Chapter 2

Ripplekit wiggled his haunches, before pouncing on Minnowkit. The silver she-kit let out a surprised gasp, before pushing her brother away. Ripplekit smirked, before diving back onto her. As the two wrestled, Ripplekit felt a tightening in his chest, causing him to have to pull away.

As he sat there wheezing, Minnowkit growled, "You're no fun anymore!"

Ripplekit glared at her. "You know I can't help it," he rasped.

It had been a moon since RiverClan's camp burned down. Since then, the Clan had relocated to an abandoned Twoleg nest that stood on the very outskirts of the forest. It was a bit musty and cold, but it was better than nothing.

"I'm sorry," Minnowkit apologized as she pressed against her brother.

"I know you didn't mean it," he replied, nuzzling her.

Minnowkit smiled, before frowning again. "What if you never get any better?" she whispered, avoiding his gaze.

Ripplekit nudged her. "I'll be fine," he reassured her.

His sister's smile returned once more, causing Ripplekit to smile. He liked when his sister was happy; it made him happy as well. Without warning, Ripplekit launched himself as her again, and they continued their play fight.

Within seconds, Ripplekit felt himself being dragged off of his sister. Glancing up, he saw that his father, Waveheart, was standing there with a concerned expression plastered across his face.

"You're supposed to be taking it easy," he warned, eyeing his son.

"I am taking it easy," Ripplekit argued.

Waveheart let out a sigh. "Oh really? Because it looks to me as though the two of you are rough-housing."

The two kits flattened their ears to their heads. "We're sorry," Minnowkit squeaked. "We're just trying to have fun."

"I know." Waveheart's gaze softened. "You have to be careful, though. Your brother will never recover properly if he doesn't give his lungs a break."

"Will his lungs be healed properly by the time we become apprentices?" she asked.

Waveheart shrugged. "That's for Nightsky to answer," he replied.

Minnowkit exchanged a glance with her brother, who simply said, "I'm sure I'll be fully healed by then. After all, our apprentice ceremony won't be for another two moons."

"I can't believe you two are almost apprentices," Waveheart murmured. "It feels like just yesterday your mother told me she was expecting kits."

"We're going to be the best apprentices this Clan has ever seen!" Ripplekit promised his father, before batting at the air. "Take that, ThunderClan enemy! And that!"

"You shouldn't speak so ill of ThunderClan after what they did to help us," Nightsky scolded as she walked up.

Ripplekit glared at her. Has she forgotten that ThunderClan is our enemy? he thought.

"I've brought you your medicine," Nightsky said, changing the subject. The black she-cat then dropped a bundle of herbs down in front of Ripplekit.

The little tom eyed the herbs in disgust, before wrinkling his nose. "Do I have to eat it?" he complained.

Nightsky rolled her eyes. "Do you want to get better?"

"Eat it," Minnowkit whispered in his ear.

Ripplekit groaned, before gobbling the disgusting plants down. With every bite he took, he gagged at the bitter taste. When he was finally done, he stuck his tongue out.

"Oh, come on now!" Nightsky protested. "It can't be that bad."

"Well, it is!" Ripplekit retorted.

The medicine cat let out a sigh, before walking away. "I'll be back later tonight with more," she called over her shoulder.

Once she was gone, Ripplekit let out a yawn.

"I think it's time for a nap," Waveheart commented.

"But I'm not tired!" Minnowkit argued, before yawning herself.

Their father chuckled, before leading them over to the spot the nursing queens slept.

"It's time for their nap," Waveheart told Splashflower.

The queen purred, before motioning for her kits to come lie down next to her belly. The two of them nodded, and padded over to their mother. As they settled down, Ripplekit eyed Brambletail. The brown tabby she-cat was laying in the hay next to them, fast asleep.

"Why is she here?" he questioned.

"She's expecting kits," Splashflower answered as she rasped her tongue over his ears.

"When will they be here?" Ripplekit wondered.

"Not for another moon," she said.

"How many will there be?" the little tom asked.

"You sure are full of questions, aren't you?" Splashflower laughed. "We won't know until they're born. Now go to sleep, my brave little warrior.

Ripplekit purred as his mother's tongue ran down his flank. Within moments, he felt his eyelids droop, before falling asleep.


"Nightsky is here with your medicine," Splashflower announced.

Ripplekit sighed and pushed the water vole he was eating away. "Again?" he complained.

