River Of Fire

Leafstar looked uncertain, then turned to Tree with a shrug. “Perhaps Frecklewish is right. StarClan chooses some cats to be medicine cats, and, since you see visions, maybe they have chosen you. Would you like to spend some time working with her, to see if you might find a home here as a medicine-cat apprentice? I’m sure StarClan will let you know if that is what they intend for you.”

“Okay, I’ll give it a try,” Tree responded, though Violetshine didn’t think he sounded particularly eager. “Honestly, Leafstar,” he went on, “I really don’t mean to take advantage of SkyClan’s kindness.”

His words earned him an approving nod from Leafstar, who waved her tail to dismiss him.

Tree turned away, heading for his den, and Violetshine padded alongside him to retrieve her bunch of ferns.

“Do you think Frecklewish is right? Could StarClan intend for you to become a medicine cat?” she asked him.

Tree shook his head. “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “Medicine cats talk about weird stuff. Besides, I’d have to memorize all the herbs and remedies, and get really close to sick cats.” His nose wrinkled. “It’s kind of gross. . . . I’m not sure that sort of life is for me. I’d rather be sunning myself on a rock.”

Wouldn’t we all? Violetshine wondered, though at the same time she felt an odd wash of relief, like the first cool lap of water on a hot day.

She half turned toward where she had left the ferns, then turned back. “Tree,” she mewed, “I want to ask you something about your visions.”

“Ask away,” Tree responded amiably.

“Do you ever see Needletail these days?” Violetshine waited eagerly for his response. Tree had helped the cats of ShadowClan see and speak to their Clanmates who had died because of Darktail, and Violetshine had at last been able to let go of her guilt over Needletail’s death. Needletail didn’t blame her, had never blamed her, and that was a weight off Violetshine’s mind, but she still missed her friend. Tree’s ability to see dead cats made her feel that she still had some connection to Needletail.

Tree thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No, I haven’t seen her for a while. Perhaps she’s in StarClan.”

As she said good-bye to Tree and began dragging the bundle of fern fronds over to the warriors’ den, Violetshine wondered if that was true. I hope it is; I like the idea of Needletail watching over me. Maybe Pebbleshine is watching too.

The idea was comforting, as if her mother and her friend were still close to her, as if they were still a part of her life. Then her tail drooped as another thought crept into her mind.

Can Pebbleshine watch over both me and Twigpaw, if we live in different Clans?

“You lay out herbs on boulders to dry,” Frecklewish meowed. “How else would you do it?”

“Hang them on twigs and leaves, of course,” Puddleshine replied.

Violetshine was lingering at the edge of the medicine-cat den in the cave under the roots of the old cedar. Morning sunshine flowed into the camp, and a fresh, invigorating breeze ruffled her fur. Watching her Clanmates, she saw Frecklewish’s whiskers twitch in exasperation.

“Well, this is the way we do it,” Frecklewish insisted.

Puddleshine looked confused. “I don’t see why I can’t do it my own way. That’s how Yellowfang taught me, and she’s a StarClan cat. It’s the way we’ve always done it by the lake, for moons upon moons.”

Frecklewish’s neck fur began to bristle. “You don’t always know better just because you were taught by Yellowfang,” she hissed. “You’re a SkyClan cat now, and you’ll do things the SkyClan way.”

Violetshine spotted Tree, sitting a tail-length away from Frecklewish. He had been training with her for a quarter moon now, though Violetshine didn’t think he was enjoying himself much.

“Hang on a moment,” he meowed, interrupting the two medicine cats, who were glaring at each other in mutual irritation. “Does it really matter, if you get the same result?”

Both medicine cats transferred their glares to Tree, who looked completely relaxed, his fur flat and his tail still, as if he really had no idea what the fuss was about. Did he really not care that Frecklewish and Puddleshine were arguing? Even if Tree’s visions meant that he was a natural medicine cat, maybe he still wasn’t cut out to be a Clan cat.

He’ll probably decide to move on, she told herself, trying to ignore the hollow feeling in her chest. Just one more cat who leaves me behind, whether he means to or not.