"Wake up, Acornpaw!"

Konnie felt uncomfortable with her new mentor, who was much more firm than Rosepetal.

"Why did Rosepetal have to get pregnant?" Konnie moaned. "She lets me sleep longer!"

"I'M your mentor." Cinderheart growled. "And me, Berrynose, and Cloudtail are taking our apprentices on a lesson about herbs."

"But we're not medicine cats!" Konnie pointed out. "We should be hunting or fighting!"

"If something happens to you are you are far away from a medicine cat, what are you going to do? What if the medicine cats are sick?" Cinderheart hissed. "You need to meet me halfway if you want to become a decent warrior, Acornpaw!"

"OK." Konnie sighed. She got up and saw Larry, Hollypaw, and their mentors waiting.

"Can't we fight?" Larry growled. "I'm not too short!"

"No, you will do what your mentor tells you!" Berrynose growled in frustration. "Unless you want to clean out the elder's den with Bigpaw!"

"No thanks!" Larry gasped.

"It's amazing that Bigpaw wasn't even asked to do it!" Hollypaw purred with admiration. "He just started doing it before most of us woke up! We should all be like Bigpaw!"

Konnie stiffened a growl and gritted her teeth at Hollypaw. Than she calmed down.

Why am I even upset about her admiration anyway? It's not like Kon and I are friends!

"Let's head out." Cloudtail said.

Cloudtail leaded the way to the forest. Leafpool was waiting for them.

"Hello Acornpaw, Beetlepaw, and Hollypaw." Leafpool ducked her head. "I'm here to show you the first things about herbs. First I'll show you Jayfeather's growing plants."

"Acornpaw!"

Did I hear something?

Konnie kept following the group till a claw tugged her back.

"Carrie?!" Konnie gasped as she turned around. "I haven't seen you in forever!"

"You need to tell Jayfeather to treat my injuries!" Carrie hissed.

"But I thought he already did? Bramblestar must've sent one of the two to treat you after the battle!" Konnie said.

"Look! He clearly didn't!" Carrie showed Konnie long fresh scratches that were well infected.

"No! That's terrible, Carrie!" Konnie cried. "I'll tell Cinderheart that I'm going to Jayfeather!"

Konnie dashed away from Carrie's hiding spot and stopped behind Cinderheart.

"Acornpaw! Shouldn't you have listened to Leafpool the whole time?!" Cinderheart growled.

"No time to explain! I need to see Jayfeather!" Konnie gasped. "Please!"

"This better be important, go!" Cinderheart hissed. Konnie ran into the camp and stopped in front of Jayfeather, who was pulling a thorn out of Corey's paw.

"JAYFEATHER!" Konnie roared. Jayfeather jumped in shock and yowled, pulling out the thorn.

"OW!" Corey licked his bleeding paw and fell back. "What was that for?!"

"Are you OK, Corey?" Laney rushed to Corey's side.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Corey glared at Konnie. "What do you want?"

"Jayfeather! I saw-"

"ROWR!"

"That was Squirrelflight!" Blossomfall cried. "She's going to have her kits!"

NOW?! BUT CARRIE'S INJURED!

Jayfeather pushed Konnie aside and ran to the Nursery. The yowling continued.

"Ugh!" Corey moaned. "It's so loud! I'm going to ask Bramblestar if I can go on a patrol!"

"Corey?" Laney meowed. "He's the father of Squirrelflight's kits. I don't think he'd want to go on a patrol at this time!"

"Oh...right." Corey sighed. "Maybe we can lay down in the apprentice's den?"

Laney licked Corey's cheek and they left the medicine cat's den, leaving Konnie alone.

What about Carrie?

Kon ran into the medicine cat's den.

"Kon?!" Konnie narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Finding a stick for Squirrelflight to bite on!" Kon looked up at her. "Will you come with me, for the sake of the kits?"

Konnie sighed and nodded.

I can't say no to that face...wait, what?

Konnie followed Kon out of the camp and she spotted a sturdy branch on a tree.

"How about that one?" Konnie pointed her ears toward the branch.

"Perfect!" Kon jumped onto the tree and fell in less than a second.

He's heavy, maybe I can get it.

