Chapter 4

“Can’t catch me!”

“Get out of the way, furball!”

“I’m going to get you!”

Briarleaf sighed. It had been a moon since Shiningpelt’s kits opened their eyes. The nursery was filled with noise and kits playfighting. Sunkit, Mistkit, and Whisperkit were highly energetic for their small size and never backed down from the other kits. Raincloud and Lightfrost’s kits, of course, were delighted with their new playmates. Briarleaf sometimes thought that she would never get any sleep anymore.

Oh well, she thought. Kits will be kits. Juggling her medicine cat duties, visits to StarClan, and keeping an eye on Sunkit, Briarleaf somehow found time to eat and attempt to sleep. With the nursery stuffed to the brim, and nine kits and three queens to check every day, not to mention the injuries that the rest of the clan came to her with every so often, Briarleaf was constantly thinking if life would be easier with a smaller, more energetic cat by her side helping her with everything.

Have you ever thought of taking on an apprentice? Briarleaf remembered Silverheart’s words.

I haven’t before, she thought. But I definitely do now. The nursery was full of kits. Surely one of them was willing to become a medicine cat? Maybe I should talk to Crescentstar.

Just then, Briarleaf heard a yowl.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here under the Highledge for a clan meeting!”

Briarleaf stepped out of her den. Crescentstar was standing on the Highledge. Cats were emerging from dens and gathering. Curiously, Briarleaf sat with her clanmates.

“Cats of ThunderClan,” meowed Crescentstar. “Thistlekit and Bubblekit have reached their sixth moon, and they are ready to become apprentices. Please come forward, you two.” Squealing with excitement, Thistlekit and Bubblekit bounced up to the front of the clearing.

“Thistlekit, from now on, till you get your warrior name, you will be called Thistlepaw.”

“Thistlepaw! Thistlepaw!” Briarleaf cheered along with the rest of the clan.

“Whalefin,” Crescentstar continued. “You will be mentor to Thistlepaw. StarClan trusts you to teach him everything you know.” Whalefin stepped forward proudly and touched noses with Thistlepaw.

“Bubblekit,” said Crescentstar. “From now on, till you receive your warrior name, you will be called Bubblepaw.”

“Bubblepaw! Bubblepaw!”

“Petalfur,” said Crescentstar. “You are more than ready to take on your first apprentice. You will be mentor to Bubblepaw.” Petalfur stepped forward and touched noses with Bubblepaw. Both she-cats looked bursting with excitement. With a pang, Briarleaf remembered her mentor, Dewdrop. She remembered how happy she had been when she was made an apprentice. As the rest of the clan went to congratulate Thistlepaw and Bubblepaw, Briarleaf padded into her den, memories racing through her head.

That afternoon, Briarleaf went to see Crescentstar. She was in her den, eating a mouse.

“Hello, Briarleaf,” she meowed. “What can I do for you today?’

“Hi, Crescentstar,” said Briarleaf. “The nursery is full, and I find myself really busy these days. I thought maybe I could take on an apprentice.”  Crescentstar nodded.

“You have been our medicine cat for many moons now and you deserve an apprentice. Have you decided who you would like to take on?” Briarleaf shook her head.

“There are many kits in the nursery, but I know not every one of them is willing to follow the path of a medicine cat.” Crescentstar dipped her head.

“If you find a particular kit who you would like as an apprentice, come talk to me.” Briarleaf nodded and padded off. Stopping to pick up some herbs, she headed to the nursery.

“Hi, Briarleaf,” mewed Raincloud. “Come to check on the kits?”

“Yes,” Briarleaf replied. It’s almost leaf bare and I need to make sure the kits are healthy and prepared for the cold weather.” Raincloud dipped her head in acknowledgement. Shiningpelt nosed her sleeping kits.

“Get up, you three,” she meowed. “Look who’s here.” Sunkit, Mistkit, and Whisperkit squirmed sleepily, but jumped to their tiny paws when they saw Briarleaf.

“Briarleaf!” squealed Mistkit. She jumped onto her back and clung on to her fur with her small, soft claws.

“I saw her first,” declared Sunkit. Whisperkit glared at him.

“No you didn’t!” he growled. “I did!” Briarleaf had noticed throughout the days that Whisperkit wasn’t a lot like the other kits. He was sort of darker and a little unfriendly. Briarleaf half wondered if he would make a good medicine cat. Maybe, she thought.

“So are you missing Thistlepaw and Bubblepaw yet?” she asked.

“A little,” admitted Sunkit. “But we’ll be seeing them soon.”

“We’re going to be warriors!” squeaked Whisperkit, excitedly. He clawed the air and then jumped on Sunkit. The two tumbled into a playfight.

He’s a talented fighter, thought Briarleaf. Maybe he should be a warrior after all.

Suddenly, Briarleaf heard a yowl.

“Briarleaf!” It was Moonblaze. “Shadowtail was attacked by a fox!”

“Shadowtail?” Shiningpelt gasped. Shadowtail was her kits’ father. Gathering up her herbs, she dashed for the medicine den.

“Wait!” It was Mistkit. “Can I come? I’ve always wanted to see the medicine den, but Shiningpelt never lets me”

Shiningpelt snorted. “The medicine den is full of fragile herbs and you could destroy them! Imagine how much trouble that would be for poor Briarleaf!”

“It’s fine with me, if it’s okay with your mother,” Briarleaf replied. Mistkit was sweet and quiet. She would be no trouble. Mistkit looked at her mother pleadingly. Shiningpelt sighed.

“All right, you can go,” she mewed reluctantly. Mistkit squealed with delight and followed Briarleaf out into the clearing.

Shadowtail lay in the medicine den, groaning.

“Seapelt, Shalepaw, and Shadowtail, and I were out patrolling,” Moonblaze explained. “That’s when we met the fox! We gave it some good scratches. It won’t be back for a while.”

“Good,” said Briarleaf. “Foxes might get the kits, or destroy the camp.” She circled Shadowtail cautiously. The dark warrior was covered in scratches, with a deep gash down his side. He had torn a claw too, and his fur was matted with blood. Briarleaf shuddered at the thought of a fox lunging at him, eyes gleaming with fury. Chewing up some dock leaves, she carefully applied the ointment to his wounds, and put some cobwebs on them. I’ll need burdock root, she thought. Mouse dung! They’re in the herb store and I don’t want to leave Shadowtail!” The warrior was bleeding hard and Briarleaf was afraid he was going to loose to much blood. “Mistkit!” she called. The little white kit had been quietly sitting at the side, watching with wide eyes. “Can you go into the herb store and get me some burdock root? They’re…they’re dark coloured and…” Briarleaf trailed off. How could she describe burdock root? Mistkit scrambled up and hurried into the herb store. She came out, gripping something in her teeth. “Is this it?” she asked.

“Yes, it is,” said Briarleaf, relieved. She applied the burdock root to Shadowtail’s gash. He winced.

“It stings!” he complained.

“For StarClan’s sake, Shadowtail!” Briarleaf hissed. “Stop acting like a kit! Do you want to heal or not?” Shadowtail shrunk down.

“Sorry, Briarleaf,” he muttered. Briarleaf sighed.

“It’s fine. I’m just tired. Everything’s hard when its leaf fall.” Shadowtail nodded.

“It’ll get easier in newleaf. For all of us.”

Briarleaf glanced at Mistkit. Maybe things will get easier.