Chapter 1. Medicine Cat Dreams

Hello guys! Thanks so much for reading. I'd really like it if you all would review and stuff. It makes my day to read stuff like that. So, if you liked this story, leave your opinion on it, and even if you didn't still review your opinion on it! I understand that some stories are appealing to some people and not very interesting to others, but I hope everyone will learn to like this. If you want you can check out my other stuff on my profile… and yeah. Thanks again for reading, review, and stay classy and a lil' bit sassy.

"I bet you can't catch me!"

"Can too!"

"Why don't you try?"

Brightkit rolled her eyes at her brother, Dustkit, fighting with the older apprentice Mistpaw. The handsome gray tom's eyes sparkled as he dodged Dustkit easily. His blue eyes glanced towards Brightkit who sighed. She just wanted her apprentice ceremony to come sooner. Although she and Dustkit had barely reached their sixth moon, she couldn't wait to become a warrior.

Brightkit glanced back towards the nursery. Her mother was sitting outside of it speaking with Amberpelt. The light brown she-cat's belly was swollen with kits. Her mother noticed her watching and beckoned her over. Brightkit was glad she was able to escape her brother tussling with the apprentice. She bounded towards her mother, Goldensun, brushing up against her.

"I'm sorry you're stuck with him," she joked, nodding towards Brightkit's brother. The she-cat let out an exasperated sigh.

"I just want to become a warrior now…" she grumbled. A purr rumbled in Goldensun's throat.

"You're my beautiful daughter," she murmured, nuzzling her muzzle against her daughters. Brightkit purred. "But you're too excited sometimes… Just like your father."

Brightkit's eyes brightened. "I'm like Runningflight?" she asked.

Goldensun nodded, her amber eyes warm as she looked down on her daughter. Brightkit was escatic; Runningflight was FlameClan's medicine cat, and to be told that she was like her father was a blessing to Brightkit. She jumped up.

"Then I'm going to be the best warrior ever, aren't I?"

Goldensun nodded again. "Of course."

Glancing towards an unfamiliar den, Brightkit was able to slip away from her mother before she noticed. Bounding towards the den, she skidded to a stop, sticking her head past the ferns. Noticing there was no one in sight, she brushed past them, tasting the air.

Different scents of herbs filled her mouth and she shut it, cringing at the strong scents. Glancing around once more she spotted a mossy nest and a bunch of herbs and seeds scattered around. She frowned. What is this den?

"I see you've found the medicine den."

Brightkit spun around to see a brown-and-white she-cat, her green eyes sparkling at the sight of the young kit. She padded forward, dipping her head to the small kit. "I'm Cloverwish," she mewed. "It's nice to see you again, Brightkit."

Brightkit frowned. "How did you…?" her voice trailed off. Was this the medicine cat?

Cloverwish purred. "I was at your kitting."

Brightkit nodded. Realizing where she was, she quickly stammered, "S-Sorry I'm in your den. I'll leave now."

Cloverwish shook her head, stopping the young she-cat. "No, don't worry," she meowed reassuringly. "I need some help anyway."

"Help?" echoed Brightkit.

"Yes." Cloverwish nodded, padding towards the pile of herbs and seeds scattered all over the place. "Ever since Smallberry got a bellyache I've been running all over the place. Now that it's died down I have the time to sort through everything…" She glanced back towards Brightkit. "But since there's so much here for me to sort through it's going to be hard. Gingerleaf's also been complaining about a scratch she got when she brushed against a thorn hunting the other day and I need to tend to that before it gets infected."

"Don't you have an apprentice?" Brightkit asked, puzzled. Cloverwish shook her head.

"Would you mind being my helper for today?"

Brightkit hesitated, then nodded, realizing it'd be the 'warrior thing' to do - helping out her Clanmates. And besides, the young she-cat was happy she was needed for something to do rather than judge who was a better fighter in Fox Attack - Mistpaw or Dustkit.

"Then come with me." Cloverwish bounded towards the end of the den, picking up some poppy seeds. "Can you get those leaves?" she asked. Brightkit nodded, padding towards the leaves. She picked them up as the two headed out of the den.

"What are these?" Brightkit asked, her voice muffled.

"Dock," responded Cloverwish. "It's used for scratches."

Brightkit nodded. She felt pride rush through her; not only was she helping her Clanmate, but she felt like an apprentice!

They entered the warrior's den where Gingerleaf was speaking with another tom Brightkit barely recognized. They glanced up when the two walked in and Gingerleaf's eyes brightened.

"Looks like you've got a helper," he meowed. "It's about time. I didn't think a thorn could cause so much pain."

Cloverwish sighed. "This is why you should come to me sooner, Gingerleaf. You also should have let me pull out the thorn instead of yanking it out."

