A/N: Finally got my third challenge for The Clan Cat Café done. For this challenge we had to choose a number between one and thirty. It was one word and we had to write a one-shot base on the prompt. I got Hope as my word.

Characters:

Reedpaw- Brown tabby tom with yellow eyes

Waspclaw- Sandy-golden tom with black stripes and green eyes

Greypetal- Grey she-cat white white paws and blue eyes

Pebblestar- Grey mottled she-cat with orange eyes

Coughing awoke the brown tom. The apprentice blinked his eyes open as dread filled him once more.

"Not again," he moaned. Reedpaw got up, stretched, and padded out of the apprentice's den, knowing that there was going to be another day of his Clanmate's lost hope. In the clearing, the young tom saw one of the queens, Berryfall, coughing.

"Are you going to see Greypetal," the tom asked with a sigh. The creamy she-cat nodded as she padded into the medicine den.

"Reedpaw, can you ask Dewstrike is she can watch my kits and tell Waspclaw that I-I'm sick," the queen asked with a stutter. With a slight nod of his head, Berryfall left with her tail dragging. Reedpaw had enough of the greencough and the death of his Clanmates. After the flood three moons ago, Greypetal's supply of catmint was destroyed. She and her apprentice, Patchstorm, only managed to collect a few clumps of the herb. Of course, they asked the other Clans for it, but they were denied. After a few moments in deep thought of RiverClan's problems, Reedpaw went into the medicine den to see the medicine cat.

"Uh Greypetal, can I talk to you," the tom asked.

"What is it," the golden eyed she-cat asked.

"Well I've noticed that some of our Clanmates have lost hope in-well-everything. I want to help, but I know it's no good. Heck, I even believe that some of the cats have even lost faith in StarClan," the apprentice sighed. Greypetal thought for a moment before responding, trying to find the right words to use.

"You see Reedpaw, everyone's in a delicate state right now. RiverClan is fragile and we can't afford to lose any more cats. Now, the others may not be hopeful, but as long as you are, then maybe it'll catch on with the others," Greypetal offered. Reddpaw shrugged with a dip of his head.

"Thanks Greypetal," the tom murmured as he exited the den. Realizing that the medicine cat wasn't very helpful, Reedpaw decided to go to Pebblestar, the RiverClan leader. Quietly, he padded over to the leader's den.

"Pebblestar, may I come in," Reedpaw called in nervously.

"Yes, what do you need," the mottled she-cat asked flatly.

"Well it's about the Clan. Pebblestar, we need to do something. Our Clanmates are losing hope and have little faith left. Maybe if you, Patchstorm, or Greypetal went to the Moonstone and spoke with-," the tom was cut off.

"Talk with StarClan? Reedpaw, I know you'll be a warrior soon, but you are still young. Can't you see, StarClan has turned their back on us! After the flood, they haven't given us any sign of catmint or any other herb we can use. I'm sorry Reedpaw, but there's no one to do it. Greypetal and Patchstorm are too busy, and I have a Clan to take care of. Listen, I-I have no hope or faith left in them at this moment. I know I shouldn't rely or blame them for every one of our problems, but it's starting to look that way. I'm not saying I'll make my warriors lose faith, but at the same time I don't want them to have false hope," the leader finished. Reedpaw thought for a moment to collect his words.

"Maybe if one of the medicine cats leave only for a while StarClan will help," the tom suggested.

"Reedpaw I'm sorry, but no. We need all the help with our sick warriors, okay. Please go," Pebblestar practically begged with an edge to her voice.

"But maybe if we just-"

"Reedpaw! I. Said. NO! That's enough, so can you please go," the mottled tabby asked with a hiss. With a shaky sigh, the brown tom nodded as he quietly exited the den. In the clearing, the tom spotted his mentor, Waspclaw.

"Reedpaw, we're going hunting," the tom ordered as soon as he noticed the tabby tom.

"Okay, coming," the amber eyed apprentice replied. When he was next to his mentor, Reedpaw and Waspclaw left the camp. As they headed out into the RiverClan territory, neither tom spoke. The crisp air blew through Reedpaw's thick coat causing him to shiver as a chill ran down his spine.

"You alright," his sandy mentor asked flatly.

"Yah fine. Oh, Berryfall wanted me to tell you she-she has greencough," the apprentice sighed. Waspclaw stopped in his tracks with a stunned look on his face.

"Wh-What? She-She has…greencough," the tom asked with worry. Reedpaw simply nodded.

"What about our kits? Are they okay?"

"I don't know. Dewstrike's taking care of them," the tabby replied carefully. The black stripped tom shook his head.

"Can you give me a moment," the tom breathed. Without hesitation, Reedpaw fled from his mentor. As he bounded away to give Waspclaw privacy, a thick fog began to forum. The apprentice had no idea where he was going or how he'd get back. Stumbling around like a blind badger, Reedpaw tripped and fell into a hollow. As if on cue, the fog began to clear from the hollow. Carefully, Reedpaw began to explore the mysterious place. Sniffing around, the brown tom caught a whiff of a strange scent. It smells like an herb, he thought with excitement. Following the scent, the amber eyed tom's heart pounded in his chest quickly. He didn't know whether it was a good scent or bad. For all he knew, Reedpaw was going to his death because of the irresistible smell. Finally, the brown tabby tom had found what he was looking for. Surprisingly think, healthy looking clumps of catmint were in right in front of him. With a grin the tom began to pick it, clump after clump. Bareilly able to contain himself, the apprentice ran back towards the spot he came from, happiness filling his heart.

"Asplaw, Asplaw! I founed camin," Reedpaw called through the thick clumps. The sandy tom turned and his face instantly lit up.

"Where'd you fine it," he asked quickly.

"Can't tal ow. Ave o get his o Raypetl," the apprentice attempted to say. Though not understanding clearly, Waspclaw nodded and the two darted into camp and straight into the medicine den.

"Er what is i…I-Is that catmint," the medicine asked, though she wasn't expecting any answer. The grey she-cat sniffed the plants and a smile came across her face.

"Thank you Reedpaw. Now out," the medicine cat ordered. The brown apprentice smiled and nodded. Things might look better for RiverClan after all.

Three Moons Later

The grey mottled she-cat stood proudly on the rock. Gazing down at her Clanmates, Pebblestar's eyes landed on a brown tabby apprentice. With a smile, she began the ceremony.

"I, Pebblestar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Reedpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do"

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Reedpaw, from this moment on you'll be known as Reedstripe. StarClan honors your wisdom and kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan."

"Reedstripe, Reedstripe, Reedstripe," the RiverClan cats cheered. The brown tabby tom smiled with happiness, glad his Clan was faring well.