The second adventure for Rainsong: becoming apprentices! Please review! ~Phoenix

Chapter 2

I prowled the grounds. I wasn't supposed to be up so early, but who does like your mother grooming you for no reason? I certainly don't.

The first spark of dawn shot across the sky. I could see a faint glow of the sun. I shuddered with warmth as I felt a ripple of it. Curling my tail, I noticed Foxtail and Sootpaw climb out from each from their tree, probably for the dawn patrol.

Over the moons, I had learned all my Clanmate's names. I padded toward Crookedfoot's den, thinking of an awesome idea.

Crookedfoot was just stretching, but then she looked at me right away. "A problem, Rainkit? Anything?" mewed the elder medicine cat.

I nodded excitedly. "Yes, Crookedfoot. I want to become your apprentice!" I started sniffing the herbs. Marigold, catnip, horsetail...

Crookedfoot's eyes widened. "M-my apprentice? I've not have an apprentice ask me for moons! Yes, I accept your offer. I must prepare!" she squealed, running off to the leader, who was just scratching his own tree.

Firebreeze, Leafeye, and Sandpaw leaped over the boulders while my father and his apprentice snooped after them and crossed the boulders, their dark shapes disappearing.

Boulderstar and Crookedfoot started whispering to each other.

Boulderstar dipped his head and Crookedfoot swept back to her den. She glanced at me but didn't say anything as she usual, to make it look like she's more mysterious.

"All cats old enough to catch they're own prey, gather around the Snow Stone!" called the PineClan leader before I knew it. I leaped onto my paws and scrambled to the lump of snow that covered a short rock.

Boulderstar looked down at us. "Wildkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and is time for you to become an apprentice. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Wildpaw. Your mentor will be Mintshine. I hope Mintshine will pass down all he/she knows on to you." Boulderstar turned to the warrior. "Mintshine, you will train Wildpaw. Your mentor, Leopardheart, has given you excellent training."

My brother dipped his head and walked up to the first warrior we met, and they touched noses.

"Goldenkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Goldenpaw. Your mentor will be Firebreeze. I hope Firebreeze will pass down all he/she knows on to you. Firebreeze, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Hawkblaze."

Goldenpaw reached up and touched noses with the grey tom. Then Crookedfoot limped forward, and immediately, my littermates looked confused.

Crookedfoot loudly cleared her throat. ""Cats of PineClan as you know, I will not be around forever. So it's time I took an apprentice. I have chosen a cat who has shown inquisitiveness and forethought. Your next medicine cat will be Rainpaw.

"Rainpaw, do you accept the post of apprentice to Crookedfoot?

I stood up proudly. "I do."

Crookedfoot dipped her head. "Then at the half-moon, you must travel to the Moonstone to be accepted by StarClan before the other medicine cats.

"The good wishes of PineClan goes with you," meowed Boulderstar.

PineClan cats swished away, murmuring excitedly.

"Wildpaw, Goldenpaw! Oh, I'm so proud of you! And you... my little Rainpaw, a medicine cat apprentice!" squealed Emberpool happily. My littermates gave me angry glares as Emberpool swished away.

"Why didn't you tell us that you wanted to be medicine cat? I wanted to fight side-by-side with you!" snapped Wildpaw. Goldenpaw shrank away as I turned to her.

"You don't mind, do you?" I asked.

"I do mind, because you didn't at least inform us!" she squealed.

"You're going to be raked to shreds when I become a warrior!" snarled Wildpaw. He stormed away, my sister at his paws, terrified.

I shook my head, noticing Sootpaw. "Well, I'm actually proud that you managed to convince Crookedfoot, after..." His voice trailed off.

"What?" I asked. "What is it?"

Sootpaw lowered his voice so nobody could hear. "I was supposed to be asleep, but Emberpool's kits were coming that night. That included you. I couldn't help listening. Then I heard Crookedfoot wail just loud enough for me to hear: Rain will cover up your Clan. As in, I think that PineClan will be destroyed."

I nodded. "Thank you, Sootpaw."

Sootpaw dipped his head, his amber eyes gleaming with concern. "Your welcome, medicine cat apprentice," he smiled. He prowled away, back to the apprentices' tree. I walked back to the medicine den.

"Hello, Rainpaw. I've chosen you a perfect branch," mewed Crookedfoot as she took some wet moss and dabbed it on her crooked leg. She pointed at a big branch.

"Thank you, Crookedfoot," I meowed, pleased that she had prepared it for me and that she seemed to care about me. "Crookedfoot, can you show me where to find marigold? And other herbs?"

Crookedfoot shrugged. "Sure. But not to long. You know that I'm pretty old for walking around everywhere you want to go."

I dipped my head, showing the old medicine cat that I was please by her answer.

"I must talk to Boulderstar about some important matters. Can you please sort through my herbs?" asked Crookedfoot. I looked down gloomily on the golden, bronze, colorful bright herbs that I didn't even know about yet.

"Sure," I purred, pretending to be happy, but still upset that Crookedfoot was going to leave her alone, probably to discuss about the prophecy matters. "I'd be happy to, I guess."

Crookedfoot purred with pleasure. So much of a nice medicine cat, I thought as Crookedfoot climbed down, leaving me to sort through those lame, stupid herbs.

Maybe I shouldn't have become a medicine cat apprentice. Maybe I should tell Boulderstar, my thoughts trailed me off and made me sleepy. I drooped onto my branch, and before I knew it, I was asleep.

That was Rainsong's exciting but boring thing. I'm sure you know what the prophecy means. :) ~Phoenix