Jayfeather padded across the forest floor, his pawsteps light.

Whisperpaw was quiet.

Jayfeather was annoyed.

Does he ever say anything?

Jayfeather turned to look at Whisperpaw. Well, he couldn't exactly look, but he could sense apprehension coming from him in huge sweeps.

"Whisperpaw, have you ever been out of camp before?" Jayfeather asked his silent apprentice.

Whisperpaw didn't reply.

"Oh, come on, you must have been out at least one time or another." Jayfeather persisted.

Whisperpaw shrugged.

Jayfeather took a deep breath. He would rather have the bright and cheerful Streampaw than Whisperpaw.

"Do you know anything about herbs, or berries?" Jayfeather went on.

Whisperpaw nodded slightly.

"Would you like to learn more?"

He nodded more eagerly.

Jayfeather smiled. He was getting somewhere. "What herbs and berries do you already know?"

Jayfeather was pleased with his question, it was one where Whisperpaw couldn't nod or shake his head. He had to actually answer it.

"Marigold, Horsetail, and Poppy seeds." Whisperpaw said promptly, and then stiffened.

Jayfeather bit back a cry of surprise. Whisperpaw had inherited his mother's deep, flowing accent. Fluently. He sounds just like a tribe cat! He marveled.

"Why don't you talk to other cats more?" He asked Whisperpaw.

Whisperpaw paused, and then went on, "I was embarrassed. I thought the others would laugh at me if they heard me."

Jayfeather nudged him gently with his tail. "They don't laugh at your mother."
Whisperpaw lifted his gaze and looked at him darkly. "Yes, they do. Behind her back."

Jayfeather stepped back in surprise. I always thought that the cats liked Brookstorm!

"What type of cats?" He asked tentatively.

"Dustpelt, sometimes, and Spiderleg." He said quietly.

"But how have you learned to talk like the tribe so well? You're brothers and sisters don't, and even Brookstorm's speech is more like a clan cat's now."

Whisperpaw lifted his head. "Every night, the Tribe of Endless Hunting visits me in my dreams."

Jayfeather looked at him worriedly. Whisperpaw had such a strong connection with his warrior ancestors! Even StarClan didn't visit him every night, and he was a fully-fledged medicine cat! But the real problem is that he's supposed to be in touch with StarClan, not the Tribe of Endless Hunting!

"Has StarClan ever come to you?"

Whisperpaw nodded. "Twice."

Jayfeather relaxed.

"Well," Jayfeather said. "Let's get on with it. I want to show you what borage looks like."