The first rays of sun were shining through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the earthy wet ground. Birds were chirping, but other than them, not a single soul was up.

Not a single soul, of course, except for Bluepaw.

The whole night, Bluepaw hadn't gotten a wink of sleep. She kept thinking about the Gathering. More specifically, a very important little event. Kestrelpaw. She'd winked at her, like she knew something about her. Like she knew how Bluepaw was planning to get to the meeting she'd suggested.

Teleport.

But how would she know? She was just a BreezeClan apprentice, a medicine cat BreezeClan apprentice for that matter. She probably just winked for some other reason. Yes, that was it.

Bluepaw sighed and shook out her blue-gray fur and as quiet as a mouse, the young blue-furred molly made her way out of the apprentice's den and out into the cool early morning air.

Bluepaw was just about to head towards the warriors den to see if her mother, Goldenflow, was awake when she spotted a familiar cinnamon tabby approaching her.

"Hi, Bluepaw!" Flowingpaw meowed in a friendly tone. "So, um, I was wondering if you would like to help me collect some herbs," she looked nervous and her tail was flicking from side-to-side anxiously as she awaited Bluepaw's response.

The blue-furred molly smiled Warmly at Flowingpaw, "I would love to help you!" Flowingpaw smiled brightly and her minty-green eyes gleamed with gratitude.

It was silent for a few moments before Bluepaw spoke up to break the tension. "This'll be fun! And It'll give me something fun to do until the others wake up."

As the two apprentice's made there way out of camp, they made small talk with one another as they looked for herbs. "Hay, Flowingpaw!" Bluepaw called to the cinnamin tabby. "I think I found some comfrey!" the blue-furred molly gestured with her tail to a leafy green plant with purple flowers. Flowingpaw raced over and her eyes gleamed with pride as she looked up at Bluepaw.

"Wow! You've got a good eye for finding herbs!" Flowingpaw praised, still staring at Bluepaw with wide and aw shining in her minty-green eyes. Bluepaw blushed and licked her chest fur, self-conscious. "Oh! I uh... t-thank you, Flow." She stammered out a response.

"Ok, I'm gonna quiz you." Flowingpaw meowed suddenly, Bluepaw blinked and stared up at her with confused frosty blue eyes. "Uh, well, I, ok then." She meowed cheerfully.

"So, Bluepaw, tell me! What herbs do you know?" Flowingpaw meowed in a friendly tone.

Bluepaw replied with a smile. "Comfrey is good for broken bones, yarrow is used to make cats vomit if they have stomach troubles, marigold leaves help cure infection, blackberry leaves are used for bee stings, cobwebs are used to stop bleeding, watermint helps nursing queens produce more milk, poppy seeds help with pain, honey is good for soar throats, raspberry leaves are used to ease the pain of queen's who've just kitted, thyme is used to calm a cat in shock, catmint cures greencough, and borage is used to treat fevers."

Flowingpaw's jaw dropped in shock. "Oh, my StarClan, how do you know so much about herbs?" the cinnamon tabby meowed, still shocked at how much Bluepaw knew about herbs and there uses.

Bluepaw blushed and ducked her head. "I-I just do," she meowed truthfully. "My mother, Goldenflow, always told me that I would've been a great medicine cat if I would've chosen that path." Flowingpaw smiled and nodded her head in understanding.

It was silent for quite some time before Flowingpaw finally regained the ability to speak. "I think we need to have a talk with Larkstar." Blupaw frowned in puzzlement but nodded her head at her friend's statement.

Flowingpaw's minty-green eyes swam with emotion, but she said nothing, instead motioning for Bluepaw to pick up the herbs and return to camp.

•••

The two apprentice's padded through the brightly lit woods and pushed through the thicket tunnel into MistClan camp, which was sheltered from the rain by the towering trees that built a canopy over the dusty clearing.

When they entered, they were greeted with a very angry Cloudsky, and a slightly calmer Meadowlight, Starlingcloud, and Darkfeather. Bluepaw gulped and prepared herself for a harsh scolding.

"Where in StarClan's name have you been?!" Bluepaw flinched and stared down at her paws. "Oh! I uh... I-I was just helping Flowingpaw collect herbs, I'm sorry, Cloudsky."

Cloudsky sighed and breathed in deeply through her nose. "Ok," she meowed, lowering her voice back to a normal volume as she spoke. "I'm sorry, Bluepaw. That was a little over-the-top and it was totally uncalled for."

It was silent for a few moments when Meadowlight spoke up in an attempt to break the tension. "Could you two please go sort those herbs while I have a quick chat with Cloudsky, Starlingcloud, and Darkfeather?" the two apprentice's nodded and dashed off in the direction of medicine den.

Once the two cats entered the den, Flowingpaw started whispering excitedly to Bluepaw. "Oh, my StarClan, I'm going to the Moontree with Meadowlight tonight!" the cinnamon tabby mewed, her fur fluffed up in excitement and her green eyes gleaming as she continued to stare at Bluepaw. "I'm gonna asked Meadowlight if I could make you my apprentice!" Bluepaw's eyes widened and her jaw dropped in shock.

"Wait, you're going to do what?"

Flowingpaw giggled and playfully swatted at Bluepaw's paws. "You're so silly Bluepaw!" she meowed, blinking her minty-green eyes and flicking her tail back-and-forth. "But anyways..." the cinnamon tabby continued in a bright and cheerful tone of voice, "I'm gonna ask Meadowlight if I can make you my apprentice!" she repeated with a wink and toothy grin directed at Bluepaw.