Chapt 30

Jayfeather quickly fetched cob webs, while Willowshine cleaned Jinx's wounds. The blue gray tom was covered in blood, with more scratches than he'd ever seen before. He grabbed chervil too, he knew there was infection in the wounds.
"How is he?" Bramblestar padded in.
"Not good, he's got a lot of scratches," He added in a whisper,"I don't know if he'll live."
"Well he's got the two best medicine cats," Bramblestar purred.
"About that, Starclan has sent a sign about who Thunderclan's next medicine cat should be,"
"Who?" Bramblestar pressed.
"Honeykit, she's been having dreams about Spottedleaf, Thunderclan's old medicine cat." Jayfeather explained,"She doesn't know it yet, I was planning on telling her today. She's smart though, I think she would be good at it."
"Good, but what about the other clans' medicine cats, we havn't had any signs yet, no other queens have had kits and with the war going on I don't think there will be, we need more warriors. I think I'm going to make some apprentices warriors today and some new apprentices," Bramblestar informed Jayfeather.
"Are you sure Frogpaw and Snakepaw are ready, they've only been training for a few moons, and the kits aren't old enough to become apprentices." Jayfeather reminded the leader.
"Rainkit, Sheepkit, and Petalkit are and I've been thinking about Mountainkit. I saw him practice battle moves with the other kits today. He's the strongest and he's a quick learner. Plus he's also very thoughtful. I think I should make him an apprentice," It was clear Bramblestar had thought about this for a long time.
"But he's barely a moon old! What about Leopardkit, how would she feel without her brother," Jayfeather gasped.
"I know but, he'll be as big as me when he's six moons," He added so no one else could hear,"He's smarter and stronger than all the other kits, we need him."
"But he'll never know what it's like to be a kit, he's not even weened yet. Starclan said an apprentice must be six moons old. Do you want to anger them while were in a war?" Jayfeather searched the broad shouldered warrior for anger, but only found hopelessness. Bramblestar sighed and walked away. Jayfeather turned back to Jinx and started treating him again.
"Jayfeather!" Dovepelts voiced called outside his den.
"Does Starclan not want me to help any cat today," He muttered to himself.
"Willowshine, can you handle it from here?" He added to the she-cat.
"Yeah, I'll let him sleep for a bit then I'll check him again."
Jayfeather sulked to the clearing. They began talking about the kits and then Honeykit, then the cats on patrol. When they started talking about Mountainkit and how good he was, he just started to get mad. Dovepelt said she would have to go talk to Bramblestar about him. Jayfeather knew this would only convince Bramblestar more about having him apprenticed. Dovepelt said one of the kits had a cough so he nodded and went to check on her.
"I heard Leopardkit has a cough?"
"Oh yes, she hasn't come out of bed all day," Cinderheart licked her small kit. Jayfeather pressed his paw lightly on the kit, he could feel the raspy breath going in and out. He smelled her and the sour smell of sickness flowed off her.
"Can you wake her up, I need to hear her cough," Jayfeather whispered to Cinderheart.
"Leopardkit, wake up. Come on, wake up." Cinderheart whispered gently.
"Mama, I don't feel good," She broke off in a fit of coughs. Jayfeather's heart tightened.
"I'm sorry Cinderheart, Leopardkit has whitecough," Jayfeather whispered.
"What, but it's only Greenleaf! How could this happen?" Cinderheart wailed.
"I think it's because she's so tiny, she doesn't have the strength to fight of infections like this. Come, she needs to stay in my den until she's better, we don't want you or the other cats in here to catch it," He escorted Leopardkit to his den.
"Why am I going to your den? Am I sick," Leopardkit wailed," I wanna' be with Mountainkit! I wanna' be with Mountainkit!"
"You can't your sick. Don't worry I'll make you better," He soothed.
"I don't want to be with you, I want Mountainkit! He strong, he can protect me! I want Mountainkit!" Leopardkit started to whimper. Jayfeather made a small nest for her, made of moss and feathers. He went to his store of catmint and asked her to eat it. She was still histerical but she ate the herbs. It was almost dark, Jayfeather couldn't feel the warm rays of the sun on his back when he stepped out into the clearing. He still had a littel time left to go and speak to Honeykit, so he padded up to the nursery. He poked his head in.
"Dovepelt, can I speak to Honeykit?" He whispered, careful not to wake any sleeping cats.
"Sure, Honeykit," She murmured," Jayfeather wants to talk to you about your dream with the pretty cat. Don't worry your not in trouble." Honeykit bounced up next to him. He told her to follow him out into the forest. She was very excited.
