"Very good! Now which one is borage?"

Starpaw sat in the medicine den, her fluffy tail twitching slowly as she studied the leaves in front of her. Silverberry had set out three, and each looked different. I know this... She lowered her head and sniffed at one of the leaves, picking up a strong, sweet scent. "This one is chervil," She meowed confidently.

Her mentor nodded approvingly. "And what about the other two?"

Borage... Borage... Starpaw looked down thoughtfully. I know this, I just can't quite... Her ears pricked forward as she remembered something and pointed to the larger leaf with her paw. "That's dock, isn't it?" She asked. "I remember you gave some to Wetbelly for his sore pads after the gathering. And the last leaf is borage then."

"That's right," Silverberry meowed. "Dock leaves can also be chewed up and used for scratches." She looked down at the leaf Starpaw had identified as borage. "You can recognize borage by it's hairy leaves, and the strong scent it has."

That's right. Starpaw nodded, feeling dumb. I should have remembered that!

"And what is borage used for?" The silver she-cat prompted next.

She was able to answer immediately. "It helps queens produce milk," She meowed. "But I think it has other uses too."

Silverberry began gathering the leaves and returned them to their piles at the side of the den. "Yes, it can be used to sooth bellyaches and bring down fevers."

She stood up and followed her mentor, her tail twitching uneasily. "Am I doing well?" She asked nervously. "Should I have known that?" 

She'd been a medicine cat apprentice for two moons now. The training was more than she'd been expecting. She'd had no idea just how many herbs and remedies there were. It was truly amazing that the forest offered so many plants that could cure just about anything. It's a gift from StarClan. The thought warmed her. They've given us a wonderful home filled with prey and herbs. Everything we could ever need.

The silver she-cat turned to her and purred. "Starpaw, you're a very fast learner, faster than I ever was. You're doing excellent."

I am? Starpaw's tail curled with happiness. "Thank you! I-"

"Silverberry?"

They turned to see Driftrunner standing by the entrance of the den, his front right paw raised. "What happened?" Silverberry prompted.

"I was chasing a rabbit, and I didn't see the rabbit hole in front of me..." He looked embarrassed as he limped into the den, and Silverberry stepped forward to meet him. "I tripped and sprained my paw."

The medicine cat shook her head in mild amusement. "How many times have you been told to watch where you're going?" She asked. "I know you're one of the fastest cats in WindClan, but sometimes you need to slow down!"

"I know." Driftrunner sat down and licked his golden chest fur awkwardly. "I'm sorry, I was just so focused on the hunt."

Silverberry sniffed his paw and studied it. "It's nothing to worry about. Starpaw, will you fetch me some elder leaves?"

Elder leaves are for sprains. She nodded and turned to the herb stash, studying the different piles. Borage, chervil, comfrey... elder! She carefully grasped a few of the leaves in her teeth and hurried back to her mentor, who took them from her and carefully began chewing the leaves into a poultice. 

As she began applying the leaves to Driftrunner's paw, he winced, and Starpaw started in alarm. "He's hurt! Should I get poppy seeds?"

"No, the elder leaves will take care of that," Silverberry assured her as she plastered the leaves around his paw. "You're not in a lot of pain, are you, Driftrunner?"

The black and gold warrior shook his head. "It's not too bad, I think I'll manage."

Starpaw relaxed and sat back down, a bit embarrassed at herself. I don't like to see any cat in pain. Even if it's just a little. 

When Silverberry finished, she sat up. "Alright, you should feel better in a couple of days. You just need to rest your paw until it heals. Until then, I'll tell Monarchwing to keep you off patrols."

"Aww," Driftrunner's amber eyes flashed with disappointment. No warrior loved racing around the moor more than he did. "Alright, I suppose you know best. What about Petalpaw?"

"I assume Gladestar will have her train with Firetail and Blazingpaw until you've recovered," Silverberry told him. "She'll be alright."

Starpaw's littermates had been doing well in their warrior training. Though she spent most of her time in the medicine den, she saw them from time to time in the clearing, excitedly telling each other about their training and what prey they'd caught. She missed sharing a den with them and talking to them, but they had chosen different paths. They're going to be warriors, and I'm going to be a medicine cat.

She looked up to see that Driftrunner was turning to leave the den. "Thanks Silverberry, Starpaw," He called as he limped out of the den.

When she and Silverberry were alone again, she looked at her apologetically. "I'm sorry I overreacted. I thought he needed poppy seeds."

"Don't be sorry," She assured her. "You were worried. Seeing a cat in pain is never easy." Her green eyes were warm. "You have a natural instinct to help others, and that is what a true medicine cat needs."

A true medicine cat... She felt honored by her praise. "Thank you," She purred, shuffling her paws. "I-I'm trying my best."

