okay, here's chapter 2! hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 2

Meadowcloud was awakened by the jostling of something in front of her. She opened her eyes to see the elders, Palenose and Petalfrost picking up her mate and lay it in front of the Tallrock. They would soon be starting their journey to where Ravenheart and Wetpaw were to be buried, after Swiftstar appointed a new Deputy.

She felt a gentle tail wrap around her shoulders and she knew it was Fernheart beside her. "I grieve for you" she whispered.

A yowl sounded as Swiftstar bounded out of his den and sprang up onto the Tallrock. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Tallrock for a clan meeting!" he looked up at the moon, which was almost at its peak.

"He's going to appoint the new Deputy" she heard Ryefeather whisper to her sister, Oatcloud. The two sisters were very close, like most littermates in WindClan.

As cats settled down they murmured to each other about who the new Deputy would be. Meadowcloud guessed it would be Stoneclaw, who was a close friend of Swiftstar, but she wasn't sure. Her mind was still too fogged with grief to think about those things.

"As you all know," their black and white patched leader began, "we have lost two honorable cats due to a badger attack today. But I still must appoint a deputy, and I hope that StarClan will approve my choice". He meowed, and then paused as his gaze slid across the camp.

"I say these words before the body of Ravenheart, so his spirit will may hear and approve of my choice. Snow-willow will be the new Deputy of Windclan", he spoke the words of many cats before him with pride, but sadness was still visible in his eyes.

Snow-willow stepped forwards, his chin held high. "Thank you Swiftstar. You will not regret your choice" he mewed. The clan burst into cheers, but sorrow could still be traced in their voices.

Swiftstar raised his tail for silence once again before speaking. "As you all know, Wetpaw, Skyberry's apprentice, was also lost today". Swiftstar sighed before continuing what he was saying. "We must remember that Skyberry is without an apprentice, and, StarClan forbid, she could join them in their hunting grounds any time now" he winced at the thought of losing his much-loved Medicine Cat.

"We must all realize that the clan could be without a Medicine Cat if I do not have an apprentice soon!" Skyberry exclaimed, her voice sounding a bit panicked. "I do not wish to leave my clan without a fully trained Medicine Cat, and I hope that that will never happen" she added.

Swiftstar nodded, seeming troubled. "My kits might be interested in becoming a Medicine Cat!" Fernheart stepped up, raising her head. Murmurs spread around the camp, and a few approving shouts were shared. Meadowcloud looked over at Emberleaf, whose head was down.

"It might be too late!" one cat yelled, and then a few others joined in. Swiftstar raised his tail for silence again, and then when the Clan was quiet, he began.

"We must have faith in StarClan, and hope for the best" he mewed. Then with a flick of his tail he jumped down and disappeared to his den, Skyberry close behind him.

Meadowcloud watched as the elders started their way back over to Ravenheart, but she quickly bounced up and ran over for one last goodbye.

Thrusting her nose into her lost mate's fur, she breathed in his scent, but it was now cold and drowned out by the smell of rosemary, which had been placed around his body to hide the smell of death.

Meadowcloud swallowed down a sob as she watched them take his body away, his tail dragging on the ground behind him. I love you.

She looked over to where Stoneclaw and Whitewhisker were talking quietly, their heads' close together. She watched as Whitewhisker rested her head against her mate's shoulder, her eyes shut tightly with a mixture of anger and sadness.

She couldn't look at the long-time mates any longer. It broke her heart, even though she knew that they were suffering from a loss too, to see two cats that loved each other together like that.

She padded over to the small rabbit's den that she and Ravenheart had shared when it rained, which had been abandoned many moons ago. She curled up in the old moss, which badly need to be replaced, and closed her eyes. All she wanted was a dreamless sleep to get her mind off her heart.

She opened her eyes to see a faint light leaking through the branched above her. She sat up, looking around at the unfamiliar place. She was in a small clearing with dandelions growing in the wispy grass and undergrowth surrounding it.

She heard rustling as a fluffy brown tabby came padding through the ferns. He padded straight up to her, dipping his head in greeting. Starlight glittered from his thick pelt and his eyes were unusually bright. He had a wise and experienced look to him, yet he seemed no older than a young warrior.

"Hello, I am Brownleaf, WindClan's Medicine cat before your time" he mewed, his voice gentle.

"Why am I here?" Meadowcloud asked, bewildered.

"Look around you" he started. "There are secrets hidden in any place, you just have to look hard enough" Meadowcloud looked around, seeing nothing but ferns and brambles.

