Warriors - IvyClan's Dismay

Chapter 2

     Cloudkit's POV

I leaped onto Redkit's tail, who squealed and turned on me. She shoved me away forcefully, only to have myself bump into a warrior's leg. I shook my head and stepped away, then turned to apologize to the warrior. I thought I'd lose my voice when I saw that it was Poppystar.

"S-sorry —"

"Cloudkit! Willowkit! Redkit!" That was mine and Redkit's mother, Ashheart. She stepped out of the nursery and gave us scornful looks. "Be careful!" she snapped, then looked up at Poppystar. "I'm sorry, Poppystar. It won't happen again."

"That's quite alright," our cream-colored leader responded coolly, bushy tail swaying. She was a great leader — always patient and kind.

I glanced over at the medicine den and saw our medicine cat, Stoneclaw, enter it from in between his and the warriors' den. I didn't know why he was out there. Maybe collecting herbs? I didn't notice any in his mouth, though. I probably missed them, I thought. Then, I looked around quickly — noting how Willowkit and Redkit weren't noticing me — and darted off towards the medicine den.

I didn't know why, but I've always been interested in the herbs, as well as the smell of most of them. I went in the dark den quietly, sniffing the air. I almost didn't notice Stoneclaw at the back due to his dark pelt blending into the atmosphere.

"Who's there?" Stoneclaw asked. He turned around and scanned the den before looking down on me. "Oh, Cloudkit. Hello, young one. What can I do for you?" He sat down, though had a paw raised incase I need something. "Did you get hurt play-fighting? I swear, kits these days..."

"No, I didn't," I replied, ear twitching. "Nothing happened, really."

"Then what do you want?" Stoneclaw asked.

I looked around, then shrugged. "I dunno. I just like coming in here. I-I won't bother you. I..." I got up and looked around, slowly walking. "...I like it in here, y'know. The smell's really cool."

I didn't notice Stoneclaw purr with amusement until he spoke. "Well, Cloudkit, as long as your play pals don't come in here and mess with my stuff, I don't mind if you're in here." He paused for a moment. "When will you be an apprentice again?"

"A half moon," I replied, partially not listening. But I couldn't help but be reminded about how Willowkit and her siblings, Foxkit and Ravenkit, were going to be apprentices soon. And before Redkit and I, I added to myself upsettingly. I liked playing with Redkit and all, but I always liked it when there were other kits in the nursery. Not to mention that Ashheart would be the only queen, and she was way more overprotective than the other queen, Shadeflower, who would move out when her three became 'paws.

"Well," Stoneclaw meowed, bringing me back. I turned to him as he said, "why don't you be my apprentice? If you like herbs so much and the smell of them, then maybe you can have a chance at being a medicine cat."

"A medicine cat?" I echoed, tilting my head. When Stoneclaw nodded, I looked at my paws, then back up. "What does a medicine cat do besides help sick cats?"

"Well," the dark gray tom replied, "we heal injuries and speak to StarClan —"

"What?" I gasped, leaping up. "You can talk to StarClan?!"

"I dreams, yes," Stoneclaw said, eyes glittering with amusement. "They give us signs and omens, as well as prophecies sometimes."

I couldn't believe it initially. All this time, I thought that all medicine cats did was help sick cats. I had no idea that they could communicate with StarClan. I could imagine it: Me falling asleep and waking up in a star-filled forest. It seemed amazing to me.

"That so cool!"

"Would you want to be a medicine cat, then?" Stoneclaw asked. "I've been needing an apprentice, now that I'm getting older."

"But you're about the age of a senior warrior," I pointed out. "At least you look like it."

"Yes, but I won't be this way forever," Stoneclaw sighed. "Maybe you can at least think about it."

I purred and nodded. "Y-yeah! I will!"

Suddenly, I heard voices from outside the medicine den. "Cloudkit! Cloudkit?" It was Willowkit.

"There's your friend," Stoneclaw meowed. "You should go to her. Goodbye, Cloudkit."

"Okay. Bye-bye, Stoneclaw!" I said, waving my tail before dashing out of the dark den.

Outside, Willowkit was waiting. She looked at me confusingly, followed by Redkit. "Cloudkit! There you are! But... Why were you in the medicine den?"

"Why do you ever go in there anyway?" Redkit asked with an exasperated sigh. "You don't have to know about herbs when you're a warrior."

"I dunno," I replied. "I just... I like it in there. And Stoneclaw asked me to be his apprentice, too."

"A medicine cat apprentice?" Willowkit snorted. "You want to be the medicine cat's apprentice? Come on, Cloudkit! Why don't you want to be a warrior? Y'know, fighting for the Clan and everything!"

"If I'm correct," I retorted, "I can choose my own life decisions. You can't control them. If I become his apprentice, which I might, then you can't change my mind."

Willowkit paused for a moment. Then, she rolled her eyes and purred. "You have a sharp tongue, Cloudkit. But I guess you're right. C'mon, let's go play some more. Foxkit and Ravenkit are finally wanting to come out and play!" She flicked her tail to the other kits near the nursery. "Let's go."

"Okay!" I nodded, tail swaying. Then, I followed Redkit and Willowkit over to the nursery. I wasn't really mad about how Willowkit and Redkit were judging what I liked, but I suppose it was alright if they decided to accept it. After all, it was my own decision whether or not I wanted to be Stoneclaw's apprentice. No one could change that.

Willowkit dove into the nursery and came out with a moss-ball. We began to throw it around, and a purr rumbled in my throat as I caught it and began to run away, Redkit and Foxkit tearing after me excitedly.