A/N
Me, starting another story with several ongoing ones? It's more likely than you think. The two cats in the beginning are Silverberry and Fogwhisker from my story, Lost, but Fogwhisker is still an apprentice in it so, uh, minor spoilers.
Chapter 1: Yearning Heart
"I'm going to tell you a tale of caution, Fogwhisker," a dark silver dappled she cat growled. "Medicine cats have never been allowed to love, but this rule did not stop these two lovers. A WindClan medicine cat who yearned for more, and a ShadowClan medicine cat who wished to be noticed."
"Medicine cats have never been able to love, and now their story lives so all may heed this warning and tread carefully."
"The time has come for me to take on an apprentice," Cloverwing announced. She had waited many moons to choose an apprentice, and the clan was relieved at this news.
"Runningkit, you have reached the age of six moons and from this day forward, you shall be known as Runningpaw," she declared. "I shall be your mentor. I will do my utmost to pass all I know onto you."
Runningpaw felt lonely as he stared down at his clanmates. They were cheering his name but it felt hollow. Only his mother, Brownthistle, seemed to truly have feeling in her chants. Her blue eyes sparkled with tears.
"Oh, my little kit," she cried. "You're all grown up!"
"I'm only a 'paw, mom," Runningpaw chuckled, rolling his eyes.
"No matter," Brownthistle chided. "You may be an apprentice now, but that doesn't mean I'll stop scolding you if you do something foolish."
"I know, mom," Runningpaw sighed, but he was grinning. Though she was overprotective at times, he knew it came from a place of deep love.
"I bet you're eager to start," Brownthistle purred. "You go on now, and be sure to listen to everything Cloverwing tells you."
"Bye, mom," Runningpaw meowed. Brownthistle gave a sigh and let him head off toward the medicine den, where Cloverwing was waiting outside.
"We're low on burnet, dock, coltsfoot, and tansy," Cloverwing said. "Can you tell me what those do?"
Runningpaw thought carefully. "Burnet gives strength, dock is for soothing scratches, coltsfoot is for kitten-cough, and um, tansy- uh…" he racked his brain. "Oh! It stops coughing!"
"And?" Cloverwing pressed.
"Um, and it can cure wounds, and poisons, and," Runningpaw was growing frustrated with himself. "It's bad for queens."
"Good," Cloverwing purred. "Don't beat yourself up about remembering. It's your first day."
"Okay," Runningpaw said meekly.
Cloverwing eyed him. "Tell me, since it's late greenleaf, why are we getting coltsfoot and tansy?"
Runningpaw knew this. "Because kits get chilled easier from the wind and get sicker than warriors."
"Good again," Cloverwing nodded in approval. "You had your share of both those herbs this past leaf-bare." He saw guilt in her eyes.
"I survived, thanks to you," Runningpaw meowed, ducking his head away shyly. "Mom says I would've died like my sisters without you."
"It's scary when a kit gets greencough," Cloverwing shivered. Their clan's numbers had seriously dwindled due to the sickness." She shook her head. "Go bring some comfrey root and daisy leaves to Rabbitear and Featherleap, then we'll go."
Runningpaw nodded and headed inside the dim den, brushing past the heather. He breathed in scent of mixed herbs, both fresh and stale. He quickly located the comfrey root, but had to dig a bit to find some daisies. He found them hiding behind some borage, and then ducked out of the den.
Runningpaw navigated through the bustling camp, winding through cats moving about. It was pleasing to see his clanmates so lively after moons of sorrow.
He approached the gorse den to see both elders lying on their backs, basking in the warming-up weather. He gave a little cough.
Featherleap turned to him. "Oh, Runningpaw, hello," she purred. "Rabbitear, get up! You've been aching all night and Runningpaw's come to help."
The other elder grumbled as he rolled over. "And just as I get comfy too," he huffed. "Do you medicine cats always have this bad of timing?"
"Just me, I suppose," Runningpaw sighed.
Featherleap chuckled. "Oh, I like this one."
Rabbitear rolled his eyes. "I don't care for snippy apprentices."
Featherleap leaned in to whisper to Runningpaw. "He says that because he was one." She shushed Runningpaw, and then laughed.
"Hurry it up," Rabbitear growled.
"On it," Runningpaw meowed. He began spreading the poultice onto their sore spots.
"Be nicer to him, Rabbitear," Featherleap chided. "I remember how much you hated tending for the elders when you were an apprentice."
Rabbitear made a scoffing noise, but said nothing.
"Oh, no it's okay," Runningpaw said. "I like helping others."
"My, you are just so sweet," Featherleap purred. "You remind me of my brother."