"I don't see anything" she meowed, confused. she didn't even know what she was supposed to be looking for.

He let out a peaceful hum and closed his eyes.

"Look harder" he repeated, his eyes still closed. Meadowcloud looked around, her eyes straining. Suddenly, she could spot herbs growing around the outskirts of the clearing they were in. Juniper berries were growing on one of the bushed that she thought was a bramble; dock leaves mistaken for ferns, marigold, and goldenrod, both used to treat Ravenheart's wound.

"I see them" she whispered, and the old tom nodded. "Thyme for a nervous cat, or one in shock, daisy for pain in aching joints, feverfew brings down body temperature, but especially great for headaches, blackberry leaves for bringing down the swelling of bee stings…", she whispered to herself. She could go on and on, but then she remembered that Brownleaf was still there.

She looked over to see what he thought of her knowledge, but he was gone. She looked around for him, but he had disappeared.

Sunlight seeped through the hole that led to the open air. Meadowcloud felt claustrophobic in the small area and pushed her way through to the smell of heather and rough grass. Her pads felt sore, as if she had been standing in her sleep. Then she remembered her dream.

"There are secrets hidden in any place, you just have to look hard enough" Brownleaf's words rung in her head, and she wasn't sure of how to make sense of them.

Skyberry will know.

She began her way over to the medicine cat's den, which was some heather and gorse weaved together with some overhanging grass from the camp wall. She pushed through the entrance, her fur brushing the top of the opening.

Inside, Dawnflight was holding her paw up, while Skyberry licked around one spot on her pad. Finally, she nipped at the she-cat's paw, and when she emerged, a thorn was placed skillfully between her teeth.

Dawnflight licked her pad a few times before saying, "Thanks Skyberry". She pushed past Meadowcloud and into the clearing. Skyberry spat the thorn into the corner of the den, away from any other paws. She looked up expectantly at Meadowcloud.

"Is there something I can help you with?" she asked, her raspy voice still joyful.

"Well, err, well I had this dream…" she began, and Skyberry took one giant step towards her, coming nose to nose with Meadowcloud.

"What was it about?" she asked quickly, her voice hushed. Meadowcloud squirmed uncomfortably under the Medicine Cat's urgent gaze.

"There was this brown cat . . . Brownleaf was his name, and-" she was cut off by Skyberry's words.

"He was my mentor" she mumbled, looking down at the ground, and then her gaze shot back up at her. Meadowcloud continued.

"He told me some things, and then there were all these herbs that surrounded us, and-"

"Do you know what this means?" Skyberry asked frantically, her voice getting higher. "You have to be a medicine cat! StarClan have chosen your true path!" she mewed, loudly.

Meadowcloud froze. She had thought about being a Medicine Cat before,since she was a kit, even, but she didnt think it was the job for her.

"I don't know . . . "she mewed, unsure.

"You can't decline StarClan! This is a sign! You have to!" she meowed, pushing past Meadowcloud and heading towards where Swiftstar was speaking with his new Deputy, Snow-willow.

Meadowcloud bolted out behind her, not wanting Skyberry to tell her leader. She has bees in her brain.

"Swiftstar, we need to talk in your den" she heard her crazy Medicine Cat saying to the black and white leader.

The muscular tom looked up at his medicine cat with a stunning green gaze, whom most she-cats admired, but Skyberry was not fazed by them. "OK" he mewed, his voice deep but clear. He turned around and disappeared into his small den, which was behind the Tallrock.

Inside was dark, but a dim light seeped in through the entrance. Swiftstar sat near the back, his broad shoulders barely visible in the den.

"Is there something wrong? Did StarClan send any omens?" he asked, his voice sounding a bit worried. Skyberry shook her head, but then stopped.

"Well, yes, but not to me. To Meadowcloud." She mewed, pointing her head towards the gray she-cat. Swiftstar looked at her expectantly, but Skyberry spoke first.

"StarClan have told Meadowcloud to become my apprentice" she meowed happily. Their leader nodded, his eyes locked with Meadowcloud's.

"Is this what you want?" He questioned, a sincere look in his eyes. He doesn't want me to make the wrong choice.

"Yes" she meowed, her voice weak. She only half heard herself though, for her mind was clouded with thoughts of Ravenheart.

Is this the choice I would have made if he never came along?

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How was it? Good? Bad? OK? Tell me by reviewing, and i always need new ideas! oh, and also, tell me your favorite warrior names, and maybe they will be published in some upcoming chapters ;)

-Tiger