The Second Apprentice (Open)

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Moonspirit was humming to herself, she had just come back from her first of many meetings with her secret lover, Badgerstep. The thought of kittens made her hum, not only that but when she had come back-she found out that she would soon be having her own apprentice, that made her hum too. She leaned over to the extra moss pile and started filling up a nest between Clawpaw's and hers with moss. It would be extra comfortable for her new 'paw'. When she was finished she padded over to the medicine ledge and started putting together travailing herbs for the warriors that would escort her and Foxstar to the Moonstone that night. She would only need two, for Badgerstep and for Swiftfire since she would be speaking to StarClan as well as Foxstar herself. Maybe they could give her the guidence she needed to make this life-changing decision.

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So Familiar

"Moonspirit?" The hushed call had come from where the medicine cat's den connected with the nursery. Cedarclaw had managed to put the kits to sleep, for the moment, and was now taking a few steps away toward the medicine cat. Her eyes were narrowed in a wince, as if she had stepped on a thorn.

The tortoiseshell queen continued to come closer, far enough away from the kits so as not to wake them. Their eyes would be opening soon, no doubt, and if they woke to find their mother gone they might start to squeel. "Moonspirit, do you think it's okay for me to have a poppie seed or two while I'm nursing? That pain in the back of my head has been coming back, lately."

She was talking about the pain she'd woken to when she'd recovered after hitting her head and blacking out. It was the same pain as the one that had kept rearing its ugly head whenever she'd tried to remember something about her past. After dealing with it for long enough, the queen had given up on trying. But now, even without trying to remember, the pain was worse than ever. "It wouldn't harm the kits, would it?"

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Moonspirit nodded, "Yes, maybe not poppy seeds though. I have just the thing. She dropped her half-made herb wrap and slid it aside and took down some borage leaves and dandelion leaves. "Here, Eat these." she mewed, giving them to her. "Dandelion leaves are better for your milk after you use borage for your milk." she smiled, "Where exactly is the pain again?" she asked.

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In The Back Of Your Mind

Cedarclaw ficked an ear as she looked at the little leaves. "If you say so," she mewed, and leaned over to quickly lick up the green things. The queen was a bit dissapointed when teh pain didn't immediately dissapear, but she knew the herbs would take a bit longer to take effect.

At the medicine cat's question, Cedarclaw licked her jaws before answering. "It's at the base of my head, right here." She used her tail to point it out. "Sootclaw said that was where I hit my head on a rock. But I can't remember it." Her whiskers twitched. "Its been getting worse and worse lately."

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Moonspirit inspected it, "Hmm, as soon as your kits are weaned I can do some intense care but until then most of the herbs may harm your kits through the milk." she sighed, "Just come in every day and I can give you herbs until I can deal with it directly, and tell me if the pain gets worse too."

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Little Piece Of Heaven

Her yellow eyes widened at the thought of danger to the kits. "Oh, okay. Can't have anything like that happening..." She looked back towards her sleeping kits. They looked like little angels, they slept so soundly. She couldn't help but smile. "I'll be sure not to take anything that would harm them," the queen assured the medicine cat. They were perfect. Nothing would go wrong as long as she was breathing.

Cedarclaw then looked back to Moonspirit with a light smile. "You seemed awfully happy when I came in here. If you don't mind me asking, what was all that about?"

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"Oh, Um... I'm just happy that the clan is moving forward more. You know, Foxstar finally going back to Moonstone and two way overdue Warriors and a new medicine cat apprentice." she stumbled, she couldn't tell anyone about Badgerstep!

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I Don't See

Oblivious to the stuttering underlying tone of secrecy, Cedarclaw just gave a friendly purr. "Yeah, that's true. From what Sootclaw has told me, Foxstar had a bit of a rift with StarClan since she became leader. But she seems to be back on top of things now, with going to the Moonstone and appointing Badgerstep and Smallheart. Those two were far too big to be in the apprentices' den still!"

The tortoiseshell gave her chest a few quick licks. Nowadays, she didn't seem to bother trying to figure things out as she once might have. Now she was content with what she was told, as that was the only way she could learn what she'd forgotten. But the queen then looked back to Moonspirit with a slight narrowing of her eyes. "Um, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that a deputy was supposed to be appointed right after the first one died. Is that right? I'm not so sure... But if it is, why hasn't she done so?"

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"I... I don't know. I plan on asking StarClan tonight." she mewed, "There are plenty of eligible cat for the job, you mate for example, or... Swiftfire or... even a younger warrior like... Badgerstep..." she trailed off even more after that, her eyes fixed in mid-air.

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I Look Around Me

Cedarclaw did happen to catch the medicine cat's tone at the last name, but she chose not to say anything, merely nodding in agreement. "You're right. We have a lot of good warriors. They just seem a little... Rebellious?" Her whiskers twitched in slight amusement. "Every cat has something to say against orders."

The tortoiseshell hadn't thought about the possibility of Sootclaw becoming deputy. The thought filled her with unfulfilled pride. What a thought it would be if the father of kits would someday be leader. But Sootstar? That doesn't sound right.

She thought about the other candidates. "Swiftfire is outgoing and brave, but a bit headstrong. And Badgerstep-" she laughed, "from what I've seen of him, he can be happy-go-lucky one minute, then a little spitfire the next." Smiling, the queen shook her head. "I don't see how an empty-headed tom could be deputy material. He was always immature, even as an apprentice." Cedarclaw blinked in surprise. She'd remembered something... From many moons ago. Yes, there was a memory there. Where did that come from?

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"Yes, well some cats are ready to rip her throat out so I think she should pick one now to avoid the clan in a tough spot if she dies." she resorted, Foxstar was being outrageous! A deputy should be chosen immediately.

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I Cower And Hide

Cedarclaw murmured in agreement, not liking the new source of tension. "True, but that's why Foxstar's going to StarClan, right? To try and get her lives this time?" The tortoiseshell queen pawed the ground absentmindedly, a bit of a nervous tick in her movements. "Maybe then she will be in the right state of mind to appoint a new deputy." They could hope, at the very least.

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"Hopefully, if she doesn't this clan will be in trouble." she sighed, "But nevertheless you should get back to your kits now, they need you more than any other cat."

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Returning To Where I Was Before

Cedarclaw gave a small smile. "Yeah, you're right," she mewed, again glancing over her shoulder toward her sleeping little dears. "I'm sorry, I know I've been keeping you from your medicine cat things. But thanks for the dandelion leaves. I think they're starting to kick in." The queen gave a little swish of her tail in farewell, then rose to her paws- feeling the weight of a big but now empty belly below her- and turned back toward the nursery. She padded lightly so as not to wake them, and curled up around them again, providing their warmth. Feeling their little bodies next to hers made her heart swell again before she closed her eyes and drifted off to join them in sleep.

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Moonspirit watched her go into the nursery, oh-how she craved for the sensation of little kittens. How she craved to watch her kin grow... Her claws dug into the ground and she turned back to making herb piles.