Cloverkit sat by the fresh kill pile the very next day, tears were still fresh in her eyes from the rejection of her father. She watched the daily rumble of the Clan: the apprentices showed off their moves before hunting, Bluefern's kits played with the mossball, and the warriors chatted in the clearing. Cloverkit's fur suddenly bristled as she saw Cloudstorm padding to Freezinglight, and brushed his cheek against hers. Cloverkit growled and unsheathed her tiny claws. You're a monster. I will never call you my father, even if it hurts.
A fluffy tail was suddenly laid on her shoulders. Cloverkit looked up at the cat. There stood a grey tabby tom with white paws, chest and yellow eyes. He held a few herbs in his jaws. Greywhisker! Isn't he the medicine cat?
"Don't think of revenge, Cloverkit." He meowed, voice soft. "He's only doing what his heart told him to do, even if it was bad." Cloverkit stared at Greywhisker with surprise, which quickly fell to anger. Is he serious!?
"How can I not think of revenge? Huh? You tell me! I've been hurt by a cat I used to love so much." She paused, looking at Petalkit who had taken cover under the shade of a tree. "And he hurt my sister, the one I love more than most. Why shouldn't I dream of it?"
Greywhisker sat down, dropping the herbs from his jaws. "I understand, young one. But you must know that even though you want to show some cat that you've been hurt, life goes on. Cats make new families, and we all prosper in our own ways." Greywhisker looked at his herbs, then back at Cloverkit. "I could use some help around the medicine den. Would you like to help?"
Cloverkit perked up. It's just like an apprentice duty, right? "S-Sure! I'd like to help." She got to her paws, and padded forward to Greywhisker. Looking back, she saw Petalkit still in the shade of the tree, she looked sad almost as if she had lost everything in her life instantly. Maybe she has...
Greywhisker nudged her cheek. "She'll be fine," he mewed, "it's only a matter of loss. She'll probably even be in your stage soon when it comes to it." He looked toward the sky, measuring the amount of daylight. "Now come on, we need to get to work. Or at least, the work you're able to do."
Cloverkit padded alongside Greywhisker as they entered the medicine den. She looked around in awe and wonder. There were herbs upon herbs around the den. Some were foul scented while others smelt like a dream. How does he remember all their names?!
Greywhisker smiled. "I was like you when I first came in here. Fernbreeze was a great mentor, you know. Taught me many things and showed me many places only a kit like you can dream of going." He lowered his head toward a pile of blackish seeds and picked a few out with his paws. "Take these to Shrewwillow, he needs help sleeping. You know how old he is."
Sh-Shrewillow?! Oh StarClan no! Though Cloverkit wanted to decline the the request almost immediately, she reluctantly nodded and took the seeds carefully from Greywhisker. How does he balance these on his paws!? It's so hard!
She made it to the elders den, just in time to hear the elders telling Bluefern's kits a battle tale. Ha! I'm doing apprentice duties while you are hearing old elder tales! She smirked. Beat that!
"Hello, Cloverkit. Come to hear our story?" Cloverkit looked up from the seeds and spotted a tan and white she-cat with green eyes. Ripplewing!
"Um, no. I came because Greywhisker sent me with poppy seeds for Shrewwillow." She meowed with pride, almost forgetting that Bristlekit and Sedgekit were sitting right be Ripplewing. She blushed in embarrassment. "S-Sorry if I was bragging. I-"
"Bragging? Ha!" Bristlekit laughed, "You're only making yourself set up for being a herbhole hare." Bristlekit rolled on his side, giggling.
Sedgekit rolled his eyes at Bristlekit and smiled at Cloverkit. "I think you're pretty lucky to get to help Greywhisker! Not all cats can be chosen to help out."
"That's true." Ripplewing meowed. "Medicine cats are the ones who help us when we are in need. I would be very grateful to be helping out for a cause." She nudged Bristlekit sternly. "What a naughty kit you are!" Ripplewing cuffed Bristlekit on the ear and looked back at Cloverkit. "Shrewwillow is with Fernbreeze, just be careful. He was snappy this morning." Cloverkit sighed. Just what I need...
She padded over to Fernbreeze and Shrewwillow, the poppy seeds still in her paw. She saw Fernbreeze sitting with the brown tabby tom, chatting her head off that Shrewwillow seemed to be annoyed. Cloverkit sighed, padding forward.
"Hi Shrewwillow," she meowed, "Greywhisker sent me with your poppy seeds for your sleep." She carefully balanced the poppy seeds in her paws.
Fernbreeze looked at Cloverkit with a excited smile. "Oh you're like an apprentice already! I bet you're a big help to my old apprentice. Greywhisker hasn't got much help since I left."
"That he hasn't," Shrewwillow finally meowed, "And I think Cloverkit would be a great apprentice in the future." He looked at her. "Let me have those poppy seeds, young one." Cloverkit held out her paws as Shrewwillow lapped the seeds up. Why isn't he mean like before?
Once done, Shrewwillow looked at Cloverkit with a sudden look of seriousness. "Though, I do need a word with you, Cloverkit." He got to his paws, and padded toward the back of the den, and beckoned her with his tail. Reluctantly, Cloverkit padded forward. What now?
Shrewwillow sat down, and curled his tail around his paws. A small silence broke through, only the squealing of Bluefern's kits were the only audible sound. Though after a while, Shrewwillow finally spoke. "I'm sorry about Cloudstorm.. I never knew he would fall for a bad she-cat like Freezinglight." He paused for a moment. "And I know how much it must hurt you. I wish I could talk to the cat..."
Cloverkit stared at Shrewwillow with surprise. He's apologizing to me? Why not Sandfire or Petalkit? She shuffled her paws. "That's very kind of you, Shrewwillow... I just wish that I-"
She was interrupted by Bristlekit and Sedgekit bounding toward the two and pouncing on Shrewwillow.
"Shrewwillow, tell us the story on the battle with ShadowClan!" Sedgekit mewled, wiggling his tail. Shrewwillow looked at Cloverkit with a sorry expression, and flicked his ears, signaling her to go. Cloverkit obeyed, and trailed out of the camp, her mind rushing with questions.
