"Fine... I think this cat is one of my own kits." Ferretstar decides. After thinking about it for a while, she thought with great certainty this was what made the most sense.

"Which one?" Gingerleaf presses, peering closer with unusual seriousness.

"Mistkit." Ferrestar ammends.

Gingerleaf stares at her for a long moment. Slowly, he tilts his head and grins. "Then you'd be right."

By the next evening, Gingerleaf finished showing Cloverface, Ashtail, Brownflower, and the reluctant Puddleclaw a few basic herbs and how to use them. They would be his assistants while the medicine cat was in hiding.

The fat ginger and white tom came over to Ferretstar, several herbs tucked into the curls of his fur.

"You look like something someone yaked out on the grass." Ferretstar greets boredly.

"You're too kind Boss." Gingerleaf responds, bowing slightly from the 'praise'.

"It's not a coincidence you left me in charge of the yarrow, is it?" Puddleclaw calls over with an agitated sigh.

"Of course, there's only one cat I would trust with the puke plant." Gingerleaf snickers, "Making sure kiddos don't eat anything poison is a big job, you know Puddles."

Ferretstar can't help but let out an amused purr.

"It won't be that bad, Puddleclaw." Brownflower says, putting her tail over her gray warrior comfortingly.

"You are ready to move out, right?" Ferretstar asks Gingerleaf, getting the conversation back on track.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Gingerleaf shrugs.

"That's the spirit." Cloverface says sarcastically.

Ferretstar gives the young warrior a stern look. "Quiet you, or we'll put you in charge of the puke plant instead." The leader says, with a mix of humor and seriousness. From the look on Cloveface's face, he wasn't going to test and see which one.

"Who's coming besides you anyway?" Gingerleaf asks, looking around camp idly, "I know you and Barkbark want to keep the whole thing a secret and really mix it up, but I'd still like to know."

"Well, I won't know for Barkpelt's patrol, although she will probably take her apprentice and whoever I don't pick." Ferretstar starts out, and Gingerleaf gives her a look that says: get to the point. She smiles and shakes her head slightly, "Alright, alright, since we're the first patrol I suppose I can tell you. The two guards coming with us will be..."

Photography by Me.

Original Poll Options:

12 Votes

1. Leaffur and Frecklepaw - Mentor and apprentice, Leaffur will appreciate taking Frecklepaw on this mission. Frecklepaw is a bit young, but he's bright for his age and will take the task seriously. : 8.3%

2. Dustclaw and Molepaw - Mentor and apprentice, Molepaw is an older apprentice and more capable of important assignments. Dustclaw is the strongest fighter in the Clan, so Gingerleaf would have nothing to worry about with them at his side. Also a chance for Ferretstar to spend time with her daughter. : 16.7%

3. Brownflower and Ashtail - A senior warrior and her former apprentice. Brownflower and Ashtail make a good team, and its good to have more experienced cats who work well together for a mission like this. : 25%

4. Lostnose and Cloverface - A senior warrior, and the youngest warrior. Having a mix of skills will be valuable too. : (33.3%)

5. (Suggest two) - Must be at least one warrior. Can't choose Barkpelt because she leads the second guard patrol. : 16.7%