"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather underneath the Big Rock for a clan meeting!" Stormstar's voice yowled over the camp. Cats flooded out of their dens and gathered around the Big Rock. Horsepaw sat by Whirlpaw, as she saw Snakepaw strut up next to his mentor, Deerstrut, and together they sat underneath the Big Rock.

"Today is the best part of clan life; seeing a young cat become a warrior. Snakepaw, please come forward." Stormstar looked down upon the tan apprentice, who's chest was puffed out with pride. "Deerstrut, is Snakepaw ready to receive his warrior name?"

Deerstrut nodded. "He is, Stormstar."

"Good." Stormstar nodded approvingly, and looked up at the sky. "Warriors of StarClan, look down on this apprentice as he becomes a warrior. He has trained hard to understand the warrior code and to protect his clan." He turned his gaze to the eager apprentice. "Snakepaw, as leader of WindClan, I, Stormstar, give you your warrior name, Snakestrike. I welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan. Congratulations, Snakestrike." Snakestrike rested his muzzle on his leader's shoulder. Then, he turned to the crowd, his eyes shining with pride and gratitude.

"Snakestrike! Snakestrike! Snakestrike!" The clan yowled the new warrior's name, Horsepaw's being one of the loudest, even though he did try to kill her.

Stormstar waited until the noise died down. "Now, as it is a tradition, Snakestrike must sit vigil for the night, and guard the camp alone." He jumped down the rock, as a sign that the meeting was dismissed. He went to talk to the new warrior.

Horsepaw walked by Acornpaw and Amberpaw, and she heard Acornpaw hiss, "Just you wait, that'll be us one day. We'll be the greatest warriors WindClan has ever seen!" He laughed as his eyes sparkled at his sister. Amberpaw cuffed him on the shoulder, and the two walked off towards the camp entrance to do some hunting.

Whirlpaw turned towards Horsepaw. "I have a bellyache. Can you tell Creamleaf to give me something for it?"

Horsepaw was hurt. "You don't trust me?" She mouthed, heartbroken.

Whirlpaw's eyes widened. "No! I just forgot that you were a medicine cat apprentice, that's all. Here, I'll let you fix it, just don't kill me!" His words turned into a giggle. Horsepaw smiled lightly. The two padded into the medicine den.

Creamleaf's back was to them, as she was mixing herbs. She stopped, and turned to them.

"She's going to give me herbs for my bellyache." Whirlpaw answered Creamleaf's question before she even said it.

Creamleaf stood, emotionless, and watched her apprentice.

Horsepaw looked at the line of herbs. She tried to remember which ones could help with bellyache. She almost began to sweat as she looked at the collection of remedies. She held her breath as she chose the small berries. She handed them to Whirlpaw, who had a fake smile on his face. He opened his mouth hesitantly and began to pop the berries in his mouth.

"Wait!" Screeched Creamleaf. She raced over and stole the berries from Whirlpaw. She turned to Horsepaw sharply. "Those were Deathberries! You could have killed him! Try again. And don't try to kill him." She put the berries back.

Horsepaw's face flushed. She looked at Whirlpaw, who appeared to be petrified. Horsepaw reached for more berries. She thought that these were it. She hoped they were it...

Creamleaf nodded approvingly. "Juniper berries. Good idea. You can eat them, Whirlpaw." Whirlpaw ate them and smiled.

"Thanks, Horsepaw and Creamleaf. I feel better already. I almost died, but hey, you're just learning!" He smiled at Horsepaw as he left the medicine den. She smiled back.

"Well, that proves that you have a lot to learn. You can't make those mistakes when I'm gone. I won't be there to stop you." Creamleaf said softly, almost as soft as a whisper. She looked at her paws.

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Horsepaw mouthed. She was concerned for her mentor.

"Well, Horsepaw, I'm getting old." Creamleaf said plainly. "It's just part of life. I've been the medicine cat of WindClan since Ivystar was leader. I'm going to StarClan soon, so you need to learn as much as you can before the two weeks are over, and before I go." She smiled weakly at Horsepaw. "You're the only apprentice I've taken. You're all WindClan has left to protect them. If you become a warrior, I won't have enough time to fully train an apprentice. Horsepaw, WindClan needs you as a medicine cat." Creamleaf looked at Horsepaw pleadingly.

She was right; Creamleaf was getting old. Did Horsepaw really want to give up her dream as a warrior to make sure she didn't let her clan's medicine cat down?