Leopardkit gasped as she first saw the camp in which she lived. Leopardkit was four days old and had just opened her eyes. Her mother, Spottedfeather smiled at her, and ushered her out of the den, telling her that if she found Lavenderpaw, she could explore. Leopardkit smiled, and started running around camp alone, as she had no littermates and there were no other kits in the nursery. She wanted to see everything in the camp. She ran towards the camp entrance and crashed straight into her father, Eagletalon, who had been out with his - and the only - apprentice, Lavenderpaw.
"Father! Lavenderpaw!" Leopardkit squeaked, excited.
"Leopardkit!" said Eagletalon. "You've opened your eyes!"
Leopardkit's friend stared in wonder though. "Your eyes are such a beautiful amber! Come on, Leopardkit, I'll show you around camp." Leopardkit followed happily as Lavenderpaw pointed out where everything was. She pointed her tail towards an old badger den.
"This is Onestar's den. Don't go in there, you'll get into trouble. And there, there and there," Lavenderpaw pointed with her tail to the apprentice, warriors and elders den in turn. "Is where Apprentices, Warriors and Elders sleep. Come on, I'll show you my nest." Lavenderpaw bounded across the clearing in a few strides. Leopardkit tumbled over as fast as she could, struggling to keep up with the apprentice.
The apprentice den was too large for one cat, although Lavenderpaw didn't seem to mind. Lavenderpaw was talking about the elder's stories and of the warriors den, but Leopardkit was not really listening. There was somewhere that had always intrigued her, from the moment her mother had mentioned it - her mother had often told her stories of the camp. Quietly, she slipped out without her friend noticing and ran over to the only den she had not yet visited - the medicine cat den.
Leopardkit snuck in. It was different in the medicine den; the hollow tree had little dents all over where herbs were stored. Her curiosity took over her. She stepped towards a shelf of herbs; it was just low enough for her to reach. On the shelf were a few green leaves. They smell delicious! she thought. Tentatively, she extended a claw and pulled the leaves onto the floor.
"Leopardkit! No! Don't eat them!" But it was too late. As Lavenderpaw raced into the den shouting a warning, Leopardkit had nibbled at a leaf, but had spat it out immediatly.
"What were they? Show me!" Lavenderpaw's tone was sharp, but full of worry. The harshness of her tone was still enough to make Leopardkit step back right into the medicine cat himself. Leopardkit whipped around, and crouched on the floor with a whimper. Oh, StarClan, I'm in such trouble! Instead of giving her a telling off, however, Barkface mewed with laughter.
"My friend, Lavenderpaw, there is nothing to fear. Young Leopardkit only ate a little catnip. She will be fine. I have been watching her." His kind eyes turned to the frightened Leopardkit. He seemed to be thinking. "Why did you come here, Leopardkit?" he asked curiously. She stared at him for a moment, wide eyed, before stammering out an answer.
"My mother told me of you, and this den, and it had always been the one that I have been most interested. It must be great to be a medicine cat! No fighting, or hunting, I mean, that's all great too, but to save lives... I find that amazing." Eyes still wide, but full of respect and awe, the small, leopard print she-cat stared up at the old medicine cat. A moment of silence passed. Then in a loud voice, he announced "I need an apprentice. Well, Leopardkit? What do you say?"
Leopardkit hardly took time to think at all. Her eyes beaming, she said "Yes."
Thank you for reading so far! I hope you enjoy it! Reviews will only help me write more :D
