"Make sure your shadow isn't over the river or you'll scare the fish away," Dawngaze meowed.
Dapplepaw nodded and made sure her shadow wasn't over the river.
"As soon as the moment is right," Dawngaze continued as she swiped a fish into the air and pinned it down as soon as it landed. "Swipe it out of the river and make sure you pinned it down so it won't get away so you can kill it."
After Dawngaze had finished what she was saying, she bent down and bit the fish on the neck, killing it instantly.
"I'll try my best," Dapplepaw meowed.
Dapplepaw leaned over the river making sure her shadow wasn't over it. As soon as a fish swam in front of her, Dapplepaw swiped her at the fish into the air and pinned it down as soon as it landed. Dapplepaw had then bent down and killed the fish with one bite to the neck.
"You're a real natural, Dapplepaw," Dawngaze congratulated eying the fish Dapplepaw had caught.
"You don't have to be so modest," Dapplepaw mewed. "It was only my first catch and I was lucky."
"Luck has nothing to do with it," she replied. "When I'd even managed to catch my first fish it wasn't even big enough to feed a kit that just got old enough to eat fresh kill. Dapplepaw I got a feeling you have a natural thing for catching fish."
Dapplepaw just shrugged in embarrassment.
"Somebody is trespassing," Dawngaze hissed as the rogue showed its face. "Dapplepaw I want you to get out of the way, but make sure the spot you go to is a spot where you still observe the fight."
Dapplepaw quickly leaped into a bush and watched her mentor fight against the rogue. The rogue pounced onto Dawngaze and scratched her across the cheek; Dawngaze kicked the rogue off and scratched it across the muzzle.
While Dapplepaw was watching she began to feel faint.
What's going on with me?
Dapplepaw hissed at herself as she tried to stop herself from fainting. Why is the sight of blood bothering me like this?
As the battle raged on, Dapplepaw struggled to stay on her feet and not faint. It wasn't too long before the rogue decided to quit and run off.
"You can come out now, Dapplepaw," Dawngaze called.
Dapplepaw slowly walked out from behind the bush trying to fight off the light headiness she was feeling.
"Are you alright?" Dawngaze asked.
Dapplepaw struggled to left her head up and answer Dawngaze, but as she lifted her head up to speak her eyes became focused on Dawngaze's blood that was dripping on her cheek and fainted.
"…Dapplepaw…Dapplepaw!" Those were the last words Dapplepaw heard before she fainted.
Dapplepaw slowly opened her eyes and then asked, "W-where am I?"
It was the medicine cat, Meadowsong who answered, "You're in the medicine cat's den."
"Is Dawngaze alright?" Dapplepaw asked.
"She's fine, Dapplepaw," Meadowsong replied. "She just had a few scratches, so there's nothing to worry about."
"I'm glad to hear that," she mewed.
"I think you should be more worried about yourself," Meadowsong warned. "Dawngaze told me you fainted nearby the river. Anyway Dawngaze and I want to talk to you."
Dapplepaw followed Meadowsong out of the den.
As soon as Dapplepaw sat down nearby Dawngaze and Meadowsong she asked, "So what do you want to talk to me about?"
"Dapplepaw, while you were out," Dawngaze began. "I had a talk with Meadowsong about what happen. I'm afraid you can no longer train to become a warrior."
"Why!?" Dapplepaw asked. Her eyes were filled with shock.
"Because of what happen," Meadowsong continued. "According to what Dawngaze had told me earlier, the sight of fresh blood made you light headed and caused you to faint."
"That only happened once!" Dapplepaw pleaded. "I promise it won't happen again!"
"We can't take that chance, Dapplepaw," Dawngaze's voice was stern. "I'm sorry but you have no choice but to train under Meadowsong as a medicine cat apprentice."
Dapplepaw tried to speak up, but she was too shocked to say anything.
"I'd always wanted to train an apprentice and I'm sure you'll make a great medicine cat," Meadowsong mewed. "I had already told Ripplestar about what happen when you were near the river with Dawngaze."
"I guess I got no choice then," Dapplepaw's voice had a little sadness to it. "Alright, Meadowsong I'll become your apprentice."