"Your brother?" Runningpaw echoed as he moved onto her joints.
"Yes, Silverwater," she sighed. "He trained Cloverwing you know. So generous."
"So annoying," Rabbitear huffed.
Featherleap shot him a glare before she continued. "He always wanted to help everyone, even cats from other clans." She sighed. "Medicine cats aren't bound to the same rules as us."
"What happened to him?" Runningpaw asked. He had begun to line their nests with the comfrey root now.
"Passed away, long before you were born," Featherleap meowed quietly. "Sickness. He spent all his time helping others, he never helped himself."
"I'm sorry," Runningpaw said. Somehow he felt guilty.
"Oh, it's not your fault, dear," she sad. "Just don't make his mistake."
"I won't," Runningpaw promised. "I'll leave you to your sunbathing now."
"Take care, little one," Featherleap purred.
Runningpaw gave her a nod before he turned around to leave the den. He approached Cloverwing chatting with Grassclaw, ready to restock their stores.
"Oh, gotta go," Cloverwing said to her sister as Runningpaw walked up to her. She turned to her apprentice. "Ready?"
"Yes," Runningpaw confirmed.
"You follow me, since you don't know the territory," Cloverwing meowed. Runningpaw nodded.
They brushed past the heather barrier and out into the open territory. The moors stretched out like waves out in front of them, wind billowing the tall grass.
There was a cluster of rocks up ahead, and Cloverwing led them over. Runningpaw looked around. It was everything he had dreamed of, but it felt like something was missing. He shook his head and followed his mentor.
"These are the Patch Rocks," Cloverwing explained. She poked at the base of a plant with basal leaves. "Burnet thrives here."
Runningpaw dug up the roots of a particularly large clump and picked it up. "Got it," he mumbled.
"Moving on," Cloverwing said, heading over the flat rocks. They trotted through the moors, the grass tickling his legs, and dirt soft beneath his paws as opposed to the ground of camp, hard from being walked upon for hundreds of moons.
There was a mound that was shaped strangely, and as they got closer, Runningpaw realized it used to be a badger, or fox, den. Various plants spread out around it, along with some rabbit and other prey holes.
"The soil here is very rich," Cloverwing meowed. "There's many herbs that grow here, including dock."
Runningpaw picked the large leaves, and looked up at Cloverwing expectantly. She began to speak, when there was a loud yowl from the ShadowClan border.
"We better go," Cloverwing said firmly, breaking into a run. Runningpaw followed, matching her pace with his longer legs.
They slowed to a trot once they got closer to the border, and found the dawn patrol. The smell of blood and ShadowClan was heavy in the air.
"What happened here?" Cloverwing demanded.
"ShadowClan marked over the river!" Bramblepelt growled. His ear was badly torn. "We crossed the river to mark on their side, but their dawn patrol attacked us."
"Fool, of course they did," Cloverwing growled. "Runningpaw, the dock."
He brought her some as she tended to Bramblepelt, Tangletail and Lilynose. Runningpaw approached Turtlepaw and her mentor, Yewtail.
"Runningki- oh it's Runningpaw now!" Turtlepaw gasped. "I missed your ceremony! Hare-dung!"
"It's okay, Turtlepaw," Runningpaw chuckled. He applied the dock to her cheek once he chewed it and she winced.
"Ha, stings," she grimaced.
"Suck it up," Runningpaw meowed. "You asked for this battle."
"Maybe so," Turtlepaw grumbled. "Don't forget my flank. Eaglepaw got me good there."
Runningpaw sighed and rubbed it into the deep cut. "You'll need some cobweb when we get back."
"Alright," she sighed.
Runningpaw tended to Yewtail, who's wounds were incredibly minor, and waited for his mentor to finish with Tangetail, who was whining the entire time.
"Did you at least beat Eaglepaw?" Runningpaw asked his friend. He remembered her complaining about him several times.
"Of course I did!" Turtlepaw boasted. "And I wasn't even trying my hardest."
"If you were, I bet you wouldn't have gotten as hurt," Runningpaw teased.
Turtlepaw made a noise of exasperation. "Just because you're a medicine cat now doesn't mean you can be short with me."
"That's exactly what it means," Runningpaw laughed.
"No, it means you tend to mine and every other cat's every whim," she snickered. He jabbed her.
"Does not," Runningpaw said.
Turtlepaw stuck her tongue out at him, and he nudged her playfully.
"Runningpaw, go down by the river and fetch some coltsfoot for me," Cloverwing said. "I'll be a bit longer."
"Okay," he said. He followed the stream down, looking for the yellow flowered plant. He spotted some along the bank, leaning over the water as if they wanted a drink.
