I'm back! In case you were wondering, this gives you some more stuff on the whole medicine cat thingy. I got all the herbs from Warriors Wiki, which is pretty much where I will get all my herb names. Poor Thunderkit!

I still don't own Warriors! :(

The walls of fire went on endlessly. Thunderkit had been squealing ever since she saw the fire, but for the last few moments, she had gone limp and quiet. Rosepetal wasn't sure whether or not this was a good sign. Could you die from breathing in too much smoke? Riversong would know, but she wasn't supposed to treat any cats anymore, not after Willowstar's big announcement.

But she shouldn't dwell on the past. The sun never rose behind a cat, as her mother Dawnwind would remind her. She knew that the sun always rose and that it always went up over the ocean, but she wasn't meaning it literally. If a cat never turned to look at the sunrise they would never see the sunrise, and they wouldn't be able to enjoy the moment of peaceful clarity.

She could see a break in the flames and took the chance before it was gone. For a second, she felt like the wind. Like the soaring clouds far above the rest of the world. And then she was back, claws deep into the ground. The fire had thankfully been stopped by the shoreline of the Forever-Water, and the rest of Waveclan huddled between the red and the blue. It was a strange sight that none of the Waveclan cats liked. Rosepetal herself understood- living between to enemies was the opposite of life here on the island. Freedom and the right to speak was of the utmost importance, and peace was found from either end of the island. To be trapped was their worst nightmare.

Willowstar was perched at the top of a washed-up log, her fur dirty and coal-black. She purred a welcome to Rosepetal and congratulated her on her courage and upstanding moral.

"Thank you, Willowstar. I am flattered- any cat would have done what I did if they had the chance." Rosepetal dipped her head in a slight bow, for this was how Willowstar liked to be introduced. A pang of curiosity went through Rosepetal's heart. Would any cat do what she did, to save the kit of a traitor?

"You are so humble, Rosepetal. I am happy to see that you are fitting into your medicine cat role so efficiently." Willowstar licked her back fur, leaving a trace of blue-gray. It was strange, but two thoughts ran through Rosepetal's head at that moment; One, she wasn't so sure that 'efficiently' was the best description of her newest role. She had 'efficiently' freaked out, again and again, almost poison someone, and try to feed someone cobwebs!

But that wasn't the main thought in her head. The way that Willowstar was so absolutely caked on with coal dust and blackened leaves reminded Rosepetal of someone… But she just couldn't put her paw on the cat.

"Thunderkit!" Suddenly, Riversong broke through the crowd in a weak gait. Her hind leg had been permanently damaged by Nightclaw-

Nightclaw! That was who Willowstar had reminded her of- just without the piercing blue eyes. But why was Nightclaw jumping into her mind now? Hate rolled through her like the crashing waves out on the Forever-Water. He had almost killed Riversong. If she hadn't fed him those berries in time… Well, Rosepetal reminded herself, there is no sense having the sunrise behind you.

The frail blue-gray queen limped up to her only kit and began to lick her coat clean. She avoided looking at Willowstar but kept on glancing at Rosepetal like she wasn't sure whether or not to like her anymore. She paused and tried to help out Riversong, but got swatted in the nose.

Is that what I get for saving her kit? Her nose stung, but it was her heart that ached the most. Riversong used to be her best friend. They grew up together in nursery, were trained together with littermate mentors, Feathertail and Stormypelt. And suddenly Riversong hated her. It was more confusing than if a mouse sprouted wings.

She wasn't blind either. Rosepetal was the new medicine cat, but with full acceptance from Riversong! She had even specifically asked for Rosepetal to become the medicine cat. For a while, she had helped out, and then she suddenly stopped. It made her head spin.

Her tail sagging, she slinked off to the outskirts of the makeshift camp. Flickerpaw and Owlpaw were staring up at the ball of flames with horror. She made her way over to them, checking for any signs of burns or cuts. Thankfully, the only injuries were of their emotions.

"I can't believe it, Owlpaw." The tom slowly made out. His amber eyes reflected the fire like a crystal pool.

"It's crazy. I was dreaming about swimming in the Shaded Pool when the fire came." Owlpaw murmured. Rosepetal found it strange that cats would still be focused on what they were doing instead of what they should do. After a slow sweep around the camp, she discovered that only one cat needed burn treatment and another that needed some comfrey root, but otherwise everyone had their minds on what was lost. Rosepetal couldn't help but feel a jumble of emotions- Why hadn't anyone set out on a patrol or otherwise to get a safe sleeping spot? Why couldn't she heal the inside wounds of her clanmates?

It was then that Thunderkit walked up to her, head low and tail drooped. "Thank you for saving me because of my lack of courage."

It took a second for Rosepetal to understand what she was saying. "Oh, honey, why would you be the blame? You are a five moon old kit, for Star Clan's sake!"

"Willowstar says that I should have heard it when she called me," Thunderkit mumbled. Rosepetal never understood why she was named Thunderkit. It was such a strange name to give a kit like Thunderkit. Whispkit, Breezekit, Dewkit, Shadekit, Shadowkit, or… Or Nightkit. Nightkit would have made so much sense for the all-black kit that seemed to shrink up around others, like the dark night. But someone had already made that name infamous. "But I didn't hear her over the wind."

Rosepetal didn't remember anyone trying to save Thunderkit, but all the same, she just couldn't seem to be able to picture Willowstar running away instead of after Thunderkit. Maybe she had tried and failed, or gone the wrong way and gotten so dirty. The small kit looked over her shoulder and mumbled something about, 'listeners'. She looked back at Rosepetal and craned her small neck to reach Rosepetal's ear.

