Thanks to Redleaf and Silverstrike for reviewing. Yes, I changed my name and I like it. Call me whatever you like, so long as it's not offensive.

Bloodpaw looked about her. The camp was almost empty.

"Hey, Bloodpaw."

She turned. "Oh, hi Wisp."

"I think I found your old friend."

"Fairy?"

He nodded.

"Where?"

"I'll show you."

"You can't. I can't leave the camp. Weaverwing's on patrol, Magpiestar's asleep and if you think Rookpaw will come with, then I'm a sparrow."

He sighed. "Why'd you have to get into trouble like that?"

"I didn't. I need to stand up for myself. And besides, later today I'm going with all the other apprentices for a group training session."

"Who's taking it?"

"Stagclaw and Yarrowleaf. She's one of the nicer cats."

"Your mentor's sister?"

"Yes. I think so."

"Okay. I'll see you later."

"Yeah, bye."

Bloodpaw took a rook from the pile and pretended it was Rookpaw. She heard the crunch of its bones between her teeth and purred in satisfaction. Across from her all the other apprentices were eating together. She was the reject.

"Bloodpaw, come eat with us!" Flightfeather called.

Bloodpaw came over. Flightfeather generally ate with Weaverwing and Yarrowleaf but today she was with Sapclaw.

That's odd. Didn't she reject him once?

"Hello Flightfetaher."

"Hi. Did Weaverwing tell you the news?"

"What news?"

"He's going to be a father!"

"Oh, Flightfeather, that's wonderful."

"Isn't it? That's why he's been so stressed lately. And I asked Sapclaw to be the foster parent, so he's-"

"The what?"

"Foster parent. Every pair of mates can choose a cat to look after their kit if they die or can't look after them."

"Does every cat have one?"

"Every cat."

Bloodpaw shivered. Why was she never given one? Or did they just refuse her like her father did?

"Who's mine?"

Sapclaw stood up. "well, I have to go on a patrol now."

Flightfeather just flicked her tail at him. "Sorry, Bloodpaw, but I don't know."

"Oh."

"You should ask either your father, Magpiestar or Rainysky. They might know."

"okay. Thanks Flightfeather. And congratulations."

Bloodpaw walked straight past Wisp and the other apprentices. Rookpaw stuck her tongue out at her but Bloodpaw didn't care.

"Rainysky? Are you there?"

Rainysky's head popped out from under fern curtains. "Yes?"

"I wondered if you could answer something for me."

"Well…alright come in."

Bloodpaw walked in and sat down. It was cool under the tree that made her den. The smell of fresh herbs left a pleasant aroma around her fur and the stagnate pool of water reflected the rows and rows of leaves. Rainysky was busy sorting herbs.

"I want to know who my foster parent is. The one my parents assigned."

Rainysky looked up at her. "What makes you think I know?"

"You're a medicine cat, you should know."

"Alright, if I must tell you. But on one condition."

"Yes?" she mewed impatiently.

"You go look for some herbs for me."

"I'm not allowed out without Magpiestar, Weaverwing or Rookpaw."

"Take Rookpaw."

"But we have training now. And Rookpaw-"

"Don't talk badly about Rookpaw! Do you want to know or not?"

"Yes."

"Good. The fact of the matter is. You don't have one anymore."

"What do you mean by anymore?"

"He died just a quarter-moon before you were born. Of course, they should've made you a new one but they never did."

"Who was this cat? What was his name?"

"Harshstone."

"Harshstone."

"That's what I said. The problem was that he was in NightClan so it was never announced and he couldn't have taken care of you even if he hadn't died."

"Why'd she choose a NightClan warrior?"

"There was a cat called Emptyskies-"

"Who moved from there to here."

"Yes. Her brother's kit was Harshstone. She trusted Emptyskis very much and from the start she became friends with her kin in NightClan."

"How did he die?"

"Old age."

"Thanks Rainysky."

"Now go fetch me herbs. Marigold, tansy and alder bark. You know what they look like. And if you don't Rookpaw will. Don't come back until you find them. Thank you."

Bloodpaw found Rookpaw in her group.

"Rookpaw."

"What do you want? No you cannot join us."

"We have to go herb hunting."

"What?" she fumed.

Bloodpaw was enjoying this.

"That's right. You and I have to go looking for herbs. Together. If you ditch me, you'll be in so much trouble."

"But I have better things to do."

"Guess your day's ruined."

"I'm going to tell Magpiestar."

"Fine. Let's see what happens. Rainysky ordered us too."

Rookpaw would've exploded from rage but she held herself back. Her friends were watching.

"Let's hurry so we don't miss our training session where I'll shred you."

"I'd like to see you try."

"You finch-dung!"

Bloodpaw couldn't help grinning. "Maybe you should tell your kin to reassign who I have to walk around with."

They left the camp, one fuming, and the other happier than she'd been for a long time.

"Tansy, what does tansy look like, and where can we find it?" Bloodpaw asked.

"I am so sick of babysitting you! You don't know what tansy is, you didn't know what marigold was and now we'll be late for training. There it is!"

The little plant was just ahead. Bloodpaw picked the stems held it tightly in her jaws.

"Can you carry this?"

"And put my mouth on your saliva? No chance."

Bloodpaw shrugged. She was enjoying this way more than she would've thought possible.

"Okay, now all we got is alder bark left to find."

Bloodpaw followed Rookpaw to one of trees and started pulling off bark. Rookpaw pricked her ears. The sounds of happy apprentices was coming from somewhere close by.

"Ugh! They've already started."

Bloodpaw crammed the bark into her already full mouth. "All we have to do 's get ack oo amp."

"What?"

Bloodpaw dropped her bundle. "All we have to do is get back to camp."

Rookpaw shook her head. "No, you take it back to camp, I am going training."

"But I have to-"

"That, is your problem, Bloodydeath. Magpiestar made such a stupid edidion, expecting me to stick with a delinquent like you. Besides, she'll let me get away with it."

Bloodpaw looked at her in anger but Rookpaw was already running away. The coward!

Bloodpaw wordlessly picked up all the herbs and made it back to camp.

"Here Rainysky." She said quickly, and started dashing to join her den mates.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Magpiestar! I was just going to the training area."
"with whom?"

"Well, Rookpaw left me in the forest so I came back. I was going to wait for Weaverwing but I don't think he's here."

"I think you would've gone by yourself to the training grounds."

"No." Bloodpaw lied.

"Well, I will have to take you then."

"Okay."

"Why were you in the forest in the first place?"

"Collecting herbs with Rookpaw for Rainysky."

Magpiestar nodded.

"She ran away and said that you'd let her get away with it."

Magpiestar barely flicked her ears. "It's your fault for letting her go."

"If I hadn't, you would have punished me."

Magpiestar glared at her. "Go back to camp. You're to stay there for a moon. That's not the way you treat your leader."

Bloodpaw did so. She didn't care about Magpiestar anymore.

Why is it that Rookpaw gets away with insulting her leader, but I have to stay in camp a whole moon?

Poor Bloodpaw! Now she can't leave it at all.