Gingerleaf shrugged. "I needed to catch the rabbit."

Brightkit set down the dock, watching as Cloverwish began to chew up the leaves and became a poultice. She then smeared the poultice around Gingerleaf's wound. He winced but didn't complain any further as the medicine cat finished applying the dock leaves.

Brightkit watched in amazement. Maybe being a medicine cat wouldn't be so bad either… She shook her head. She wanted to be a warrior! Not a medicine cat! Glancing towards Cloverwish as the medicine cat gave him some poppy seeds for any other pain, she couldn't help but contradict herself.

Being a medicine cat would be similar to being a warrior… You're still helping your Clanmates… You just don't fight. Brightkit knew she never was a fan of fighting, but the idea of becoming a medicine cat was appalling to her. She wanted to be both a warrior and medicine cat.

As she followed Cloverwish out of the den, she couldn't help but wonder what her destiny is.

Cloverwish glanced back at her. "Is something bothering you, Brightkit?" she asked.

Brightkit shook her head. "No."

Cloverwish nodded. Before either she-cat had a chance to say something, another cat was bounding up to the medicine cat. "Cloverwish! Smallberry's bellyache is acting up again."

Cloverwish frowned. "That's odd. I'll check on it now." She glanced back at Brightkit. "Thanks for being my helper."

Brightkit hesitated, then mewed before Cloverwish could leave, "Can I help again?"

The medicine cat glanced back at the kit. "Really?" She stopped, sitting in front of the she-cat. "This is going to be a bit more complicated than Gingerleaf's scratch. You sure you want to tackle it?"

Brightkit nodded. "Yes!"

Cloverwish smiled, her green eyes gleaming. "Alright. Why don't you head to the elder's den and tell Smallberry I'll be there soon while I get the supplies?" Brightkit nodded, obeying the medicine cat as she bounded towards the elder's den.

Once she reached it she was immediately greeted by painful yowls coming from inside. Eyes widening, she stepped in cautiously to be greeted by the two elders; Jaggedtooth and Smallberry. Smallberry was curled up in a ball, her eyes shut tight as she moaned. Brightkit glanced at Jaggedtooth.

The elder nodded his head to the she-cat. "You must be Brightkit." He glanced back at Smallberry as she let out another painful yelp. "I don't understand why Smallberry is in so much pain. She was fine earlier."

Brightkit shrugged. "Cloverwish is coming soon."

"She better hurry up!" Smallberry snapped. "I feel like I'm going to explode!"

Brightkit glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Cloverwish. "I could hear you yowling all the way to the medicine den," she commented, sitting down beside the small elder. "Is it really that painful?"

Smallberry sighed. "It was gone earlier but now it just keeps coming back."

"Do you remember if you've eaten anything that could be causing this?" Cloverwish asked. Smallberry shook her head.

"Not that I remember… except…" Her voice trailed off.

Cloverwish pressed, "Except what?"

"Th-This squirrel. I don't think it was very good…" Smallberry's voice trailed off as she yowled again. "Great StarClan this hurts!" She glanced down at the herbs Cloverwish had brought. "Oh, don't waste herbs on me. I'm old and I'm going to die soon anyway."

"Well, I'm not going to be left in this den alone," Jaggedtooth meowed. "And I'm older than you, Smallberry."

Smallberry's eyes narrowed at her denmate but didn't say anything as Cloverwish began to sort through the herbs.

"First I'm going to get you to throw up whatever's upsetting your stomach," she meowed. "That should stop the pain. If it doesn't I'll get you to try some chervil again."

Smallberry nodded as she licked up the yarrow leaves. After a few moments of hacking, she was finally able to cough up the stuff in her stomach. Brightkit's nose scrunched up in disgust. This is what a medicine cat has to do?

"Just as I thought," mewed Cloverwish. "It's just a bad squirrel."

Smallberry nodded, sighing.

"Does your belly still hurt?" asked Cloverwish.

Smallberry shook her head. "No, it's fine now."
"That's great," Cloverwish pawed around for some poppy seeds. "I'll have you take these so that way you can sleep in. If the bellyache returns I'll give you the chervil."

Smallberry nodded, licking up the small black seeds. Brightkit was staring at Cloverwish in astonishment. She just healed her? Just like that? Cloverwish noticed Brightkit staring and gave a small smile, leading the young she-cat out of the elder's den.

Brightkit had finally made her decision. She wanted to be as kind, caring, and compassionate Cloverwish was - healing her Clanmates without hurting cats. She stopped suddenly. Cloverwish glanced over her shoulder.

"What's the matter, Brightkit?" she asked.

"I want to be a medicine cat!"