Yay!
I went back to the site to look at a few things after about an hour after updating the last chapter and saw that I already had three new reviews! *Rainbows and sparkles* Thank you! You guys are awesome! Here is the next chapter, and be sure to review.
Also, I am leaving on vacation next week, so I am not sure if I will be able to update, but if I can, I will definitely try!
Disclaimer: No. You should know what I am denying. XD
"Will all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting," Flickerstar called as he climbed onto the stone that shadowed the camp under him.
Frozenkit stood at the base of the rock, feeling every hair on her pelt twitching with nervousness. Being a medicine cat was not at all what she wanted, but it was the right choice. Besides, taking the role would make sense to everyone, and that was all that really mattered. As long as she was seen as useful to her Clan, then she would be okay.
She didn't feel okay at the moment, but she was hoping that the regret would ebb away.
Flickerstar beckoned for Lionkit and Frozenkit to climb the Highrock as the Clan started to congregate. She pushed herself up on each small ledge to stand beside her leader. Lionkit of course, stood closer.
"Today, we gain two more apprentices to make ThunderClan stronger in the newleaf," the ginger tom began. "Frozenkit and Lionkit are six moons old, and now they shall become apprentices." He looked at Lionkit with fire in his amber eyes. "Lionkit, your mentor was a hard decision for me. You are a strong and brave young cat that deserves to be trained by only the best of cats. That's why I have chosen Mousewhisper. From now on, until you have earned your warrior name, you are Lionpaw." He touched noses with Lionpaw before the light brown tom jumped down from the Highrock to meet his mentor.
Of course he gets the deputy. Lionpaw is perfect, thought Frozenkit, envy scorching her fur. She had never really thought about Lionpaw getting the privilege, but as Flickerstar announced it, it made more sense than why cats eat. He'll be going on all of the patrols, all of the Gatherings, while I'll be stuck in the-
Her thoughts were cut off by Flickerstar clearing his throat. She snapped her attention back up to her leader. His amber gaze was plagued with a warning look. She felt her pelt heat up.
"And," Flickerstar continued, voice heavy with scorn. He brightened up and turned to the Clan. "Frozenkit here is willing to become the medicine cat apprentice to train as our healer. It is a different path than her brother, but a noble one all the same."
Noble? Hm. Maybe cats will look up to me for this.
"Frozenkit, do you accept this position?" asked Flickerstar.
She sighed. It wouldn't be too bad would it? She would still get to help her Clanmates and go to Gatherings, and she did get to do something that the warriors didn't! Sharing tongues with StarClan!
"Yes," she murmured.
"Than from this moment on, you shall be known as Frozenpaw. I wish you good luck, both of you." Flickerstar leaped off the Highrock with a wave of his tail to dismiss the Clan. Frozenpaw followed him and paused at the base of the stone when a sudden realization struck her.
Six moons...
She looked over at Snowshine and Oakshade who sat side by side, admiring Lionkit as he pranced excitedly around Mousewhisper. She knew that they probably had never given a thought about her, but she didn't mind.
She was free.
"Frozenpaw."
The deep voice startled her out of her thoughts. Whipping around, Frozenpaw saw the muscular white and gray shape of Hailblaze. He looked impatient, his tail tip twitching and his claws sheathing and unsheathing repeatedly.
"This isn't like warrior training. You can't just sit around waiting for every single cat to congratulate you on being six moons old. Whoopdie-doo! Join the club, now snap out of it and come to my den. We have a lot to work on."
Hailblaze turned and headed for his den. Frozenpaw swallowed a sharp retort and followed him. What he said was pretty bitter, but she had heard worse scoldings from Leafpelt. She broke into the herb-scented cave and joined him where he sat waiting for her.
"There are so many things to teach you, that I barely knew where to begin. But thankfully, Dusksky came in today complaining of a sore throat. I treated her, but if you were in my position, what would you want to do?"
It took Frozenpaw a moment to realize that she wasn't in battle training or hunting practice. She was sitting in a den, surrounded by a bu ch of herbs in plants that she couldn't begin to name, and that that would be the rest of her life. It felt harsh, summing it up like that, so she tried to focus on the work. Her words came out scronfully. "Make her feel better."
"Really? I would've never guessed," meowed Hailblaze, rolling his eyes. "Come on, Frozenpaw, I know you probably don't want to be shoved up in here all day, but you're going to have to be flexible with me here." He fixed his green gaze on her. "What would you want to do-no-what would be the right thing to do?"
What does he think I'd give her? Poison? Frozenpaw thought. "Soothe her throat. Ease the burn, I don't know, whatever you call it."
Hailblaze's eyes flashed with anger, but then they softened, and his whiskers twitched with amusement. "Heh, you're pretty snarky, kit. I know you used to be Madam Indepentdent, but there a lot of things out there that you don't know. You aren't even close to the most clever cat out there, so enough with the disdain, and do what I say."
Frozenpaw mumbled under her breath, and then sighed. "Well, you'd want to give Dusksky something mild and sweet, almost thick so it can take time to heal her burn."
"Good kit," chuckled Hailblaze. "That's why I like to use honey. But it isn't always available every season. Then I'd recommend something that helps with coughs, like tansy." He padded over to a neat pile of yellow flowers that gave off a strong, but pleasant scent.
"So we go honey and tansy," Frozenpaw murmured lightly. "Okay for coughs and sore throats..."
The medicine cat watched as she continued saying the remedies in her head. "I know it can be a lot to remember, but you'll get the hang of it once we start to see more injuries and sicknesses. Being a medicine cat isn't easy. There's a lot we have to sacrifice."
"Wait, what?" Frozenpaw asked. "Sacrifice? What do you mean?"
"You didn't know? Medicine cats must stand apart from Clan rivalries, no matter what the Clan could be doing. We also are forbidden to have a mate or kits. We have too many responcibilities now, we can't cope with those distractions."
Frozenpaw stared at her mentor in horror. If she can't be a part of Clan rivalries, than that means almost no fighting. She would have to sit and watch as the battles happen, sit and watch as her Clanmates are ripped apart by enemies.
She never really thought about a mate or kits, but she was afraid that one day, she'll regret never being able to suckle kits in the nursery, watch them grow into warriors or anything. The thoughts were nice, and if that were to have happened, she would have treated them they way she was never by Snowshine or Oakshade.
She knew she could never be a warrior, but there was much more to that than she imagined.
Hailblaze didn't seem to note her shock. He stretched, and listened to the noise of the Clan outside. "What a coinsedence that today is the half moon Gathering with the medicine cats, and you had your ceremony this morning. It's like StarClan is signing that you were destined to be the Clan's healer all along.
Frozenpaw stared at her paws. Or maybe they were just pointing out her misery.
Well, that was that. Frozenpaw is medicine cat apprentice, and Lionpaw is in training to be a warrior, just like the summary says.
Before you start your complaining that Lionpaw having the deputy as his mentor is too far-fetched and blah, blah, blah, keep in mind that I was at first going to have him as Flickerstar's apprentice. You're lucky I downgraded to this, otherwise it'd be too much like a 'Seriously?' story, Mmkay?
Sorry for being so snippy. I just don't want to hear the complaints.
Just as another reminder, I might not be able to update for a while since I'm going on vacay, but I hope that by the time I get back I'll have a lot of reviews waiting for me! *hint hint*
~Destiny