Echopaw practically jumped out of his fur at the voice. He turned around slowing, hoping he was wrong about who he thought it was, but to his dismay, it was Rushingriver who was sitting there.

"Why didn't you follow me?" he demanded. Echopaw flinched at his mentor's harsh tone. "I was going to teach you how to hunt. I thought you wanted to learn that?"

"I do, but Flashpaw—"

"Isn't sick. He's going hunting, for StarClan's sake! He's obviously fine if he has enough energy to go hunting." Rushingriver's eyes blazed with fury, and his hackles were lifted. "I told you, Echopaw. Some cats are just like that! Not everybody is so sweet and innocent. But you didn't trust me, even though I've been a medicine cat for moons, while you were only apprenticed yesterday!"

Echopaw closed his eyes, as though that would make Rushingriver's shouting easier to bear. He opened them again when Rushingriver stopped.

"Are you done?" he asked tentatively. He could tell Rushingriver was trying to find something to say next. His whiskers trembled with fear, and Echopaw felt guilt flood him. His mentor had obviously been worried when he'd noticed Echopaw's absence.

"Goldenpaw just seemed so worried about him, and I thought if he was sick, and I cured him, you'd be proud of me," Echopaw mewed, his voice tiny. He stared at his paws. He was too ashamed to look at Rushingriver.

"Denmates worry about each other sometimes, Echopaw, but it's not always for good reason," Rushingriver told him. He wasn't yelling anymore, but his words were still etched with anger. "It's a good thing Flashpaw's healthy. Maybe if you're lucky, he'll step on a thorn while he's hunting and you can pull that out. But if you're really trying to impress me, you should just listen to what I tell you. Disobeying won't make me any prouder of you."

Echopaw knew he should be happy no cats were sick, but he really just wanted to prove to himself that he was meant to be a medicine cat. "Maybe I'm just not cut out for this medicine cat stuff," he muttered.

"Nonsense," Rushingriver meowed sharply. His conviction surprised Echopaw. "You will be a great medicine cat, once you actually start treating cats. But since everyone's in good health right now, you'll just have to be patient and trust that StarClan made the right choice for you to be my apprentice."

He's so certain that I'll be great someday, but what if I'm not? Echopaw thought. What if I fail?

"Regardless of what your destiny may entail, you're not getting away without a punishment," Rushingriver went on. "Just because your future is bright doesn't make it okay for you to disobey me." Echopaw groaned.

"Maybe you shouldn't come to the Moonstone," Rushingriver meowed. "Is that a fair punishment?" Echopaw's eyes widended.

"You can't be serious!" he blurted, before he could stop himself. "You're the one who wants me to go so badly. You can't make me stay here by myself. I want to meet the other medicine cats and I want to speak to StarClan. I want StarClan to approve of me."

Rushingriver flicked his tail for Echopaw to stop talking. "Alright, you can come to the Moonstone," he sighed. "I just don't know how to punish you." A spark of hope lit in Echopaw.

"But that doesn't mean you won't be punished," Rushingriver meowed quickly, seeming to guess Echopaw's thoughts. "I could ask Frecklestar, or, if it comes to it, even consult StarClan, but you will be punished. You need to learn that you can't just ignore orders."

"Okay, sorry, Rushingriver," Echopaw apologized sincerely. "I hope you can forgive me."

"I'm not mad at you, Echopaw," Rushingriver told him. "I was just scared when I saw you weren't behind me. I thought a fox might have gotten you."

"Can we still go hunting?" Echopaw asked hopefully. Rushingriver shook his head.

"Not today. Maybe tomorrow, if you're lucky. But for now, we can just gather some more herbs."

"More herbs? But you just gathered some the other day!" Echopaw complained. Rushingriver glanced sternly at him. "Sorry," Echopaw mumbled automatically.

"You never know when sickness might strike," Rushingriver meowed wisely. He flicked his tail for Echopaw to follow him. "I guess this will be your first formal tour of the territory, too."

Excitement flowed through Echopaw as he raced from the den.

"Calm down, Echopaw, the leaves won't go anywhere," Rushingriver muttered.