Chapter 2

Mudpaw's POV

I still can't believe that we're apprentices now, just yesterday we were only kits. "Mudpaw," Jayfeather meowed jolting me out of my thoughts, "We're running low on catmint and Poppyfrost is showing signs of whitecough, I don't want it turning into greencough. We need to go collect some more. Do you want to come with me?"

"Well yeah, but is it serious?" I asked.

"No," He admitted, "But leafbare is nearing and greencough is not good for the clan."

"Okay let's go get some!" I meowed. A medicine cat's life is so exciting! I know this is what I want to do.

As we padded out of the den Cherryleaf padded to us. "Do you need a warrior escort ?"she asked.

"Sure," Jayfeather said. So we three bounded through the forest and to the twoleg-place. Jayfeather bounded up to the catmint and bit off about half of the stalks. He handed some to Cherryleaf and some to me.

Then he put his stalks down and spoke "Cherryleaf I know you're expecting kits,"

"Good! That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I mean I'm no medicine cat but even I can tell they're due any moon now." With Cherryleaf and Jayfeather chattering about the kits we all set off to camp with the catmint.

Fernpaw's POV

"Fernpaw, Mosspaw I want you both to try catching a mouse" Lionblaze said.

Dewberry nodded, "And if you catch an additional piece of prey before the other you won't have to have elder duty."

"Yes!" Mosspaw hissed "I'm gonna beat you!"

"Not if you don't catch two pieces of prey!" I purred

"Go!" Dewberry meowed. And we both raced off I followed a fresh mouse scent trail until I saw it, snuffling for nuts oblivious to the fact that it's doom was near. I pounced and before it could make a sound it was freshkill. Afterwards I buried it then I listened and heard lots of little scuffling noises. It was coming from that tree root. I stalked over and sniffed, vole scent, and very strong too. I grabbed some nearby sticks and blocked all the entrances to the nest but one. Then I reached my small paw in there and pulled out lots of small bodies with my claws. The voles were too injured to move so I killed them, grabbed my mouse and headed back.

Mosspaw was already back holding a large blackbird "Wow!" Mosspaw meowed impressed, "You caught a lot more than I did. And I thought an old blackbird was somthing to get excited about."

Fernpaw purred in amusement "That was an amazing catch, especially for your first try. I couldn't have done better." Dewberry meowed approvingly.

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Lionblaze purred.

"Well" I stammered "All I really did to catch all these voles was find their nest,"

"You still did well, both of you did I am extremely proud of you both," Dewberry meowed. "Neither of you have to do elder duty tomorrow.

"Yes!" Mosspaw and I meowed. Then I yawned It'd been a long day and I was ready to go back to camp to share about my day with Mudpaw. We walked back to camp with our jaws filled with fresh kill.

Fernpaw and Mosspaw strolled back to camp and put their freshkill on the pile then the chose some food for themselves and sat in a shaded area near the apprentence den. They meowed hello as Eaglepaw, Streampaw, and Whitepaw sat down with them.

"How are you liking life as an apprentice?" Whitepaw asked.

"We love it!" Mosspaw purred "Fernpaw found a nest of voles and caught a bunch of them."

"Wow!" Streampaw said "I didn't catch anything my first try."

"Well, I caught mouse my first try and it was as big as Bluekit!" Eaglepaw meowed.

"He's lying, his mouse was the size of your paw," Streampaw purred.

"Well it's getting dark and it's been a long day so Mosspaw and I are going to get some rest," Fernpaw said.

"Okay your beds will have the freshest moss on the left side, good night" Whitepaw meowed,"

"Goodnight," Fernpaw and Mosspaw replied." So they stumbled into their beds and let sleep overtake them.