Chapter 2:

Copyright: I do not own Warriors or any of the characters, except Sootfang, Thrushwing, and Lilyheart

Ravenpaw gaped at Spottedleaf, "Me a medicine cat?" He asked, "Why? How?" Spottedleaf just started to laugh, "is it really that hard to believe?" Ravenpaw nodded trying to understand why the medicine cat would want him as her apprentice

He couldn't do anything right, he couldn't fight, couldn't hunt or anything, so why? "I'm useless that's why." Ravenpaw mewed, Spottedleaf looked at with with either sadness or pity in her eyes, the black tom couldn't tell.

"No one is useless Ravenpaw." She started, "We all have our unique skills and talents, maybe you have yet to find them."

Ravenpaw started to think it over, if he was a medicine cat, he would never be in battles, and he could speak to StarClan! But he would never have a mate or kits, aw what would that matter and who would ever want him as a mate anyway.

But still, how could he? His brother already shunning him would ignore him completely and Tigerclaw… the big warrior would hate him how could he do it?

"What about Tigerclaw?" Ravenpaw asked timidly, Spottedleaf smiled at him, "He'll get another apprentice." She replied, "But you don't have to answer now." She assured him, Ravenpaw looked at her strangely, "Do I have a timeline to decide?"

Spottedleaf shook her head, "Take as long on you need." She said, he looked away, and curled up, maybe he could be a medicine cat, but he didn't need to decide right away, so maybe he could think it over with a nap.

Switched

Tigerclaw walked alongside Lionheart, as they showed the two apprentices the territory, grumbling under his breath, Firepaw was a kittypet and would stink up the territory, in his opinion the tom should be lazing around in his twoleg nest.

But how could he go against Thistlestar? The tom who was his uncle, his mentor. After Pinestar had left Sootfang had taken over as his father, and Thistlestar being Snowfur's mate, was his uncle, really, but Sootfang had his own apprentice and though he would've liked having the blue tom as a mentor, Thistlestar turned out best for him.

The tom had taught him everything, Firepaw was in the Clan to stay and there was nothing Tigerclaw could do about it.

And now, Tigerclaw had the responsibility of training him, within the bounds that it never became officially Tigerclaw would be fine with it, spend a little bit of the day training him, then leave the ginger kit alone for the rest of the time.

Tigerclaw watched as Firepaw took in his surroundings, unlike other apprentices when they saw the territory for the first time, he was solemn looking around quietly with a calculating look on his face, as though he were trying to figure out whether it was worth his time.

Tigerclaw wondered what to say, sure it was always good to point out where they were, but he didn't really feel like it, he could have it so Firepaw could get embarrassed when he didn't know where he was with a patrol.

But Lionheart seemed to have other plans, "And this is the Sandy Hollow." The tom's mew rumbled, "This is where battle training will take place." Firepaw nodded, "Do battles happen often?" A vicious gleam in his eye.

"Not really." Tigerclaw said speedily, "There's often a little skirmish over borders, but never full out battles, the last we had was with WindClan, when Thistlestar was a kit." Firepaw nodded, but his eyes showed battle-lust.

Tigerclaw rolled his eyes, a battle wanting apprentice showed bad luck for the Clan, Darkstripe had been the cat to want battle but Tigerclaw had quickly gotten that out of him, Tigerclaw's ear twitched as Graypaw began to whisper to Firepaw.

"He's lying." The gray tom whispered

Firepaw turned to look at him, "About what?" His tone had a menacing factor

"A battle happened just before you arrived." Graypaw explained,

"Is that how Ravenpaw got hurt?" Firepaw asked

Tigerclaw didn't hear Graypaw respond, so he guessed he had nodded or something, "Hurry up!" He snarled, "I don't want to be out here too long!"

His mew startled the apprentices, and they hurried to catch up.

The tour had taken most of the day, which annoyed Tigerclaw, the two apprentices were as slow as can be, even Ravenpaw had been faster! Speaking of the black tom, Tigerclaw needed to check on him.

Tigerclaw glanced at the medicine den, to his surprise, he saw Thistlestar in there talking to Spottedleaf and his apprentice, Tigerclaw decided to wait to go but he couldn't help but wonder what was going on.

Switched

When Ravenpaw awoke from his nap, he was troubled, his dreams had been scattered and weird, but he had his answer, he looked over at Spottedleaf, the she-cat was in the back of her den, sorting out her herbs and cleaning out the dead ones.

"Um Spottedleaf?" Ravenpaw mewed, his mew evidently startled her, as she jumped, and her tail lashed, but she immediately covered it, "Yes Ravenpaw?" She asked

"I… Can Thistlestar come here?" He asked nervous

Spottedleaf looked surprised as she turned away from her herbs, "Of course." Her mew was soft, and her eyes showed knowledge in that moment, but when Ravenpaw blinked it was gone and the she-cat was padding out of the den.

A few minutes later, she returned with the leader behind her, Thistlestar's face was clear and defined, but his eyes showed that he was confused.

"Thistlestar?" Ravenpaw asked, and the leader's amber eyes turned to Ravenpaw, "Yes? What is it?"

Ravenpaw glanced at Spottedleaf, who looked back at him, Ravenpaw swallowed and spoke, "I wish to become Spottedleaf's apprentice." His mew was fast and nervous

Thistlestar started at him, but eventually nodded, "If that is what you wish." Ravenpaw sighed and looked out of the den, and saw Tigerclaw staring at him, he turned back to Thistlestar, "Can Tigerclaw get another apprentice soon?"

Thistlestar looked out of the den and saw Tigerclaw sitting there, Thistlestar smiled, and turned back to Ravenpaw, "I'll make sure he gets one of Lionheart's kits." He said, "Now come, we'll announce it to the Clan and make it official."

Ravenpaw nodded, and tried to swallow his fears, but as he padded out and met Tigerclaw's amber eyes, they all came rushing back, he saw his brother, Dustpaw with his new mentor Darkstripe, the toms seemed to get along so Ravenpaw needn't worry about that.

But as he heard Thistlestar call the Clan, together and watched as the cats of ThunderClan gather, he worried that he would get laughed at, and ridiculed for his choice, but there was no going back now.

He looked up at Thistlestar, and then Spottedleaf, waiting for Thistlestar to speak was hardest moments of Ravenpaw's life up to that moment.

"One of our apprentices has brought a request to me." Thistlestar began, "Ravenpaw." He beckoned Ravenpaw forward with his tail, trying to swallow his fear again, he stepped forward.

"Ravenpaw is it your wish to become a medicine cat?" Thistlestar asked, and Ravenpaw nodded, "Then it shall be." The great tom said, "Ravenpaw from this moment onward until you receive your full name, your mentor shall be Spottedleaf."

Spottedleaf padded forward, and stood by Ravenpaw, "Spottedleaf you are a wise and talented medicine cat, pass your knowledge onto this apprentice." The tortoiseshell she-cat nodded and turned to touch noses with Ravenpaw.

Ravenpaw felt her nose against his as he closed his eyes, and knew that there was no going back, he was a medicine cat apprentice.

A/N Whoo! That took forever, I actually started it right after I got back from my trip, and it took that long to finish, but once I got into in and actually motivated I couldn't stop! I still need OCS for Blazing Fire so go over there and send one in! I'm actually really excited to start that story, so the OCS would help it get started faster