"That mouse-brained fool of a leader!" Smokepelt fumed as she entered her den. Yellowpaw watched with silent fascination as her new mentor cursed their leader. Her ears twitched as the old gray cat began walking in circles, pacing the den while muttering smart-mouthed remarks about the one they followed without question. Once the old cat settled down, Yellowpaw stepped forward, nervousness making her pawsteps hesitant.

"Smokepelt, did I do something wrong?" She couldn't help but feel that her mentor's ranting had something to do with her. Smokepelt raised her tired blue eyes to her apprentice, feeling the young cat's apprehension.

"No, dear one," Smokepelt sighed, rising on tired limbs. She regarded Yellowpaw with an apologetic glance, "You have done nothing wrong. I'm just a little agitated that he'd choose TONIGHT of all nights to give me an apprentice," Yellowpaw's ears flicked in curiosity.

"Why? What's tonight?" Honestly clueless, she watched as Smokepelt's eyes lighted with a sudden happiness.

"Tonight, little one, we are to meet with Starclan themselves," Yellowpaw's eyes widened to the size of the moon, her tail quivering with excitement and nervousness. Smokepelt let out a mmmmrrrreeeoooowwww of laughter.

"But…why is that such a terrible thing? Will they reject me? Will they not let me train as your apprentice?" Yellowpaw meowed desperately, her eyes shining with unshed, and unneeded, tears. Smokepelt walked over to her and wrapped her tail around her. Yellowpaw sat down, still waiting for Smokepelt's answer.

"No, they will not reject you," Yellowpaw sighed with relief, "But I did not think I'd take my apprentice to the Startree the same day she became an apprentice. I did not think you'd be ready," Yellowpaw's eyes widened at the mention of the Startree. She'd heard stories about it but did not think she'd see it the same day she was made an apprentice.

"Of course I'm ready. I was born ready!" She was denying the sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. The thought of meeting her warrior ancestors after only a few hours of being an apprentice made her sick with anxiety. Smokepelt nodded and turned towards her supply of herbs.

"Well, now that that matter is settled, let's start your training. We'll start with some basic herbs," Glad to change the subject from meeting Starclan, Yellowpaw trotted over to her and listened intently as Smokepelt began her lesson.

--

Sun-down was fast-approaching. On the horizon, the moon was just barely rising. Yellowpaw was sitting beside the fresh-kill pile, a mouse between her paws, but she had lost her appetite. Smokepelt had said it might be more pleasant for her if she had a full stomach, which did nothing to sooth the young cat's nerves. 'What did she mean 'more pleasant'? Is this going to hurt on some level or something?'

Forcing herself to relax, she managed to take two bites of the small gray body before Tinypaw raced up to her with a thrush in his jaws. He was absolutely bursting with pride. Placing his bird on the pile, he picked out a vole for himself.

"See that?" Yellowpaw gave a slow nod, knowing what he was going to say, "I caught it. On my first day! Took me forever to catch it, though. Birds aren't as easy as mice and voles." Speaking of voles, he began to devour the little creature at his paws in famished gulps. On hunting patrols, no one was allowed to eat until the clan had been fed first. It was gone in four bites.

Licking his paws, he started washing his face, a sleepy look coming across his face. He turned to Yellowpaw and yawned, asking, "So what did you do today?" Yellowpaw felt the knot in her stomach tighten. It was one thing to think about it; quite another to discuss it with another cat. And yet…

Some comfort came to her as she realized that she WANTED to talk about it. Not with Smokepelt; she was terribly afraid of offending or hurting the old cat with her silly fears and anxieties. With Tinypaw, her litter-mate, she felt as though she could tell him anything.

"I…I'm going to meet with Starclan tonight," She finally managed to find her voice, though to her it sounded more like a squeak than a meow. Tinypaw stopped his self-grooming, his golden eyes widening in surprise. Several moments passed before the golden tom said anything and when he finally spoke, she began to wish she hadn't said anything at all.

"Really?! That's so cool! Are ya nervous?" He had to say it. She glared at him, making him flinch. Sighing, she allowed herself to calm. She was the one who had wanted to talk about it, though, and she should have known he would react that way. 'Loud-mouthed tom,' She thought with some humor.

"Yeah, a little," She mewed half-heartedly, managing to take another bite out of the mouse before her. Tinypaw cocked his head to side.

"What's wrong? Don't you want to meet them?" Her head jerked up in alarm.

"Of course I do! But," She looked around to make sure no one was staring at them. To relief, every cat was buried within their own duties, barely paying the apprentices any attention, "I'm a little afraid, too," She could see the disbelief in his eyes and knew she had to continue, "What if they don't like me? What if they tell me I can't train under Smokepelt? I've always wanted to be a medicine cat, and our ancestors might tell me that I can't." She wanted to wail but knew that if she did, Smokepelt might hear, and that was the last thing she wanted. Tinypaw watched as she hid her face with her paws, a habit she'd had since her parents' deaths. Whenever she was upset, she would hide her face under the belief that it would also hide her despair.

Tinypaw moved over to sit beside her. Wrapping his tail around her shoulders, he gave her ear a comforting lick. She uncovered her face to look at him, moving her paws down to the end of her nose. He gave her a simple flash of his teeth, a smile that said everything was alright.

"Hey, it'll be alright," Tinypaw mewed. Yellowpaw moved her paws away from her nose to give Tinypaw a questioning gaze, "Our ancestors would be crazy not to want you as our medicing cat. It's your destiny!" He cried with as much conviction as he could muster. Yellowpaw laughed, giving him a grateful smile. She gave her littermate a lick on the cheek which surprised him greatly.

"Thanks, Tinypaw. I needed that," As she said this, Smokepelt emerged from her den, stretching cautiously. Even though she was fiesty and fiery for a cat her age, Smokepelt still suffered from the same weaknesses as other elders: aching joints and a slow but steady trot.

"Yellowpaw, it's time to go," Smokepelt started for the entrance of the camp. Yellowpaw gave Tinypaw one last smile before disappearing after her mentor. Tinypaw was quite pleased with himself, having gotten Yellowpaw to get over her fears of meeting Starclan. And getting a lick in return. 'Wait until I tell Soulpaw,' With that in mind, he trotted off to the apprentices den, tail held high with a smirk plastered on his face.

A/N: That's the second chapter. I thought short and sweet was the way to go, and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. Possible romance between our two heroes? But there is one tiny problem isn't there? All of you Warriors fans out there ought to know what I mean.

Thanks to all my readers, especially Freeheart. Your advice has been so helpful with writing of this so far, and I look forward to your reviews. Thank you, Freeheart!

Read and review, no flames please. Don't like it, don't review; that's what I say.

Hezzah-chan