go see Lilyheart again,” she mewed, just remembering about her wound. “I'll see you in the apprentice's den.” She padded toward the medicine den as normally as she could as Mallowpaw went to settle down for some rest.

Inside the medicine den, she saw Rainfur on the ground in an awkward position, not even on a bedding of moss. She gasped, and hurriedly scrambled up to him to see what was wrong.

“My belly hurts.” he moaned. “Where's Lilyheart?”

Silverpaw panicked. Even she did not know where the medicine cat had went. “Hang on.” she mewed softly. “I'll go get Mapleleaf.” she remembered Bluemist saying that the older nursery queen has had some experience when she was a young cat.

She raced to a small bramble thicket, where Mapleleaf was sunning herself in the warm weather. “Mapleleaf!” she panted. “Rainfur...belly hurts..Lilyheart not...in her den.” The light brown she-cat sat up in surprise and then her eyes turned serious. “Lilyheart went to get some catmint with Puddlepaw. Show me where Rainfur is.” she meowed calmly. Too worried to say anything, Silverpaw led Mapleleaf into the medicine den, sheltered by the twisted branches of a thorn tree and showed her where Rainfur was laying.

The queen rushed quickly to the pained cat and sniffed him thoroughly. “Crowfood.” she murmured. She tore off a clump of moss hanging on the den and gently placed Rainfur on the soft bedding. Try to find me some chervil,” she instructed. “It has large green leaves and it smells sweet. Lilyheart should have plenty.”

Silverpaw padded further in and found piles of herbs all folded up neatly with leaves in bark shells. She sniffed each one carefully, getting in all sorts of scents. As she sniffed the last bark shell, she can pick up many sweet-smelling scents. Opening up the gigantic leaf, she could see different types of medicine, most of them were long leaves and roots from plants. One particular plant had large leaves with long roots and a few small white flowers still clung onto it. And it smells very sweet. Silverpaw thought triumphantly. She took the chervil and placed it in front of Mapleleaf. “What should I do now?” she mewed.

“Take out all the leaves and flowers. We only need the roots.” Mapleleaf started helping and soon she was ordered Rainfur to chew up the roots. As he instantly obeyed, Poppyseed came racing toward the den. “My kit!” she cried, as she looked around desperately for the medicine cat, only to find a queen and an apprentice. “Where is Lilyheart?!”

“She went to the Twolegplace.” Mapleleaf replied calmly. “Don't worry, I'll take care of Rainfur.”

Still doubtful, Poppyseed did not go away, but instead her black pelt bristled with anger. Silverpaw stopped what she was doing and pressed her muzzle into the small she-cat's fur. “We'll help take care of him until Lilyheart comes back.” she mewed as softly and persuasively as she could. Besides, think of Pebblekit and Stonekit. They would be very frustrated to find you so worried.” She saw Poppyseed's fur began to lie flat again and her muscles seemed to relax a bit. “We'll be the first to tell you if something happens.” she added, in case the queen was still worried.

“Alright.” Poppyseed sighed. “And I'm sorry Mapleleaf.” she meowed apologetically to the light tabby. “I was just afraid for my oldest kit.”

Mapleleaf acknowledged her apology with a brisk nod and turned her attention back to Rainfur. Silverpaw saw Poppyfrost walk back into the nursery and greeted her kits with a small piece of frresh-kill as if she was never worried about anything.

“You were great.” Mapleleaf gave Silverpaw an approving nod. “That was a great way to distract her other than worrying about Rainfur. You thought like a medicine cat.”

Silverpaw's fur suddenly felt hot by the queen's praise. Can I really be a medicine cat? She shook her head. She's an apprentice! Whose training to be the best warrior she can be. And nothing can stop her from her goal.