oh, how the future changes [open]

Icepaw stared disdainfully down at her reflection on the surface of the puddle.

She was Cloudstone's apprentice now - the future medicine cat of RiverClan. Her name would hold power and influence not only in her own Clan, but in the other four, as well. She would be tasked with speaking to StarClan, interpreting their signs for others, healing their wounds, and counseling them when they were confused or upset. It was a noble position to be in.

She didn't want it, though. It wasn't her.

Ever since she'd been a tiny kit, barely able to do so much as walk, all she had ever wanted was to be a warrior - The best RiverClan had ever seen, in fact. She'd wanted to strike fear into the hearts of WindClan and ThunderClan cats, and hunt prey for the young, old, sick, and frail, and defend RiverClan's borders honourably from rogues, enemy Clans, and anything else that sought to do harm to her Clanmates. She didn't want to not be able to involve herself with the troubles of the Clans. She didn't want to sit meekly by and heal as her friends and kin fought bravely against invaders. She didn't want to spend her days organizing funny-smelling herbs and interpreting the word of old, dead spirits.

The grey she-cay didn't have a choice now, though, and she just had to bitterly push her dreams aside. She was crippled, and burned, and would live the rest of her life in healing subservience.