"Chamomile." With that, the kitten raced back to her mother. Rosepetal sat down in stunned silence. Chamomile… Chamomile… Cham… Cam… Calm! Rosepetal lept to her feet and raced towards the forest line, which was thankfully untouched by the fire. No one noticed her leaving except maybe Willowstar and Redblaze, but they were having a deep discussion with Riversong. Rosepetal did a double-take. Riversong's ears were laid back, her fangs bared, and eyes flashing. And as much as Rosepetal wanted to stay here, working for her clan, her memories burst through like lightning from a storm.

Memories about a certain Nightclaw. And the day that first warned her about his true intentions.

"Wake up, Rosy!"

"No-o-o-o-o-o…" Rosepetal mumbled. She could scent Riversong, her strong smell of the salty beach air. Even without it, only two people in the clan dared to call her Rosy: Riversong and her mate, Nightclaw.

"I want you to be with me when I give the announcement." Rosepetal slowly opened her eyes. For all her bravo about working and diligently obeying her leader, she never liked waking up on time. Sure, when she was awake, she preached about watching the sunrise, but when she was this tired… Last night she had been on vigil for the old leader of Waveclan, Shellstar, who had died earlier yesterday. It had been pronounced old age, which wasn't surprising. Rosepetal and Riversong liked to joke and make fun of Shellstar all throughout their apprenticeship. He had been old and graying, more and elder than a leader.

The worst part was what had happened after his death. His deputy, Gullwing, had been his mate his entire life, and upon seeing his lifeless form, she fell to the ground and died no more than a moment later. They had to bury both of their leaders, which was not a thing to take lightly. So Riversong had been appointed to consult Starclan over who to choose.

Only a day later, and she already knew. Rosepetal let it sink in that her best friend had the future of Waveclan in her safe paws, then she got out of her nest. Nightclaw was waiting outside of the den, an air-light expression on his face.

"Did you catch a gull?" Rosepetal inquired. It was common practice to go Gull Catching, but it was easier to hunt mice and voles than jump after screeching gulls, so the hunting on the beach wasn't taken very seriously and often was a way for young apprentices to show their skills. It had been moons since their apprenticeship but Nightclaw enjoyed relieving stress by going out Gulling, as he called it. Without a leader for the clan, Rosepetal had a good idea that the gull flock was missing multiple flyers.

"Yes, but that isn't what it is!" Nightclaw practically chirped. He pranced in circles around the she-cats and randomly licked Riversong's fur. With every lick, she rolled her eyes, but Rosepetal had been friends with her too long to not see it.

"What's wrong, Riv?" She whispered when Nightclaw was farther away on his loop. She glanced at him before answering.

"Promise you won't tell anyone yet?"

"'Course, Riv." They paused to let Nightclaw come back around, and Riversong practically shrunk into her fur with guilt.

"Well, the new leader of Waveclan is-" Suddenly, a gull flock flew overhead and the following shrieks outweighed anything Riversong was trying to say. "And I don't think that Nightclaw is going to like the new leader."

But they had already reached the High Stone before Rosepetal could ask again. Cursing Starclan, she waited patiently as Riversong made her way up the small stones to the biggest one, High Stone. Was it just Rosepetal, or did Riversong seem much sicker than she was a couple of sunset's ago? Did she catch something? Or was the leader's name causing her to be emotionally sick?

"Cat's of Waveclan- I have two announcements today." Huh? "The first announcement will be quicker, so I will start there.

"My clanmates, I am pleased to tell you that I will be expecting a litter of kits around Full-Leaf." Cheers rang throughout the gathered cats. A new litter of kits!

"Their father is my mate, Nightclaw." A few of the toms laughed and butted heads with Nightclaw, forgetting their deceased leader and deputy momentarily.

"On a more serious note." Riversong paused so that all cats had their eyes on her. But she didn't fidget or squirm. "I have consulted with Starclan,"

"Get on with it!" Stormypelt, a new warrior, yowled. Some cats nodded, but most shushed the younger cats. They knew that Riversong would not hedge out her statements. This was important. Riversong waited, then opened her mouth. Her words echoed throughout the small clearing.

"They have informed me that Willowspirit will be the new leader of Waveclan." Rosepetal joined in on the boisterous calls and howls as the clan celebrated. Willowspirit was the best warrior there was, devoting her life to her duties. She had gone days without eating for kits and elders before, had spent moons hunting down treacherous animals and fearsome strays that dared to attack Waveclan.

But one lonely voice rose above them all. A pitch-black tom had risen to his haunches, blue eyes ablaze. "NO! How could you, Riversong!"

His ears were laid back, his fangs bared, and his eyes flashing at his new leader. Poor Riversong, thought Rosepetal, Having to defy her mates wishes in order to listen to Starclan. Poor Nightclaw, already pitted against the greatest warrior the island had ever seen.

Rosepetal shook off the memory and avoided the arguing cats, moving to the forest. Chamomile! Why hadn't she thought of that? A herb especially for easing emotional wounds and broken hearts!

This is why Riversong should be the medicine cat. Rosepetal couldn't help but think. At least she hasn't almost poisoned anybody!

That last line is called irony. By the way, I was going to have another cat (guess who it is in the reviews.) die in the fire but didn't want to be that cheesy melodramatic author that I so despise when I read fan fictions- (Hint- anyone who has the main characters loved ones suddenly die all together or slowly in front of him but the main character still grows up to be a hero and not some messed up cat that can't leave his den.) Also- I wish I had some Chamomile!