"Who is the pretty she-cat? She comes to all the time," Then she added in a dark whisper," She's not in the Dark Forest is she?"
"No, the cat you see is Spottedleaf. She is one of your warrior ancestors," He heard her squeal in delight.
"Does this mean I'm special? I can't wait to tell Foxkit, he'll be so jealous, and Duskkit too. Hedgekit and Snowkit and Stonekit will be like,'I wish I was nicer to Honeykit now that she's special!'" Honeykit spoke quickly.
"Honeykit. Spottedleaf was Thunderclan's medicine cat, when the clans lived in the old forest. She often comes to me in dreams, and I think I know why she comes to you." Jayfeather hoped Honeykit would understand where he was going with this.
"Why?" Honeykit was in awe.
"Starclan has chosen you to be Thunderclan's next medicine cat," He whispered. He could smell her fear scent then it quickly changed to excitement.
"Really! Wow, when do I get apprenticed?" Honeykit shrieked.
"When your six moons, which is about 3 moons away," He promised," Do you understand what this means though? It's not just playing with plants, you have to help your clan in times of trouble, share secrets with Starclan, and you can't take a mate, you can't fall in love," He searched her for any twinges of uncertainty.
"I understand, Jayfeather." Honeykit was surprisingly serious.
"Good. Now let's go back to camp, I hear Bramblestar calling the clans," The two cats raced back to camp, in time to join the cats as they padded to the clearing.
"Cats of the clans I have good news. Ravenpaw has imformed me that Tigerstar has tried to kill him at his barn. They knew where we were heading, so they crossed the mountains. They were sick and injured when they met the Tribe. They talked with Stormfur and Brook about the best way to the clans, they didn't see our patrol, though. Ravenpaw says they saw Jinx early today, and dragged him here," Brambleclaw then added," I also would like to make some new warriors. Snakepaw and Frogpaw would you please step forward. I, Bramblestar, leader of Thunderclan call upon these warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code and in turn I commend them as warriors in turn. Frogpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your clan even at the cost of your life?"
"I do,"
"Then by the power of Starclan I give you your warrior name. Frogpaww from this day forward your name will be known as Frogclaw. Starclan honors your bravery and loyalty."
"Snakepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I d-do," Snakepaw stammered.
"Then by the power of Starclan I give you your warrior name. Snakepaw from this day on you will be known as Snakerock. Starclan honors your honesty and thoughtfulness."
"Frogclaw! Snakerock! Frogclaw! Snakerock!"
"I have more news," Bramblestar hollered over the cheers,"Maplekit, Twigkit, Leafkit, and Mountainkit, would you all step forward! Cherrytail, you are ready for an apprentice. You will mentor Rainpaw. I expect you to pass down all that you know to this young cat. Cedarclaw, you too are ready for an apprentice. You will mentor Maplepaw, I expect you to pass down all that Mistystar has taught you to Maplepaw. Whitewing, you have been in the nursery for some time now, I want you to mentor Leafpaw. You have learned much in your life, I expect you to pass it all down to Leafpaw. Thornclaw you are the oldest warrior in the clan, and with age comes knowledge. I expect you to pass down all you know to young Twigpaw. And I am ready to take an apprentice so I will mentor Mountainpaw." Brambleclaw finished.
"Rainpaw! Maplepaw! Leafpaw! Twigpaw! Mountainpaw!" The loudest cheer came from Leopardkit who was waiting from outside the medicine den. The other kits were less enthused. He walked up to Mountainpaw, who seemed a little sad, not like his usually confident self.
"If there's anything wrong, Mountainpaw, you can always talk to me." Jayfeather murmured to the broad shouldered tom.
"Can I really?" Mountainkit sounded as if he were going to break down crying at any moment. Jayfeather nodded and told him to follow him. They padded out of camp and down to the lake.
"So, what do you need?" Jayfeather prompted.
"I need to be a kit! I don't wanna' be an apprentice! I wanna' play with my friends! I wanna' be with mama! I wanna' become a warrior with Leopardkit, but now I'll be a warrior before she'll be an apprentice! All the other kits hate me now, and I don't know why! It's all Bramblestar's fault, he just wants me to be his apprentice! Well I don't want to be his apprentice!" Mountainpaw sobbed. Jayfeather knew Mountainpaw was not ready for hte responsibilty of being an apprentice, physically and emotionally.
"I know, but theres nothing I can do, yet," He had to remind himself to talk to Starclan tomorrrow when he went to the moonpool.
"Come on, we need to get back to camp before we're missed." Jayfeather got up and stretched. Mountainpaw got up and padded back with him to camp.