Chapter 1:

Being the only apprentice in ThunderClan was horrible.

Not entirely, Sagepaw corrected herself as she followed her mentor through the forest. After all, she did have the den all to herself – something most warriors couldn't say for themselves. As far as luxuries went, though, that was about it.

Grass swept lightly across Sagpaw's legs as she followed Foxnose to camp. She could feel Foxnose's gaze on her fur, and pulled her lips back in an annoyed snarl when Foxnose meowed, "Stop for a moment, Sagepaw."

The light brown tabby did as she was told, turning towards him. Foxnose kept his eyes on her as he lumbered forward, a mass of russet fur and pure muscle. The massive tom swept his tail across her shoulder, concern in his eyes. "What's going on with you today?"

It was a relatively simple question, one that Sagepaw wished came from her father rather than her mentor. Bristlestar had become leader shortly after she and Bramblenose were born, forced to take up the role after no other cat was fit enough to make it through the tribulations that came before a leadership ceremony. "Nothing. I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me," Foxnose growled lightly. "You were distracted during training, which you never do, and you missed that blackbird by a clear tail-length. You're better than that, Sagepaw – the whole Clan knows that."

Does my father know? Sagepaw could answer that question herself. Leadership had caused Bristlestar to never form a bond with his kits, which Sagepaw resented. Her existence was clear to him, yes, but rarely did the brown-and-white tabby tom have time to acknowledge it.

"A lot on my mind, I guess." Sagepaw muttered. Foxnose's eyes immediately flashed to her leg, and she winced as if the glance pained her. A nasty fall in leafbare had damaged it, and though she had been out of the medicine den for two moons, she still cradled her left hind leg close to her. During those two moons, her brother, Bramblenose, had recently been made a warrior, which left Sagepaw all by herself.

She waited for him to give her an empathetic speech, like everyone else had, but all the russet tom said was:

"You're stronger because of that accident." With an edge to his voice, his tail lashing, Foxnose added, "You'll never get your warrior name acting like this. You should be fighting harder, not less."

I am! It's difficult because of my leg. Don't you see that? Sagepaw opened her mouth to protest, but Foxnose was already padding into camp. Her tail tucked between her legs, her ears flat to her head, Sagepaw followed him through the gap.

The sun was beginning its descent into the tree-line when Sagepaw saw Bramblenose appear from the warriors den. She took note of how strong he was becoming – muscles rippled beneath his thick dark brown pelt as he stretched, and for a moment her heart beat with envy. If only I could be beside him, a warrior title to my name, instead of remaining a paw while he rises in rank and superiority to me.

It wasn't fair; and though she tried to get his attention, Bramblenose's gaze never found hers from where she had settled herself beside the apprentice's den as he sauntered off towards Bristlestar, who was organizing patrols.

Sagepaw never understood the reason behind the elimination of a deputy for all four Clans. Wasn't a leader too busy to carry out those duties? Wasn't a medicine cat supposed to only be trained in healing rather than healing and fighting? Sagepaw shook her head, clearing the fog of wonder from it.

It was during this time that Sagepaw caught sight of her best friend, Nettlefur, emerging from her den. The small gray-and-white she-cat was making her way towards Sagepaw, her blue eyes glinted with curiosity.

"Busy, are you?"

Sagepaw looked around the camp, noticing how those around Bristlestar were beginning to disperse into their assigned patrols. Bramblenose was wandering towards her, and for a heartbeat Sagepaw thought he might exchange words with her, but the dark brown warrior only turned and headed out into the forest.

Sagepaw sighed, rising to her paws. "I guess not."

"Not yet, anyway," Nettlefur mewed with a purr, nudging Sagepaw with a paw. She gestured with her head towards her den, tucked neatly in between the warriors den and the nursery. "Come with me. I've got some herbs that need sorting."

"Is it Duskpelt?"

Nettlefur's eyes flashed with worry at the mention of her mentor, who had recently became an elder. "Duskpelt is fine. No aches, no joint pain, no cough; that's all I can hope for, with how old she is."

