The Fruit's Of Poison

Chapter 1.

Well, it wasn't a surprise Galestripe ended up falling in love. Just like the medicine cat before him, Wolfscorch. These cats were weak, to let themselves get tempted by love. But now it seemed a new medicine cat was meant to be chosen. After all, the apprentice both those foolish toms left behind wasn't educated enough to accept the role. To much of Mushroombelly's surprise it was him who was chosen. He found it confusing why Starclan wanted him. It seemed foolish to chose a cat who was so opposed to them.

He blamed Starclan for most of the disasters in his life. Mainly the lost of his brother, Ebonykit. If starclan was so great why did it constantly take away lives? It wasn't like Ebonykit was the first life, no, he was just the latest victim in Starclan's game. Although Mushroombelly wasn't alive for the other victims death, he had heard of them over and over. Although he was the first born of Raccoonleap and Ferretstorm, he wasn't the first litter of Raccoonleap. In fact Ferretstorm was Raccoonleap's second mate. Before her there was Appleshine. From Raccoonleap's description she was a brown and red molly with soft fur and warm yellow eyes. Unfortunately for that molly she couldn't withstand child birth. Before her passing she had three kits, Sorrelkit, Vinekit and Hollowkit. One female, two male. Appleshine was the first cat to fall victim to what seemed like a curse that ran through Raccoonleap's blood. Within their first bare-leaf Sorrelkit died from greencough while playing with her siblings. It wasn't long after that Vinepaw died suddenly during apprenticeship, without reason. The sole survivor was Hollowdusk. It seemed as though the first borns of each litter were destined to live. Hollowdusk was the first in his, while Mushroombelly was also the first in his. Yet he pondered at the fact neither of his new sister had died off. Heronpaw and Pheasantpaw were going strong. He only hoped they would stay that way.

Mushroombelly soon entered the medicine cat den. God did the scent of herbs mess with his nose. He hated herbs and now he was destined to be his clans healer. Soon though, a gray and white she-cat entered the den. Her heart swelled with emotion. In her mind echoed her voice. Raccoonleap, Ebonykit...Look! Mushroombelly has became a medicine cat! Thank you for being with him when he was announced... Ebonykit, your brother would have loved to scold you now. I hope both of you are safe. I love you both. Something stirred inside her, it was a sliver of hope... Ebonykit, she knew had passed. For one, she had witnessed it. Secondly, when you become a mother or father, your kits become a part of you. When they leave your world, that part of you crumbles away. It's painful. The same for mates. But She did not feel the same crumbling after RaccoonLeap's death, which meant she had some hope of him being alive. Alone, and Lost. Yes her heart was shattered when her Stepson had told her that Raccoonleap had fallen over the falls and was most likely dead. She recalled Hollowdusk telling her all the lives Raccoonleap had saved during the mudslide before the mud taking him down over the edge. Her hope was still there, that he was alive. Ferretstorm brushed into the med den to see her son, Mushroombelly. Her blue eyes were warm with love and pride as she padded up to the new Medicine cat. The feline halted in front of him, her slim figure glinted in the rays of the blazing sun. "Great Starclan... You have grown." She meowed softly. Her eyes raked over him. Her gray and white tail laid on his shoulder, "Ebonykit would have loved to mess up all these herbs, and your father would be very proud of you." Ferretstorm gave a small laugh as she thought of the rambunctious kit who now would have been a warrior racing around inside this den, swatting at all the herbs his brother had worked on.

