Lilypaw and Shadeleaf woke early, eager to start their first full day together.  They had even woke before the dawn patrols. Yellowstripe, the deputy, was watching from a shaded patch of long stems and grasses.

Shadeleaf flicked her tail towards him as they came to sit outside the medicine cat's den. "I'm sure you already know that's Yellowstripe. He has been Flamestar's second in command for a long time now. He is a noble fighter, and loves to please our leader as much as possible," Shadeleaf meowed.

Lilypaw caught herself staring at his pale yellow, tabby striped pelt. As she studied hard to recognize his unique features, he turned his dark blue gaze towards her. Startled, she jumped back a step and almost bumped into Shadeleaf.

"Don't let him scare you.  His hiss is worse than his bite," Shadeleaf purred as she wrapped her tail around Lilypaw's side.  Her orange and black fur was spiked in embarrassment. Hesitantly, she looked back over in the tom's direction.

To her relief, his eyes were shining with humor.  I don't know why I let him scare me, Lilypaw thought lightly. It wasn't like any cat here would want to harm her.

"Oh look, some of the warriors are finally starting to wake up," Shadeleaf meowed suddenly. Lilypaw eagerly looked over in the direction her mentor was facing. Instantly, she was pleased to see the orange pelt of Spruceheart.

"Hi, Spruceheart," she chirped, her eyes shining as he padded towards her. Shadeleaf dipped her head to the tom as he came near.

He, in turn, nodded his head to the medicine cat. Lilypaw felt her heart flutter as he pressed his muzzle against her forehead. "Good luck with your first day," he whispered before turning towards Yellowstripe and bounding away.

"All of the warriors and apprentices will be gathering for the morning patrols," Shadeleaf explained as even more cats started to slide from their dens.

She pointed her tail at a very bright colored orange, brown and white calico she-cat.  "That's Berrysplash! She is littermates with your mother," she purred.

Lilypaw squinted hard at the warrior as she padded by, hoping to remember the patterns of her silky pelt.  "I wish I had littermates," Lilypaw mumbled as she turned her attention back to the warrior's den.

More cats were piling out single file, ready to face the day's duties and chores.  She vaguely heard Shadeleaf naming each one as they walked past, but she was starting to get lost in her own thoughts.

She had never really been bothered to think about the fact that she didn't have siblings.  Growing up in the nursery, she had been an outcast. None of the other kits wanted to play with her, knowing she would be trained as a medicine cat.

Despite their mean manners and unkind words, there was one kit who had been her friend; Oakpaw, the dusky brown tabby tom.  He had also grown up without littermates, he knew how it felt to be singled out.  Branchpaw and Rosepaw had been kind to him in the nursery, but anytime he was with Lilypaw they would just ignore him.

Lilypaw felt her whiskers tremble.  She wished she could show the other apprentices just how it felt to be scorned, to be some sort of cruel joke behind the other cat's backs.

"Lilypaw! Are you paying any attention!" Shadeleaf's exasperated huff sounded right next to her ear. 

"I'm sorry... no, I wasn't paying attention," Lilypaw murmured, shuffling her paws.  She could tell Shadeleaf was displeased, but there was also sympathy shining in her eyes.

"Well, if you don't want to learn any more names right now, we can go for a walk in the forest.  I'll show you some of the best places to gather herbs," Shadeleaf volunteered. 

Lilypaw didn't object.  Her mind was filled with the thought of Oakpaw, and how he must feel training as a warrior. She hoped that Rosepaw and Branchpaw were being kind to him.

Shadeleaf started to pad away, leading Lilypaw to the camp entrance.  Most of the warriors and apprentices were still gathered around Yellowstripe, awaiting their orders for the morning. Flamestar was watching with narrowed eyes from a few paces away.

Lilypaw came to a halt when her gaze traveled over Oakpaw's form, sitting close next to Rockclaw.  "Oakpaw," she called, her tail kinking high over her back in pleasure.

He turned his head, his leaf green eyes burning into her.  In a moment, he stood and bounded over to her side.  "Lilypaw," he breathed, nuzzling her cheek with his muzzle, "have you learned any medicine cat stuff?"

"Nothing yet," she purred, "this is only my first full day."

Oakpaw snorted, pushing her lightly with his shoulder, "well try and learn something by the end of the day," he teased.

Lilypaw was about to deliver a cheeky reply, but Branchpaw and Rosepaw were approaching. "What are you doing with her," Rosepaw hissed, her tail flicking behind her.

"Yeah, she's a medicine cat! You should be hanging out with us, not her," Branchpaw scowled, his brown tabby fur bristling along his shoulders.

"I can be friends with whoever I want," Oakpaw flashed back, his green eyes burning with contempt.  Before the other apprentices had a chance to reply, a group of warriors approached from behind.

Among them were Rockclaw, Snakefang, and Dappledleaf.  All three warriors turned to their apprentices, their gazes bright.  "We're taking you three on a border patrol today," Dappledleaf meowed. 

Snakefang nodded, looking down at Branchpaw seriously, "we've caught some IceClan scents over the border, so be sure to be battle ready!" 

Rosepaw gave an excited bounce, her earlier disgust at Lilypaw diminishing.  "Are we leaving now?"

"Yes, let's get a move on," Rockclaw growled, pushing Oakpaw forward rather roughly.  The rest of the Warriors started to pad towards the camp entrance, with the apprentices and their mentors close behind.

"Good luck, my warriors," Flamestar called as the patrol filed out of the entrance.

Lilypaw watched them leave, wondering how the patrol would fare against the IceClan cats.  Then she noticed Shadeleaf, sitting patiently near the camp entrance.  Not wanting to make her wait any longer, Lilypaw jumped up and sped to her side.

"I'm sorry," she puffed, hoping Shadeleaf wouldn't be too upset with her.  Her mentor just nodded and continued to lead her out of the camp and over the vast hills of their territory.