"Gotcha," he mewed softly to himself, pulling up the roots of some but making sure he left some as well. He made his way back to where his mentor was waiting and dropped the coltsfoot as her paws.
"Nice job," she nodded. She stood. "You be on your way, and don't get into a fight with RiverClan on your way back."
"No promises," Bramblepelt winked. Cloverwing groaned.
"You are a nuisance," she growled at him. "Runningpaw, let's go."
Runningpaw picked up the herbs they had collected and he quickly caught up to her. She let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, last is tansy. We have to go a little into Twoleg territory, so you'll wait by the border for me."
"Why can't I go?" He asked through all the herbs he was holding.
"Just yesterday you were still in the nursery," Cloverwing pointed out. "You can come next time."
Runningpaw felt a prick in his chest. He furrowed his eyebrows in frustration, but he sighed. "Fine."
When they approached the border near the Twoleg place, he placed the herbs safely down and sat. Cloverwing crossed the border, and soon disappeared from view. To the left of him, he could see a barn in the distance. He purred at the thought of all the fat mice that probably lived there.
Cloverwing was back shortly, with the yellow herb in her jaws. "We can head back now," she meowed.
On their way back, they passed a cluster of trees just beyond their territory. "Sometimes, we'll go in there for herbs for ones that only grow in the woodlands," she advised him as they passed it. "I won't send you there on your own for a while, since rogues tend to make camp there on occasion."
Runningpaw nodded. At least she had a reason for that. He was still upset about not being allowed in the Twoleg-place. As if he couldn't handle a kittypet or two.
They walked back into camp, and Runningpaw's legs felt numb from all the running and walking. Turtlepaw was sitting in the medicine den, a pitiful look on her face.
"What's wrong, Turtlepaw?" Cloverwing asked.
She presented her paw. "I stepped on a thorn on the way back, and I don't wanna take it out of it bleeds too much!" She whined.
"I'll take the herbs to the back," Cloverwing said. "You take care of this wounded warrior" There was a hint of sarcasm to her tone.
"Hold still," Runningpaw meowed. He plucked the thorn from her paw pad and quickly wrapped it on cobweb. He also tended to her flank wound from the border skirmish, putting cobwebs on it so it wouldn't reopen every time she moved.
"My hero," Turtlepaw snickered.
"Oh, shut it," Runningpaw sighed. "I won't tend to every thorn in your paw, you know."
"But you're the medicine cat now," Turtlepaw meowed. "You gotta."
"Medicine apprentice," Runningpaw pointed out. "I'll likely be stocking our stores more than often."
"Pah!" Turtlepaw scoffed. "You're boring as a medicine cat."
"Well, being a warrior doesn't interest me," Runningpaw huffed. "All the fighting and hunting. It's definitely not me."
"I'd never be a medicine cat," Turtlepaw chuckled, grooming a paw. "You can't ever have a mate or kits. How sad is that?"
"The idea of settling with a she-cat for the rest of my life isn't exactly appealing," Runningpaw laughed. "I think I'm good where I am."
"Well, what about kits?" Turtlepaw suggested. "They're so little and cute!"
Runningpaw thought. "I guess they're cute, but I don't want any of my own."
"StarClan, Runningpaw, you're going to be alone forever!" Turtlepaw exclaimed.
"That's kinda the definition of a medicine cat," Runningpaw pointed out. "Besides, I have you."
"Well, what are you gonna do when I have a mate and kits?" Turtlepaw huffed, flicking her tail in frustration.
"You- I- what?" Runningpaw stammered. "What?"
Turtlepaw blew her lips in embarrassment. "Well, yeah. I like someone. He likes me too. What happens when I have my own family?"
"We won't stop being friends," Runningpaw rolled his eyes. "And besides, I'm not alone. I got my mom."
"Fine, fine," Turtlepaw sighed. "Even if you did like someone, it'd be breaking the code."
"Precisely," Runningpaw said. "Now, shoo."
She blew a raspberry at him, and left the den. Cloverwing came out from the back. "It's a good thing a mate and kits doesn't interest you," she meowed. "Falling in love when you're a medicine cat is hard."
"Did you?" Runningpaw asked.
Cloverwing closed her eyes. "Once." She lowered her head. "I chose my duties over love. It was more important. Remember that."
"Not a problem," Runningpaw insisted. "The whole settling thing down feels... Well, it's not for me."
"That's good," Cloverwing purred. "Now, I want to show you how to feel for kits."
She led him to the gorse den, where the queens stayed. "Gorsesky?" Cloverwing called out.
"Over here," called the grey she cat. She was laying close to the front.
