Fun fact: the former name of this chapter was called "Help" but I didn't manage to fit the help part

Stupid things were filling up Pureheart's mind as she walked into the clearing for the clan meeting. Wondering what was going on hadn't crossed her mind. Yet it had probably crossed the mind of other cats.

Do I have any furs sticking out? We're those dock leaves starting to get old? The nursery smelled disgusting!

She sat near the edge of the clearing. Since most of the spots near the leader was full. She paid all her attention to Fernstar. Well, pretended to.

"I have called a clan meeting today..."

Did I make Currenttail uncomfortable when I sat next to him yesterday? What if he's germaphobic?

"Monarchwing has decided..." Pureheart had only paid attention to a bit, "Ceremony to find a new mentor for..."

It's kind of chilly today. Do cats think I'm too loud? I could go for another magpie.

"I have decided to mentor Emberpaw myself."

I wonder if barn mice taste better than the mice in our territory... Wait, what?!

Pureheart froze as she repeated Fernstar's sentence to herself. Fernstar hadn't taken an apprentice in forever, her last one was probably before Pureheart was even born!

And she chose Emberpaw. The singular apprentice of FreeClan... was it because she thought she was the only one that could teach her? Pureheart pondered the question through out the meeting as Emberpaw touched noses with Fernstar.

Lucky you. The things I would do to be a leader's apprentice. Even though I'm a medicine cat.

Pureheart shook her head to herself as she gave a smile to Emberpaw, who was in her den not too long ago.

"Clan meeting dismissed."

Now I need more comfrey... she thought abruptly.

Pureheart started to head out of camp while other cats dispersed to who knows where.  She took a glance back to Emberpaw and Fernstar. Along with Currenttail who sat in the clearing near them, before heading outside and into FreeClan's territory.

Free of the crying kits, the complaining elders, the dramatic warriors and apprentices. Free of the bitter smell of the medicine den and the hint of fought off diseases.

Free of FreeClan.

Pureheart sniffed the air for the familiar tangy smell of comfrey. It was getting stronger as she figured it was nearby.

But there was also another tangy smell, and it wasn't herbs. Well, it was. But not just herbs. A cat that was probably near herbs!

Pureheart looked around cautiously, the cat wasn't in sight. It could've been another medicine cat, but she had memorized all their scents. Maybe an apprentice? No, she would have figured that out too.

She sighed, she wasn't going to waste her time looking for someone she may or may not attack. She decided she would just tell Fernstar, let the warriors deal with it. As long as they weren't taking her comfrey!

Speaking of the said comfrey she was thinking about the whole time, she had finally spotted it. There wasn't a lot of harvestable ones. But it would do. If she had too many anyways it would die and be a waste.

That was unless something happened to everyone that she would have to use a lot of comfrey.

That wouldn't happen though. It was a very slim chance.

Great, now that thought is going to stay stuck in the back of my mind! She hissed to herself as she gathered the roots and leaves.

Now that the herb was off her mind she decided to head back to camp. The most random thoughts entertained her as she walked through the quietest forest. Alone.

Well, unless the cat she smelled was actually there. Then she wouldn't be alone. But for now she wasn't sure if she was alone or not.

I wonder how twoleg food is made..?

Pureheart heard rustling somewhere around her, it sounded like a mouse scurrying or something like that. Yet it had still paused her for a moment as she looked towards the area it was coming from.

She flinched as she accidentally bit the comfrey, chopping a leaf off as she saw a cat. It was white with blue eyes, presumably a tom. He also seemed like a young warrior. But then again he didn't have a clan smell.

Pureheart and the tom stared at each other as moments passed by. Her yellows eyes focused on him. His blue eyes on her. The cat had been holding dock leaves. Which explained the smell. The smell from earlier!

Pureheart had blinked, making the cat realize what was happen. Not another blink later the cat had darted away deeper into FreeClan territory, but if he had went far enough he might've gone to where he came from.

Pureheart paused as she looked down for a moment. Should she tell Fernstar? This cat had seemed harmless though. They had taken some herbs. But what if they needed it? What if someone they truly cared about needed it?

She tossed and turned to her medicine cat sympathy and her loyalty. He wouldn't have gone back. He didn't seem to have been hunting on their territory. It was just some dock leaves.

It would be fine. Only if they came back again then she would tell Fernstar, or anyone for that matter. She was helping a cat stay safe and uninjured, surely that was the right thing to do?

Pureheart shook her head. Continuing on her way back to camp, trying to take her mind off her short encounter. And more on herbs, or figuring out what to eat later.

I wonder if a cat could survive off a juniper berry-only diet?