Mushroombelly turned hearing his mother's voice, her voice so soft, sad and yet proud. Seeing her child all grown up it must've been heart breaking yet peaceful...After his brother died he was coddled by her constantly not wanting to lose her first kit, he understood this but it was so embarrassing...At least his new apprentice wasn't here to see this. "M-mother...." he mumbled at her. She soon mentioned how Ebonykit would've messed with all the herbs and he grumbled "Yeah and I would still swat him if he did..." He slowly slumped into a moss bed, his thick fur looking almost like a blanket. His blue eyes narrowed a bit at his mother "I hope you aren't going to get all sappy just because I'm a new medicine cat..." he meowed slowly. He knew how emotional his mother could be. Ferretstorm purred, "Sappy? Son, I would be proud of no matter what. Warrior or Medicine cat. Starclan, even if you were a elder! I would still watch you from up above." Her azure eyes gazed into her son's.. Wow... if only his father was here....

Mushroombelly grumbled to is mother "Yeah yeah...I know you would be proud....I just don't get why starclan choose me is all....I'm not exactly the kindest, gentlest cat ever, medicine cats have to feel as though shadowclan is their family, but I just don't feel that way.....Ugh they are confusing...." he finally stopped speaking, a bit frustrated as he kicked some moss.
The shecat wrinkled her nose "Stop that complaint right now." She snapped "Do not question Starclan's will. You should be grateful to serve your clan in this way." Her due bristled in a few moments of anger but they subsided a bit. Her tone softened as she spoke again "Mushroombelly, a medicine cat doesn't have to be the kindest fluff of fur, take Pricklepaw for instance. She is a smart-ass but her heart is pure, she is willing. Are you?" She questioned softly. Ferretstorm loved her son and all, but she wanted was for him to realize how much his clan needed him "To all these cats, you are very important. You always have been."

"Willing to take a nap is what I'm willing to do." Mushroombelly grumbled as he rested his crooked jaw on the hard floor of the medicine den. He had been a lazy child, and now he was a lazy medicine cat, the only time he wasn't lazy was when his mentor was making him bust his hump just to keep up with the other apprentices. He stretched his paws out a bit glaring up at his mother with his blue eyes "Since when did you care so deeply for starclan? Last time I remembered starclan's the one that's cursed our family line basically, what with all the deaths. According to father, first it was his first mate, then his daughter then his son, then it was Ebonykit now it seems to be him. Starclan doesn't seem to like us that much really, l'm surprised even I and Hollowdusk even made it to adulthood...." Ferretstorm tensed up, her tone was not soft anymore "How dare you! My relationship with starclan is none of your worries! Hollowdusk has his life set out and so do you! Stop acting like a royal ass!" Her eyes were not living anymore. "I was wrong about your father being proud, Mushroombelly get your shitty act back together." She snarled at him "No son of mine will behave like this! I would have had my life for any of them but you don't give a crap, do you? That they're all dead?" Her pelt spiked up. Rage and grief engulfed her as his words struck her heart, "You are careless, I have changed my mind. Starclan should have never chose you..." She whispered. There were tears at the edge of her eyes, but she was too hurt to let them shed.

Mushroombelly hissed at his mother "And there you go again getting all over-emotional! Never once in my childhood did I hear you acting like starclan was so great and mighty! Now suddenly you put your trust in them, after what they've done to our family?!" He suddenly got up, his large mass of fur making him look quite large, almost like the stories of lions "Who are you to say I don't care that they are dead? I was only proving a point that they've taken away more of our family members then any other family in shadowclan! Of course I miss my brother and of course I miss my father!" his spit hit her in the face as his blood boiled "Well its too late! They did choose me! I'm your medicine cat now! I don't know what they have in store for me! Maybe they choose me to end up being the only cat who lives! Who knows! But one things for sure, you cant stop me from being a medicine cat!" he got into his mothers face, his hot breath on her as his teeth stuck out from his crooked jaw "I'm not changing who I am to please the stars above, and you shouldn't be trying to force me to change, if you want me to change so badly you should've asked that hawk to take me instead of Ebonykit! I'm sure he would've made you SO proud!" He swung around his large tail swatting her face "Now get out of my den...." he hissed.

Ferretstorm's fur only bristled more. But she had enough shit from her son today. She spun around without a word and left his den. If he was going to act this way, then so be it! It would be his demise.