"Cause if you never leave home, never let go, You'll never make it to the great unknown till you, Keep your eyes open, my love, So tell me you're strong, tell me you see, I need to hear it, can you promise me to, Keep your eyes open, my love..." Keep Your Eyes Open, NEEDTOBREATHE

CHAPTER NINE

There was going to be a Gathering tonight. Blazepaw was practically buzzing with excitement at the thought. This would be his first Gathering, and he didn't want anything to go wrong. Which was why he did everything he could to make sure he could go.

For the last few days, Blazepaw had been practicing his fighting moves. His muscles were getting stronger, and he had gotten better at hunting. Fuzzytail was actually impressed with how much stronger he had gotten. Blazepaw hoped that it was enough to let him to to the Gathering.

"Hey Blazepaw, have you seen Amberlight's kits yet?" Fallenleaf was the first to approach him when he emerged from the apprentice's den. Two days ago she and her siblings had received their warrior names. Mudstripe and Plumwhisker were out on patrol somewhere. "They're so cute!"

Blazepaw half expected her to ramble on about how cute he was as a kit, than he flushed under his fur at the thought. Fallenleaf was a warrior, and he was just an apprentice.

"No, not yet," he admitted with a shrug. Kits were always a good sign for the Clan. But with leafbare on the way, it also meant more mouths to feed. "Aren't you worried they might not make it through leafbare?" Fallenleaf flinched as if he'd struck her with his claws.

"Why would you think of that?" she asked in a quiet voice.

"Don't know," he replied with another shrug. "Just a concern of mine." He looked over his shoulder in time to see a gloomy looking Poppypaw watching them. With one wave of his tail he mewed goodbye to Fallenleaf and padded over to his denmate. "What's wrong with you?" he asked curiously.

"Grayleaf wants me to be her apprentice," Poppypaw grumbled. Her voice was full of annoyance as she stared down at her paws. "All because I can heal stupid wounds with my powers!" Blazepaw couldn't help but flinch at the distress rolling off of her in waves.

"What?" Blazepaw's head tilted to one side in confusion. "I thought you could see colors or something, not heal." Poppypaw only shook her head in frustration.

"I wish that was all I could do," she replied. "But two days ago I discovered that I could heal wounds as well. And your color is… yellow," she quickly added after giving him a look of confusion. Blazepaw shrugged once again after realizing she must know how confused he was as well.

Blazepaw nodded in understanding. He could see why she was so upset. She had been so excited about becoming a warrior apprentice. And now she was being forced into becoming something against her will. All because of some power that she had.

"I'm sure you'll figure something out," he reassured her. "Maybe I could teach you battle moves that I learn." For a moment hope sparked within her eyes, but it only lasted for a heartbeat before she looked down at her paws again.

"But it wouldn't be the same," she murmured halfheartedly. "I wanted to go on patrols and explore the forest as a warrior, not look for herbs and heal wounds all the time." The look she gave him was a desperate one this time. Blazepaw wasn't sure what to do or say at this moment.

"I bet there's a lot you'll learn as a medicine cat," he meowed in a hopeful tone. "I mean, I wouldn't mind being able to share tongues with StarClan or learn some special healing herbs." He knew that it was a lie. He'd much rather go hunting and spend time with his Clanmates than share tongues with StarClan. But Poppypaw needed a friend now more than ever.

"Yeah, right. Because that sounds so much more exciting," Poppypaw muttered with a roll of her eyes. Blazepaw almost laughed at her retort. She really was a lot like him, in more ways than he realized. Maybe that was why they got along so well.

"Poppypaw, time to go out!" Grayleaf's yowl sounded from across the clearing. Poppypaw let out a groan and stood up before looking at Blazepaw pleadingly. He only shrugged and gestured for her to follow.

Blazepaw gave her a sympathetic nod as she disappeared through the thorn tunnel entrance. Once she was gone he focused on the patch of leaves that were left over from leaffall. He remembered admiring them when he was a kit. Even if it had only been less than a moon ago, it still felt like ages ago.

He suddenly wished that he had a power like Poppypaw. She had two powers for StarClan's sake! How was that fair? Blazepaw shook his head and continued staring at the leaves, when his eyes widened in disbelief. The leaves had suddenly begun to catch fire!

His heartbeat quickened as the leaves began to change from a crisp golden to black. The flames flickered out as quickly as they had started, leaving behind a charred pile of leaves on the clearing. He suddenly looked around fearfully, wondering if anyone had been watching. Fortunately everyone seemed distracted at the moment.

I think I just found my power, he realized. And this was a power that could be useful. He looked down at his paws and noticed they were now the same colors as the flames that appeared earlier. It wasn't long before they turned back to normal. I could make use of this, he thought with a triumphant smirk.

...

"With there being a Gathering tonight, I want to make sure that my supply of herbs are well stocked," Grayleaf meowed as she sorted through a pile of bitter-smelling leaves. Poppypaw wrinkled her nose in disgust at the smell, suddenly wishing she was back in the apprentice's den.

Why couldn't Grayleaf see that this wasn't the right path for her? She desperately wanted to go back to training as a warrior apprentice. Sorrelfern had even said that she had learned quickly. And that was only thanks to practicing with Blazepaw.

"Poppypaw, I know that you're upset," Grayleaf sighed when she noticed how annoyed Poppypaw looked. "But this path is one that StarClan set for you. I only wish that you would accept it." Poppypaw only glared back when Grayleaf looked away.

"Yeah, well StarClan can suck it," she hissed under her breath. She didn't miss the way Grayleaf had flinched when she said that. Good. Maybe Grayleaf was regretting her decision already. She had already promised that she would make this training as miserable for Grayleaf as possible.