Pureheart entered camp, going straight to her den to put the new comfrey next to the singular old one. And probably sort some herbs too. Especially if the kits had gotten into her storage again.

Queens need to pay more attention! Why is my herb store always getting messed with? Do they want to get cured of anything?

She looked at her paws as she walked toward the medicine den. Helping herself think. But being Pureheart she had bumped into someone. She looked up to see who it was.

Currenttail, that was now awkward.

I should laugh, make it a really bad joke.

Pureheart giggled, "Woops, didn't mean to bump into you Current! Wasn't looking where I was going, silly me!"

The younger warrior had nodded, "I-it's alright." He stammered as he had walked away. Leaving Pureheart a bit humiliated by her exaggerated response.

"Well, if you say so!" She added cheerfully before finally heading in her den, taking a quick glance at the warrior.

They had both been apprentices around the same time, yet Currenttail had rarely talked to here. They never had a full conversation either.

Yet she had always seen the young apprentice Emberpaw talking to him. What was the special bond between them? She didn't want to downgrade Emberpaw. But she wasn't the best at conversations.

Pureheart though had thought she did the rightful approach to try and befriend him, yet her efforts were no different from ignoring him.

Was she supposed to pester Currenttail like Emberpaw? No, that would've been mean. He'd warm up eventually. Though it had been 14 moons... Emberpaw only knew him for less than 9.

She shook her head as she pulled the thought out of her mind. Focusing on her job was probably more important than trying to be friends with one cat. Though sometimes she wished it wasn't.

Pureheart fiddled around with the herbs as she sorted them, identifying them before putting them in their pile. It would be good if an apprentice could do this, it would really help them learn more. And Pureheart more time to think about... other things.

Not just a medicine cat. Pureheart felt as if it was important for a warrior to learn some herbs, to help them in the future. So many deaths were because of undiscovered herbs.

She had tried, but it didn't work that well. The thought made her sigh. They would regret it in the future.

Pureheart kept on sorting until it was fully organized like a smooth pelt. Not a single fur, or in this case herb sticking out.

She looked to the dock leaves, realizing she had a lot. It reminded her of earlier and the cat that had took some. They must've used it for scratches. Perhaps she could find them and give her some extra herbs. They didn't seem to have medicine cat qualities. And probably only either knew a few herbs, or experimented. She really hoped it wasn't experimenting...

Pureheart grabbed a poppy, shaking a few seeds out of it and placing it on a leaf. She had grabbed a few other herbs, including a few extra dock. Just in case. It could also have been a big scratch, she decided to prepare for that.

Pureheart had put them all in one big leaf before folding it and picking it up. No cat would realize what she was doing. They would assume it's random medicine cat things, hopefully.

With that Pureheart headed back out her den trying to rush through the cats. Though her luck causing her to be interrupted by an apprentice.

"Watcha doing?" The only apprentice, Emberpaw asked.

"It's long to explain. I'm not sure if you'd like to hear it. And I don't have much time." Pureheart said softly through the muffles of herbs.

"Ah, sounds boring. Continue on your way then!" Emberpaw told her as she turned on her back for sunbathing.

Pureheart gave her a smile and nod before heading out of camp. She had made it out with only one question. That didn't pause her for not longer then a moment.

She curled her paws as she walked through FreeClan territory. Emberpaw had felt like a younger sister, or something like that. Yet she felt a pang of something she couldn't quite identify.

The only thing that she did though was a quiet growl coming from her. Why'd she feel so weird about Emberpaw recently? Why had the medicine cat Pureheart care about Currenttail and Emberpaw's strange bond?

"Whatever, not my issue!" She told herself.

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Word count: 1839

"But... but... she didn't even get to the cat yet! Why did you end here Sunrise?"

Idk, I felt the need of a cliff hanger. It wasn't too bad. At least it didn't end like Emberpaw's chapter.

Anyways, I ended it because it's starting to get long, it's only 1741 words as I speak, but if I were to do the whole meeting it would be another 1000 words.

"But Pureheart doesn't get another chapter til chapter 9!"

Yeah.

Now what?

Let's find out more about our character Currenttail, Pureheart's friend.

Also: do you ship?  Who do you so far?

And for fun, make a random, funny/weird ship! Ex: Sunpaw x Monarchwing

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Chapter 4- Currenttail

Chapter 5- Special chapter!

Chapter 6-Currenttail

Chapter 7-Emberpaw

Chapter 8- Currenttail

Chapter 9-Pureheart

Chapter 10- Special!

Chapter 11- Emberpaw

Chapter 12- Emberpaw

Chapter 13- Currenttail