FYI, After tonight, I won't post again until Saturday unless I get at least 1 review. I mean how long does it take to put in a smiley face. Or even a frowney face if you don't like it.

Chapter 2

"Silverpaw," the cat's mentor, Echosong, called from the camp's edge. When the apprentice appeared, she spoke, "We need some more marigold, do you remember where you can find it."

Silverkit nodded her head quickly, thrilled to be sent on her first mission alone. "There's a patch by the river."

"Take Creekspirit and Jaypaw with you to get some," Echsong directed. "And come back quickly or Waspwhisker might bite Tigerpaw's ears off she's so sore."

Silverpaw dashed away to find her escorts knowing her littermate would complain forever if he lost his ears. She found Creekspirit washing up by his den, "Echosong told me to ask you to escort me to the river so I can get some marigold to give to Waspwhisker to make her joins ache less."

"We'll come with you," Jaypaw chuckled coming up behind Silverpaw. "So long as you promise to not use the word 'to' again today."

Creekspirit rolled his blue eyes. "You're supposed to respect medicine cats, Jaypaw, not criticize them," he reminded his apprentice. "Of course we'll help you, Silverpaw."

Glad that the whole asking-for-favors part of the journey was over, Silverpaw lead the way towards where Echosong had showed her the marigold grew. Along the way, Creekspirit pointed out a few good hunting places to the new apprentice leaving Silverpaw to tune him out with her own mantra. Marigold-good for fighting infection, stopping bleeding, and lowering inflammation.

Despite practically living in the medicine cat den as a kit, (what, Silverpaw was clumsy), the young cat had quickly learned that there were a lot more herbs for her to learn than she expected. Silverpaw was a quick learner, but on any given day Echosong could call out ten herbs and expect the apprentice to know their function and location despite the fact she'd only been training for a moon. It was hard work, but thinking back to her meeting with Starclan a few nights ago Silverpaw knew it was worth it. You have a great destiny. Skywatcher had told her. She didn't know what that meant, but she didn't like the sound of it.

"So, Silverpaw, are you enjoying your training?" Creekspirit inquired padding up to the apprentice. "No one was really surprised when Echosong announced you'd be her apprentice; I think you're the only cat I know who doesn't mind the sight of blood."

Silverpaw wasn't sure that was actually praise, but she took it as such, "I guess. I can't imagine myself being a good fighter, and I like helping cats so medicine cat is a good fit for me."

"Silverpaw used to cry over her prey," Jaypaw teased reminding his sister of the day their mother, Mintfur, had first tried to get her kits to eat prey. "As a kit she'd try to heal it."

Silverpaw wouldn't say she went so far as trying to heal it, but she would admit she hated having to kill to survive. Sure, they were cats and that's what cats do, but she wished there was another, more peaceful alternative. It just didn't sit well with Silverpaw that if a fox ate one of them they'd attacked back, but if they ate a mouse no mouse came to avenge its friend. Prey must be so lonely. If there's no one to care about you, what's the point in living at all?

"There's nothing wrong with being caring," Creekspirit reminded his apprentice with a glare. "When you get injured you'll be glad Silverpaw cares enough to keep you alive."

Silverpaw dipped her head in a gleeful embarrassment, noticing they'd reached the river edge as she did. Gently, she picked out the healthiest and largest flowers leaving the rest to be harvested later in the season. "Why don't Jaypaw and I grab some?" Creekspirit suggested upon noticing how Silverpaw's small mouth couldn't hold everything.

Jaypaw moaned, but he crouched down to hold a few stems and the three cats headed in silence back to camp. (It's hard to breath with that many leaves, never mind talk.)

Alone the way, Silverpaw caught sent of an unfamiliar smell. Creekspirit quickly dropped the leaves and took in a deep breath, "fox."

So that's why Silverpaw didn't recognize the smell. She'd never seen a fox, but she'd seen the wounds Cloudhair got from one a half moon ago. Echosong hadn't gotten to the self-defense part of Silverpaw's training yet. If the fox came after them, Silverpaw would be dead weight, with an emphasis on dead.

Silverpaw and her companions were downwind, so the fox didn't expect to stumble upon three cats. In an instant, Creekspirit were on top of the unsuspecting vixen. She fought back viciously, but as Silverpaw stood in horror the warrior and apprentice duo chased the animal off.

"You're hurt," Silverpaw called breaking through Jaypaw's celebration. "Did it bite you?"

Jaypaw nodded, "It's not deep though, I'll be fine."

"Yes you will be," Creekspirit growled. "After you let Silverpaw treat you. Silverpaw, all this marigold wouldn't be what we need, right?"

Good think he'd pointed it out because Silverpaw hadn't even thought to use the herbs scattered at her paws. Nodding, Silverpaw found some cobwebs to stop the bleeding and made a poultice of marigold to go on them. She worked quickly to stop the bleeding, but Jaypaw was right. The bite wasn't deep, and the scratch Silverpaw found on Creekspirit was even shallower. By the grace of Starclan, they were all okay.

"That should hold up for now," Silverpaw told her defenders inspecting the apprentice's wound one more time. "But I'm sure Echosong will want to check my work when we get back to camp. Let's grab these leaves and go; if one of you get infected we'll certainly need them."

Creekspirit and Jaypaw did as the medicine cat requested, but as they slowly made their way back to camp, Jaypaw spoke, "I really don't think this is deep enough to get infected. I'm such an amazing warrior I'm sure I'll be fine."

Now I'm sure anyone who is kind enough to read this has read the summary, so I wonder if you really believe the apprentice. Hope you liked it.