Authors note: Please know that I have nothing against Brightheart, or her and Cloudtail's relationship. :D Enjoy!

Chapter 1

"Maplepaw! Maplepaw, get up! It's almost sunhigh!" Maplepaw could hear her mentor, Barkface's, anxious mew coming from the other side of the medicine cat den.

Maplepaw drowsily lifted her head. Barkface was straightening up the neat piles of herbs that lay in the dark corner hidden in shadow away from the entrance to the den.

"Gorsekit trampled through these herbs this morning! Thank StarClan he didn't eat anything." Barkface mewed, turning to look at Maplepaw.

Maplepaw nodded her agreement and stood up to stretch her tired limbs. Sure enough, bright sunlight gleamed down on her pelt the moment she stood up.

" Did he trample anything too much?" she asked the medicine cat.

"Nothing too much, but we were low on marigold anyway. I was wondering if you could fetch some more."

"Of course, Barkface."

As Maplepaw turned away, she heard Barkface mew, "and take an apprentice with you to help you carry the herbs!"

Maplepaw flicked her tail to show she had heard the tom, then she trotted over to the apprentice's den, which was merely a large bush in which the cats kept shelter under if it rained. She spotted Whitepaw finishing up a small rabbit, so she called out to the white she-cat. Whitepaw bounded over. "What's up, Maplepaw?

"I was just heading out to collect some more marigold. Would you like to come along and help?"

Whitepaw nodded. "Of course!"

Maplepaw and Whitepaw headed out of the camp, heading towards the Outlook rock, where Maplepaw had found marigold before. But before they reached it, Maplepaw picked up a strong scent of field mouse. Dropping instanstly, and flicking her tail to tell Whitepaw to flatten herself too, she stealthily crept forward until she could hear the tiny creature nibbling on a seed just beyond a clump of nettles. Maplepaw peered around the stalks.

The mouse saw her and took off, but Maplepaw was quicker. She pounced, and killed it with a swift bite to the neck.

"Nice catch!" Whitepaw mewed, coming up behind her.

"Fanks," Maplepaw mewed through the mouse in her mouth.

Whitepaw blinked at her, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Maplepaw put the mouse down and replied, "I may be training to be a medicine cat, but I can still hunt and fight like the rest of you. Now let's go get some of that marigold!" She took off again after scraping some dirt over her prey. Whitepaw tore ahead her, calling over her shoulder, "Race you!" Maplepaw tore past her friend towards the big rock that loomed before them.

When they reached it, the two friends slowed to a halt. Maplepaw explained to Whitepaw what the marigold looked like, then began to sniff around the rock in search of the bright orange flower.

They returned to camp with a mouse and a rabbit, and plenty of marigold. Mewing her thanks to Whitepaw, Maplepaw headed back to the medicine cat den. Barkface almost ran into her coming out.

"Where have you been?" he asked curtly. "I was beginning to wonder if you would be back in time for the journey tonight!"

Maplepaw gasped. She had almost forgotten! Tonight was the half moon, and the medicine cats would be traveling to the Moonstone tonight!

"Sorry, Barkface," she apologized.

"Its okay," he replied. "Now get some rest so you are ready to leave at sunset."

Maplepaw dipped her head to her mentor and slipped past him into the den. There she curled up, exhausted from running, and instantly fell asleep.

What seemed like only moments later, Barkface was prodding her side with his paw. Maplepaw yawned and silently followed her mentor out into the open. There she saw Ashfoot, her mother, and Runningbrook sharing tongues outside the nursery. Ashfoot had just recently become pregnant with her second litter. Maplepaw was her only kit born in her first litter, but Ashfoot loved her as much as any mother would. Maplepaw padded after Barkface as they slipped out of the camp entrance and out into the twilight. Onewhisker, who was carrying a limp rabbit in his mouth, dipped his head respectfully as they passed.

As the warm air blew over the moors, Maplepaw picked up ThunderClan scent. Sure enough, Yellowfang appeared moments later with her apprentice, Cinderpaw, at her side. Maplepaw stepped forward to greet them, touching noses with both.

"Hi Cinderpaw!" When the gray she-cat didn't reply right away, Maplepaw wondered what was wrong. Cinderpaw was usually so full of energy, always happy to see her. But this time Cinderpaw looked down nervously and shuffled her paws.

"What's wrong?" Maplepaw asked her friend, leaning over to give her a quick lick on her shoulder.

"Nothing you need to worry about!" Yellowfang snapped.

"S-sorry," Maplepaw studdered, shocked. She could tell something was up, but she didn't press. Cinderpaw shot her a relieved glance. Whatever is bothering her, Maplepaw thought, it can't be good.

The sun was just beginning to rise as all the medicine cats stepped out of the dark tunnel of Mothermouth and into the light of the new day. Mudfur was saying good-bye to Barkface, while Runningnose was congratulating Cinderpelt on becoming a full medicine cat. As the cats turned to head back to their own territories, Maplepaw cast Cinderpelt one last glance. She certainly looked happier now, but Maplepaw could still see fear in her eyes, hidden behind her joy.

Confused and saddened by her friend's fearfulness, Maplepaw couldn't stop worrying the whole day. She knew it could've been something small like giving a cat borage leaves instead of catmint, but something about the look in Cinderpelt's eyes told her it was more than that.