"Let all cats old enough to swim gather around the tree stump for a clan meeting," Ripplestar meowed.
All of the cats gathered. Dapplepaw was sitting near the tree stump along with Meadowsong.
"Cats of Riverclan, as you know," Meadowsong began. "I will not be around forever. So it's time I took an apprentice. I have chosen a cat that has shown kindness. Your next medicine cat will be Dapplepaw."
"Dapplepaw, do you accept the post of apprentice to Meadowsong?" Ripplesstar asked.
"I do," Dapplepaw answered.
"Then at half-moon," Meadowsong continued. "You must travel to the Moonpool to be accepted by Starclan before the other medicine cats."
"The good wishes of all Riverclan will go with you," Ripplestar meowed.
Meadowsong touched noses with Dapplepaw.
"Meadowsong! Dapplepaw! Meadowsong! Dapplepaw!"
Ripplestar dismissed the clan.
"Dapplepaw we need to go collect some more borage leaves and some goldenrod," Meadowsong meowed as she headed on out of the camp.
Dapplepaw followed behind.
Meadowsong and Dapplepaw headed on to the border of Windclan and waited nearby the border. While they were waiting a patrol came up to them.
"What are two Riverclan cats doing here?" The large black and white tom questioned. A dark brown tabby apprentice was with him along with a calico she-cat and a long haired golden tom.
"As deputy Badgerclaw, you should know that medicine cats never mean any harm," Meadowsong exclaimed. "We are here to get some borage leaves and goldenrod."
"Fine," Badgerclaw replied sternly. "Sungaze, Spottedtail, I want you two to escort these to Riverclan cats to Ravenflight. Swiftpaw you come with me so we can work on your battle skills."
The way he said 'Riverclan' was filled with disgusted.
Swiftpaw nodded and followed Badgerclaw. Sungaze and Spottedtail led Meadsong and Dapplepaw to their camp.
"You must be here to see Ravenflight," The Windclan leader, Duststar meowed. "You already know where it is. But I will still take you over there personally."
As Meadowsong and Dapplepaw followed Duststar to Ravenflight's den, Dapplepaw notice that Meadowsong seemed like she was nervous. Dapplepaw spoke up and asked her, "Are you alright?"
"…Oh…sorry about that," Meadowsong replied. "I'm fine, I was just thinking about how we should rearrange the herbs when we get back. There's nothing for you to worry about."
"If you say so," Her mew was filled with concern.
"Meadowsong, it's nice of you to drop by," Ravenflight greeted. "I see you got yourself an apprentice. Is there anything I can do for you two?"
"It's nice to see you as well, Ravenflight," Meadowsong replied. "My apprentice's name is Dapplepaw. We're here for some borage leaves and some goldenrod."
Dapplepaw notice that Ravenflight was a young medicine cat.
"It's nice to meet you, Dapplepaw," Ravenflight greeted Dapplepaw. "I hope you enjoy being a medicine cat, I have only been one for a short amount and already I enjoy it, just wait until you visit Moonpool and get to speak with Starclan. Any way I got more than enough of both the herbs you need, but I think Duststar would rather have me show you two where I got them."
"It doesn't matter either way," Duststar spoke up while he was licking his paw. "They're only medicine cats. What harm can they do?"
Dapplepaw's fur started to bristle a bit. Did he just insult medicine cats?
"Well I'll guess I'll grab some for you two out of the den," Ravenflight meowed as he headed on back into his den to get some borage leaves and some goldenrod for them.
Dapplepaw started to look at her paws wondering if she asked Duststar or not.
"If there is something you want to ask do it already," Duststar spoke up sternly. "If you don't, then quit staring at your paws like you have something to say. It's quite a bothersome."
"I was just wondering how much Ravenflight enjoys being a medicine cat," Dapplepaw exclaimed.
"You can see the answer for yourself," he answered. "You just wasted your time asking me, so you didn't need to be staring at your paws like you wanted to know something. The answer was right underneath your nose."
Dapplepaw lowered her head a bit and mewed, "I'm sorry."
