Chapter 2

Cloudkit looked up at the black-furred she-cat as Viperstalk gazed down at her. To her surprise, there was no disappointment in her emerald eyes. Her expression was hard to read, leaving the kitten a little unnerved.

The Medicine Cat gently nudged her away from the Leader's Den, not saying a word to alert the cats inside. The white she-kit stumbled after her, trying to be as quiet as possible. She noticed that they were heading towards her den, and the kitten blinked in surprise.

She didn't dare say a word though, allowing herself to be led along. Her mind was buzzing with questions as though bees had made their home there. Why was she being taken to the Medicine Cat Den? She wasn't sick or injured as far as she could tell unless the older she-cat sensed something she couldn't.

Even so, anxiety kept her jaws tightly shut. Viperstalk used her tail to pull back the leaf cover that hid part of the entrance to the den. Cloudkit nosed her way into the den, having gotten the silent message to do so. At once, the strong scent of herbs hit her nose, nearly knocking her off her paws.

How does Viperstalk deal with this every day?

The black she-cat padded in after the kitten, moving around her to go to the back where her pile of herbs was resting. Cloudkit watched as Viperstalk began to sort through them, not paying attention to her. Anxiety clawed at her belly as the Medicine Cat worked in silence, wondering why she had been dragged into her den.

"Viperstalk—"

Her ear closest to her flicked, telling her that the Medicine Cat was listening to her as she cut herself off. The kitten swallowed before she forced herself to speak.

"Am I in trouble?"

For a good few heartbeats, the older she-cat didn't reply. Cloudkit dug her claws into the floor of the den anxiously as she waited for her answer. Dark blue eyes scanned over the pile of herbs that the Medicine Cat was messing around with, curious about them, but holding her tongue.

"No."

Surprise flickered in the younger cat's gaze. Had she heard that right? Surely she hadn't…

"I'm… not?"

Viperstalk turned her green eyes back onto the white kitten, amusement danced in them. "Unless you want to be."

"N-No, of course not. I just wanted—"

"I know. But that isn't for kits like you to get involved with."

There was an edge to her tone, and it made the she-kit shiver. She dropped the subject, not wanting to upset the older she-cat further. Still, one question remained on her mind.

"Why did you bring me into your den?"

"To keep an eye on you," Viperstalk said before her attention went back to her herbs. "And to keep you out of every cat's paws."

"But you're working," Cloudkit stated the obvious. "How can you watch me?"

"I have my ways."

She doubted that but chose not to comment on it. The kitten sat down, watching as the darker-furred feline worked. The scent of herbs all mixed, making her feel dizzy. She didn't know which was which. How did Viperstalk remember them all?

"What herb is that?" Cloudkit pointed to the one closest to her.

"Marigold."

"What's it used for?"

"It's used to stop and soothe infections in wounds. It's also used to heal them depending on how bad it is."

Cloudkit leaned closer, blue eyes more curious than before. "And that next to the golden flowers?"

"Marigold," Viperstalk corrected her. "And those next to it are sage roots."

"And that's used for?"

"Heals cracked pads. I often pair it with poppy seeds to help ease a cat's pan."

"Is that what poppy seeds do?"

"Yes."

Cloudkit blinked at the Medicine Cat. She stood up, making her way over to her, being careful to not mess up the herbs she had already sorted into different piles. She remembered seeing where she kept them when she'd been in here a few moons ago when she had gotten a stomachache. She could help her put them away!

"Can I help you?"

Viperstalk paused, looking up at the kitten. "You want to help me?"

"Yes! If you're okay with it, I mean…"

A thoughtful looked flashed in the black she-cat's sage green eyes. She nodded after a heartbeat's pause. "Alright. Take those to the back. I have a store there. Make sure not to swallow any of the herbs."

"Okay!"

Cloudkit huddled up the herbs that were laying on a leaf. She wrapped it around them, before carefully picking them up to make sure she didn't swallow any. The white she-cat disappeared into the back part of the Medicine Cat Den, easily finding the storage Viperstalk had.

Wow. She has a lot back here…

It made sense, now that she thought about it. It was the middle of Greenleaf, so prey, as well as herbs, were going to be plentiful. She was snapped out of her line of thought when she heard the older she-cat's call from the front of the den.

"Hurry up, Cloudkit!"

"Coming!" she called back, her voice muffled by the leaf in her mouth.

Placing the bundle down, Cloudkit made her way back to Viperstalk. She spent the rest of her time there helping the older feline out, putting away herbs for her, and chatting her ears off about countless questions. She wasn't sure if she'd remember them all or their uses, but she felt a rush of joy all the same.

"Cloudkit? Cloudkit, where are you?"

The kitten jolted with a start, her blue eyes going wide. That's Tawnykit!

"Sounds like your sister's noticed you've been missing. Why don't you go play now?"

"What about you?"

Viperstalk nudged her towards the entrance. "Go. Enjoy being a kit while you are one still. StarClan knows I might need your help when you're an apprentice."

"Cloudkit!"

She paused briefly before nodding. Cloudkit spun around, racing out of the den to find her sister.

"I'm here!"

Her sister bounced over to her, looking relieved. Tawnykit purred, nuzzling her, golden eyes staring into her azure ones.

"Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you! So has Ivyflower!"

Cloudkit folded her ears back, shame washing over her. She hadn't meant to make them worry about her.

"I was with Viperstalk."

"Did you get hurt?" Tawnykit sniffed her, circling her, eyes wide. "Are you sick?"

"No—"

"Oh, thank StarClan!" Her sister pulled back with a smile. "We'd better go tell Mama you're alright. Then we can get a story from Doveflight! Come on!"

As she raced away, Cloudkit glanced back at Viperstalk's den. She tried to see the older she-cat inside, but her dark pelt helped her blend in well. Not even her green eyes shone back at her. The white she-kit tore her gaze away, darting after Tawnykit.