"I know you are." Silverberry purred and looked past her at the herb stock. "We're running low on goldenrod," She observed. "Would you go and collect some?"

"Of course," Starpaw nodded, glad at the chance to leave the medicine den. I could use some fresh air and open sky around me. She padded past her mentor and out into the clearing.

It was a warm, sunny day, and many cats were settled around the camp. Willowtail and Icetail were sunbathing together by the warriors den. They were two young cats who had recently become mates. Icetail rolled onto his stomach and purred, his white pelt glowing in the sunlight. Willowtail looked at him fondly, her eyes half closed and content.

Howlstorm and Dandeliontail were sharing a rabbit near the fresh kill pile. Whitehare ran over and purred a greeting. "It's a nice day, isn't it?" He crouched and picked out a mouse for himself. 

"It is," Dandeliontail agreed with a purr. "But it's quite warm. I wanted to go hunting, but most rabbits will be in their burrows." She looked across the clearing where Monarchwing was speaking to Soakedears and Thunderjolt. "Perhaps we can join a patrol at dusk when it's cooler."

Howlstorm nodded. "Yeah, that sounds great." He yawned and arched his back. "This heat just makes me want to lay around all day, but it wouldn't be fair to everyone else."

It's good to see that they've settled so well. Starpaw thought as she watched the couple. Howlstorm and Dandeliontail had not been born in WindClan. They had been rogues living under the leadership of Bone Shred. After a battle against the rogues at fourtrees, the two cats had been taken prisoner by WindClan. But they turned out not to be bad cats at all. For a long time, many cats in the clan didn't trust them and refused to accept them as warriors. But Howlstorm and Dandeliontail had been willing to go through training and proved themselves loyal WindClan warriors. Now most cats accepted the former rogues as their own clanmates and friends.

"Hey, Starpaw!"

She saw Blazingpaw and Petalpaw sitting by the apprentices den, looking at her cheerfully. With a purr, Starpaw padded over to join them. "Hey!"

"How are you doing?" Blazingpaw prompted, his yellow eyes bright. "We never see you anymore."

Starpaw sat down and purred. "I'm great! Silverberry has been teaching me about every herb in the forest."

"That sounds kind of boring," Petalpaw admitted. "I don't know why you'd want to spend all day cooped up with sick cats. Being a warrior is so much better!"

Blazingpaw slapped her on the shoulder with his tail. "What's wrong with you?" He snorted. "Starpaw likes being a medicine cat, and you like being a warrior. To each their own." He looked at her and purred. "Have you received any messages from StarClan?"

Starpaw didn't take offense to her sister's words. She just doesn't understand. She's never felt what I feel about StarClan. In response to Blazingpaw, she shook her head. "I've met with them at the moonstone, but they haven't given me any prophecies or signs yet."

"It'll happen," Blazingpaw meowed sympathetically. "Just wait and see."

I'm not sure if I want it to happen or not. Starpaw thought uncertainly. She'd always dreamed of receiving a message from StarClan. But Silverberry had told her that StarClan usually didn't give any good messages. Most were to warn them of danger. And she didn't want anything to happen to her clanmates.

"I suppose." She paused, remembering why she had left the medicine den in the first place. "Silverberry asked me to collect goldenrod. See you later!"

"Goodbye!" Blazingpaw called as she turned and hurried toward the gorse tunnel, purring a greeting to Jaystreak, who was on guard as she left.

As she ventured away from the camp, she began scanning the grass for goldenrod. I probably won't find any nearby. She thought, remembering the last time she'd been out looking for some with Silverberry. She began heading further down the hills, sniffing and looking around for any sign of the tall golden flowers. She was nearing the pine forest when she spotted what she'd been looking for.

Goldenrod! She hurried over the tall grass toward the clump of plants and crouched, carefully nipping at the stalks. Plenty of it too. Goldenrod was a very useful herb for healing wounds. Though there was no fighting between the clans at this time, there was no telling when an injury would happen. It was best to be well stocked and prepared.

She carefully rested two stalks of goldenrod in the grass beside her, and was about to reach for another when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked up and saw a familiar spotted gray tom padding on ShadowClan's side of the border, sniffing at a clump of leaves.

Dewpaw! Starpaw picked up her stalks of goldenrod and padded toward the border. She'd met the fellow medicine cat apprentice many times now. Three times at the moonstone, and at the past two gatherings. He was a very nice cat, and she saw no harm in saying a quick hello. As she neared, Dewpaw noticed her and stepped closer to the border to meet her.

"Hello!" She dropped her goldenrod and meowed a greeting. "How are you, Dewpaw?"

The ShadowClan medicine cat apprentice hesitated, and she was startled to see sadness in his usually bright eyes. "Hi, Starpaw. I'm, well..."

