Chapter 2

Ch. 2 - Tanja

Riverkit blinked awake. It had been two moons since the fight with Rabbitkit, but he still wouldn't talk to her or Sparrowkit. Sparrowkit loyally stayed near Riverkit whenever Rabbitkit was near, in case he tried anything. It was getting on Riverkit's nerves. She could take care of herself, after all. At the same time, Rabbitkit was worrying her. He wouldn't talk to her, just glare at her. As scared as she was of Rabbitkit, she padded over to talk to him. She decided if he wouldn't start talking with her, she needed to start a conversation with him. "Rabbitkit, can we talk please?" He snorted. "It seems you can do anything you want without any consequences," he sneered. Riverkit wondered what he meant. "Where's your little body guard?" he asked, his voice oozing with sarcasm. "He always seems to be around you. Aren't you scared without him?" Riverkit could hear his distain for her. He scoffed. "You are just a weak, pathetic kit. You don't deserve what you have." Rabbitkit stalked away, leaving Riverkit thoroughly confused and wondering where her brother had gone. She decided to seek out the wisest cat in the clan that she knew. As she turned to pad away, however, she noticed Sparrowkit approaching her. "Hey," she meowed warmly. "Hey," he responded. She sighed. "Just say what you came here to say. Words stuck in a cat's mind do no cat any good." "You've been hanging out with the medicine cat a bit too much," he said with a faint purr in his voice. He looked away. "I don't think you should be talking to Rabbitkit." Riverkit's shoulder fur bristled. Sparrowkit noticed and quickly said, "He has a serious grudge. I heard some warriors talking about his punishment. Apparently he is going to be held back from being an apprentice for a few moons."Riverkit's eyes widened in shock. She had never wanted this. How had it gone this far? Sparrowkit silently watched her, waiting for her reaction. After some time, Riverkit softly mewed, "I need some time to think. Thank you for telling me this Sparrowkit. I need to be alone right now." He nodded and walked away, never taking his eyes off of Rabbitkit.

Riverkit found her paws taking her to the medicine cat's den, where she was headed in the first place. Riverkit found the den warm and comforting, much like its constant inhabitant. Hawkdawn, BlazeClan's medicine cat, was sorting herbs when the she-cat entered. "Hello, little one. What brings you to my den today?" the medicine cat purred comfortingly. In many ways, Hawkdawn was like a second mother to Riverkit. The young kit sat down and sighed. "It's Rabbitkit," she confessed. Hawkdawn came to sit beside Riverkit and licked her encouragingly. "He worries me," she continued. "He won't talk to or look at any cat unless he has to." She went on to tell her about their encounter and his punishment. "I only want him to be happy. Why does he blame me? He told the lie!" Hawkdawn was silent for a moment before speaking. "Have you considered that he may be jealous of you? I've noticed that Sparrowkit has been following you around a lot. Didn't he use to follow Rabbitkit everywhere? He lost all he had in an instant." Riverkit thought about what the wise cat had said. "If you are right," she mewed cautiously, "and he is jealous, then how do I make amends with him for what happened? I want my brother back." She looked up determinedly at Hawkdawn, who purred amusedly. Hawkdawn lowered her head so that she was eye level with the young kit. Riverkit continued, "I don't want him held back from being an apprentice. I forgave him a long time ago." Riverkit held the medicine cat's steady gaze. The purr gone from her voice, Hawkdawn replied, "You forgave him, Riverkit. Now it is time that he forgives himself. There is nothing you can do unless he asks it of you. It is not your job to take care of him. That is your mother's responsibility. You are not responsible for him or his actions. Neither are you responsible for the repercussions he faces because of his actions. You must learn to let go." Riverkit thought a bit about what Hawkdawn had said when the she-cat got up. "If that is all, little one," she meowed, her tone soft and inviting, "I must get back to sorting. You are welcome to stay and watch if you wish, but I am afraid I will not be able to talk much." Riverkit nodded and moved closer to the older cat so she could see what Hawkdawn was doing. "Comfrey root," Hawkdawn half muttered to herself. She pulled out all the bad-looking comfrey and put the rest back into a crevice where it would be stored until she was finished with her sorting and was ready to put the herbs back in their appropriate storage places. She took out another herb, and after a minute of looking at it intently, Riverkit identified it. "Burnet!" the kit exclaimed. "Very good!" purred Hawkdawn. "It gives strength, which is why I give it to expecting queens and cats who are traveling long distances." Riverkit listened with fascination. Hawkdawn sorted out the bad looking burnet and produced a new herb, pausing to allow Riverkit to inspect the berries. "Juniper berries," the young cat said after a moment. "Correct! Do you know what they are used for?" Riverkit scrunched her face while trying to remember what she had seen the medicine cat use them for before. "Bellyaches, I think," she said. "Yes," purred Hawkdawn. "I also give them to cats who are having trouble breathing, need to travel long distances, and cats who need to calm down."

Hawkdawn and Riverkit continued sorting herbs until they heard Hollytail calling Riverkit. Hawkdawn sighed. She knew how Hollytail felt about her. "You had better go find your mother, little one," she said. "There will be plenty of time for us to continue later." Riverkit hesitated for a minute, nuzzled Hawkdawn's shoulder in thanks, and left the den. As soon as she exited, her mother spotted her and bounded over. "What have I told you about disturbing the medicine cat while she is working?" she asked Riverkit furiously. Riverkit sighed. She loved her mother and they agreed on most things, but they couldn't seem to agree on this particular topic. "You mustn't bother her while she is working!" "But," Riverkit began, trying to explain that she was helping the medicine cat sort herbs. Hollytail interupted her. "A future warrior like you should spend her time play-fighting and listening to the elders' stories," she lectured the kit. Riverkit couldn't take it anymore. "What if I don't want to be a warrior like you? Have you considered that?" she burst out. Hollytail looked at her with shock clearly visible in her eyes. Riverkit didn't know what had happened between Hollytail and Hawkdawn, but they clearly were not friends. It was odd, because usually Hollytail wasn't this hostile with any cat. Riverkit wondered what her mother thought about her outburst. All Riverkit saw before returning to the medicine cat's den was Hollytail turning to pad away with a blank look on her face. As soon as she was inside, she announced bodly, "I want to be a medicine cat." Hawkdawn emerged from the shadows, purring. "I can arrange that," she mewed happily. Her face turned serious. "What does your mother think about this decision?" she asked quietly. Riverkit frowned and bowed her head. "She doesn't approve." Hawkdawn chuckled. "They never do. Take heart little one. She will see that you will be a fantastic medicine cat."