Chapter 3

"Lichenheart's kitting," Duskkit cried. The mottled brown she-cat had started to have pains and Creamfoot had sent Duskkit to find Twigshade. Duskkit raced towards the medicine cat den. "Twigshade," she yelled. The tabby tom stuck his head out of his den.

"What?" he snapped.

"It's Lichenheart, her kits are coming," Duskkit panted. Twigshade whipped inside his den. He rushed out with a bundle of herbs in his jaws. Duskkit lead the way back to the nursery. Twigshade crouched by Lichenheart's head. Carefully he placed his paws on her stomach.

"The first one's coming," he mewed.

"Silverkit get Shardclaw," Creamfoot mewed. Silverkit leapt to her paws and ran out of the den. Duskkit crept towards Twigshade. He was murmuring encouraging words to Lichenheart. Tearing up one of the leaves he had brought he put it by Lichenheart's head.

"Eat this," he ordered. Lichenheart licked it up. Her face was twisted in pain and Duskkit could tell she was having difficulty swallowing.

"What's wrong?" she asked. Before they could answer a brown kit slid into the nest. Twigshade nipped the sack and handed it to Creamfoot.

"Lick it," he ordered. Creamfoot obediently licked the tiny brown kit. Duskkit turned back to Lichenheart to see a grey kit slide into the nest. Twigshade nipped the sack and licked it. It let out a squeak and he placed it in the nest next to Lichenheart. It wiggled to her and began to suckle. Creamfoot placed its littermate next to it.

"Two toms," Twigshade mewed. Duskkit peered at them.

"Wow," she whispered. Just then Shardclaw arrived at the nursery.

"Are they okay?" he asked worriedly.

"See for yourself," Twigshade mewed. Rising to his feet he left to nursery to make room for the father. Shardclaw sat next to Lichenheart, his face glowing with pride.

"What are their names?" he asked. Lichenheart weakly raised her head.

"I want to name this one Heronkit," she stroked the brown tom, "and this one Seakit," she twitched her ears at the grey tom.

"They're beautiful," he whispered. Lichenheart purred. Wearily she laid her head down. Shardclaw licked her cheek and rose to his feet. Dipping his head to Creamfoot he leaft. Lichenheart almost immediately fell asleep.

"Wow," Silverkit breathed. "She fell asleep fast." Duskkit purred in amusement.

"You should take lessons from her," Creamfoot joked. Silverkit was quiet for a moment, she appeared to be considering her mother's opinion. Then her eyes flew open in understanding and she began to laugh. Duskkit joined in and even Creamfoot laughed a little.

"Hush now. We don't want to wake up the new kits," Creamfoot purred. Rising to her feet she ushered them outside. "Let's play outside," she suggested.

"Play! Kits play mother. Not us," Silverkit huffed. Creamfoot rolled her eyes.

"If you're not kits what are you?" she asked.

"We're almost apprentices," she mewed. "We're basically six moons old," she bragged. Her white chest fur puffed up in pride when she said it. Duskkit shook her head, sometimes her sister was a real seal-brain.

"Well my little almost an apprentice do you want to go outside and do something?" Creamfoot asked. Silverkit nodded. "Then let's go." Creamfoot walked out of the nursery first, leaving them to follow. Silverkit shot out before Duskkit could move.

"Last one out's a snow hare," she called over her shoulder. Duskkit raced after her. She expected to find her waiting outside the nursery, but when she got their Silverkit was gone.

"Silverkit," she called. There was no answer. "Huh," Duskkit mewed. "Where'd she go?" she wondered out loud. Sticking her nose towards the ground she searched for her scent. There, she thought when she picked up the trail. She bounded after it. It was leading towards the medicine cat den so Duskkit stopped sniffing and just charged towards it.

Running inside she leapt on top of what she thought was Silverkit. When a huge, tabby, paw batted her to the ground she realized she was wrong. "Ahhhhh, help me," she cried. The paw lifted.

"Duskkit what are you doing?" Twigshade asked. Duskkit peered through the shadows. It was Twigshade alright. Oops, she thought.

"I thought you were Silverkit," she mumbled.

"Is that how your normally greet your sister? By attacking her?" he asked. Duskkit looked at her paws. Her ears burned with embarrassment.

"No," she answered.

"Well," he huffed. "While you're here there's something I've been meaning to ask you," he continued. His voice had changed from irritated to serious. "Do you want to be my apprentice?" he asked her. Duskkit was quiet. She had never thought of becoming the medicine cat apprentice. It was true she found what Snowypaw did rather boring and she was fascinated with what Twigshade does, but a medicine cat. Silverkit always told her that she would be the leader one day and Duskkit would be the deputy.

"Can I think about it?" she asked.

"Yes of course, but I need to know before your six moons old," Twigshade mewed. Duskkit nodded. Rising to her feet she turned to leave. Before she could move there was a commotion in the camp. Silverkit, Duskkit thought worriedly. She raced out of the den and scanned the clearing for her sister.

She was sitting next to Orcafin with a look of worry on her face. Duskkit hurried over to her.

"What happened?" she asked when she reached her. Silverkit looked at her with wide blue eyes.

"Snowypaw was hunting with Tundrafoot when they were attacked by a fox. Snowypaw's old wound wasn't completely healed and it opened up again," she finished. Duskkit swallowed. She looked for Twigshade. He was running to Snowypaw with a bundle of herbs in his mouth. His eyes looked frightened. Duskkit shuddered. Then she remembered what he had asked her.

She glanced at the clearing. Snowypaw was bleeding a lot and he looked like he was in a lot of pain. If that's what I have to look forward to as a warrior apprentice then I'll do it, she thought, I'll be a medicine cat. Duskkit glanced at her sister. She knew Silverkit would be disappointed but she also knew she would understand.

"Silverkit," she began. Silverkit glanced at her. "I'm going to be Twigshade's apprentice," she mewed. Silverkit's eyes widened so that she looked like on owl.

"Really?" she asked. Duskkit nodded. "Cool," Silverkit purred. "Then you'll have the inside scoop on everything and you can tell me," said looking much brighter. Duskkit shook her head. Only Silverkit would want me to be a medicine cat so she could find stuff out¸ she thought with amusement. That was her sister for sure.

"Paletree, you are kind and clever. I hope you pass down these traits to your new apprentice, Silverpaw," Maplestar mewed from the top of the White Tree. Silverpaw walked to the white she-cat. Stretching her neck she managed to touch her nose. Duskpaw was sitting next her new mentor Twigshade so Silverpaw sat next to Paletree.

"Duskpaw, Silverpaw," Snowypaw called out. The clan joined him. "Duskpaw, Silverpaw." Silverpaw puffed out her chest and sat up straighter, basking in the praise of her clan. As the cheers ended and cats began to leave Silverpaw turned to Paletree.

"What will we do first?" she asked. Paletree seemed to think about it for a moment.

"I'll give you a tour of our territory," she decided. "Come on," she mewed mewed heading towards the entrance. Silverpaw walked behind her, excitement itching at her paws.

She was an apprentice! She could finally help her clan!

A/N:

Sorry it took me so long to update. We've had guests at our house. I'd like to thank Dragon's wing and Cat's claws and Neko-Chan. Sky (sorry if I typed it wrong) for reviewing. Sorry it was such a short chapter. It would have been way to long if I'd put their training in it too. Hope you liked it and that you'll keep reading. Byeeeeeeeeeee.