Cinderpaw opened her eyes, as she found herself laying in a bed of moss, located in ThunderClan's medicine den. Sunlight just managed to creep through the entrance of the cave. Cinderpaw still couldn't move, but her foot didn't sear with as much pain. So... Now what? Cinderpaw could tell she wasn't going anywhere any time soon, but her determination to become a strong warrior was still at hand. Would she ever be able to move? Will she ever get to live the dream of being a warrior? Or was she just asking for too much, and her destiny wasn't made for fighting?

"Ah, so you're awake," meowed a raspy voice from the other side of the cave, making Cinderpaw jump out of her thoughts. She craned her neck as far as she could to see Yellowfang, ThunderClan's medicine cat pad up to her side, a bunch of leaves in her mouth. "H-how long have I been out for?" Cinderpaw mewed, watching Yellowfang apply the leaves to her foot. She winced at the sting a little, but soon over came it as the juices saoked into her hind leg. It seemed as if the raggedy old she- cat had just ignored her, focusing on her work alone. "Y-Yellowfang-"

"What in the name of StarClan were you thinking?" Cinderpaw seemed confused, wondering what Yellowfang was referring to. "Wh-What? What do you-"

"Fireheart told you to here in camp while he recieved the message from Tigerclaw. But you disobeyed him. And now, you must pay the price."

"Th-the price?"

"By the looks of your wound, it looks like the chances are low of you returning to your warrior- in- training duties. That leg of yours could be holding you back. It looks like you might not be able to use it the same way you could before." Cinderpaw gasped, as her hopes and dreams were crushed. Thoughts ran through her mind once more, making her wonder, Did I make the wrong decision?

Of course you didn't! You can still prove everyone wrong, right?

But what about what Yellowfang just said? About me not becoming a warrior?

You can still prove them wrong though! You can still do this, I know you can! You just need to have hope!

But... What if you're wrong? What if... What if I'll never fight on the battlefield, protecting my Clan and Clanmates for what is right? What if I'm stuck with no future... Forever?

Don't say that! Everyone has a future, even you! I know you're going to have an amazing future, where everyone will love you for who you are, but you have to keep trying! You can't give up!

"Cinderpaw! Thank StarClan you are okay!" Cinderpaw blinked out of her thoughts as she looked up at the entrance of the cave, to see Fireheart enter the medicine cat's den. "Cinderpaw, what were you thinking? Why didn't you listen to me?"

"I wanted to make you proud! If... I helped you deliver the message and fight off ShadowClan, you... You would've been so proud of me, and you might've asked Bluestar to make me a warrior early!" Fireheart let out a sigh, as he brushed his apprentice's head with his tail- tip. "Becoming a warrior takes time, and with time takes patience. If you didn't disobey me-"

"Fireheart, you should well know that every cat can make mistakes," Yellowfang interrupted, discarding the waste products of the herb that she had just applied to Cinderpaw's leg. "I still remember when you encountered me in the forest when you were still an apprentice. You weren't supposed to, but you fed me, breaking the Warrior Code, and disappointing a lot of cats of your own Clan. But, without mistakes, you would never learn from them, and you would never learn the good things that prosper from your mistakes. Not all mistakes are completely bad, and although Cinderpaw became injured because she did not listen to you, this incident has given her another option for her destiny."

Cinderpaw watched Fireheart's gaze closely, as he looked at Yellowfang. "What do you mean, Yellowfang?"

"I would like the oppurtunity for Cinderpaw to become my apprentice."