but i knock on wood a lot

When Boogarden was an apprentice, her mother was her mentor. It was a bit… awkward, but the other medicine cat had distanced herself enough for them to handle it. 

It got harder after Cardinalpine died. They looked too similar.

It got harder after Swampeace gave up two of her kits.

But they handled it.

Then she became Boogarden. And she didn’t talk to Swampeace much after that.

Her mother took on a new apprentice- a young cat named Treaclepaw. She was doing a pretty good job of training them.

It got harder after Swampeace died.

It got harder after Boogarden took over.

Then Treaclepaw became Treaclejest, and as she watched, she hoped she did a good enough job.

She had always assumed she’d have her first apprentice with Swampeace’s help, but it never worked out that way.

There was a new apprentice. Cranepaw. Boogarden’s second apprentice.

It got harder to train them after Cranepaw died.

She gave them the name Cranebloom, and wept.

The walk back to camp was long and slow.

But they were okay. There were still three medicine cats. Cinnamonsparrow, who’d mentored her mother, Treaclejest, a capable and curious cat, and… her.

It got harder after Treaclejest died.

She tried, she really did. She tried. But she couldn’t tug her back from the darkness.

Boogarden listened to Rabbitroar’s cries, and wept.

She awoke one night in a starry field, and met a cat named Rosehaze.

Rosehaze taught her how to fight and hunt, and she thought, vaguely, that this is what a warrior apprenticeship would have been like.

Moons passed.

Then Snufflepaw came along.

A warrior, now a medicine cat.

Was this her third chance?

Possibly.

But she wouldn’t let him leave.

Not again.