Pebblefall stood in front of the medicine cats' den, staring at the entrance. Soon, this would be his den. No more warrior life for me, the tom sullenly thought.

Once he'd finally got his nerves together, Pebblefall stepped under the thorn bush to face his choice. Poolripple, who was grooming herself in the back, turned to face him upon his arrival. Her whiskers twitched in amusement, and he could tell she knew exactly what he was here for.

"Sorry about waking you up last night," the grey tom nervously started off. She stayed silent, watching him with expectant green eyes, so Pebblefall continued.

"I've decided that I'm going to train to be a medicine cat, as your apprentice." As soon as he spoke those words, he knew there was no going back. This was his future, one without warrior duties or Sandwhisker.

"Well, took you long enough," the calico she-cat scoffed, much to Pebblefall's surprise. "Let's inform Spottedstar of the change."

As they exited the medicine den, Pebblefall couldn't help but think of how Poolripple thought almost nothing of it, while he felt like a stick in a raging river. Being a medicine cat was going to be a huge transition, and his new mentor didn't seem to care. Well, she probably knew I'd choose this path anyway, Pebblefall figured.

Soon enough, the two cats reached the leader's den, where Spottedstar was curled up, resting in the sun's warm rays. The leader's ear twitched as they approached, then she got up and stretched, shaking out her pelt.

"Yes, Poolripple?" the tabby she-cat greeted, eyeing Pebblefall with an unreadable expression. The medicine cat stepped forward.

"StarClan has told me that I must take Pebblefall here as my apprentice," she gestured to him with her tail, "and he has accepted their request."

Spottedstar arched an elegant eye. "StarClan told you this? After he's already become a warrior?"

"Yes," Poolripple responded, and Pebblefall could easily identify the note of irritancy rising in her voice for being questioned. "They have their reasons, and they've deemed it necessary."

Spottedstar tilted her head for a couple of heartbeats, studying them both, and then she rose to her paws. "Alright," the leader concluded slowly. "I will announce this new change to the clan. And Pebblefall?" He turned and met her gaze.

"Good luck with your studies. You will make an excellent medicine cat."

Pebblefall nodded, grateful for his leader's praise, but also doubting she was right. After stepping down from Spottedstar's den, the grey tom bounded into the clearing to hear her speak. Spottedstar leapt onto a large rock and yowled, "All cats old enough to swim, gather to hear my words!"

Cats poured from their dens to cluster around Pebblefall, who wondered where Sandwhisker was, but quickly shoved the thought away. He needed to forget about all...that.

Pebblefall heard a few warriors exchange whispers. "Are any of the kits ready to be apprenticed?" "Is someone retiring to the elders' den?" No, he replied silently, it's just me.

"Cats of RiverClan," Spottedstar started with a clearing of her throat. "I have a quick announcement to make." Here we go.

"Poolripple has decided to take on Pebblefall as her apprentice." Clamor arose, but she kept going.

"It is StarClan's will, so we will do as they wish! Although our medicine cat is young and healthy, surely they know what we do not. Meeting dismissed!" Spottedstar ended with a flick of her tail, returning to her earlier nap.

Pebblefall could feel the stares of his clanmates prickling his neck fur, so he began walking towards the medicine den to avoid conversation. Before he reached his new nest, though, a familiar cat was waiting for him.

"Hey, Pebblefall!" Sandwhisker purred, padding over. "I'm so proud of you. This must be hard." The tabby brushed his pelt against Pebblefall, whose fur tingled in response.

Then he remembered everyone around them and how he was supposed to act, so he reluctantly backed away. Sandwhisker let out a confused trill.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, worry clouding his eyes.

"It's j-just..." Pebblefall stuttered, searching for an excuse. "I'm not sure if we're supposed to be friends. Now that I'm a medicine cat." Poolripple suddenly appeared behind him, as if she had been spying on them.

"Well of course you can be friends," she meowed to Pebblefall, lightly tapping his shoulder with her tail. He knew what she meant by that. Just friends, he reminded himself.

Sandwhisker chuckled. "I guess we don't have to worry about that, then," he said to Pebblefall. Before he could respond, though, his mentor ushered him into their den.

"See ya, Sandwhisker," Pebblefall meowed as Poolripple dragged him inside.

"Let's get started with your training," the calico told him. Pebblefall stopped short.

"But, it's my first day! Can't I begin tomorrow?" the grey tom questioned. He really didn't want to stuff his mind with herb facts right then.

"You're already a grown warrior," she bit back. "So you'll start learning as soon as possible. Stop acting like you're six moons old." Pebblefall couldn't argue with that, so he followed her over to Mistrose, who lay snoozing in a corner.

"Alright. Take a look at her wound and tell me what you notice," Poolripple instructed. Pebblefall leaned forward, careful not to nudge the sleeping warrior. As if reading his mind, she said, "I gave her some poppy seeds earlier, so don't worry about waking her up."

He nodded, scooting closer to inspect the bite on her leg. A few poultice remains still clung to the fur around it, and there was a smelly substance oozing out of the cuts.

Pebblefall mentioned this to her, and she nodded, seemingly satisfied.

"Yes, that liquid is a sign of an infection, as well as the swelling and heat around the area of the bite," the calico she-cat informed him. Pebblefall noticed what she was talking about as he felt warmth radiating from Mistrose's leg.

"Now, since we've identified an infection, we must treat it with the right herbs. Follow me," Poolripple said, and he trailed after her to the herbs she kept stored in the back of the thorny den.

The rows of flowers, leaves, and berries somewhat overwhelmed Pebblefall. How in StarClan am I going to memorize all these? he said to himself anxiously. Poolripple interrupted his thoughts,

"This here is horsetail," she told him, pointing to a stack of long, thin stems. "It's used to treat infection. Now, marigold – which are those yellow petals – is also useful, but are not common in RiverClan territory. We save them for larger, more deadly infections." Pebblefall made a mental note. Horsetail and marigold for infection. Got it.

"I want you to grab some and bring it over to Mistrose," Poolripple ordered.

"The horsetail?" he asked.

"Yes, of course!" she snapped, and he bit back a hiss, instead snatching up a jawful of the herb with his teeth and following her to Mistrose.

After a long process of being taught how to chew and apply it properly, Poolripple and Pebblefall stepped back to acknowledge his work.

"Well done," she commented, looking at the mass of green pulp on Mistrose, whose belly rose and fell with her heavy breathing. The medicine cat let out a small sigh, and Pebblefall glanced at her.

"I'm a bit worried about her," she admitted to him. "Goldenrod is the only known herb that heals fish bites, but for some reason it hasn't grown back this season."

"I'm sure she'll be okay," Pebblefall reassured his mentor. "You're a talented medicine cat." Poolripple blinked, then turned and headed to her nest.

"Goodnight," she said.

"Night," Pebblefall replied, curling up into his own nest, which he'd borrowed from the collection meant for patients. It was quite soft, being lined with dove feathers and fresh moss. Although he was comfortable here, the grey tom couldn't get himself to sleep. He missed having Sandwhisker nearby and hearing his light, sleepy purrs.

After spending quite a while tossing and turning, Pebblefall eventually managed to drift off, exhaustion finally overtaking him.

Written by Ren

Edited by Duskie