What's upset him? Starpaw grew concerned. She'd never seen him like this before. "Are you alright?" She asked worriedly.

For a moment, Dewpaw didn't respond. He let out a sigh, his tail low. "Things haven't been the best in ShadowClan lately." He admitted. He dropped his gaze and looked at his paws. "Earlier this moon, Silverblossom died- she's my mother."

"Oh..." Starpaw's heart grew heavy with sympathy. "I'm so sorry." She wanted to touch noses with him to comfort him as she would with one of her clanmates, but wasn't sure if he would welcome the gesture or not. I know what it's like to lose both parents... "She's watching over you from StarClan," She murmured, repeating the thought that had comforted her as a kit. "She will always be among the stars of silverpelt."

"Yeah." He was quiet for a moment, looking distant as he stared at the ground blankly. "I know she is, it's just... hard."

Physical pain wasn't the only thing that Starpaw couldn't bear to see. Seeing any cat upset was just as hard for her, especially when that cat was a friend. "I know." Unable to resist her instinct, she reached over the border and rested her paw over his.

Dewpaw blinked and looked up at her, and she drew her paw back awkwardly. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," He meowed, a flicker of warmth in his eyes. "Thanks, Starpaw. I hope I'll see Silverblossom at the moonstone next quarter moon." He paused for a moment, then went on quietly. "Something very unusual happened a few days ago."

Starpaw sat down and blinked curiously. "What happened?"

The spotted tom sat down, slowly curling his tail around him. "A loner came to us with three of her kits," He began. "Sunflower cared for them in the nursery. But then..." He lowered his voice, his eyes full of unease. "One of the kits killed Snakekit, one of Sunflower's sons."

"What?" Starpaw let out a gasp, her heart skipping a beat. "A kit killed another kit? That can't be!"

Dewpaw shook his head sadly. "It's true. We'd never seen anything like it. The kit's name was Deserve, he ran away. We haven't seen any sign of him, and frankly, no cat wants to find him. A kit who kills has no place in a clan." He paused. "Sunflower is devastated."

She nodded quietly. I can't imagine... "What about the other kits?" She asked quietly. "Are they alright?"

"Blackkit and Brownkit are still in shock," Dewpaw meowed solemnly. "They won't leave Sunflower's side. The clan wanted to throw out the other loner kits, Boost and Song, but me and Hawkfeather argued against it. They weren't to blame for what their brother did. They were terrified enough without their mother and Deserve." He hesitated. "Sunflower isn't too fond of them anymore, as you can imagine, so Greenpine has helped care for them."

"That's horrible," Starpaw murmured. "I hope StarClan cares for poor Snakekit."

Dewpaw nodded agreement, and it was silent for a long moment. Starpaw shuffled her paws, trying to think of a way to lighten the mood. "I was just collecting goldenrod," She meowed when she couldn't think of anything else to say. "What are you doing out here?"

"I asked Hawkfeather if I could go out looking for chervil," He meowed, looking relieved to have changed the subject. "I wanted some time alone."

Starpaw's fur prickled with guilt. "Oh, I'm sorry," She dipped her head apologetically. "I didn't mean to bother you."

"No, it's okay," Dewpaw looked up and let out a small purr. "I'm glad I ran into you. I feel a little better now."

She felt her pelt grow warm and let out a soft purr. There's nothing better than helping others. Not all wounds are on the outside. I like to try to heal the ones on the inside too. "It's good seeing you in the daylight for once," She joked. 

He purred in amusement, then looked over his shoulder. "I'd better get back to camp. Hawkfeather will have my tail if I don't find some chervil."

Starpaw felt disappointed, but understood. "Alright." She paused. "Here, why don't you take this? It's not chervil, but you could use it." She lowered her head and picked up a stalk of marigold, moving toward him.

Dewpaw hesitated before leaning forward, and she felt strangely warm as his whiskers brushed against hers. He took the stalk in his teeth and set it down in front of him as she took a step back. "Thanks," He purred. "We don't get goldenrod in ShadowClan territory. Are you sure you have enough for yourself?"

"Of course, they grow like dandelions on the moor," Starpaw assured him. "We have plenty."

"Thank you," He purred. "You'd better get back to camp, too." He gazed at her for a moment, then took a step back. "See you at the next moonstone meeting!" He crouched and picked up the stalk of goldenrod.

"Yes," Starpaw purred and started to turn away. "May StarClan light your path!"

Dewpaw, carrying the goldenrod in his teeth, gave her a nod, wordlessly returning the phrase before he hurried away and disappeared into the pine trees.

She stared after him for a moment, then turned away, gathering the rest of her goldenrod. Dewpaw is a great cat. She thought, her heart warming with happiness as she thought of him. If only he were in WindClan. He would be a great friend.