When they reached camp, the moon was starting to rise. "I know you probably want to talk more about Blizzardleaf," Echopaw started before Rushingriver could say anything, "but I just want to go to bed. I'm tired."

Rushingriver nodded silently, looking a little disappointed, but started padding towards the medicine den nonetheless.

"Is it alright if I spend the night in the apprentices' den?" he called after the medicine cat. "So I can talk to Mintpaw and Owlpaw about their first day as apprentices?"

"Sure!" Rushingriver called back before disappearing inside the medicine den.

Echopaw dragged his exhausted paws over to the apprentices' den and forced himself to go inside. He collapsed into a nest. It was so warm that he almost fell asleep, but he wanted to talk to his brothers. He waited for them for only a short amount of time. They came in together, followed by Robinpaw. She was yawning, but his brothers looked full of energy.

"That was great!" Owlpaw meowed, flexing his claws. He spotted Echopaw's gray coat and frowned quizzically. "What are you doing in here, Echopaw? Don't you sleep in the medicine den with Rushingriver?"

Echopaw nodded. "Rushingriver said I could sleep in here tonight. I wanted to ask you about your days," he replied.

"They were amazing!" Owlpaw told him, answering for all three of them. They had obviously trained together, and Echopaw felt a little left out. You're not allowed to be lonely, he told himself sternly. You're supposed to be a medicine cat. StarClan says you do. He wasn't sure he was very persuaded.

"Parsleyshine is the best!" Owlpaw continued eagerly. "She—"

"No way! Lightdawn is the best," Mintpaw interrupted.

"I think Pouncemouse is pretty cool," Robinpaw argued.

"Don't fight," Echopaw meowed in exasperation before they could argue anymore. "It's a good thing you like your mentors, but you don't need to fight about who's the best mentor."

"What are you talking about?"

Echopaw looked up in surprise as the two older apprentices padded into the den.

"And what are you doing here?" Goldenpaw asked, not unkindly. "You're a medicine apprentice."

"And that's my nest," Flashpaw added, narrowing his eyes.

"There are plenty of other nests in here," Echopaw mewed, shocked at his tone. "This is only one of them."

"Yeah, but it's mine," Flashpaw growled, as if that made it special.

"What's so great about this specific nest?" Echopaw asked.

"Nothing," Flashpaw meowed. "It's mine, and that's all that matters, so get out." He unsheathed his claws. Echopaw's eyes widened. Goldenpaw stared at Flashpaw in astonishment, as though she couldn't believe her denmate was getting so upset over a nest.

"Hey!" Robinpaw hissed. "Respect your medicine cat!" Her tail lashed, and she bared her teeth bravely at the rude apprentice.

"Ha. I bet you know, like, one fighting move," Flashpaw retorted. "Plus, he's only an apprentice. Not the actual medicine cat."

Robinpaw stomped over to stand right in front of him. She looked him straight in the eyes and snarled, "Back off."

Flashpaw seemed so startled by this that he took a few hasty steps back, tripping over his tail in the process. He sheathed his claws and licked his chest fur in embarrassment. "I suppose you can have the nest," he muttered.

"Really, Robinpaw, I don't mind moving," Echopaw murmured, in awe of her bravery.

"No. He shouldn't treat you like that just because we're younger than him," she mewed wisely, padding back over to them.

"She's right, Flashpaw," Goldenpaw meowed. "Just 'cause we're older doesn't give us all the authority."

"It's my nest," Flashpaw mumbled, curling up in the nest farthest from them.

"Sorry about him," Goldenpaw apologized, frowning. "I think he's just upset because I caught more fresh-kill than him." She purred with amusement before laying down in the nest beside him.

"So, you were saying something about Parsleyshine?" Echopaw meowed, turning to Owlpaw. Owlpaw opened his mouth to say something, but Flashpaw interrupted.

"Shut up!" he growled. "I'm trying to sleep!"

Owlpaw gazed at Echopaw sympathetically. "I know it must be hard having to train without us, but can we talk about this tomorrow?" he whispered. "I'm really tired from exploring." He yawned to prove his point. Echopaw nodded sadly and watched as his brothers and Robinpaw each chose a nest and curled up.

"Goodnight," Robinpaw murmured.

"Goodnight," Echopaw mumbled. It felt like his heart was being torn in two.