You can't make me do something against my will, she thought angrily. Her claws dug into the ground as Grayleaf gathered the herbs they had come out for. Once she had enough under her chin, Grayleaf led her back to the camp.

The two of them returned to camp in uncomfortable silence. Poppypaw could see that Grayleaf was trying to stay calm throughout the situation. The aura around her was changing from purple to red very quickly. Grayleaf's tail twitched every now and than with annoyance.

Poppypaw tried not to smirk in triumph at the sight. It may be considered selfish, but she was enjoying the sight. Maybe Grayleaf would learn that Poppypaw wasn't one to be taken so lightly. She was determined to show them all that she could be more than just a medicine cat.

"Are you always going to be this angry?" Grayleaf's question made Poppypaw jump in surprise. The medicine cat had suddenly stopped in her tracks, dropping her herbs gently so that she was looking at Poppypaw sternly.

"If it means not becoming a medicine cat, than yes," Poppypaw nearly spat the words out. Grayleaf visibly flinched and looked away this time. Poppypaw looked at her aura again and noticed that it had changed from purple to a grayish blue. "I never asked to become one," she finally muttered in a softer voice.

"I understand your anger," Grayleaf meowed, touching Poppypaw's shoulder with her tail. "When I was your age I wasn't sure what path I should take. But then Jayfeather began showing me what I could do with herbs…. I never realized how helpful I could be without having to hurt others."

Poppypaw curled her lips in disgust. What sort of cat was afraid of getting their claws dirty? Then she thought back to how her mother had said how ugly battle could be. Cats died because of it. Hollystar had already lost a few lives because of it. Suddenly she looked down at her paws shamefully.

"But it's not what I want," she murmured. Grayleaf only sighed and shook her head. She might suddenly be regretting that she had altered Poppypaw's destiny. But it didn't change what the young cat could do. And that was why she had chosen the path she did.

"Come along," Grayleaf told her. "There's something I'd like to show you." With that being said, she picked the herbs up and padded back into camp, with Poppypaw trailing after her in confusion. She hoped that whatever Grayleaf had to show her was useful.

Blazepaw was already gone along with the other apprentices by the time they got back. Poppypaw looked around anxiously and sighed once again. She suddenly wished that she was with them instead of being stuck here. She never felt more alone than now.

Grayleaf only led her to the nursery after dropping off her herbs in the back of the den. Confusion swept over Poppypaw once again when she saw Amberlight laying peacefully in her nest. The pale golden queen looked up in surprise when Grayleaf dropped a bundle of borage on her nest. Poppypaw recognized it from when she was a kit.

"How are the kits doing?" she asked as Amberlight took the herbs gratefully. Borage was used to increase a queen's supply of milk. Poppypaw could still remember what Grayleaf had described when she gave it to her mother.

"They're a bit noisy at times," Amberlight replied while looking at her kits happily. "But I wouldn't want it any other way." Poppypaw looked down at the two kits nestled at her belly. They had been born only a couple of days ago.

She had to admit, the kits did look cute. Poppypaw shook her head in confusion once more. What was Grayleaf trying to prove? But when she looked at the medicine cat, she saw a look of satisfaction in her eyes. The medicine cat meowed her goodbye before leaving Amberlight in peace with her kits. Poppypaw was quick to follow.

"That, that is what makes being a medicine cat worth it," Grayleaf sighed once they were far enough away. "To see the kits that you helped bring to this world become apprentices, and eventually warriors. There's nothing more rewarding."

Poppypaw could almost hear the longing in Grayleaf's voice. She knew what being a medicine cat took. It meant that she couldn't have kits. Not that she wanted any in the first place. But still…. To give up that life must have been hard on Grayleaf.

"Grayleaf, I trust you and Poppypaw will be attending the Gathering tonight?" Poppypaw looked up in surprise to see that Hollystar had joined them. Despite her old age she still moved like a young cat. Poppypaw had always admired Hollystar because of that.

"Of course," Grayleaf replied almost at once. Then her eyes lit with understanding when she noticed Hollystar's anxiety. Poppypaw hadn't missed it either, and tilted her head to one side curiously.

"We're making the decision tonight," she added in a quiet voice. "I have already spoken with the Clan, and we have made our decision clear." Grayleaf looked at her leader warily, as if her words had sparked an old memory in her.

"But… it's too soon!" she protested. "I've barely had time to teach her anything."

This time Poppypaw was even more confused than ever. She remembered the argument Hollystar had with the queens before they became apprentices. Something had made her mother worry for days on end. And that something was about to happen tonight.

"I know," Hollystar sighed with a shake of her head. "But we don't have a choice. The other leaders still have to make their decisions."

Grayleaf grumbled under her breath, looking away angrily. "I hope they make the right choice," she muttered crossly.

But what decision are they supposed to make? Poppypaw couldn't help but wonder.

AN: Hooray for fast updates! And things will definitely be getting more interesting next chapter... I've got a big surprise that might make everyone fall off their chairs while they read XD I also just realized that I haven't been capitalizing my chapter titles Oo Silly me making mistakes like that ;D

QOTD: What do you think of Poppypaw's predicament, and Blazepaw's power?

Silverbird22 - It's okay, I don't like her either :P And homework, don't even get me started. I hated having to spend hours away and work on that instead XD

tawnyclaw - It certainly would add to the drama... though I have even bigger plans for the eight in question, as was previously stated :)

Blue1272000 - I might just go ahead and do that :P I love plot twists, especially when you get to see the reactions of readers in the end ;)