I glanced around the clearing. My paws were tired from my first day of training, and my injured paw felt like it would explode with pain. Even the poppy seeds Jayfeather had given me didn't ease it much. He seemed to have pity in his voice as he told me to eat the seeds.

Goldenkit, Falconkit and Dewkit were playing outside for the first time. Fernpaw and Robinpaw were sharing tongues by the halfrock. Whitewing was heading back to the nursery after hunting with Birchfall. It would be her last hunt, and tonight would be her first night in the nursery.

"Morning Beechpaw." I limped over to my mentor, Foxcatcher. He was sharing tongues with his sister, Icestorm. "How is your leg this morning?"

"It is still bothering me, but I should be fine training again." I lied. Actually, my mind was beginning to fill with doubt. My paw was just as bad as the day before. Jayfeather's herbs hadn't done anything to help. Foxcatcher seemed to notice the flecks of doubt in my eyes.

"Maybe you should rest today. See Jayfeather about getting something else for that paw." He ignored my complaints and I ended up obeying him, limping back into the medicine den. Jayfeather seemed to have been ready for me.

"Eat these." He mewed, sliding another leaf full of poppy seeds towards me.

"They didn't do anything except put me to sleep yesterday!" I protested. "Don't you have anything else?" I mewed more politely. Jayfeather turned his blind gaze to me.

"No." He mewed plainly. Anger surged through me. Why did he refuse to give me anything but poppy seeds? I left the seeds and stalked out. He wasn't going to help me, I wouldn't bother. I caught a glare from Foxcatcher. He knew I hadn't gotten anything to help my paw. I ignored it and flopped down by the halfrock, quiet now that Robinpaw had joined sunhigh patrol with Eaglepaw and Fernpaw had gone hunting. Why am I always alone? I thought bitterly. I rolled onto my back, sunning my belly.

"You look bored." I turned to see Bramblepaw yawning by the entrance to our den. I rolled back onto my belly.

"Foxcatcher won't take me training and Jayfeather refuses to give me anything but poppy seeds for my leg." I growled.

"Why won't Foxcatcher take you training?" She asked. I didn't feel like explaining, but if I didn't, she would leave me alone again.

"He noticed my leg was bothering me. He sent me to Jayfeather, but he just gave me more poppy seeds." I replied angrily.

"Maybe that is all that will help it feel better." I shook my head.

"He gave me something better when I was still a kit. I remember it. He rubbed it on my leg and it felt much better. I think he said it was comfrey. It is used to help mend broken bones. I know he could use that to help it heal back up." I meowed, thinking hard about the herb he had told me about. He seemed intent on me being his apprentice. Couldn't he understand I wanted to be a warrior? I hadn't notice him watching from nearby.

"You are exactly right." He pushed a few leaves toward me. "Comfrey. Good for mending broken bones. They would help your leg. Chew it up and rub it on the hurting parts of the leg." With that he left. I ruffled my fur in anger and sniffed the herbs. It was the same as the stuff he gave me when I first injured my leg. I chewed the herbs bitterly, glaring at the entrance where he had left.

"He really wants you as his apprentice." Bramblepaw pointed out. I growled as I rubbed It on my leg carefully.

"Well, he is going to be very disappointed." I hissed. I could already feel the comfrey working. My leg felt much better, though if I moved it too much, it still hurt.

"Maybe you should." I almost ignored her.

"Should what?" I hissed.

"Become his apprentice. Obviously warrior training is hurting your leg. You could make it worse." She meowed worriedly. I growled.

"It won't get worse. It is already permanently injured. The only thing worse would be removing it completely." I growled. Bramblepaw seemed unconvinced, but she gave me a dismissing lick on my head. I growled at her.

"Icestorm is taking me training. See you later." She padded over to our mentors. I was alone. Again. And this time, there were no other apprentices sleeping. They were already out training. I wasn't. As Icestorm and Bramblepaw left, I returned to Foxcatcher, careful not to put too much weight on my leg.

"Can you please take me training?" I begged. Foxcatcher shook his head.

"Not today. Your paw is still bothering you." He mewed.

"At least put me on elder duty!" I pleaded.

"The elders don't need anything right now."

"Give me something to do! I'm so bored!"

"Why don't you help Jayfeather sort herbs?"

"I'm not a medicine cat!" Foxcatcher's look was enough to send me stalking back to the halfrock. Even he thought I should be! First my sister, now my mentor! Didn't anyone believe in me? I flopped down again. Jayfeather was returning from the forest with his mouth full of more comfrey and poppy seeds, as well as an herb I had only seen once before, when he was trying to help my mother. Her injuries were too bad and she ended up dying, but I remembered the herb well. It was marigold, which kept wounds from getting infected. I shook my head. I shouldn't care! I didn't care, but it seemed like the herbs came so easily. I wasn't going to be a medicine cat. As long as I could walk I would train as a warrior.