"Good morning, Horsekit!" Yowled a cheerful voice. It was three days after the incident with Grindkit and Cinderstripe, and Horsekit was trying to walk. All she accomplished was four steps. At the most.

"You look great today!" Said the voice again. Horsekit rolled her eyes.

Horsekit smiled and waved her tail in a fake greeting. Creamleaf looked satisfied.

Creamleaf grinned happily. "I've got news!" She yelled, hardly able to contain her enthusiasm.

Horsekit shrugged with a questioning look. That was real. She really wanted to know.

"You'll be able to go back to the Nursery tomorrow!" Creamleaf exclaimed. She was waiting for a happy response.

Horsekit smiled but then frowned. Everyone would think she was weird and bully her. She'd be too different.

Creamleaf realized. "Oh, Horsekit, no one is going to think you're incapable of doing anything! You're still the same kit, just... ugh... yeah..." she smiled weakly.

Horsekit did not believe her.
<•>
The next day, Horsekit was nervous to move back to the Nursery.

"Okay, lemme check you out to see if you're ready to go back." Creamleaf rushed in the den, busy with other cats outside the den because there was a border skirmish with ShadowClan a few moments ago. She was busy with injuries. No major ones though.

Creamleaf inspected Horsekit, using her tail to feel wounds in her fur. She also felt her throat. She sighed. Creamleaf looked at Horsekit pleadingly. "C-can you try to speak? Please?" She looked desperate.

Horsekit swallowed. She opened her mouth and tried to speak. Nothing. She tried very hard. Still nothing. Creamleaf sighed again.

"It's just because I've never had anything like this before. I've never actually failed a patient before either." Creamleaf looked at her paws, embarrassed. Horsekit remembered stories about the medicine cat's old mentor, Petalpelt. Petalpelt never lost a client, except that one time when the old warrior Barkheart got into a very bad fight with a dog. Cats could see his entrails. He died a few hours after he got back to camp. Petalpelt was depressed, and was never herself again. She actually died from the guilt of losing a life. Creamleaf did not want to dishonor Petalpelt's name and fail to save a cat. So she devoted all her time to learning all the herbs and remedies.

"I don't want to fail you."

Horsekit was so shocked that Creamleaf, the medicine cat who had to take cat of every cat in the clan, actually cared about Horsekit so much, that she didn't want her to be like that forever.

"You also need to learn to walk better. Because you're walking, by yourself, to the Nursery. No help." Creamleaf said plainly, over the little sadness note.

Horsekit's mouth widened in disbelief. She couldn't do that! She tried! Multiple times! Horsekit shook her head ferociously.

Creamleaf nodded back. "Yes you can,"

Horsekit sighed. She wasn't going to win. She was going to have to walk. She pushed herself up, and moved her front foot forward. Her legs trembled, but she took a step. She gritted her teeth, and moved her back legs after her front leg. She was walking!

Horsekit took five steps. Six. Seven... then she crumbled. She sulked. She couldn't...

"Get up."

Horsekit turned to see Stormstar in the den, watching the kit with Creamleaf. He had no expression on his face. He looked closely.

This is it! She thought. Her heart skipped a beat. He's looking to see if I can walk to become a warrior apprentice! Horsekit got up again. She took a few wobbly steps and made it to the den entrance. She sighed with relief as she saw Stormstar nod with approval as he turned to leave the den. She felt her heart swell with pride.

"Good job, Horsekit!" Creamleaf praised, with a look of delight on her face. "Now, go outside."

Horsekit gulped. She stood up and stumbled outside into the open. Cats stopped what they were doing, and watched her. Everyone was staring, including her mother. She looked with curiosity.

Horsekit didn't want to look like a fool in front of the whole clan, so she walked into the Nursery. Every time she would stumble and almost fall, everyone would either gasp, or hold their breath. Soon she entered the Nursery, and the clan smiled, impressed. Even her mother.

When she walked in the Nursery, the cats went back to their business. Horsekit drew in a breath as she saw the other kits and queens look at her like there was a dog behind her. The other queens ushered their kits into their bellies, and looked away. Horsekit knew that they didn't like her now. She wondered if they ever liked her in the beginning.