"I told you I would be back later tonight," Nightsky reminded him, dropping the herbs as his paws again. As he ate, the medicine cat looked over at Splashflower and asked, "Can you bring him to Morningstar's den when he's done?"

Splashflower's eyes filled with concern. "Has he done something wrong?"

Nightsky shook her head. "No, of course not. We would just like to talk to the both of you about something."

Ripplekit looked at her. Why did Morningstar want to speak with him? Perhaps she's going to make me an apprentice early! At that thought, he gobbled down the herbs as fast as he could, before leaping to his paws.

"I'm ready!" he called out.

Nightsky smiled slightly, before leading the way to where Morningstar slept.

The dark tortoiseshell leader was sitting upright in her nest, quietly grooming her fur. When she saw the group approaching her, her eyes twinkled. "Good evening," she called out, standing to her paws.

"Good evening," Splashflower echoed, taking a seat. Ripplekit sat down next to her, barely able to contain his excitement.

"Nightsky and I have been talking," the RiverClan leader began, glancing at her sister, "and we have come to the conclusion that Ripplekit should become the next medicine cat of RiverClan!"

Ripplekit sat there, shocked. "Absolutely not!" he blurted out. "I want to be a warrior!"

"I'm not sure what's possible anymore," Nightsky commented.

Ripplekit glared at her. "What do you mean? You told me I would be fully recovered by the time I reached six moons!"

"I know I did, and I'm sorry," the medicine cat meowed, before looking over at Splashflower.

The silver queen was silent for a few moments, as if she didn't know what to say. Finally she asked, "Is there any particular reason you think this?"

"Due to the amount of scarring on his lungs, I don't think he'll ever be able to be a proper warrior. Swimming and catching fish would be too much of a challenge for him, especially if he were to accidentally inhale water. It would be much easier on him if he were to train as a medicine cat," Nightsky replied.

"I don't want an easier life! I want to hunt and fight for my Clan," Ripplekit growled angrily.

"You'd get the same amount of satisfaction from healing your Clanmates as you would hunting," Nightsky meowed.

"I don't care," he spat. "I want to be a warrior!" The little tom then glanced at his mother. "Please don't let them force me into becoming a medicine cat," he pleaded.

Splashflower squeezed her eyes shut, lost in thought. Finally she asked, "Can't we at least wait until he's six moons before having this discussion? He might be fully healed by then." The queen then wrapped her plumy tail around her son in an act of comfort.

Ripplekit purred and pressed himself closer to her.

Morningstar frowned, but did not argue. "Very well," she said, sitting back down. "We will wait until Ripplekit is six moons old. If his condition has improved, he can train to be a warrior. If not, he will train under Nightsky."

Splashflower nodded. "That sounds good," she replied, before leading Ripplekit away.

Once they reached their nest, Minnowkit came bounding up. "What was that all about?" she questioned, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Morningstar wants me to become Nightsky's apprentice!" he growled, before plopping down in the hay.

"What? No way!" his sister cried out. "You can't become a medicine cat apprentice!"

"That's what I said!" he replied, resting his chin on his forepaws. The silver-gray tom flexed his claws in and out as he thought about what Morningstar had said. The idea of being Nightsky's apprentice sounded utterly dreadful to him. While healing the sick was important, it wasn't something Ripplekit wanted to be responsible for. He wanted to be out beside the river, catching fish for the Clan like his father. He had even planned on becoming leader one day, just like Morningstar. I'd never force a cat into something they didn't like though, he thought.

Ripplekit then glanced over at a small hole in the wall of the Twoleg nest. After making sure his mother wasn't watching him, he crept over to the hole and slid out. Once outside, he took a seat next to a clump of ferns and let out a breath of fresh air.

"I'll be the best warrior this Clan has ever seen," he vowed to himself. "And then when I'm leader, Nightsky and Morningstar will regret that they even suggested I become a medicine cat!"


Sorry I haven't updated for a few days. I have been a bit busy with school, so it has taken up most of my time. Once again, thank you for all of your reviews. I look forward to what you all have to say every time I update.

Storm Cycle - Thank you very much! I'm not sure what you mean by the names aren't accurate, though. Could you specify?

Foxcloud of BookClan - You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. Hopefully you will enjoy this one as well.

Wyldclaw - Thanks! Glad you liked it.