Chapter Twenty:

Jewelpaw walked silently through her new den. Part of her was proud and excited that she was actually an apprentice, part of her was curious about things Tinyfoot told her to stay away from and wondering about each herb and what they did. Of course, she had payed attention to Tinyfoot and Tendereye before, but now, it all seemed much more interesting and important.

"What are you doing awake already?" Tinyfoot asked, smiling a little.

"I was curious." She decided just to be honest with him. "I want to learn everything!"

"You can't learn everything overnight, Jewelpaw. Come on, we have to check on Whirlwind, make sure he's alright. Then we have to make sure Graypaw is alright after the snake."

Jewelpaw followed him to her father. She rushed up to him.

"Hey, Jewelpaw!" purred Whirlwind. "How's it going, being the medicine cat apprentice?"

"Amazing! We have to check on you."

Tinyfoot snorted. "I was going to be much more subtle and more dignified than that, but she's so honest, so...come on, Whirlwind, how have you been feeling?"

Whirlwind smiled, licking his daughter's cheek. "I've been fine. My shoulder still bugs me once in a while, but other than that..."

"Good." Tinyfoot sniffed his injuries. "Hmm. Don't overdo anything, Whirlwind. Come to me tomorrow, just in case." He tapped Jewelpaw's shoulder. "We have to go check on Graypaw."

They trotted to Tinyfoot's den, where Graypaw had just recently woken. "Hey," Graypaw meowed. "You could've brought me food. Am I allowed to leave yet?"

Tinyfoot sniffed his snakebite, and then pushed on it lightly with his paw. When Graypaw winced and pulled away, Tinyfoot turned to Jewelpaw.

"Horsetail, Jewelpaw. It is long and green and stringy, and it is next to the marigold in my stocks," ordered Tinyfoot.

Jewelpaw nodded, walking in to the den.

Graypaw sat up a little, stretching his not aching muscles. "She was always interested in becoming a medicine cat, even when she was young. Except, then, she wanted to be a warrior or a leader. Mostly since she wanted more than just being a medicine cat."

"Yes. Cats always want more than they have. I can only hope Jewelpaw doesn't go searching for more, like Tendereye did."

Graypaw was surprised his respected medicine cat brought this up, but he didn't respond.

"Is it this one?" asked Jewelpaw, dropping stringy green leaves by her mentor.

"Yes, well done," Tinyfoot chewed them up and put them on Graypaw's shoulder bite. "So, you chew up horsetail like you do marigold and put it on the injuries. They both prevent...uh, um...they both prevent infection and help heal injuries."

Jewelpaw nodded. "What else am I going to learn today?"

"We're going to collect herbs. We're running low on some."

"Neat! I want to learn everything!"

Tinyfoot smiled at her. "You may go now, Graypaw. Come on, Jewelpaw. You can learn everything."

They walked silently through the undergrowth to Tinyfoot's favorite patch of catmint. "This is called catmint," Tinyfoot told her, picking as many leaves as he could. "Catmint is for greencough, whitecough, and blackcough, all of which are very dangerous, potentially fatal if not diagnosed in time. They are also common in this season of leaf-bare."

"Oh," murmured Jewelpaw, helping Tinyfoot carry some.

"This is thyme. It helps cats sleep and helps with shock. Has similar effects to poppy seeds, but the poppy seeds are for sleeping and pain."

She nodded. "Tinyfoot, what are these bright red berries?" she asked. "Do they heal anything?"

"Don't touch those!" He snarled, leaping in between her and the bush. "Those are death berries. Three of them can kill a kit. Five can kill a warrior. Don't ever let cats near that. I thought you learned that when you were a kit."

Jewelpaw shook her head. "We weren't allowed out of camp. There were never deathberry bushes nearby."

"Oh," Tinyfoot allowed him to relax. She had understood his point. "Don't ever experiment with those. They are too dangerous."

"Okay. Thanks, Tinyfoot."

They finally walked back to camp, carrying both herbs back to camp and putting them in to the stocks.

Jewelpaw trotted out to her siblings, who were sitting silently next to each other, eating their mid day meal.

"Hey Jewelpaw," meowed Simplepaw.

Anglepaw offered her a fish, which she took gladly.

"How's your two's second day?" mewed Jewelpaw between bites.

Anglepaw shrugged, silently. Simplepaw meowed excitedly, "I caught my first fish! I got to eat it too!"

Jewelpaw licked Anglepaw's ear. "I guess you didn't catch anything."

"I'm clumsy and clueless and no good at anything," growled Anglepaw grumpily.

"Oh, that is so not true! You've been amazing! With practice, you'll be great." Jewelpaw knew she was exaggerating just a little, but she knew no other way to make her brother happier.

Anglepaw gave a sad, disgruntled nod. Simplepaw, surprisingly, was able to not laugh and tease his brother. "So, how's it being a medicine cat apprentice?" asked Simplepaw.

"Good," mumbled Jewelpaw. "My mentor is really cool."

Simplepaw and Anglepaw both smiled at her. "We're glad. Take care, little sister. We have fight practice." They got up and trotted away.

Sadly, Jewelpaw watched them leave. She felt just a little lonely.