A she-cat screamed in terror, her shrill cry ringing out across the moors. Fernkit blinked open her eyes to see her mother standing over her, shaking in fear.

   "Fernkit!" She whispered shakily. "You're injured! Badly! Your fur reeks of blood!"

   "Mother, I'm f-"

   "You are not fine! Just because you pretended to dress your wounds doesn't mean they're properly set to heal!" Cloudleap yowled shrilly. Fernkit just sighed as her mother scooped her up and rushed her to medicine den. Her belly stung as she swayed in her mother's jaws, but she was wise enough to keep her jaws shut.

   When they entered Bluewillow's den, the medicine cat's eyes widened with surprise and she let out a small gasp of shock and horror. "Fernkit! Great StarClan, did I sleep through another fox attack?"

   Cloudleap shook her head, setting Fernkit gently in a nest. "No, I don't know what happened. Fernkit, explain. Now."

   "Well, er..." she stuttered as Bluewillow peeped back the cobwebs to sniff her wounds. "I-I got up to make dirt, and my paw got stuck in a bramble tendril. I tried to pull it lose, but I got more and more tangled and..." she trailed off, hoping they would believe her lie.

   Bluewillow sat back, looking confused. "Fernkit, I don't understand. Your wounds as dressed perfectly, and there's no sign of infection in your belly. H-how did you know what herbs to use, and how to use them?"

   Fernkit's ears grew hot. "Er, lucky guess?"

   The medicine cat shook her head. "No, this experienced work. I know you didn't treat yourself. Who did?"

   Thinking quickly, she blurted out, "Briarkit!"

   "Briarkit?" Both she-cat said at the same time.

   "How would he have any knowledge of herbs?" Cloudleap asked, sounding utterly confused.

   A spark flashed in Bluewillow's eyes. "Maybe... maybe StarClan sent him a dream! Maybe he's meant to be my apprentice!"

   Oh no.

   Cloudleap shrugged. "He hasn't shown any interest in herbs or healing..."

   "But if it's StarClan's will, then he must become my apprentice!" Bluewillow yowled hysterically. "We cannot defy our ancestors! He will train as medicine cat! It is the will of StarClan!"

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Fernkit carefully groomed the remaining blood from her fur while her thoughts raced. I lied to my mother and my medicine cat! She thought with disbelief. And Briarkit... I know I've just screwed up his life, but I can't just tell the truth! Foxstar might postpone my apprentice ceremony! But... Briarkit, a medicine cat? She shook her head to clear it. Thinking in circles is getting me no where. I'll go... speak to Hawthornkit!

She stood, stretching, then padded over to her brother.

The light brown tabby tom looked up from mossball he was batting at to look at Fernkit. "Oh, hi!" He purred, smacking the moss away. "What do you need? You look like you've got something on your mind."

Boy, is he right, Fernkit cleared her throat. "Hawthornkit, have you ever done something that you know is wrong, but you just can't tell the truth because then you'll get in huge trouble?"

The tom nodded. "Sure. The other day, I was absentmindedly playing with a mouse, and I accidentally shredded it. I hid it under a bush, but Bluewillow found it, and asked me where it came from. I... might have blamed it on Breezepaw."

"You did not!" Fernkit gasped.

"Yep," the tom sighed, gazing up at the cloud blue sky. "Anyway, why'd you ask?"

Fernkit's eyes widened. "No reason," she meowed quickly, glancing away. "Hey, have you spoken with Rabbitpaw since he moved dens? I know you two used to be good friends."

Hawthornkit shook his head. "No. Whenever I go over there, he isn't in camp and Twigpaw or Breezepaw tell me to stick my nose in my own beeswax."

"Those two are pains in the tail," Fernkit purred, her tail curling in amusement. "Sharing a den with them is going to be horrible."

"Yeah..." her brother sounded distant now, as if he were thinking about something. "I'm gonna go see if Rabbitpaw's back from the sunhigh patrol yet."

"Ok," Fernkit purred, batting at Hawthornkit's tail as he passed by. He simply flicked it away, and continued padding down the slope to the fresh-kill pile.

Fernkit sighed, gazing up at the beautiful blue sky, dotted with puffy white clouds. I'm sorry, Briarkit, she whispered in her mind as she began to feel drowsy. I really am.