"What you thought you were doing, following me in the middle of the night," Ashpool grumbled, "you could've been killed...not even a message!"

"You know," Rainpaw said, yawning in the dim sunlight, "Petalstar just gave me a lecture, so it's all taken care of."

Ashpool glared at her apprentice. She had just finished instructing Flowerkit, who wanted to help the medicine cats that day. Just like me, Rainpaw realized, before I was even four moons old.

Ashpool decided that Rainpaw would be confined to camp for a half-moon and made to do the other aprentice's chores for three days. Flowerkit, despite being barely a few moons old, backed up Ashpool in the argument that had taken place.

Meanwhile, Flowerkit was sorting herbs along the wall. She clearly knew them well, even better than Rainpaw.

"Hey, Ashpool."

"Yes?"

"I've been thinking. What if...I shouldn't be a medicine cat?"

Ashpool seemed unsurprised by this comment. "Don't worry, it's completely normal. You still have a lot to learn, it's only been a few moons since you were apprenticed."

Yeah. That's right, Rainpaw thought. But then, what if I'm right?

☆☆☆

Rainpaw's true destiny became clear at the next half-moon.

"Ashpool, Rainpaw," said the WindClan medicine cat, Sunnyleaf, "this is my new apprentice, Leopardpaw."

"Welcome!" said Ashpool. Leopardpaw seemed jumpy and anxious. Maybe she could make a good friend.

"Hi," said the tabby apprentice, "I'm Rainpaw."

"Leopardpaw," said the other apprentice. "I hope I've learned enough, I only know the names of all the herbs, I don't even know what chamomile does yet!"

Rainpaw was stunned. She knows the name of all the herbs?

Sunnyleaf smiled down at her apprentice. "I'm sure you know plenty."

Grasswhisker, once again, hissed at Rainpaw upon sight. There was something about he just did not like.

They continued their travel to StarClan's pool. What if I'm meant to be a warrior? Rainpaw was lost in thought when the finally arrived.

At the Moonpool, all the medicine cats kneeled down at the pool, prepared to meet StarClan.

Rainpaw closed her eyes, and put her muzzle to the pool, as instructed.

Everything went dark.

And, just like last time, and the time before, nothing happened. Rainpaw didn't wake up to the starry fields of StarClan. She was in a forest. ShadowClan, she realized. She was full-grown, a full medicine cat. Or was she?

Rainpaw looked into a puddle and saw not her face with trails of leaves, but battle-scarred. Fierce. Angry. And loving all the same. The kind of expression only a mother protecting her kits could have.

Rainpaw gasped. Was that her destiny? Was she going to become a warrior, and possibly even have kits? Maybe with Lightningpaw, she thought.

No, that would be ridiculous. We're not even good friends.

"Rainpaw."

The tabby she-cat jumped. She whipped around with a hiss, that soon became an expression of wonder. Before her was a beautiful gray-and-white she-cat with stars in her fur, and amazing ice-blue eyes.

"Do not think you must follow what StarClan had showed you. Your life is your decision. Always remember this."

The she-cat turned away. "Wait!" Rainpaw called, "Please wait! What's your name?"

But the tabby with stars in her fur had gone. Rainpaw was left with a longing feeling, as if she was meeting someone for the first time in forever.

Ridiculous, she thought, I'm just overly curious.

Rainpaw allowed herself to open her eyes, back to her world, a world without cats with stars in their fur. The other cats were still asleep.

How I wish you were here, Lightningpaw.

"Psst. Rainpaw."

Rainpaw yelped in fright and whipped around, back arched and rail fluffed out. "Lightningpaw!? What in StarClan?" She whisper-yelled.

"So this is the Moonpool?" Lightningpaw wondered.

"Yeah," Rainpaw replied, "Where medicine cats meet." She glared at the gray apprentice. "How did you even find me?"

"Well, you didn't exactly mask your scent."

Right. "Why are you here?" Rainpaw inquired.

"What's with all the questions?" Lightningpaw shot back.

"I asked first."

Lightningpaw scraped at the rocky ground. He took a breath, then closed his mouth and looked away.

"Come on!" Rainpaw shoved Lightningpaw's shoulder.

"Fine," he began, "I...I just water to talk to you again."

"And you thought this was a good place to do it?"

"Well," he sputtered, "It was urgent."

"Mm-hm."

"I had a dream."

Rainpaw rolled her eyes. "Oh, wow, how amazing and wonderful, I'm so glad you risked yourself to come tell me about a dream."

"That was sarcastic."

"No. Way. Sarcastic? Me? Never."

Lightningpaw shoved Rainpaw back. "Listen!"

Rainpaw sighed. She hid a smile as she rolled her eyes, glad to have some distraction from her own dream.

"Okay. So I was hunting the forest, right? And then I heard this voice, and I followed it. It sounded like my mentor, Darkheart, but...different. Like, all raspy and sick. He was saying something, but I couldn't make it out. And then I saw you, but you were older, and, like, different, and then you fell, and then I woke up."

Rainpaw blinked at Lightningpaw, utterly awe-struck. Lightningpaw cocked his head at her.

"So..?"

"That is  so weird!" Rainpaw exclaimed, "I had a dream like that, too! Except-"

But Lightningpaw had slammed his tail against her mouth.

"I think they're waking up," he whispered.

Rainpaw, panicked, whipped her head toward the medicine cats. Sunnyleaf was stirring, along with her own mentor, Ashpool.

"Go!" Rainpaw whispered, pushing Lightningpaw away, "I'll meet you at the border in a couple days. Hurry!"

She watched with a sigh as Lightningpaw's tail whisked out of sight. There was a light scrape as Rainpaw turned around to watch the medicine cats. Leopardpaw was still asleep, with Sunnyleaf groggily shaking her.

"Rainpaw, we have to hurry back to camp," Ashpool stated.

"Why?"

The silver she-cat lowered her head. "I fear your mother may be in danger."

"Oh." Right, her illness, Rainpaw thought.

"Alright, then, let's get on with it," Grasswhisker grumbled. He began leading the way back to each cat's camp.

They all began padding sway from the sparkling pool, watching Leopardpaw share an exciting visit from StarClan with Sunnyleaf.

As they were walking, Rainpaw lagged further and further behind. She was lost in thought about Lightningpaw and her promise to meet him. It's not like it's against the Code to have friends...right?

"Rainpaw."

The tabby apprentice yelped with fright and came face-to-face with none other than Grasswhisker.

"I saw you with that tom. If I had any sense I would report you to Ashpool, but it seems it has temporarily abandoned me. Though I will tell you this- no real medicine cat would have anything to do with a a cat from a different Clan. Think about this." And Grasswhisker trotted up to the front of the group.

Real medicine cat? So I'm right, then. I shouldn't be a medicine cat, Rainpaw thought.

After all, Flowerkit is obviously meant to be one. But I'm meant to be a warrior.

I think.

I hope.

A/N: Thank you to all my readers!! I've reached 1k views, and all thanks to you! I know that it's been, like, half a year, and I'm soo sorry! I'm hoping to be writing more, longer chapters now. Also, if you notice any missing chapters, don't panic. It'll be under editing and will be re-published soon. Thank you again!

~Dusk~