"We're here to feel for your kits," Cloverwing said. "We should be able to now."
Gorsesky nodded. Cloverwing gently began kneading her side, face focused. "I feel two kits in there. Why don't you try, Runningpaw?"
He nodded shyly and copied his mentor's movements, careful to keep his claws sheathed. He could feel two lumps squirming around inside. It felt strange.
"Woah," he whispered. "Weird. Uh- no offense."
Gorsesky let out a mrrow of laughter. "Oh, none taken. It does feel odd. More so for me, I think."
"Well, they feel pretty healthy, and you're not sick either, so you have every reason to expect two healthy kittens," Cloverwing reported.
Gorsesky smiled. "Oh, Rainpuddle will be delighted to hear that."
Runningpaw quickly learned being a medicine cat was exhausting. Everyone was constantly complaining. How Cloverwing managed to be so kind and patient, baffled him.
Every time he dashed back and forth across camp, he saw Brownthistle looking at him with such a proud twinkle in her eyes it made his stomach knot. He wasn't doing much. Just plucking thorns out of paws and giving elders poultices for their joints. Still, he felt a small bit of satisfaction at every little task.
Once the stars were out, Cloverwing dismissed him and Runningpaw collapsed into his new nest. He stared up at the open sky, going over the events of the day. He had enjoyed it, but he couldn't help but feel his heart yearn for more.
A/N
This story I'll hopefully finish over my winter break since it's going to be much shorter than my other ones. Expect either long chapters, or time passing in between chapters.
Allegiances below.
WindClan
Leader: Sparrowstar: a brown she cat with a lighter chest and white speckles
Deputy: Perchfur: a dark grey tom with white paws
Medicine cat: Cloverwing: a light grey tabby she cat with green eyes
Apprentice: Runningpaw
Warriors
Grassclaw: a dark grey fluffy she cat
Cherryspots: a dark ginger she cat with white spots
Apprentice: Volepaw
Stonefang: a grey dappled tom
Deerleap: a tall brown speckled tom with long legs
Apprentice: Honeypaw
Bramblepelt: a brown mottled tom
Goosewing: a sleek, white she cat
Tangletail: a rusty tabby she cat with a thick tail
Apprentice: Applepaw
Lilynose: a silver tabby she cat
Apprentice: Mousepaw
Brownthistle: a white she cat with brown splotches
Mothsky: a honey colored tabby she cat
Yewtail: a light ginger tabby tom
Apprentice: Turtlepaw
Rainpuddle: a blue-grey tabby tom
Apprentice: Blackpaw
Rushfoot: an off white tom
Rowanwhisker: a brown and ginger she cat
Icebreeze: a light silver-blue she cat
Apprentice: Drizzlepaw
Mallowpool: a dark ginger tabby tom
Apprentices
Runningpaw: a brown tom with white spots and blue eyes
Volepaw: a beige tom
Honeypaw: a light ginger tabby she cat
Applepaw: a dark ginger tom
Mousepaw: a dark brown and white tabby tom
Turtlepaw: a tortoiseshell she cat
Blackpaw: a solid black she cat
Drizzlepaw: a light blue-grey tabby she cat
Queens
Greydawn: a grey tabby she cat (expecting Rushfoot's kits)
Nightblossom: a black she cat with white paws and ears (mother to Moonkit and Crowkit)
Speckleheart: a ginger flecked she cat (mother to Morningkit)
Gorsesky: a fluffy light grey she cat (expecting Rainpuddle's)
Elders
Rabbitear: a thin brown and white tom
Featherleap: a silver tabby she cat
Kits
Moonkit: a white and black dappled she kit
Crowkit: a black tom kit
Morningkit: a light ginger and white she kit
ShadowClan
Leader: Snowstar: a large white tom
Deputy: Sootflower: a rugged dark she cat with black flecks
Medicine cat: Hazelstripe: a light brown tabby tom
Apprentice: Ravenpaw
Warriors
Sunfall: a strong golden she cat
Apprentice: Spiderpaw
Sharpheart: a black tom
Redhawk: a dark ginger tom with black stripes
Apprentice: Snailpaw
Mossrock: a grey tabby she cat
Apprentice: Duskpaw
Fernshadow: a dark grey tom
Darktail: a white tom with a black tail
Brightstep: a white and ginger tabby she cat
Apprentice: Eaglepaw