Sagepaw nodded in understanding, a wave of sympathy flowing over her. She knew how desperate Nettlefur was to prove herself to both Bristlestar as well as Duskpelt that she could handle things on her own. Her young age made it difficult to gain the trust of her leader and former mentor. Even at the frail state she was in, Duskpelt often was found in her old den, doting on Nettlefur like she was a senseless kit, directing her when Nettlefur's paws were already doing what was asked.

I'm glad Foxnose doesn't treat me like that! Sagepaw thought to herself as she followed Nettlefur into her den. Immediately, the sweet scents of herbs flooded her senses, and she let out a small purr of delight. She could see why Nettlefur loved it in here; why she found the life of a medicine cat better than a warrior, yet being trained as both.

"Nettlefur, do you like being trained as a warrior?"

Nettlefur looked up from where she was sorting herbs at the back of her store. "You know Bristlestar does that for –"

"Protection, yes, I know," she meowed, flicking her tail and draping it over her paws. "But still: do you wish you didn't have to know battle moves?"

"Of course I do. But it's just…policy of all the Clans. "

A voice came from behind them, making Sagepaw jump. "We need the strongest cats doing warrior duties and only warrior duties."

Sagepaw turned and found her father standing at the mouth of the den. His blue eyes focused on her, as if studying his kit's face for the first time. "Medicine cats are closest to StarClan, as am I, and we need to work together. Just as medicine cats work with the wounded, I have to work with StarClan and Nettlefur."

She found herself nodding in agreement; acceptance? Understanding? She wasn't sure which, but Bristlestar seemed pleased at her acknowledgment. His brown-patched tail rested on her shoulder, and a small purr rumbled in his chest. He suddenly turned to Nettlefur, mewing, "Do you mind if I take Sagepaw for a moment?"

Nettlefur shook her head, her blue eyes wide. Sagepaw shared a look with the medicine cat, one brow raised as she followed her father out into the clearing. Instead of settling down in the shade, Bristlestar headed up towards his den on Highledge; having nothing better to do nor anything to do, Sagepaw followed.

She didn't expect to find her mother waiting for her. Birchfeather sat just outside Bristlestar's nest, her amber eyes settled fondly on her daughter. Sagepaw felt her ears grow hot. Was she in trouble? What could this possibly mean – both of her parents, together, with her?

It was rare nowadays that a Clan leader be seen with his mate, let alone his kits. Combining deputy and leadership duties made Bristlestar quite busy; Birchfeather constantly reminded Sagepaw and Bramblenose that, although Bristlestar never came around that much, the ThunderClan leader still loved them dearly.

Sagepaw found that hard to believe for most of her kithood. Why would a Clan leader, who was supposed to be so invested in every aspect of Clan life, not make time for his family? Thinking about it made Sagepaw's blood boil.

"Foxnose has told me your training is going well," Bristlestar meowed, settling beside Birchfeather. "For the most part."

Sagepaw winced at the tone of his voice.

So that's what this was about. No praise, no apology – just an analysis of her training.

How leader-like of him, to only discuss her faults when she had so much potential under the surface.

"Your leg," It was Birchfeather's turn to soften Bristlestar's words, "that's what makes things difficult, yes?"

She nodded, her tail stirring up a cloud of dust from where she'd curled it at her side, attempting to cover the way her left leg laid awkwardly out instead of neatly tucked under her.

Bristlestar's eyes darted to her leg, her face, and back again. "I've been talking with the senior warriors –"

Sagepaw ran through the list in her head. Mother, Thornwing, Willowclaw, Patchmask.

"– and we think it would be in your best interest if you became a medicine cat."

Sagepaw bristled at once, her claws digging into the hard earth beneath them. She glared at her parents, anger giving her the ability to spit out, "What? You can't be serious!"

Birchfeather flattened her ears to her head. "I'm sorry, Sagepaw –"

"How could you?" Sagepaw directed the question at Bristlestar. "You know how much I want to be a warrior; how much this means to me! You can't do this!"

"It's already been settled," Bristlestar meowed, his voice firm. His eyes were glistening with sadness, though – perhaps shame in his actions. "Nettlefur is aware of what is happening."

"It's not fair! I should be a warrior just like Bramblenose –"

She stopped herself, her breath catching in her throat. She'd never said her brother's warrior name out loud before. It tasted like bile, hot and sickening, and she wanted to retch.

