The Healer's Path

Berrystar- Gold tom

*APPRENTICE:* Hisspaw- Ginger tom

**DEPUTY:**

Shrewstone- Grey she-cat with black stripes

**MEDICINE CAT:**

Skypelt- Black tom with ginger splotches

*APPRENTICE:* Mintpaw- Tortoiseshell she-cat

**WARRIORS:**

Softpad- Brown tom

Russetspring- Red she-cat

*APPRENTICE:* Blackpaw- Ginger and tortoiseshell tom with black ears

Hornetdusk- Russet colored tom

Snowheart- Grey and white she-cat

Pebblestripe - Bluish grey she-cat

Streamflight- Black tom

Robinstripe- Flame colored she-cat

Windfeather- Grey she-cat

Blueclaw- White she-cat

Lionface- Ginger tom

**QUEENS:**

Fernheart- Cream colored she-cat (mother of Mousekit and Hawkkit)

**APPRENTICES:**

Hisspaw- Ginger tom

Mintpaw- Tortoiseshell she-cat

Blackpaw- Ginger and tortoiseshell tom with black ears

**ELDERS:**

Shrewstone- Dark brown tom

Palepad- Ginger she-cat with pale grey pads

Rapidstar- Brown tom

**DEPUTY:**

Thrushheart - White tom

**MEDICINE CAT:**

Jaytail- Black and white tom

*APPRENTICE:* Poppypaw- Tortoiseshell she-cat

**WARRIORS:**

Voleshade- Black and grey tom

Deerfur- Ginger she-cat

*APPRENTICE:* Redpaw- Reddish-brown tom

Branchstrike- Brown and black tom

Leafnose- Ginger she-cat

Rabbitfoot- Grey tom

Eagletooth- Gold tom

Cloudyeye- Blind, broad-shouldered grey tom

Riverclaw- Dappled grey and bluish grey she-cat

Owlfeather- White she-cat with brown flecks

**QUEENS:**

Sharpstrike- Tortoiseshell she-cat (mother of Ryekit (tom) and Fernkit (she-kit))

**APPRENTICES:**

Redpaw- Reddish-brown tom

**ELDERS:**

Flyleap- Brown tom with a scar on his muzzle

### ROOTCLAN

**LEADER:**

Strikestar- Grey she-cat

**DEPUTY:**

Shadefang- Black tom with white paws and tail tip

**MEDICINE CATS:**

Featherstone- White she-cat with grey flecks

*APPRENTICE:* Leopardpaw- Ginger she-cat

**WARRIORS:**

Fernflight- Tortoiseshell tom

*APPRENTICE:* Breezepaw- Tortoiseshell tom

Sunswoop- White, ginger, and grey tom

Nightjaw- Black and tortoiseshell tom

*APPRENTICE:* Wolfpaw- Black tom

Mistfall- Ginger she-cat

Spiderjaw- Black tom with white spots

Gentlewing- Grey and brown she-cat

**QUEENS:**

Leafstep- Brown and black she-cat (mother of Houndkit (tom) and Thrushkit (she-kit))

**APPRENTICES:**

Wolfpaw- Black tom

Breezepaw- Tortoiseshell tom

Leopardpaw- Ginger she-cat

**ELDERS:**

Silverclaw- Grey she-cat

Mouseprick- Ginger tom

## Chapter One

Poppypaw padded down the rocky trails that sloped along the mountainside with her mentor, Jaytail. As a new apprentice, the gravel that skittered down the trails and of the cliff-like drop used to scare her, but now she was fearless.

“So,” Jaytail inquired, his pale blue eyes flashing. “Are you excited?” The tortoiseshell flexed her claws.

“Yeah, I guess. But it’s just so nerve-racking,” Poppypaw confessed. Jaytail chuckled.

“While we walk, let me tell you a story.” His apprentice smiled.

“Go on.”

The tom cleared his throat.

“Once, RockClan had a wise medicine cat known as Sootfur because of her pitch-black coat. She was from a far-off clan known as ShadowClan, but she decided to leave. She was aiming for the Twoleg Place, but wandered through RockClan territory. We have no idea why she left, but she taught me everything I know.” He paused to look up at Silverpelt, as if imagining her watching him with Poppypaw. “But one day, she and I were walking to the Star Stone, but a couple of kittypets attacked us. There was a patrol of three RootClan cats watching, but they didn’t intervene. Sadly, Sootfur was killed. That is the root of our war.”

Poppypaw sighed.

"And I never got to meet her." Jaytail smiled, sympathy in his large green eyes. He looked down, and realized that they had walked the entire path. His smile widend.

"Race you there!"