Almost three moons had gone by since Firestar's return and since Longtail begun training with Cinderpelt.

"So tell me, which of these are used to ease bee sting swelling?" Cinderpelt was asking him. Longtail bent down to sniff the herbs. One was coltsfoot, the next was blackberry leaves, and the final was watermint. Longtail pawed at the middle pile.

"Blackberry leaves." he purred confidently, head held high. He heard a purr rumble in Cinderpelt's throat.

"Well done! You're learning quickly." Suddenly, the sound of the ferns outside the den made Longtail's ears prick.

"Hello Cinderpelt, Longtail. Brightheart asked me to come ask you to take a look at Whitekit. It seems she got a thorn stuck in her paw while exploring camp." The voice of Cloudtail came and Longtail felt a rush of air as Cinderpelt stood beside him.

"Alright, we will be right there." she replied. Longtail stood and followed his mentor out. She had been right, slowly, Longtail was getting used to using his remaining senses, all of which had gained since the loss of his sight. Longtail padded behind Cinderpelt, across the camp clearing and he heard the hustle and bustle. As his ears picked up on bits and pieces, he just pictured it all happening on the inside of his eyelids.

"And so I tell Lionheart: 'That's no mouse! That's my tail! Oh he was a riot!" he heard Speckletail laugh, followed by Dappletail and Frostfur.

"Careful now Rainpaw! Don't get mud on the freshkill! Carry it up higher!" he heard Cloudtail mew as the three must have passed his apprentice.

"Can you believe the size of that squirrel?! It's tail is almost bigger than your face!" Ashfur's joking cackle came as did a hmmph from Brambleclaw. The clan was alive and well.

When Longtail entered the nursery, he was hit with the warm, welcoming scent. He breathed in a content sigh, his mind wandering. What would it have been like to actually have a mate? Truthfully, he was never interested before becoming a medicine cat apprentice, so it didn't quite matter.

"Thank you for coming Cinderpelt. The thorn looks to be in pretty deep." Brightheart's worried mew shook Longtail from his thoughts.

"Let me take a look." he heard his mentor meow. There were a few moments of silence.

"Longtail, come here." his mentor mewed. Longtail scooted closer carefully and sat at attention.

"What do we do with a thorn?"

"Grab it at the base and pull, then lick the paw pad until it stops bleeding." he meowed.

"Very good. Why don't you give it a try?" Cinderpelt asked. Longtail gave a nod and bent down to where he sensed Whitekit's little paw.

"Hello there, Whitekit. I'll get that thorn out, just don't move now." he mewed softly.

"Okay." Whitekit replied. The tabby nosed her paw until he felt the thorn, then grasped it between his teeth. He gave it a quick tug and Whitekit let out a little squeak.

"Good. Now just give it a few licks." Longtail instructed the kit after spitting the thorn out on a leaf.

"Thank you, Longtail!" Whitekit mewed happily.

"No problem, now just be careful where your paws tread." he chuckled. Just then there was a gasp from a nearby nest.

"Sandstorm, are you alright?" Cinderpelt asked. The leader's mate had moved into the nursery not soon after their return.

"The kits! I think they're coming!" Longtail heard the she-cat's meow was lined with pain and his paws prickled with excitement mixed with a bit of fear. This would be his first kitting.

"Oh! Come Whitekit, let's go play with your father." he heard Brightheart meow. Cinderpelt's tail touched his shoulder.

"I'll go grab some herbs. You keep an eye on Sandstorm for a moment. This will be a great learning experience for you!" his mentor meowed. And soon he sensed he was alone with the ginger she-cat.

"S-so how's the training going, Longtail?" Sandstorm asked. Longtail could tell she was trying hard to get her mind off the pain.

"Very well, thank you." he mewed, searching carefully and placing a paw on Sandstorm's flank. He felt her muscles ripple strongly beneath his paws and almost jumped back in surprise.

"Alright, Longtail. Remember what I've told you?" Cinderpelt's scent came right before her mew. Longtail nodded.

"When the kit comes, nip the sac and lick it backwards to stimulate breathing." he answered as he smelled borage.

"Here, eat this, Sandstorm." Cinderpelt instructed. "And take this stick to bite down on."

Longtail slowly moves his paw along the she-cat's belly.

"I think it will be two kits." he meowed to her and Cinderpelt.

"Good, the first one's coming. Take care of that one."

Longtail did as he was told and nosed the wet bundle of fur.

"It's a she-kit." he announced after a few rough licks.

"Place it in her belly curve." Cinderpelt told him. Longtail nodded and did so. Cinderpelt must have gotten the other kit, because she soon announced it was another she-kit.

"Very good, Sandstorm. You should rest now, but we'll inform Firestar and I'm sure he'll come to see you soon." Cinderpelt meowed.

"Thank you." came Sandstorm's quiet but pleased voice. Longtail imagined the pale ginger she-cat staring proudly down at her kits and he sighed inwardly. If only he could see what they looked like.

"Come Longtail." Cinderpelt meowed. The two left the nursery.

"Head back to our den. I must go speak with Firestar."

Longtail nodded and padded slowly across the clearing, alone. Once inside, the tabby flopped down into his bed tiredly. He took a moment to think of all he took for granted when he still possessed his sight. The beauty of the trees. The faces of all his clan mates. The look of a freshly caught squirrel. He sighed again and curled up, tucking his nose into his tail. Soon he gave into a well deserved sleep.


Longtail opened his eyes to a starry clearing. Immediately his heart leapt. He could see again! He saw a small dusky brown she-cat approaching and for only a moment thought it was Mousefur before realizing it was his mother Robinwing.

"Mother!" he ran forward to nuzzle her in greeting.

"Hello, my dear Longtail."

"What are you doing here?" he meowed, figuring out that he must be dreaming. His heart broke a bit.

"I wanted to tell you not to fret about the loss of your sight. There was nothing you could have done. It was meant to be... But I have been watching you and I have to say I am very proud of how far you have come in these couple moons."

Longtail purred at his mother's praise.

"Thank you, mother." Robinwing nodded.

"With your decision, you have changed the course of many things."

"Like what?" Longtail asked, suddenly nervous. Robinwing gave him a comforting lick between his ears.

"Oh nothing to be worried about I'm sure. But I don't know for sure. I just sense the positives outweight the negatives."

Longtail breathed in his mother's scent and felt as if he was a kit back in the nursery with her.

"One more thing, Longtail." she meowed, sounding like a bit of a warning. "As a medicine cat, you must be more compassionate and kind. You've been quite impoving on your attitude though."

Longtail nodded. His mother was right. He used to be a bit harsh and sharp-tongued to many cats.

"I understand. Thank you."

"Now rest. There will be much to do tomorrow." Robinwing disappeared slowly and Longtail laid down and closed his eyes, welcoming the darkness.