"Crystalpaw! Tinypaw! Eaglepaw!" The Clan chanted the three new apprentice's names.

Crystalpaw puffed out her chest in pride, and she looked around at the joyful Clan.

They are chanting my name! She thought to herself proudly, stepping forward to touch her nose to Shadeberry's her new mentor.

"Are you ready to learn a lot about herbs?" She purred and stood beside Crystalpaw, her tail tip flicking.

Crystalpaw nodded eagerly, looking up at her mentor.

"Clan dismissed." Ashstar called and leaped down from the High Branch.

Cats slowly melted away into their dens or a corner in the clearing, settling down for some prey, or to share tongues for the morning.

Crystalpaw bounced after Shadeberry as they made their way to the medicine cat den.

"What will we do first!?" She squeaked, almost bumping into Shadeberry as she suddenly halted outside the medicine cat den.

Shadeberry lashed her tail in frustration.

"We will go explore the territory first. I just need to do something," she meowed through gritted teeth. "Stay here." And with that, she disappeared through the branches and into the medicine den, where Crystalpaw could see her sneaking around.

Crystalpaw sat down, grooming her ears thoughtfully.

I wonder if we will see Tinypaw or Eaglepaw along the way around the border. She wondered to herself excitedly. She didn't really care if her mentor was annoyed at her.

After a few moments, Shadeberry slipped out of her den and trotted towards Crystalpaw, who immediately stood to attention.

"Okay. Let's go." She began to pad away, and Crystalpaw padded after her.

They made their way out of camp and raced along the border.

Every now and then, they came across a particular place where Shadeberry stopped and explained what happened there, and the name of it.

They came to a halt near the Twoleg place and a big pile of stones.

"Stay away from there, don't go too close." Shadeberry warned, blocking Crystalpaw with her tail before the apprentice could leap towards it in interest.

"What, why?" She complained, her ears flattening.

"That is Snakestones. Lots of snakes live there," Shadeberry explained, an edge to her voice.

"Oh," Crystalpaw replied, looking away at a tall tree a few fox-lengths away. She had already forgotten about Snake Stones.

Shadeberry twitched her nose in irratation. "So don't go near here." She brushed past her apprentice and headed towards the big tree.

 Crystalpaw glanced at Snake Stones one last time before racing after her mentor, slowing to a stop beside the big tree.

"This is Tall Tree. Never even try to climb it. There's a lot of owl nests-" Shadeberry was broken off by a meow behind the tree, opposite from where they stood.

"This is Tall Tree. Never climb it, and don't even attempt to. There's squirrel holes, owl nests, you name it, the tree has it."

Shadeberry peered around the tree and Crystalpaw copied her.

Eaglepaw and Mothsight stood there, looking up at the tree.

"Hey, Mothsight!" Shadeberry meowed cheerfully.

Mothsight jumped and turned quickly, her fur flattening when she noticed who it was.

"Hi, Shadeberry. Are you taking a tour of the territory too?" She asked. 

Shadeberry nodded and exchanged a quick glance with Crystalpaw.

"Crystalpaw!" Eaglepaw meowed excitedly and raced towards his sister.

"Hey!" Crystalpaw purred, rubbing her muzzle along her brother's cheek.

"Right. Well, see you later Shadeberry!" Mothsight purred and padded away with Eaglepaw by her side.

"Okay, let's go now. Then I'll teach you some herbs." 

.~~.

Crystalpaw lay in her nest, dreaming.

She was stalking a mouse, her paws making no sound as they hit the floor, which was littered with leaves.

A sudden alarmed meow sounded behind her and she stood and whirled around to see what it was, her fur bristling.

There was nothing there.

Confused and annoyed at letting her prey escape, she lashed her tail angrily.

Then a stick cracked.

Her hackles rose and she slitted her eyes, scanning the area around her. She felt the presence of a few cats.

I wonder if they are real cats, or just cats that appear in dreams. She thought to herself, taking a step towards the bush where the noise had came from.

She only just realised how silent the forest was, and dark and miserable. The trees were dying, no sign of flowers and life;

Except for that mouse, she reminded herself.

She lifted her nose and tried to catch a scent of the cats.

A strong, familiar smell hit her nose and her eyes widened in shock.

Just then, a white she cat with long black legs stepped out of the bushes uncertainly.

"Uh, hey Crystalpaw."