"Here you go," Ravenflight meowed as he brought the herbs in a large leaf.
"Thank you for your generosity," Meadowsong meowed as she picked up the herbs.
"Now that you two are finally ready to leave," Duststar meowed. "I will lead the two of you out of Windclan territory."
Meadowsong and Dapplepaw followed Duststar out of Windclan territory.
Once the two medicine cats were in Riverclan territory, Dapplepaw asked, "Why does Duststar have to be such a-
"He's not all that bad, Dapplepaw," Meadowsong cut her off. "He may not seem like it, but he's a very generous cat who cares deeply for his clan and has no problem helping out other clans in need. In fact a few moons before you and your littermates were born, Dawngaze's parents had died and he saw how upset she was about it at the gathering, so in his own sort of way he comfort her about it."
"Thank you for letting me know this," Dapplepaw meowed.
"Meadowsong, I need you to come quick!" Mudstrike panted as he rushed towards the two medicine cats. "You…need to come quick."
"Calm down, brother," Meadowsong meowed. "Now tell me what's wrong."
"Sunflower's kits are coming," Mudstrike explained.
"Then we better hurry," she replied as she handed her brother the herbs. "Here I need you to carry these for me."
Meadowsong rushed on towards the nursery den with Dapplepaw on her tail.
"It's going to be alright, Sunflower," Meadowsong mewed smoothly as she handed her a stick. "Bite down on this."
"T-thank you Meadowsong," Sunflower panted as she grabbed hold of the stick before she lit out another yowl.
"You're doing good, Sunflower," she mewed. "Just keep pushing."
Sunflower lit out another yowl into the stick as a kit came out.
"It's a she-kit. Dapplepaw I want you to lick her warm."
Dapplepaw went over to the tiny kit and began licking it.
"Here comes another one!" Sunflower yowled as yet another kit came out.
"It's another she-kit."
Meadowsong turned her head to Mudstrike who had just arrived with the herbs in front on of him.
"Good you're here," Meadowsong exclaimed. "I need you to lick this kit warm."
"Why do I have to do it!?" He questioned.
"Would you rather be the one kitting?" Meadowsong questioned back.
Mudstrike said nothing and started licking the she-kit.
"Looks like she's done, Meadowsong mewed.
"I am and I'm glad," Sunflower sighed.
The two she-kits went up to Sunflower and began nursing.
"They're beautiful," Dapplepaw mewed.
"Are you ready to name them?" Mudstrike asked.
"Yes," Sunflower replied as she pointed to the Golden brown tabby kit with a reddish-brown right ear. "This one is going to be Maplekit."
"It fits her quite well," Mudstrike commented as he turned his head to the golden and white kit. "We should name this one, Marigoldkit."
"That's a lovely name for her," Sunflower purred. "Welcome to Riverclan, Maplekit and Marigoldkit."
"You must be glad to have more kin in the clan," Dapplepaw exclaimed.
"I am very happy for him," Meadowsong replied looking at her brother's kits.
"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have kits of your own?" Dapplepaw asked.
"I have," Meadowsong quietly answered. "But I have decided to become a medicine cat. So the only thing I can ever do is wonder what it would be like, besides the clan is my family and that's all I could ever ask for."
"I heard you got to go into Windclan's camp," Briarkit meowed walking up to Dapplekit. "Was it scary?"
"Not at all," Dapplepaw replied. "They're not too different from us."
"Did you happen to see a light grey tabby she-cat that was an apprentice?" It was Mudpaw that asked this time.
"We've only went there to get some herbs," She answered. "So I'm afraid I haven't. Why'd you asked?"
"No reason at all," Mudstrike retorted. "I was just wondering that's all."
Dapplepaw just shrugged.
"This must be one of the things good about being a medicine cat," Falconpaw spoke up.
"I guess," Dapplepaw shrugged.
"Dapplepaw, I need you to help me rearrange these herbs," Meadowsong called.
"I'm coming, Dapplepaw answered as she rushed over to the medicine cat den.
I'm starting to think that being a medicine cat is going to be rather quite enjoyable.