Chapter 3

Milliepaw awoke to loud snoring in the burrow. Sighing, she opened her eyes and stood up, stretching. Ever since that excuse of a cat called Jaggedtooth came, she hadn't had a single minute of sleep!

She went outside into the fresh air and padded over to the Apprentices' hollow. She jumped down and prodded Kestrelpaw in the side. "Wake up you lazy furball!" she said "Darkstripe wants me to get some catmint and tansy. Will you come with me?"

Kestrelpaw groaned and muttered "Fine. Just let me get some fresh-kill."

"I thought you weren't allowed to get any until you had hunted for the Clan." said Milliepaw

"That is true." said a voice from behind. Milliepaw spun around to see Blackpelt standing by the entrance. "But on this occasion, because she will need her strength, she can eat first and make it up later." he answered.

"Let's go then!" Kestrelpaw cried and raced out of the Apprentices' hollow. Milliepaw ran after her and crashed right into her dad Redtail.

"And where do you think you are going?" Redtail said sternly.

"Um we're go-"

"You are going nowhere until you have checked with Darkstripe." Redtail interrupted.

"I have told him, Redtail! He was the one who told me to collect herbs!!" She said angrily, her tail lashing. "Well make sure you take a warrior with you" he said.

"Ok." groaned Milliepaw "We'll take Hollyleaf, who is Kestrelpaw's mentor."

"Good." said Redtail also getting angry now, "I expect to see you both back here at highsun."

Kestrelpaw came back puffing.

"Uh, Kestrelpaw? Do you know where Hollyleaf is?" Milliepaw asked nervously. "And if you do, could you go get her?"

Kestrelpaw moaned loudly and plodded away again, tail drooping.

"So… Redtail…" Milliepaw said uncomfortably. "What are you doing today?"

Redtail glared at her and padded off quickly.

Milliepaw heard rustling behind her and spun round to see Mintpaw, Longpaw and Whirlpaw emerging from the elders den, each of them stinking of mouse bile.

"I see you've been busy this morning" she said with a hint of laughter in her voice.

"We sure have!" said Whirlpaw "and we still have to take them fresh kill and change their bedding."

"Well, good luck." said Milliepaw. "I hear Crowfeather is getting very grumpy these days, so you'd better take him the fattest piece of fresh-kill and change his bedding first."

Whirlpaw nodded and sprinted off in the direction of a moss covered tree.

"Hello Milliepaw." Out of the shadows stepped Hollyleaf with Kestrelpaw at her side. "Are we ready to go?"

"Sure!" Milliepaw replied, and off they went.

"Find anything?" Milliepaw asked hopefully.

"I might have. What are we looking for?" Kestrelpaw meowed.

"Catmint and tansy."

"And what do they look like?"

Milliepaw sighed. She was getting nowhere! Sniffing about, she found some tansy, and started collecting it. Kestrelpaw ran up to her.

"Is that catwater, or whatever it's called?" she asked.

"It's called catmint, and no. This is tansy, the other herb we're looking for. We might as well go back anyway, as I think we have enough herbs."

She felt stressed. An argument with her father and not being able to sleep was horrible! They picked up the herbs and travelled back to camp slowly.

"You know what? I heard Icefeather is expecting kits! And guess who their happy father is?" Hollyleaf suddenly said.

"Really? Who is it?" Milliepaw asked eagerly.

"Blackpelt!"

"I knew they were meant to be together." Milliepaw answered happily.

Milliepaw trooped back into camp happily carrying the herbs. "Darkstripe" she called "I got the herbs you wanted."

"That's great!" said Darkstripe "I thought we might spent the rest of the morning checking the stores to see what else we need to stock up on before leaf-bare arrives."

"Ok" answered Milliepaw glumly, for she had been hoping to spend the rest of the morning with Icefeather.

"Oh, and make sure that you put the catmint at the very back of the store please. We don't want the kits finding it now!"

"Sure, Darkstripe." Milliepaw said, and ran through the burrow to the very end. Squeezing through the hole that led to the separate section, she carefully placed the catmint on the floor. Just as she was about to leave, she spotted a willow leaf. What is that doing here? There's only willows in RiverClan… she thought to herself. Squeezing back through the gap she ran outside. Looking around she spotted Darkstripe talking to Blackpelt, and as she got nearer she heard some of what they were saying.

"Icefeather and the kits will be fine." Darkstripe was assuring Blackpelt and as he turned around he saw her. "Hey Milliepaw," he called "can you go get some borage? Icefeather's just had her kits."

"Sure Darkstripe." She replied and ran back to the burrow.

Padding into the nursery she found Icefeather and went over to her. "Hi Icefeather, hello little kits." She said "Icefeather, Darkstripe told me to bring you some borage, it will help your milk come."

"Thank you Milliepaw" she said and ate up the leaves. "Have you named the kits yet?" asked Milliepaw.

"I have," said Icefeather "the gray one is Cinderkit and the golden one is Lionkit."

"They're beautiful names." Milliepaw murmered "I bet they can't wait for their apprentice ceremonies."

"I can't wait either," said Icefeather "let's just hope they get good mentors."

"They will," assured Milliepaw "Whitestar isn't the type of cat that would give kits bad mentors."

"I know you're right." Sighed Icefeather "I'm just so worried, I don't want them to leave the nursery."
"My mother was like that too." Said Milliepaw "But I could tell that she was happy for me and my siblings when the day came. That must be how you feel for your kits too. If they suspect something then they might grow up to be relying on you for everything."

"That's very good advice Milliepaw," exclaimed Icefeather "it's a shame that you can't be a mother yourself."

"I know" said Milliepaw "but I can't because I am a medicine cat. By the way, do you know what RiverClan cats use willow leaves for?"

"Well…." said Icefeather "I think they use it to cure some sort of sickness or something."

"Don't worry" said Milliepaw "I'll ask Darkstripe, but that piece of information is very use full. Well I'd better be going now see you tomorrow."

"See you Milliepaw. Thanks for keeping me company" called Icefeather as Milliepaw crawled out the nursery and headed back to camp.