Littlepaw padded out of the apprentices' den. 

"Ticks today," called Flickerblaze.

He padded towards the medicine cat den. 

"Here it is!" a golden she-cat declared, pawing out mouse bile and moss.

"Thanks, Emberfire," murmured Littlepaw.

"Do you know how to use it?" she asked.

"Yep," Littlepaw replied.

As he padded out, he heard the whispers again.

Shaking his head, he padded to the elders' den.

"Hey," croaked Hareleap, staring at him contemptuously.

"Hi," he muttered back.

"What story do you want?" Hareleap mumbled gruffly, glaring.

"One about my mom," asked Littlepaw. 

Hareleap snorted in disgust. "Fine, I guess. Supposedly she was a kind and loyal medicine cat apprentice, apprenticed to Mintleaf. They went to half-moon meetings, she learned herbs, went picking herbs...a pretty normal life until she got exiled for supposedly poisoning a warrior. She went into a rage, meeting Snakefang, her future mate to be. At first, they didn't get along that well, including attacking and arguing with each other. After Petalflower saved him from a fox, they became closer. One day she was asked to become his mate. She agreed. They planned their revenge on ThunderClan and had three kits. Snakefang was killed by foxes, and a devastated Petalflower sat vigil with him. Later on, she ultimately succeeded in their plan, leading the leader and deputy to the Thunderpath so they would get crushed by a monster. She then met Lightfeather by a tree and killed her. Then, a fox killed her and she joined the Dark Forest with her mate Snakefang."

"Wow," Littlepaw breathed.

"Now skedaddle. You're done with my ticks and I don't want you killing me now. I can't believe you're not kicked out yet. Someone's gotta die around you."