username & ID: RoxyTBDW
Clan/Tribe/Group definition: Clan
Name of the Clan/Tribe/Group: SerpentClan
Link to the Clan/Tribe/Group: LinkHow did they become a Medicine Cat / healer*Note. I don't have a leader or med cat at the time of writing this, so all other names are just placeholder characters.
"I have been growing old with each moon. My paws have been working harder and harder to hold herbs. It's time I take on an apprentice to pass my knowledge before I find myself in StarClan," the medicine cat's booming voice echoed throughout the rocky cliffs. "Rodentpaw, you have reached the age of six moons old and you are ready to follow my pawsteps into the path of a medicine cat."
The medicine cat hopped down from the large rock, her fur shining in the sunlight. This wasn't what Rodentpaw wanted, Serpentstar* promised she would become a warrior under Harestalk's* mentorship! The medicine cat, Reedwhisker*, craned her neck and closed her eyes. She glared up at Serpentstar who sat on the Meetingrock. Such betrayal could not be forgiven.
Hesitantly, the newly-made apprentice touched her pale pink nose against Reedwhisker's. The Clan shouted her name, cheering for her louder than ever. She would be the first medicine cat apprentice since the Clan's creation. After the ceremony, she scrabbled up the rock and into the leader's den, her claws creating white scratch marks on the very front of the jagged rock.
"Serpentstar, you promised to make me a warrior. You said yourself that Harestalk will be my mentor! Why did you change that?" she growled. The leader's eyes glowed in frustration. "Don't question me, and don't talk to me like that. I have my own reasons. You should go back to the medicine den and start learning. Go," they hissed back. Tail lashing, she had nothing left to do but follow their orders.
"Sorry for the sudden change. I know how much you wanted to be a warrior apprentice, but trust me. StarClan wanted this," Reedwhisker immediately mewed when she walked into the medicine den. The walls were smooth, and the entrance's rock was jagged just like the other den entrances. There were ledges carved into the far side, and drawings of StarClan and herbs were all along the wall closest to her.
She didn't want this. She didn't want to be a medicine cat. It was her destiny to be a warrior, right? "StarClan had sent me a sign. A very clear sign!" They beckoned with their tail for the young apprentice to come closer. There was a pile of roots and leaves, and the occasional cobweb or berry dotted within the pile. Reedwhisker pushed a few leaves around, revealing a black and white mouse. It looked similar to Rodentpaw. But this couldn't be... Was her dream of becoming the best warrior meant to be crushed by healing and herbs?
"O-oh wonderful. I should start collecting herbs already..." she mumbled, trying to get out of the medicine den and away from StarClan's sign. Reedwhisker's eyes lit up. "Great idea! I'll come with you and show you all the best spots!"
As they traveled through a sparse prarie, she could smell an intense scent of prey, very similar to the scent of the mice she ate in the fresh-kill pile. It was so close by... She was sure her mentor wouldn't mind if she snuck off just to at least feel like a warrior. An idea popped into her head. She could train as a warrior in secret, and then when she was the best warrior ever she could show Serpentstar that she was worthy! She could do it!
Sneaking through the through the tall, yellow-brown weeds, she found herself behind with a very small mouse. She had no idea how to hunt... She realized her plan would be harder to do than she thought. That's fine, she would just train harder. She snuck through, but the mouse looked her directly in the eyes.
How? How did it notice I was there? she thought. She realized it must've smelled her. It must've looked up and saw her large eyes waiting. Her tail must've rustled the bushes. There were countless things she could've done wrong. The mouse scurried away, and so she gave chase. She could hear her mentor yowling for her.
"Rodentpaw! What in StarClan are you doing?! Herbs don't run off! Get back here! Stop!" But she didn't stop. She kept chasing the mouse, tiring herself out. Okay, so her mentor might have noticed. Surely they wouldn't scold her, or tell the leader she wasn't focusing on her duties. After a few minutes of running, she felt herself tiring out. She had never run so much, she was always cooped up in the nursery.
She lost sight of the mouse, but caught an even more unique scent. It didn't smell like another cat, but it didn't smell like prey either. She lifted her head above the grass, and realized she made a big mistake.
Peering around a tree, a large, vibrant orange head with beady black eyes was facing her. Those beads were piercing her very soul. It was terrifying to see the large fangs that it was baring. With a swift leap and a loud yap, the fox leapt onto her. The next few moments were a blur, and she woke up in the medicine den.
There was a terrible pain in her tail. She couldn't feel her tail, but she felt that it did hurt VERY bad. "Rodentpaw, oh Rodentpaw I'm so glad you're alive. Don't ever leave my sight again! You were destined to be a medicine cat, not a warrior!" Reedwhisker lectured. They wrapped their paws around her shoulders and pulled her in for a hug.
She noticed she had clumps of cobwebs all around her back leg and tail. She didn't want this, she didn't need this. Did StarClan punish her? Why? Why would they hurt one of their own all because of a path she wanted to take? She didn't know, but she knew that Reedwhisker would keep an extra close eye on her for quite a few moons. She sighed, and closed her eyes, drifting back into sleep to avoid the pain.