The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

61. Who They Are

     "-and Spiderkit's fur is starting to grow back!" 

     Echolight couldn't help but purr at the news, and she swept a group of dry, useless leaves to the side. "That's good!" She said, trying to sound upbeat for the kit that sat nearby, helping to separate cobwebs from herbs. 

     "Can I help?" Questioned Spiderkit, tumbling in and flopping beside Tawnykit. "I want to help."
 
     "Spiderkit, you pull the rest of the store out for me," Echolight answered. "Start separating everything and putting the dry and wilted herbs into a single pile. Tawnykit, can you take a bit of chervil to Sandfoot. He's been complaining of a bellyache." 

     "Of course!" Tawnykit squeaked, quickly snapping up the plant and dashing out. Echolight flicked her whiskers and began to resume Tawnykit's work. I'll probably take one of them as an apprentice. But which one? They're both so enthusiastic.  

     Echolight watched Spiderkit for a moment, eyeing the scar along his side as he backed out of her storage cave, bundles of leaves in his tiny jaws. When he isn't in the nursery, he's here. And he dreams of things he doesn't know of. Her stomach began to twist. And so many things, the dogs, the fire, they're like Cobweb's memories. If he's Cobweb's reincarnation, surely he's meant to be a medicine cat. 

     Tawnykit toddled back in, dragging a mouse with her. And Tawnykit is here all the time too, and it's like she already knows everything. She learns so quickly.  

     StarClan, must I choose between these two kits? I can't take them both as my apprentice. A mentor isn't meant to have two apprentices. Echolight closed her eyes and sighed. But an apprentice isn't meant to be without a mentor. Perhaps I'm supposed to push the boundaries.
 
     "I brought you a mouse!" Tawnykit chirped, nudging it forward. Echolight studied the mouse for a moment. 

     "I can't. I go to the Moonpool tonight," Echolight replied. "It looks very good. Thank you! Why don't you and Spiderkit share it." 

     "Can I come with you?" Spiderkit questioned, running to her paws. "I want to meet the other medicine cats!" 

     I wish. Oh, don't I wish. 

     "Kits can't go!" Tawnykit huffed.  
     Spiderkit fluffed his fur. He was twice the size of his sister without bristling. Still, Tawnykit didn't move. "You don't know that!" 

     "She's right. But maybe when you're apprentices," Echolight intervened. "I need some sun." Away from these herbs. She turned and padded out of the den, offering a warm glance towards Poppy. The white and ginger she-cat carried a large pigeon in her jaws and laid it in front of Helen, who was chatting with Yellowfoot and Miststep. She fits in well. 

     "Leaving kits alone with your herbs?" 

     Echolight looked over her shoulder to see her mother stepping closer. "I trust them. Spiderkit and Tawnykit are good kits," she meowed. 

     Goldstreak sat and licked one paw, drawing it over her ear. "Which are you going to choose?" 

     "Huh?" 

     "The whole Clan knows one of them will be your apprentice. Just not which one." Goldstreak hummed to herself. "The other will get along. Don't worry about it." 

     "It's up to StarClan for now," Echolight said, settling down and tucking her paws beneath her chest. "I'm visiting the Moonpool tonight. Maybe they'll tell me." 

     Goldstreak blinked her water-blue eyes. "You're moving on well." 

     Echolight stared at her mother. "From?"