Bramblekit ran after her sister, Squirrelkit. Shet stumbled over Squirrelkit as she came to a sudden halt. 

"Hey!" Bramblekit squeaked. 

"Hi, Furzesplash!" Squirrelkit looked at the towering warrior in front of them. 

"Hi, little kits." Furzesplash nuzzled them kindly. Bramblekit had already heard Ivyshade and Furzesplash talking about her and Squirrelkit. Furzesplash wasn't their real father. A she-cat, Skybrook, was first mates with Foxdust, their real father. They had Featherheart, Bumbleclaw and Littlefang. She also took care of Redwing. But Foxdust hadn't liked Littlefang so they decided they weren't going to be mates anymore. It looked like Foxdust was going to become mates with Slatefur, but then he became mates with Ivyshade, right before he was killed by a fox. So Ivyshade became mates with Furzesplash, who had been mates with a traitor named Birdfang. 

"Can we go hunting?" Squirrelkit asked, jumping up and down. 

"Not until you're apprentices!" Furzesplash mewed, as Squirrelkit's face dropped. 

"Well, actually, it's time for their apprentice ceremony." Marigoldstar padded up beside Furzesplash. 

"Bramblekit and Squirrelkit, please come forward. Squirrelkit, until you become a warrior, you will be known as Squirrelpaw. Your mentor will be Littlefang. I trust he will pass on his strength and courage to you" Littlefang seemed to swell with pride as Squirrelpaw touched noses with him. 

"Bramblepaw, your mentor will be Sagestride." For a few moments, there was silence then gasps of outrage. 

"That's the RainClan medicine cat!" 

"She can't be a BranchClan apprentice's mentor!" 

"We need a medicine cat as soon as possible and Mistystar has agreed to let Sagestride mentor Bramblepaw." Marigoldstar flicked her tail for silence. 

"But why couldn't Berryshade mentor Bramblepaw? She's a perfectly fine medicine cat. And anyways, Sagestride doesn't really like to help other clans!" Grayflame called from the crowd, echoing almost every other cat's thoughts. 

"That is very true. I would much rather have Berryshade mentor Bramblepaw, since she enjoys helping other clans. But, do you really think Sandystar would agree to that?" Marigoldstar asked Grayflame, who shook her head hesitantly. 

"Exactly. That's why Mistystar, who wants to help, has ordered Sagestride to mentor Bramblepaw. I will have Shadesting escort her to RainClan. I trust Mistystar to take good care of you, Bramblepaw. And if she doesn't, just tell me and I will look into it." Marigoldstar said gently to Bramblepaw, who was a bit overwhelmed by the situation. She nodded mutely in response. 

"Shadesting? I think the best time to take Bramblepaw to RainClan is right away." 

"Of course, Marigoldstar. Come on, Bramblepaw." Bramblepaw touched noses with Squirrelpaw and then turned and followed after Shadesting. 

As they entered RainClan's camp, Mistystar greeted them. 

"Welcome, Bramblepaw! I hope you settle well for the next few moons. Sagestride is over there." Mistystar flicked her tail to a light gray she-cat. Her darker gray eyes were expressionless, but cold. 

"Come." She turned and walked into a den, which Bramblepaw suspected was the medicine cat's den 

"Alright. Make yourself a nest over there. Sagestride flicked her tail to a dusty corner.

Bramblepaw looked around, baffled. 

"But, there's only crumbly bracken! What am I supposed to make my nest out of?" Bramblepaw asked hesitantly. 

"The bracken I have provided. It's perfectly fine for a BranchClan apprentice." Sagestride said the word like it tasted disgusting on her tongue. 

"I guess." Bramblepaw quickly made a sloppy nest, curling up in the half-crumbled bracken. 

"There. Now, please have a good rest. We'll begin training when you wake up." Sagestride walked out of her den, with a fake sweet voice.