"Bramblenose has uses to his Clan, as do you."

"Just in a different way," Birchfeather mewed softly, her eyes pleading for Sagepaw to see reason. "You both will be assets to ThunderClan, just as I have always told you."

"I can fight! I can train harder, just like Foxnose told me today!" Sagepaw flattened her ears and gazed desperately at her father. "My leg is fine, I promise! A few more sessions and it'll be –"

"Sagepaw –"

"– it'll be fine! I'll show you how strong I am –"

"Enough!" Bristlestar hissed. His eyes were pure ice, cold with regret. "The decision is made. Go to Nettlefur and she will explain what is to come at moonhigh."

The ThunderClan leader lashed his tail, signaling her dismissal. Sagepaw growled, baring her teeth, and stomped out of the den. She ambled down the rocks swiftly and forced herself to trek to Nettlefur's den, where the gray-and-white she-cat was already waiting for her, the small pile of herbs still left unsorted.

"Have faith," Nettlefur whispered as Sagepaw slumped on the ground in front of her. "This is what is best for ThunderClan."

As she explained what would come next, Sagepaw was sure she hadn't heard a word.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highledge for a Clan meeting!"

Sagepaw jerked awake by Bristlestar's words. She tensed, turning and washing her flanks to make sure they weren't ruffled from sleep.

This is it, she thought to herself, grumbling under her breath. This is where my life changes forever.

Nettlefur was standing at the mouth of her den, looking out at Silverpelt. Her ears pricked as Sagepaw stumbled out of her nest, and the ThunderClan medicine cat turned towards the light brown tabby apprentice.

"Come," she mewed, whisking forward to smooth a patch of fur on Sagepaw's ear. "Your destiny awaits."

Having no other choice, Sagepaw followed her out into the clearing. All around Highledge, cats of all colors and sizes maneuvered their way around one another to catch sight of who was walking forward. Ordering her to stay at the edge of the rocks, Nettlefur gracefully leapt up onto Highledge to stand beside Bristlestar.

Birchfeather and Bramblenose were seated only a few tail-lengths away, and to Sagepaw's surprise, both of them got to their paws and made their way over to her, where they settled on either side, as if to protect her from the chaos that would come.

"Cats of ThunderClan," Bristlestar meowed briskly, his voice tight. Sagepaw smirked from where she sat beside Birchfeather, earning a glare from her mother.

Let him regret this. StarClan knows I didn't want this.

Nettlefur stepped up so she was in front of Bristlestar. Immediately, the gazes of ThunderClan shifted from their leader to their medicine cat. "I have decided that it is beneficial to our Clan as a whole if we have two medicine cats. One cannot handle all of the skills of medicine on their own. I hope that you, as well as StarClan, will approve my choice and take my words with gratitude rather than anger."

She lifted her muzzle to Silverpelt, her blue eyes bright against the stars, and called, "Sagepaw, once a warrior apprentice, will take up the role of a medicine cat. The accident that left her leg damaged has been the reason for this decision."

Through the mass of fur jumping up in protest, Sagepaw caught Foxnose's eye. The russet-colored tom was sitting beside his mate, Cherryflight, who was heavy with his kits. His amber eyes were wide with shock, yet also bright with understanding.

He knows why. Sagepaw wanted to close her eyes and go back to being a kit; back before the accident that caused this to happen.

"Sagepaw, do you accept this role?" Bristlestar's voice echoed from far above her, as if he were in Silverpelt himself.

Sagepaw felt the eyes of the entire Clan on her. Bramblenose was hot with aggravation, as if he had wanted her to train as a warrior as well; Birchfeather was silent, her fur leaving Sagepaw's side in shame.

I have no other choice. "I do, Bristlestar."

"Then at the half moon," continued Nettlefur, "you will travel to the Moonpool with me to be accepted by StarClan." The small she-cat leaped down onto solid ground and touched her nose to Sagepaw's head. Sagepaw licked her shoulder in return, and the Clan drowned out the hostility in cheers of her name.

"Sagepaw! Sagepaw!"

The light brown tabby looked above her to stare at her ancestors.

StarClan, guide me through this journey, and let me be a medicine cat with the heart of a warrior.