DISCLAIMER: THE WARRIORS SERIES AND ANY CHARACTERS IN THE ORIGINAL ARCS (Firestar, Spottedleaf, Thunderstar, Riverstar, Windstar, Shadowstar, Mothflight, Ravenpaw, and Barley) BELONG TO ERIN HUNTER AND ANY OTHERS AFFILIATED WITH MAKING THE SERIES. I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO USE ALL THE CHARACTERS IN THIS FANFICTION AS WELL AS ANY OTHERS MENTIONED IN THE DISCLAIMER OF THE ORIGINAL CAVE OF STARS. ALL OTHER CHARACTERS ARE FREE TO USE.

(3) Briarpaw and Doefrost

Before the events of The Cave of Stars…

Briarpaw had first met Doefrost shortly after her apprenticeship had begun. Mossear was visiting the Moonpool and took her along. She'd remembered him mentioning that there were some apprentices she could chat with, but altogether, she was more interested in the actual Moonpool.

ShadowClan's medicine cat was an older she-cat named Brokenflight. Her paw had been rendered immobile in her youth, Mossear had told her, and she didn't go out often. When she did, she was usually accompanied by her apprentice.

Doefrost, then Doepaw, stuck to Brokenflight like a tick on a ThunderClan cat's coat. She was mostly fawn-colored, with white spots all over her and blue-green eyes. She was kind and compassionate and when she'd helped Brokenflight up to the Moonpool, she'd come back so that she and Briarpaw could talk. They'd become fast friends quickly, with Doepaw (who'd been apprenticed before Briarpaw) telling her all she knew so far about the Moonpool so that Briarpaw wouldn't make a fool of herself.

It seemed as if, back then, Doepaw would never grow old, and her smile was always stuck on her face, bringing joy to all who saw it.

After the events of The Cave of Stars…

"Doefrost?" Briarpaw whispered as she ducked into the ShadowClan medicine den. She'd snuck in late at night, so the only light to see by was the moon filtering through the pine trees.

"Who's there?" said a hiss, and Doefrost emerged from the shadows. She caught sight of Briarpaw and relaxed. "Oh, it's you."

"I snuck in," Briarpaw said proudly.

"Cool," said Doefrost, giving her a small smile. If they were back to six moons old, she would've been ecstatic, Briarpaw thought sadly, but the times are different.

"I just wanted to talk," Briarpaw said. "Just make sure you're okay."

"Briarpaw, it's fine," Doefrost sighed, seeming much older than she was – at seven moons, Doefrost was younger than Briarpaw's nine.

"You don't look fine, Doefrost," Briarpaw replied.

At her name, Doefrost flinched. "Don't – don't call me that, Briarpaw, please."

"Why not?" Briarpaw tipped her head to the side, emphasizing the question. "Aren't you happy that you're a full medicine cat?"

"But I'm not." Doefrost looked back at her sadly. "I'm not, Briarpaw. I was given my full name because my mentor died – I don't know anything. Rushwillow and Moonheart, they've been a big help, but I'm not ready."

When Briarpaw didn't say anything, she continued, "And he – Shadestar – he gave me that name. I was forced to grow up, don't you see? I'm not ready to be a medicine cat – I've seen too much, and not enough at the same time. I'm barely over the age of an apprentice but he needed a medicine cat to show that everything was fine. But it's not fine. I'm not fine." The tears were flowing now, and they dripped down Doefrost's chin onto the floor.

"I would give anything to be a 'paw again."

She seemed so broken, more damaged than Brokenflight's paw had ever been. Shadestar and his reign had forced them all to grow up, but her most of all. Briarpaw could see the horror and the trauma in her eyes: learning her mentor was dead, finding out later that it was her own Clanmate who'd killed her, having to be strong, be better, be older than she was. She'd been aged prematurely, and it was taking a toll on her. Those blue-green eyes weren't as light as before, didn't sparkle with joy anymore.

"Doepaw, then," Briarpaw had whispered, and alone in the medicine cat den, she let the younger she-cat lean on her, cry freely.

She'd cried too. And as the predawn light fell on them and turned Briarpaw's white fur silver, Doepaw had asked her to give her a different warrior name.

"Doeblossom," Briarpaw had said, "for a cat that never got the chance to fully bloom."

My first time writing something w/ hurt/comfort in it! I feel like Doefrost's trauma could've been better written, but oh well...