[closed] Little Paws Wander

Mintwhisker sighed, pausing to stretch for a moment. She glanced at the crushed yellow flowers lying at her paws for a moment before turning her deep green eyes toward the entrance of the den. The weather was incredible today; not swelteringly hot and muggy as it had been the last few days, but not chilly. Perfect sunbathing weather. The short-legged Medicine Cat yawned, slowly pushing herself to her paws. She cast one last brief look at the cluster of dandelions lying pitifully at the back of the den before turning to exit.

"Oh!" She uttered a quick sound of surprise, a small, friendly smile growing on her face. "Hello there, dear. What's your name?" She blinked, her tail twitching as she suppressed a purr of nostalgia. This kit reminded her of her first adventure out of the nursery and into the Medicine Cat den with her sister, Fernpetal. The small orange kit's charming curiosity was incredibly reminiscent of her older sister.
Mintwhisker shook out her fur, sitting down lightly and tilting her head. She knew this young kit by sight alone; she had assisted her mother with her birth almost- what was it, five moons ago? -but she hadn't been able to hear her new name due to urgent business with a group of apprentices and a rather unpleasant patch of particularly large blackberry bushes.

Mintwhisker chuckled at the kit's wonder, her friendly smile growing as she began to ask question after question. Although Oceanlight and Rabbitfoot had promptly removed both Fernpetal and herself when they first visited the den, Mintwhisker found that she quite liked having company, and was more than happy to answer Amberkit's questions. "Well," She began, shifting her paws. "For starters, the herbs I'm sorting right now are dandelion flowers. They smell funny, don't they?" She purred, turning to glance at the flowers before turning her attention back to the golden kit. "My name is Mintwhisker, and yes, I am a Medicine Cat." Although she had been timid at first, Mintwhisker could tell that Amberkit would grow into a bolder she-cat as she aged, just as the taupe Medicine Cat had.

"I don't hunt or fight, although I know how. I live right here in this den, and yes, sometimes Starclan gives me special messages in my dreams. It sounds crazy, I know, but it's true."
The she-kit's last question made the short she-cat frown for a moment. "Believe it or not, I had no idea that the life of a Medicine Cat was even an option for me. I thought I would grow up and become a warrior just like everyone else. But one day, Crowstar woke me up and informed me that I was going to be Skyclan's next Medicine Cat. One thing lead to another, and well... I could tell I wasn't the best hunter or fighter, and I got no real joy out of either of those. I much preferred to help others and collect things." The young Skyclanner stretched, eyeing Amberkit curiously. "I bet it's easier to hunt herbs than to fight."

"It really depends on the type of cat you are. If you like hunting or fighting, I'm sure it'll be much easier for you than looking for, gathering, and sorting herbs. Do you like fighting, Amberkit?"

Mintwhisker chuckled, her tail-tip twitching. Amberkit certainly was something. The taupe she-cat found that she enjoyed her company; her curiosity and playfulness made the den seem lighter. Not for the last time, Mintwhisker found herself wondering what would've happened if she had been a mother. Not like it was possible, but... She sighed, almost wistfully. Luckily, Amberkit piped up again, distracted her from thinking about... that. She shook herself, focusing on the kit as she spoke.
"Does she?" She mewed, her voice trailing off as thoughts began filling her brain. "You don't have to be a good fighter, dear. No matter what your mother says. Besides, some cats are better suited for-" The she-cat cut herself off suddenly, eyeing the golden she-kit with a curious murky green gaze. Was she...? No, it was far too soon... she would have to wait and see. Now that she thought about it, Amberkit was nearly apprentice-age.

"-Other jobs." She finished. "Although you certainly seem like a fast learner."

Mintwhisker rolled her shoulders, glancing at the bright world that lay just outside her den. Mentors... the short-legged she-cat nearly laughed as a wave of memories, dim from age, bubbled up from the back of her mind. Time spent hopping from footprint to footprint in snow stacked higher than her head. The confused smile that spread so easily on her face whenever Dandeliondapple laughed at her kit-like antics. The evenings spent in camp, nestled against her chest and sharing tongues with her sister while Dandeliondapple and Fernpetal's mentor gossiped.
"Oh yes..." Mintwhisker brought herself back with a few words. "Before I became a Medicine Cat apprentice, I was apprenticed to a great warrior by the name of Dandeliondapple. She was the adopted daughter of Rippedstar, just like I was. I looked up to her a great deal. As for my Medicine Cat training..."

Her time spent as a Medicine Cat apprentice had been very different. It was hours in the Windclan Medicine Den, memorizing herbs and their uses. It was the stress of helping Goldeneye deal with her many sick and injured patients in Riverclan's borders. It was Nettlesting's chiding voice when she failed to answer his complicated questions in time, and it was days of work helping Mapleleaf find herbs beneath the melting snow.
But that wasn't all of it. Her apprenticehood had also been spent leaning against Goldeneye as they watched the rain pour, safe in the shelter of the Riverclanner's den. Forgetting the studying and playing with Featherlight in Windclan's flower-dotted territory, and, on warmer nights, listening to Nettlesting and Mapleleaf tell stories beneath the star-lit sky.
"It was wonderful." She stirred, wrapping her tail around her paws. "And difficult. But it was much more than that. Some of the best days of my life were spent as a Medicine Cat apprentice. I'm not sure others would say the same, but I'm happy with where I am. I don't regret the choice I made in the slightest."
Yes, Mintwhisker was certain now. She didn't know how or why she had reached this conclusion, but something in her heart stirred. Yes, it was time, and she had finally found the one. This wasn't a rushed decision, as it had been with Honeypaw. She was ready, and so was the golden she-kit in front of her.
"Why don't you run along, Amberkit. I have herbs to sort, and I'm sure there's plenty more to do out there in the sun."