Konnie took several steps back and lunged up into the air. She forgot to unsheathe her claws at the last moment and fell.

"Need help?"

Kon and Konnie turned around and saw Ivypool with a mouse in her jaws.

"Ivypool?! What are you doing out here?" Kon cried. "You're expecting kits!"

"I thought I'd go out for a little hunt." Ivypool's eyes flashed. "I maybe expecting kits, but that doesn't mean I can't jump that tree!"

Kon and Konnie stood back. Ivypool crouched down and adjusted her legs and then pounced. She landed halfway to the branch-point and was slipping.

"I'LL CATCH YOU!" Kon cried, running under Ivypool.

"I'll make it!" Ivypool climbed slowly and grabbed the branch in her jaws. "OK! I'm going to jump, you two help me land on to the floor without breaking something!"

Kon and Konnie were on each side of Ivypool. She leaped off the tree.

Kon caught her scruff and Konnie held her body. They lightly adjusted her to the ground.

"Thanks guys!" Ivypool purred. "Let's get to Squirrelflight!"

Konnie took the branch and ran ahead. She stopped in front of Jayfeather.

"Ivypool helped me and Bigpaw get it!" Konnie explained. "Thought'd it help!"

"Thank you!" Jayfeather gave the stick to the thrashing Squirrelflight, which reduced the noises to inside the Nursery. "Wait, shouldn't Ivypool be in here?"

"She went hunting." Konnie explained. Jayfeather pushed her away.

"The first kit is coming!" Jayfeather cried. Kon came in the Nursery.

"I can't wait to witness the birth of the leader's kits!" Kon purred. "Jayfeather? Can I watch?"

"You two can watch until Bramblestar get's here." Jayfeather took the first kit, a white tom with black stripes. "While you're at it, lick this kit."

Kon licked the kit till it meowed. Jayfeather took it to Squirrelflight's belly and handed a dark brown tom to Konnie.

I have to lick it?

Konnie felt slightly grossed out till Kon gave her a look of reassurance. She closed her eyes and licked the kit fiercely.

"The last kit's coming!" Jayfeather said. He took the kit from Konnie and gave Kon a bright orange she-kit.

"Bramblestar!" Jayfeather yelled. "Your kits are here!"

Kon and Konnie left the Nursery and gave respectful nods to Bramblestar as he entered the Nursery.

"We should go back to the apprentice's den." Konnie said.

"No!" Kon whispered. "I want to hear their names!"

Graystripe, Sandstorm, and Purdy exited the elder's den and waited outside the Nursery. Several warriors and apprentices waited outside as well.

"It's get crowded!" Konnie sighed as Fernpaw squeezed between her and Kon.

"I know, but everyone's anticipating the names of the leader and deputy's kits!" Fernpaw purred.

"The deputy's?" Konnie asked. "I thought Thornclaw was the deputy?"

"Squirrelflight is, but Thornclaw's temporarily taking her place till her kits become apprentices." Fernpaw explained.

"The kits have been named!" Jayfeather meowed. "The white tom is Badgerkit, the dark brown tom is Dustkit, and the orange she-kit is Firekit!"

Cheers and whispers surrounded the camp. Bramblestar came out and many warriors congratulated him. Ivypool quickly headed towards the Nursery.

"Ivypool!" Bramblestar stopped her. "Thanks for trying to help Squirrelfight."

Ivypool nodded and ran past him.

Is Ivypool guilty of something, that can't be! Why is she so startled than?

"Jayfeather!" Stormcloud called. "Can I deliver herbs to Skypaw?"

Carrie! I forgot about her!

"Of course, Stormcloud." Jayfeather gave him a poultice and he left. Bramblestar came to Konnie and Kon.

"Thanks, Bigpaw and Acornpaw. For helping." Bramblestar looked nervous and he left.

Konnie followed Kon into the apprentice's den.

Why's everyone so tense?

Carrie was asleep, her fur matted with dry blood and scars. She felt a paw prod her face.

"Huh?" she got up and saw it was Stormcloud.

"Hello." Stormcloud dropped the poultice in front of Carrie and touched her cheek. "You'll need these."

"Er, thanks." Carrie blushed. Stormcloud left, leaving Carrie chuckling softly.

What a dork.