Gingerpaw padded into Willowshine's den. The senior medicine cat followed him carrying a thin vole. She placed it near him as she laid down.
"Thanks, but you need it." Gingerpaw said
Willowshine looked up and grabbed the vole. She nibbled at it and then began eating faster, realizing how hungry she really was. Gingerpaw licked his paw and groomed his face. He thought about Blackstripe and how Willowshine reacted.
"You can't have her as a mate." He told himself.
He thought of her. The beautiful black stripes on her gray coat. Her vibrant yellow eyes that were always full of happiness and warmth. The way she always came with him when he gathered herbs.
"I said you can't have her as a mate." Willowshine said
Gingerpaw looked up.
"I...I know. I can still like her though?" He asked
"Yes, just remember to separate your emotions and your duties." Willowshine said
He nodded and continued to groom himself, careful for Willowshine to avoid seeing his eyes.
"I wish I could though." He thought
He shook his head, remembering that she was a warrior and that he was a medicine cat. It was against their code for them to be together.
"Nothing says I can't like her." Gingerpaw thought
He looked over at the herbs, noticing that everything was stocked and ready for any illness in camp. Gingerpaw saw Frosttail come in.
"Got anything for belly aches?" He asked
"For who?" Gingerpaw asked
"Moonkit. He was walking around the territory and I caught a small mouse. I did bring it back and the little guy ate it before I was able to properly place it in the pile." Frosttail said
"It must've been bad. Willowshine, what should we use?" Gingerpaw asked
"Hmm, juniper and a little yarrow, it'll soothe it and he'll vomit up the bad prey. Frosttail, I want you to take the mouse out of the pile and discard it." Willowshine said
The white warrior nodded and ran out of the den. Gingerpaw grabbed the yarrow and juniper.
"Should I grab some honey?" He asked
"No, use the heather nectar." She said
Gingerpaw nodded and grabbed the three herbs. He ran to the nursery and saw Moonkit next to his mother.
"He's been saying that his belly hurts. I think that mouse that Frosttail let him try was tainted." Daisyface said
"He won't die too mom, right?" Honeykit asked
"No, he'll be fine by tomorrow." Gingerpaw said
He grabbed the yarrow and woke the little kit. He looked up with pain in his little blue eyes.
"My belly hurts." He complained
"I know, eat these two. It'll help." Gingerpaw said
The white tom grabbed the two herbs and chewed them up.
"Ugh, the white flower tastes yucky." Moonkit said
He soon jerked and threw up. Gingerpaw saw little pieces of mouse there as he threw up one more time.
"Why'd he throw up?" Daisyface asked
"It was yarrow. It made him throw up the tainted mouse." Gingerpaw said
The queen relaxed as Moonkit groaned.
"Here, have the juniper berry. He should be fine after that." He said
"Thanks." Daisyface said
The ginger tom nodded and headed back to Willowshine's den. He looked up and saw rain clouds start to come in.
"Well, that'll take away the snow." He thought
He walked into her den and saw the medicine cat sleeping in her area as he headed over to his. He licked his paw and groomed his face one last time before laying down. He thought of Blackstripe one last time and closed his green eyes. He awoke in a beautiful place that he recognized as Starclan. He saw Firestar and his mate laying next to one another as Leafpool padded over. He noticed a little copy of Berrytail next to her and she looked up at him.
"Applekit." He said
"Hi Gingerpaw." The little kit said
"I'm...I'm so sorry that you're gone." He said
"I know, but I still miss Honeykit, Moonkit, and mom. Thanks for helping him." She said
"No problem." He said
The red/white she-cat looked up at him, her gray eyes shining with happiness.
"Tell them I'm here, and that I'm watching over them." She said
The kit bounded away, leaving Gingerpaw with Leafpool.
"It is sad when a kit dies. But, it was meant to be." She said
"Daisyface has gone through a lot." He said
"Yes, now I would like to tell you again, watch for signs. They're all over the place. Now, a quick word too, something lightning creates is to die." Leafpool said
The medicine cat bounded off to a black tom and nuzzled his flank, she gave him one last look of caution as she walked off with him. Gingerpaw fell out of the sky and woke up. Willowshine slept on and he automatically knew he had to go to the nursery. He got up and silently walked out. He saw the moon shimmer in the sky as he found his way.
"They'll know it was important that I came." He thought
He entered and saw the queen and her two kits sleeping. He nudged Honeykit and she jumped, which awoke Daisyface and Moonkit.
"Don't kill me too!" Honeykit squealed
"No, it's me Gingerpaw." He said
"Gingerpaw, what is it? It the middle of the night." Daisyface said
"I know, but I had a dream from Starclan." He said
"And it concerns us?" Daisyface asked
"Well, not exactly. Someone told me to tell you something." He said
"Who?" Moonkit asked
"Applekit." He said
Honeykit's eyes lit up as she heard her sisters name. She got up and pricked her ears, eager to know more.
"She told me that she made it to Starclan and that she's watching you three. She misses her siblings and her mom. But, Leafpool said she was meant to go." He said
"Thanks. It means a lot to me to know Applekit is up there." Honeykit said
"Me too." Daisyface said
He nodded and walked out of the den and returned to his own. He laid down and closed his eyes, still wondering about the other part of his dream.
"What lightning makes is going to die? What does that mean?" He thought
Gingerpaw drifted into sleep, a peaceful dream came that allowed him to be free from the shackles of being a medicine cat and to the embraced arms of love.