"Sink your claws into the bark and get a feel for how sturdy it is," Featherleg instructed, sitting with his tail wrapped around his paws. "When you're more experienced, you'll learn which kinds of trees have which kinds of bark. But right now, try and get a feel for it."
They had finished with the border patrol, and Featherleg decided to take her out for her first climbing lesson. She was a bit nervous about it- she didn't like the idea of being so far from the ground.
But Badgerpaw did as she was instructed, rearing back slightly and digging her claws into the Sky Oak. She tugged at it slightly, testing its strength.
"Good." The tom nodded. "Now, step back a bit and leap onto the tree. Use your tail to balance yourself."
"Already?" Badgerpaw asked, sinking down to her paws and looking at her mentor. "I've only just tested the bark."
"Climbing comes naturally to all cats," Featherleg meowed assuringly. "You'll be fine."
"If it comes naturally to us, then why train with it?" Badgerpaw asked. "What's the point in me practicing this when I could be working on battle moves?"
Featherleg fixed her with a hard stare. "Firstly, it is something that you've never done. It may be easier to learn than some skills, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have to practice. Secondly, WindClan doesn't climb, and having the trees to attack them from would give us an advantage."
Badgerpaw ducked her head, chest tightened with guilt from talking disrespectfully to Featherleg. "Sorry," she mewed. " I suppose I should try now?"
He dipped his head. "Go on."
Badgerpaw bunched her muscles under her and jumped forward, extending her front legs more. She felt herself hit the tree and in that moment she hooked her claws into it, and she felt almost surprised when she didn't topple down.
"Good," Featherleg purred. "Now, you almost have to run up the side. Don't go too high. You haven't practiced enough for it to be safe."
Badgerpaw nodded, and glanced down. She was barely above the roots, but her heart was beating hard in her chest. What if she fell?
Nevertheless, she gave a spring upward, rehooking her claws the moment she could. She did it again, and again, until she heard Featherleg call to her.
"That's high enough," he called. "Now turn around and jump down."
Badgerpaw swallowed, but carefully shifted herself until she was facing her mentor. She was practically upside down, and she felt disoriented. Keeping her claws deep in the wood, she took a single, wobbly step downward.
"Be careful," Featherleg meowed.
Obviously! Badgerpaw thought. She took another faster step, and then an uncertain leap. She didn't manage to hook her claws back into the tree's bark, and she landed awkwardly on the forest floor. Instantly, her paw began to hurt and she gave a yowl of pain.
"What's wrong?" Featherleg asked, standing and moving to her side.
"My paw," Badgerpaw mewled. "I landed on it. Hard."
Featherleg's amber eyes flashed with worry. "Maybe that's enough climbing. Let's get you to Willownose. Can you walk?"
Badgerpaw tried to place her weight on the paw, but winced when she did. Pain flashed up from the joint to her shoulder. "If I limp," she meowed.
"Alright, then," Featherleg meowed. "I'll walk slowly."
Badgerpaw wished they weren't so far from camp. The Sky Oak was practically beside the lake. They walked back to the camp in silence, with Featherleg casting nervous glances at her the entire way.
They entered the medicine den. Birdpaw was in it alone, sorting through herbs in silence. She looked up at Badgerpaw and Featherleg, though her eyes didn't lighten up the way they usually did when she saw Badgerpaw. The black and white she-cat would have felt confused if not for the pain.
"What is it?" Birdpaw asked.
"We were climbing in the Sky Oak and Badgerpaw had an awkward landing," Featherleg explained. "She landed on her paw in a strange way. Where's Willownose?"
"She's out gathering herbs," the brown tabby replied. "It's fine, though. I'll probably be able to do something for it." She flicked her tail, beckoning Badgerpaw forward.
Badgerpaw limped forward and stuck her paw out to Birdpaw. The medicine cat apprentice inspected the injured paw. She tapped it lightly and Badgerpaw felt her eyes water.
"I think it's just sprained," Birdpaw meowed. "I'll put some elder leave poultice on your ankle, and we can wait for Willownose to get back."
She turned and shifted through the leaves, and came up chewing them. She spat out the goo when she was done and smeared it on Badgerpaw's paw and ankle.
"You don't have to stay," the brown tabby meowed to Featherleg. "She'll be okay, but she shouldn't train for at least the rest of the day."
Featherleg dipped his head. "If you're sure," he meowed, backing out of the den.
Badgerpaw sat down, carefully holding her paw above the floor. "That's impressive, that you know what to do."
"I've been an apprentice for three moons," Birdpaw meowed curtly. "If I didn't know what to do, I'd be a pretty bad medicine cat."
Badgerpaw winced at her tone. "I just think that it's cool," Badgerpaw meowed. "I definitely couldn't memorize this stuff like you have."
"Well, that's why I'm the medicine cat apprentice, not you," Birdpaw responded. Her tone was the normal teasing one that she would have used in any other conversation with each other. It stung Badgerpaw like the pain in her paw.
"What's wrong?" Badgerpaw asked. "Why are you mad at me?"
Birdpaw tensed, and she turned back to the herbs she had been going through when Badgerpaw had entered the den. "I'm not mad," she meowed.
Badgerpaw furrowed her brow. "Then why are you being so grumpy?"
"I'm not," Birdpaw snapped.
"But it seems like you don't want to talk to me," Badgerpaw meowed. "And you will always talk to me."
Birdpaw whipped around, eyes flashing. "I don't want to talk right now, alright?"
Badgerpaw blinked, startled. Her friend was never like this. "I just want to know what I did," she insisted. "Please?"
"Birdpaw looked away. "Willownose said-"
"Willownose?" Badgerpaw asked. "What? Why wouldn't she want you to talk to you?"
"I told her about your dream the other night," Birdpaw meowed a bit hesitantly. "And I can't tell you what she said, but she doesn't want me talking with you." Her tone had lost its harshness, and her tail was drooping.
"What?" cried Badgerpaw. "I told you not to bother her with it! It wasn't important!"
"Well, I can't tell you why, but it is!" Birdpaw snapped, her voice becoming cold once again. "And Willownose doesn't want me close to you because of it."
"What if she didn't understand it?" Badgerpaw meowed desperately. "I'm not a medicine cat, so it couldn't have been important."
"Trust me, she didn't," Birdpaw hissed. "So just stop, Badgerpaw."
Badgerpaw's heart tightened. "I'm sorry, Birdpaw. I don't know what's happening, but I can't lose your friendship. Please?"
Before Birdpaw could respond, Willownose entered the den. "What's going on in here?" she asked. "Birdpaw, I thought I told you-"
"She hurt her paw when climbing," Birdpaw interrupted.
Willownose paused for a minute, and then dipped her head. "Let me see."
Badgerpaw had almost forgotten about her paw. She held in out and the medicine cat looked it over. "It's sprained. I see you put elder leaves on it. Good job, Birdpaw."
The apprentice's eyes lit up a bit.
"If it still hurts tonight, you can come get some poppy seeds to help you sleep," Willownose told Badgerpaw. "And let us know if you can't walk on it tomorrow. Stay in camp and rest for the rest of today."
Badgerpaw dipped her head. She looked at Birdpaw, but the brown tabby didn't meet her gaze. She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Thank you," she meowed. She stood and limped out of the den.
She wondered what the her dream could have possibly implied to the medicine cat. Was she part of some sort of prophecy? Was she dangerous? And why did it mean that she had to lose her best friend?
