Finally, Larkpaw, Lakepaw and Elderpaw were done and brought the old nest material out of the camp. After the three had gathered new moss, Larkpaw said goodbye to her older denmates who planned to go out and train a bit.

Remembering Fernpool's words, Larkpaw knew that it would be better for her, to accompany them, but at the moment she just didn't feel like it.

Larkpaw fetched herself a vole from the fresh-kill pile and trudged with it behind the apprentices' den. All the other apprentices were somewhere in the forest. Without them, the den appeared huge.

While she was devouring her vole, Larkpaw took a look around. The fern fronds arched over her head in several layers, but it was still not possible to stand in here. The nests were dug in a random pattern, each close to one or two fern bushes.

Larkpaw's gaze moved on to her own nest. She had managed to find a hollow away from the others, but there was one disadvantage: the canopy above her wasn't very dense and only a tuft of grass shielded her from the camp.

When the others are appointed warriors, I'll clean up here, Larkpaw decided.

Larkpaw stood up and slid out from behind the den. With a quick glance at the sky, she realised that it was still bright blue and the night was far away. She would take Fernpool's suggestion to heart after all and work on her sneaking technique.

Just as she was about to leave the camp through the Birchtunnel, she heard someone calling for her.

With a few jumps, Fruittail was with her. Larkpaw put her head back out of habit. Even though she had grown, she was still smaller than the medicine cat.

"Good to meet you here," Fruittail meowed with her hard voice. A clear note of relief resonated in her voice. "Would you like to come with me to pick chervil? My supply is running low and I need it to treat Flutter."

"Why don't you ask Dawnbreeze or Gooseleap?" Larkpaw was suspicious. The two were the Clan's herb cats. Why didn't they collect medicinal plants?

"They're on patrol," Fruittail said a little surprised, as if she had expected Larkpaw to know that.

"Besides, I think you seem so restless. I'm sure it would do you good to move around a bit."

Larkpaw knew she was right. I'm almost dying of boredom!

But as she followed Fruittail into the forest, she asked herself why she had chosen her of all cats to go herb gathering with.

Thoughts raced through Larkpaw's head as if they were being whirled around by the current of a river on a stormy day. What if Fruittail wants to recruit me as her apprentice? Larkpaw's ears perked up in fear.

Suddenly it felt like she was walking over thorns. She had heard of cats who had been forced to change their destiny because StarClan wanted them to. What if Fruittail had received such a message?

Larkpaw desperately wanted to become a warrior and provide for and protect her Clan with all her skills and strength. There was nothing in the world she wanted more. The idea that her ancestors might have planned a different path for her made her feel overwhelmingly uneasy and sad.

I need to distract myself somehow. Remembering that they were collecting chervil, she asked, "What do you actually use chervil for?"

Fruittail twitched her ears in interest. Had she sensed that I knew about my fate? "I need the leaves to treat Flutter's infection."

"How is she doing?" Larkpaw enquired, relieved that she had found a topic that would distract her.

"Well, the infection isn't gone yet, of course - that's why we're looking for chervil now. But it hasn't got any worse." While Larkpaw speculated whether this was a good sign, Fruittail continued, "Flutter is doing well enough to have nursed her kits a few times, but she's not allowed to share a nest with them yet."

When they arrived at a small clearing not far away from the StarClan rock, as Larkpaw secretly called it now, Fruittail purred happily. "There it is!" A tuft of small green plants moved their white flower heads slowly from side to side.

This looks like any other plant, Larkpaw thought, confused. How could medicine cats memorise so many plants and their use?

"Don't you want to help me?" Fruittail asked as she tore some leaves off.

Larkpaw joined her and sniffed nervously at the chervil. She didn't want to do something wrong.

Apparently Fruittail had noticed her hesitation, for she added, "Take only the leaves, and as much as you can carry. The roots can be used too, though for something else, but at the moment I still have enough of them in my den."

Larkpaw could only feel the taste of chervil on her tongue when she was finally done. She grimaced. "I'll never get rid of that taste!"

"Well, you're not supposed to eat it." Fruittail twitched her whiskers heavily in amusement, causing Larkpaw to be insulted. "The next time you'll be picking it, remember to not let it touch your tongue."

The next time. Am I.... am I actually right about having to become a medicine cat? Suddenly Larkpaw felt icy cold, even though it was Greenleaf. Every hair in her pelt began to prickle. She couldn't wait any longer. She had to ask Fruittail now.

"Is there something you need to tell me?" Larkpaw blurted out.

"What?" Fruittail tilted her head, surprised. "Oh, yes, there is in fact something I have to tell you. I've been wanting to do it for moons, however, there was never the right situation."

Larkpaw could barely stand still. In a few heartbeats, her whole world could change. She had to stay strong. Warrior or medicine cat, she would not be deterred by the outcome. No matter what her true calling was, she would do anything in her might to stand by RoseClan.

Fruittail signalled her to sit down. "Some medicine cats have a kind of special power." Her voice, normally firm and dark, sounded broken and unsure now. "It is rare, very rare even. But I'm gifted with the ability of seeing every kit's fate, but in a rather mysterious way."

"Then what is my fate? What did you see?" Larkpaw whispered, her body stiff like stone.

Slowly, Fruittail moved closer until Larkpaw noticed the strong, pungent scents of herbs in her long fur. "Your future - it is a path entwined with thorns. They try to grab you, to pull you into the deepest thicket - and they will succeed. You don't have the power to change your destiny completely, Larkpaw. The only thing you can do is not to lose yourself."

This is it? Larkpaw tried to understand what she had just heard. Her life was going to be difficult. That was the only thing she realised. "What do you mean I can't change my fate?" She took a deep breath. Saying the following words was like being pierced by stinging ice crystals, frosty and merciless. "Are you saying I have to become a medicine cat?"

"You can't change your fate completely," Fruittail emphasised. "Unfortunately, those visions are never specific. But you certainly don't have to become a medicine cat. What makes you think that in the first place?"

"Oh, um... not that important," Larkpaw mumbled quietly. On the inside, however, she felt the urge to jump around mewing. I can't believe I've been worrying for nothing. Absolutely nothing will change. I'll keep training with Fernpool and one day I'll be a RoseClan warrior.

"Be that as it may," Fruittail said. "If you don't mind me asking, how did you realise that I wanted to tell you that?"

Larkpaw felt a pang of shame. Now that she knew she didn't have to become a medicine cat, she was embarrassed to come out with the reason. "I just had a feeling," she mumbled. "Do you actually tell every cat about their fate?"

Fruittail shook her head in disapproval. "It's better if they find their own way. But with you, I had the feeling that you must know, otherwise it will wither you from the inside out."

It will wither me from the inside out. Oh StarClan, what will happen to me?

"Now let's take the chervil leaves and return back to camp," Fruittail meowed cheerfully. "And remember my words. They might save you one day."

Yes. Or destroy me.