Chapter 8

"Oh, you're in big trouble now!"

Owlpaw looked up from the lizard he was eating. "What?"

But Grayfeather wasn't talking to him. The silver she-cat was glaring at Amberpaw. "How dare you! Are you trying to stir up trouble? It's leaf-bare! We can't afford a battle or anything like that!"

Amberpaw shrugged. "It was for the good of the clan."

Grayfeather hissed in annoyance. "Really? Crossing into Riverclan territory is for the good of the clan?"

"And getting herbs."

"That you stole from their camp!"

"Well, if there is a battle, now we'll have enough herbs."

Grayfeather's claws slid out. She growled. "I can't believe you!"

Amberpaw turned around. "I'm leaving."

"You're not going anywhere!" Grayfeather hissed. "As a punishment, you're not going out of camp for a whole moon!"

Amberpaw turned around. "You can't do that!"

"Oh yes she can." Pinestar walked over to the medicine cats. "Amberpaw, Grayfeather is your mentor. You should listen to her." He paused to scratch at his ear. "Getting herbs is no excuse for crossing into Riverclan territory."

Amberpaw flicked his tail. "I'm a medicine cat. I can go wherever I want."

"To pick herbs. Not steal them!" snarled Grayfeather.

"Well, it's just like asking for the herbs and then taking them, except for the asking part."

"Asking for herbs is one thing. Stealing them is another! You know, four cats in Riverclan have greencough, and you stole their entire supply of catmint!"

Owlpaw turned away from them and went into the forest, not wanting to hear his brother get scolded by Grayfeather. I could've made a much better medicine cat than Amberpaw, he thought bitterly.

"Owlpaw! Wait up!" Owlpaw looked over his shoulder. Hollypaw was racing after him. Finally managing to catch up, she panted, "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing."

Hollypaw pressed on. "Is it something to do with Amberpaw?"

"Absolutely not."

"Is it because he's a medicine cat and you're not?"

Owlpaw flinched. "Maybe."

Hollypaw sighed. "Well...maybe it's a good thing that you're not a medicine cat."

"WHAT?"

Hollypaw flinched. "Well, if you were a medicine cat...then...you wouldn't be able to get a mate..."

Owlpaw gawked at Hollypaw. "I don't want a mate! I want to be a medicine cat!"

Hollypaw looked disappointed. "Oh." She turned away. "Sure."

Owlpaw felt guilty. "Uh...uh...um...er...wait!" He managed to catch up to Hollypaw. "I didn't mean it that way!"

Hollypaw glared at him. "You better know what you meant, then. Because if that wasn't rejecting me...I don't know what is," she said coldly.

Owlpaw looked down. "S-sorry. I just want to be medicine cat so badly!"

"Then choose being a medicine cat over being a mate, then. Be lonely. You know, I'm starting to think that Amberpaw has the right idea about medicine cats."

Owlpaw glanced at from her. "Look, I'm really sorry about that." He hesitated. "Maybe someday I can have a mate...but not now. Not today."

Hollypaw turned away from him. "Okay." Her voice was flat. "Whatever."

Owlpaw was really guilty.

Hello! Thanks for all the great reviews! Anyways, I'm not sure if I should be nice and let Hollypaw forgive Owlpaw or make Hollypaw just really mad at Owlpaw. What do you think?

HalfSun out!