Echopaw jumped as he heard a voice behind him. "You don't really know where you're going, do you?"

Echopaw sighed.

"You don't have to keep coming," Echopaw meowed as Blizzardleaf began trotting next to him. "This is the third time today you've visited me. I think I can manage on my own."

The white she-cat looked at him disbelievingly. "It's a big territory," she told him, ignoring his protests. "You don't have to act all, I don't know… important, I guess?"

Echopaw scoffed. "I thought you said I was important."

"I couldn't find the right word, okay? Just 'cause I'm dead doesn't mean I'm perfect," Blizzardleaf muttered. "And just 'cause you're 'important' doesn't mean you have to go charging into danger."

Echopaw scowled at the StarClan cat's blatant doubt in him. He was hardly charging, and he could certainly handle a few trees. If I can't handle leaves, how will I ever manage to be a medicine cat? "I'm not in danger," he argued. "This is ThunderClan territory. It's not like I'm running into ShadowClan camp and attacking their leader."

Blizzardleaf rolled her eyes. "You could run off a cliff or something," she meowed.

"Cliffs in ThunderClan?" Echopaw asked skeptically.

"You could fall into a river," she suggested.

"There aren't just entire rivers lying around."

"A really big puddle?"

"Hasn't rained in at least a quarter moon."

Blizzardleaf halted in her tracks, tail lashing in exasperation. "There could be badgers. Or foxes. Or dogs! Or an invasion!" Her voice was growing louder. "It doesn't matter what you're in danger of. You slept in the nursery last night, and you're nowhere near experienced enough. You should turn around and go home and be patient until Rushingriver actually gives you a tour."

Echopaw frowned. Blizzardleaf was panting from all the shouting. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Do StarClan cats get sick? I could get you some coltsfoot to ease your breathing."

Blizzardleaf shook her head, although she looked impressed at his knowledge. "Goodness, you are smart," she meowed, having caught her breath. "I kind of thought it was just luck the other day."

"Luck?" Echopaw let out a mrrow of laughter. "You think I could list 9 different herbs and the effects of 11 from luck?"

"Since when were you so confident?" Blizzardleaf asked, somewhere between inspired and irritated. "Just earlier today you were practically dying all because your Clan was congratulating you on your apprenticeship."

"Since I left camp," Echopaw remarked. "I guess StarClan is guiding my paws. No 'danger' is going to stop me."

"StarClan is certainly not 'guiding your paws,'" Blizzardleaf mumbled. "You're just getting cocky because nothing's happened yet. Emphasis on the yet." Echopaw rolled his eyes.

Just then, a cat burst from a bush nearby and tackled Echopaw to the ground. Blizzardleaf vanished instantaneously.

"Wait, Blizzardleaf! I don't know anything about fighting!" Echopaw wailed. "Don't go!" But the cat who had pounced on him wasn't attacking. Echopaw blinked.

"Rushingriver?" he gasped. "What are you doing? Get off me!" He squirmed to get out from his mentor's paws.

"What are you doing out of camp?" Rushingriver demanded. "You could get seriously hurt!" His tail thrashed wildly, anxiety in his eyes. "What if a fox or a badger turned up? You can't defend yourself! You still have kit fluff!"

Echopaw stopped struggling as guilt flooded him. "Yeah, I guess you're right. You and Blizzardleaf," he muttered, hating to admit the she-cat was right. Rushingriver immediately loosened his grip, his gaze no longer anxious, but bewildered.

"Did you say Blizzardleaf?" he asked.

Echopaw threw Rushingriver off while his mentor was distracted. He smoothed his ruffled fur before answering. "Yes, I said Blizzardleaf."

Rushingriver stared blankly at him. "Blizzardleaf?" he repeated.

"Yes." Echopaw scowled. "Both of you are so worried about me and I don't understand why. If I were a warrior apprentice, I wouldn't have to be afraid of badgers or foxes—or big puddles—because I would actually know how to fight." But Rushingriver wasn't listening.

"Was Blizzardleaf… with you?" he asked.

"Yeah. And she wouldn't leave. It was kind of annoying, actually," Echopaw replied, picking a leaf from his pelt. "'Danger' this, and 'danger' that."

"You… saw Blizzardleaf?"

"Great StarClan, yes!" Echopaw meowed with a huff. "It was Blizzardleaf! She's visited me three times today. I don't know why." Echopaw didn't mention that she thought he was special. Rushingriver would probably just make fun of him. Of course, I'm not special. Blizzardleaf is just crazy. "I've actually talked to her more than you today."

"I don't understand," Rushingriver whispered, pacing.

"Me neither," Echopaw muttered.

"Three times?" Rushingriver asked. Echopaw nodded. "Why?"

Echopaw sighed. "I told you, I don't know why. Now can we just go back to camp?" he asked.

Rushingriver blinked. "Oh, yeah," he meowed, as though he had suddenly realized they were still sitting in the middle of the forest. "Follow me." He flicked his tail and started back towards camp. Echopaw gladly followed.