Echopaw was the first to wake up, while the sky was still fairly dark. He was happy to see that Blizzardleaf wasn't there. He didn't want to talk to the medicine cat.

He stretched and padded out of the apprentices' den. Maybe it would've been better if I'd just slept where I was supposed to, he thought. Then Flashpaw wouldn't have gotten so angry, and I wouldn't have to feel so jealous of my brothers…

Part of Echopaw knew it wasn't good to envy his brothers, but he wasn't used to being alone. He had always been with Mintpaw, Owlpaw, and Robinpaw. It felt wrong without them. Any cat would be jealous…

He picked a sparrow from the fresh-kill pile and settled down to eat it, still thinking about his former denmates. Frecklestar wouldn't mind too much if I decided I'd rather be a warrior, would she? Echopaw wondered. It's only the second day of my apprenticeship. But then Echopaw thought of how crestfallen Rushingriver would be, and decided he had to be a medicine cat. Besides, if he did transfer to a warrior apprentice, Blizzardleaf would just pester him until he either changed back or went crazy.

Maybe Rushingriver will teach me some fighting moves today, Echopaw thought hopefully as he took a large bite from the sparrow. Maybe we can even train with Lightdawn, Pouncemouse, and Parsleyshine! His farfetched hope was dampened by a mouthful of feathers he had to spit out.

"Hey, are you going to finish that?" For a second, Echopaw thought Blizzardleaf was back, but it was the ginger fur of Goldenpaw he saw. Echopaw shook his head in answer and backed away from the sparrow, letting her crouch to eat it.

"Thanks," she mumbled around a mouthful of sparrow. "Sorry again about Flashpaw's behavior last night."

"No problem," Echopaw meowed. "It was my fault, anyway, for not moving when he asked me to."

"No, it wasn't," Goldenpaw argued, swallowing. "He sleeps in a different nest every night. He just wanted to be difficult."

Echopaw blinked in surprise. A different nest every night? His tail twitched with annoyance. It had nothing to do with me!

"Don't be mad at him, though," Goldenpaw meowed, guessing what he was thinking. "I think he's just been stressed lately. StarClan knows why, but he's been getting less and less sleep."

"Is he getting sick?" Echopaw wondered aloud.

Goldenpaw looked thoughtful for a moment. "Perhaps," she replied. "Rushingriver could check him out. Or you," she added hastily.

"I don't know how to tell if cats are sick," Echopaw told her. "I only know the actual treatment stuff. Rushingriver didn't really teach me anything yet. Just made me sort a bunch of herbs for him."

Goldenpaw looked sympathetic. "That sounds boring," she murmured.

"It's fine," he lied. "I like being a medicine apprentice." Goldenpaw looked suspicious, but didn't ask any questions. "In fact," Echopaw meowed, getting to his paws, "I should go see if Rushingriver needs any help." He padded quickly to the medicine den, uncomfortable under Goldenpaw's curious gaze.

"Good morning, Echopaw," Rushingriver greeted him. "How'd you sleep?" His eyes glittered hopefully. Wonder what he's thinking about.

"Fine," Echopaw answered.

"Any… dreams?" Rushingriver asked. Oh, that's what.

"No, not any visions, if that's what you're thinking," Echopaw replied. "I haven't seen any StarClan cats other than Blizzardleaf."

"Oh well," Rushingriver sighed. "We're going to the Moonstone tonight, anyway." Echopaw drew in a sharp breath.

"Oh yeah, tonight's half-moon," he mewed. "Great…"

Rushingriver glanced sternly at him. "You're not an idiot," he announced.

"That's not it." Echopaw shuffled his paws. "What if StarClan is wrong? What if I'm not supposed to be a medicine cat? What if when we go to the Moonstone tonight, I don't have any dreams? I'll make a fool of myself, and all the other medicine cats will make fun of me. Maybe I only see Blizzardleaf because I did something wrong and she's my annoying punishment—"

"Echopaw," Rushingriver interrupted. "You're going to do fine. I can already tell." He gazed proudly at his apprentice. "You're doing to do great things as a medicine cat, Echopaw."

Echopaw licked his chest fur in embarrassment. "Actually, Blizzardleaf said the same thing," he admitted.

"She did?" Rushingriver sounded surprised.

"Yeah," Echopaw meowed. "She said I'm special. But I don't know…"

"Well, if StarClan is already saying you're special on day one, then you're obviously going to be."

"I think Flashpaw is sick," Echopaw blurted. He felt uncomfortable with the way Rushingriver was looking at him. "He was being a jerk last night, and Goldenpaw says he's been like that for a while."

"Some cats are just like that," Rushingriver meowed, flicking his tail dismissively.

"But Goldenpaw said he's not been getting sleep, and he seems really stressed—"

"Would you like to practice your hunting crouch?" Rushingriver interrupted, ignoring him.

"Well, yes, but Flashpaw—"

"Then let's go." Rushingriver padded past him and out into the clearing, leaving Echopaw to stare helplessly after him. He seriously can't be ignoring a cat that might be sick? he wondered. He's supposed to be the one who helps sick cats, but instead he wants to teach me to hunt!

"I'm sorry, Rushingriver, but I can't practice right now," he muttered determinedly.