Leafkit peeked meekly into her father's den. "Yes, Crowstar?"
Crowstar flicked his tail, summoning her inside. He sighed. "Leafkit, dear. I don't want you to ever do that again."
Leafkit looked at her paws. "I won't, father."
The leader nodded. "Now, did you want to talk to me about something?
Leafkit nodded. "While I was in ThunderClan, well, I made a decision…" The kit took a deep breath. "Father, I want to become a medicine cat."
Crowstar jumped up. "No!" he snarled. "No. Absolutely not. Not again."
Leafkit stared. Not again? What's he talking about? "But, father… I talked to Kestrelwing. He said I'd be a great apprentice. Besides, I've already memorized some of the her-"
Crowstar cut her off, a dangerous look in his eyes. "Leafkit, I said no and that is that. Go fetch your littermates. I want to talk to them."
He turned away, and Leafkit could see that she was dismissed. She hung her head and padded sadly out of the den.
Leafkit padded over to the nursery, where Gustkit and Meadowkit were playing. The kits sat up and turned towards her when they spotted her walking towards them.
Meadowkit glared at her. "Well, look, Gustkit! It's the great fox-catcher, just returning from patrol!" she sneered.
Gustkit was nicer. "Hey, Leafkit," he meowed, ignoring a hiss from Meadowkit. "Maybe you can tell us about ThunderClan."
Leafkit grinned half-heartedly. "I'd be glad to, but right now, Crowstar wants to see you. He's in his den."
Gustkit nodded and the two scampered off to their father's den.
Leafkit sat in a small patch of shade to wait for her littermates' return. However, even in the shade, the heat was stifling, and soon she dozed off.
Leafkit woke to Gustkit prodding her in the side with a paw. "Hi, Leafkit. Do you want to tell us your story?"
"Sure!"
Meadowkit snorted. "You can listen to her all you want. I'm going to talk to mother."
Leafkit's brother sighed. "Don't mind her. She's just jealous, 'cause you're prettier than she is."
Leafkit grinned. "I'm just glad that you're nice. Shall I start the story?"
"Hang on," Gustkit mewed. "Let me go get Sagekit and Milkkit. They love stories!"
Leafkit flicked her tail. "Alright. I'll wait here, hurry back!"
Within seconds, Gustkit reappeared with Sagekit and Milkkit hot on his heels. "Hi, Leafkit!" Milkkit mewed. "Guess what? Me and Sagekit are three moons now!"
Leafkit smiled. "Wow, you guys are just getting huge!" Then she started her story, starting with when the fox attacked. As she finished, she noticed that even Meadowkit had drawn near to listen.
It was now past sunset, and crickets were chirping out on the moor. Nightcloud walked over with the other queens. "Let's go in to the nursery. There are bugs out, and I wouldn't want Gustkit or Meadowkit getting bitten."
The other queens agreed, and Leafkit followed them into the nursery. She settled into her nest and soon fell asleep.
Leafkit woke up the next day excited. Today was her apprentice ceremony! Finally, she would be on her path to WindClan's next medicine cat. Then her heart plummeted as she remembered Crowstar's refusal to make her a medicine cat.
She looked at Nightcloud, who was grooming Gustkit and Meadowkit until their pelts shone. Gustkit wriggled under his mother's tongue.
"Be still!" Nightcloud snapped. "I want you two looking nice for the ceremony!" She noticed Leafkit watching. "What are you looking at? Why aren't you grooming yourself?"
Leafkit glanced at her mother hopefully. "Won't you help?"
Nightcloud stared. "Can't you see that I'm busy?" she snapped. "Take care of yourself."
Leafkit sighed and began smoothing down her fur. Suddenly, Crowstar's call rang out across the camp. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Highstone for a Clan meeting!"
Leafkit hurried out into the clearing and sat beneath the Highstone. Nightcloud, Gustkit, and Meadowkit settled down beside her. The brown tabby kit's fur shone in the dawn light, and the sky was just getting light.
Crowstar looked proudly down on his Clan. "We gather here today to perform an important ceremony. Leafkit, Meadowkit, and Gustkit have reached their sixth moon, and are ready to be apprenticed!"
Leafkit looked out over the crowd of cats, searching for a warrior with an expectant look. She was curious about who the new mentors would be.
Crowstar looked down at his kits. "Leafkit, you are ready to become an apprentice. From now on, you will be known as Leafpaw. Gustkit, you have reached the age of six moons. Until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Gustpaw. Meadowkit, you too are ready to become an apprentice. You will be known as Meadowpaw.
"Harespring,
you are ready for your first apprentice. You will be mentor to
Gustpaw. WindClan honors your courage and speed, and we hope you
will do your best to pass these qualities to Gustpaw.
"Kestrelwing, you are ready to take an apprentice." Leafpaw
gasped. Had her father changed his mind? She would fulfill her
dream after all! She waited with baited breath as Crowstar continued
the ceremony.
"Your apprentice will be Meadowpaw."
Leafpaw's heart plummeted. No, no, no, no, no! He did not just say that. He wouldn't… he did. Leafpaw stared as Meadowpaw padded up to Kestrelwing and touched noses with him. The gray she cat shot Leafpaw a triumphant glare as she walked back to the crowd with her new mentor.
Crowstar continued the ceremony. "Finally, I will be mentor to Leafpaw. I promise that I will try my best to teach her all that I know." He hopped down from Highstone and stood in front of her.
Leafpaw realized numbly that he was waiting for her to touch noses with him. She glared at him, refusing to step forward. This is what his talk with my littermates was about! To fill the position I wanted… to make sure that I didn't get it! I hate you, Father! You've ruined my dreams! I don't want to be your apprentice.
Crowstar stared at his daughter. "Leafpaw, come on!" he hissed.
Leafpaw glared at him. "I hate you, Father." Then she turned tail and raced over to the apprentice den. Finding a patch of moss at the back, she settled down in it and glared moodily at the wall.
Gustpaw padded into the den. "Leafpaw. I need to talk to you."
Leafpaw sat up, looking at him sadly. "This is what Crowstar's talk was about, wasn't it?"
Gustpaw nodded glumly. "He told us that he didn't want you to be medicine cat. He asked if one of us would fill the position. I told him that was stupid, but… well, Meadowpaw just wanted to hurt you, so she said yes."
Leafpaw hissed softly. "I hate Crowstar. And Meadowpaw and Nightcloud."
Gustpaw lay down next to her. "That's not the only thing I wanted to tell you about," he mewed. "You see, the other day, before Hollyleaf brought you back, Nightcloud said she was going to have an important talk with Crowstar. I thought it would be about which mentor I got, but I was wrong."
The black tom took a deep breath. "Go on," Leafpaw prompted.
"Well, Leafpaw, they were talking about you. Nightcloud was really mad at Crowstar, and, well, umm… well, I found out… Oh, I don't know if I should tell you, Leafpaw!"
"It's okay," soothed Leafpaw. "Just tell me. I won't be mad."
Gustpaw's expression turned deadly serious. "Look, Leafpaw. The thing I found out is that… Well, Nightcloud's not your mother."