That evening Maplepaw and Cinderpaw met each other at the fresh kill pile. "So how was your day?" Maplepaw asked, taking a vole off the pile. "Fine. Riverblossom is really nice, she's just shy. We might go out hunting tomorrow. How was your day?" answered Cinderpaw. Maplepaw sat down and began to eat her vole. "Ugh. I don't know if I like Heatherfire very much. She's so strict, and we didn't do anything fun. She had me give the Elders a speech on the Warrior Code. I'm barely even an apprentice yet!" she grumbled. Cinderpaw had selected a sparrow to eat. "I'm sorry. It's only the first day. It will get better, I promise it will. It has to." She assured. Maplepaw sighed. "Yeah, I guess you're right." The rest of the meal was silent.
It soon grew dark, since Leafbare was coming quickly and the days got shorter. The young cats headed towards the nursery, and were surprised to see their nests empty. "Where's mom?" asked Cinderpaw. "Cinderpaw! Maplepaw! What are you doing?" the two cats turned around to see Cinderpaw's father and the clan deputy, Woodstripe, staring at them. "You are apprentices now remember? You sleep in the Apprentice den. Rainpatter and Cloverpatch went back to the Warrior's Den this morning." he said. "Oh yeah." Said Cinderpaw. The apprentice den was new to them, and they peered in cautiously.
Inside were the other apprentices, Thunderpaw and Sandpaw. "Hey Thunderpaw!" said Cinderpaw, barreling into him. The two cats fought on the floor for a few seconds until Thunderpaw stood up panting. "How-is-she-so-good?-She's-only-a-new-apprentice!" Cinderpaw beamed. "Raw female strength, that's what!" Sandpaw and Thunderpaw burst out laughing. "Sure! And I'm a Weasel!" laughed Sandpaw. "Cats! Go to sleep! It's nearly moonhigh!" yelled Shortooth, passing the apprentice den on his way to the Elder's den. Sandpaw grumbled something about mouse-brained elders as he settled down to sleep. Thunderpaw sat down next to him. There were two empty nests that Cinderpaw and Maplepaw occupied. Soon, they fell asleep.
That night, Maplepaw tossed and turned, but didn't wake up. She dreamed she was standing in a meadow with a large lake. She looked into the lake to get a drink and noticed her reflection. It was of a cat just like her, but orange and white with dark stripes. The cat copied every move Maplepaw made, like it was a normal reflection. Suddenly, the reflection said, "I know you!" Maplepaw yowled with surprise and woke up with a start.
"Wow…that was weird. It's like that cat knew me…and she looked really familiar…" Maplepaw whispered. She got up and left the Apprentice Den and walked into Mosswing's den. Mosswing was the clan medicine cat, whose job was to cure any injured cat's ailments. Mosswing was asleep, so Maplepaw prodded the sleeping medicine cat with her paw. "Huh?" she asked drowsily. "Mosswing, I had a strange dream." Maplepaw said anxiously. Mosswing woke right up. "Well, that's what I'm here for. What happened?" she said. Maplepaw recounted the strange dream to Mosswing. When she was done, Mosswing was deep in thought.
"Hmmm….Well, I haven't had any dreams like that myself, and nothing has happened to explain anything, but I will ask Starclan if they know anything." She said. "Ok. Thank you Mosswing." Maplepaw said, standing up. "Would you like anything to help you sleep?" Mosswing asked, going over to her carefully organized collection of herbs. "I have some Chamomile…oh! And poppy seeds! Would you like some Poppy Seeds?" she asked. Maplepaw sighed gratefully. "Yes, please." She chewed the Poppy Seeds Mosswing handed her. "Thanks again, Mosswing." She said, heading out.
Maplepaw really admired Mosswing. She was so knowledgeable about everything, and cared about everyone. She was Maplepaw's role model. Maplepaw was always fascinated by how different herbs could do different things, and longed to know more about them. Maplepaw thought learning to help cats was much better than learning to fight them. If only her father had made her the Medicine cat apprentice…but Maplepaw knew that the Medicine Cat herself had to ask the clan leader, and Maplepaw couldn't possibly ask. Maplepaw pictured herself running to an injured cat on a battlefield with leaves in her mouth, then healing the cat so he could keep fighting. Maplepaw smiled as she settled herself in her nest. Wouldn't that be something.