Reedclaw: a dark brown tom
Quickfoot: a dark silver mottled tom
Dewnose: a light blue grey tom
Apprentice: Mistpaw
Junipershade: a dark blue-grey she cat
Amberflight: a dark golden she cat
Pebblepelt: a dark grey tabby tom
Apprentices
Ravenpaw: a black dappled tom with a grey underbelly
Spiderpaw: a long legged white she cat
Snailpaw: a mottled brown tom
Duskpaw: a grey she cat with black flecks
Eaglepaw: a white and brown tabby tom
Mistpaw: a blue grey she cat with a white chest and underbelly
Queens
Flowerfur: a brown tabby she cat (mother to Tigerkit)
Pinepetal: a dark brown she cat (mother to Brownkit and Patchkit)
Moundtail: a light grey tabby she cat (expecting Pebblepelt's)
Elders
Stonewater: a blue grey tabby tom
Whitemuzzle: a thin white tom
Willowdusk: a lean, silver dappled she cat
Kits
Tigerkit: a brown tabby she kit
Brownkit: a light brown tom kit
Patchkit: a black and white she kit
ThunderClan
Leader: Owlstar: a white and brown tabby she cat
Deputy: Mallowheart: a light brown dappled she cat
Apprentice: Sandpaw
Medicine cat: Milkpool: a white and grey patched she cat
Apprentice: Fallowpaw
Warriors
Foxear: a russet tabby tom with darker ears and muzzle
Mossbelly: an aging dappled white tom
Apprentice: Jumppaw
Logfur: a brown tom with a golden spotted underbelly
Apprentice: Podpaw
Mushpelt: a shaggy-furred brown tom with faint tabby markings
Brownfoot: a cream she cat with brown legs and underbelly
Apprentice: Lilacpaw
Larchtail: a grey and white she cat
Molefoot: a light brown tom with coarse fur
Sparrowfall: a light brown tabby tom
Apprentice: Cherrypaw
Ivystripe: a silver tabby tom
Olivebelly: a light brown tom
Apprentice: Leafpaw
Apprentices
Sandpaw: a dusty ginger tom
Fallowpaw: a light brown tom with darker paws, ears and muzzle
Jumppaw: a black and white she cat
Podpaw: a white tom
Lilacpaw: a silver tabby she cat
Cherrypaw: a ginger she cat with white paws and ears
Leafpaw: a grey tabby tom
Queens
Acornsong: a brown tabby she cat (expecting Mushpelt's)
Petalbriar: a light ginger and white tabby she cat (mother to Blossomkit and Redkit)
Sundrop: a beautiful golden she cat (mother to Lightkit, Morningkit, Lionkit, and Honeykit)
Elders
Greypelt: a grey she cat with a white muzzle and drooping whiskers
Kits
Blossomkit: a ginger and white spotted she kit
Redkit: a dark ginger tom kit
Lightkit: a pale golden tom kit
Morningkit: a golden tabby she kit
Lionkit: a golden tabby tom kit
Honeykit: a dark golden she kit
RiverClan
Leader: Sapstar: a dark golden she cat
Deputy: Beechpool: a light ginger dappled tom
Medicine cat: Seedcloud: a cream tabby tom
Warriors
Cloudpatch: calico she cat
Beartooth: a stocky brown tabby tom with black accents and a white chest
Apprentice: Perchpaw
Duckfoot: a grey tom with large paws
Apprentice: Swamppaw
Hailbreeze: a thin white she cat
Apprentice: Briarpaw
Smokefeather: a grey dappled tom
Berrythorn: a dark red she cat
Creeksnow: a white she cat with silver flecks
Apprentice: Yarrowpaw
Reedwing: a beige tabby tom
Fuzzyheart: a thick-furred cream tom
Apprentice: Gingerpaw
Darkwillow: a black she cat
Flowerbranch: a calico she cat
Apprentice: Bluepaw
Tangleleap: a dark brown tabby tom
Spottedclaw: a ginger dappled tom
Apprentice: Hawkpaw
Apprentices
Perchpaw: a black she cat
Swamppaw: a dark grey-brown speckled tom
Briarpaw: a beautiful brown tabby she cat
Yarrowpaw: a light ginger tabby tom
Gingerpaw: a dark ginger she cat
Bluepaw: a silver tabby tom
Hawkpaw: a dark ginger tabby tom
Queens
Ripplepetal: a silver dappled she cat (mother to Poolkit and Streamkit)
Nettlebranch: a white and brown she cat (expecting Fuzzyheart's)
Jumpfeather: a light grey she cat (mother to Heronkit, Sandkit and Brookkit)
Elders
Rumblebelly: a very dark brown tom
Kits
Pondkit: a blue grey tabby she kit
Streamkit: a silver tabby she kit
Heronkit: a brown tom kit with white flecks
Sandkit: a light brown she kit
Brookkit: a light grey she kit