Part 1. Spottedleaf's choice

The sun was shining into Spottedleaf's den when she was padding around, sorting herbs. Thoughts raced through her head. The recent tragedy of Lionheart's death has been heavy on her mind. There was also something else bothering her, bothering her heart. This was her love for Firepaw. She didn't love him at first. She had been a medicine cat for many seasons, loving the knowledge of healing. Firepaw came into the forest as a confused kit named Rusty. Spottedleaf never thought of him as different; other than that he was born a kittypet. He was the same to her as any other apprentice, curious, bold, and sometimes mousebrained. It was only when Yellowfang came into ThunderClan that she began to see Firepaw differently. He refused to be intimidated by the cranky old she-cat, and yet he learned to respect and care for her even when his clanmates thought she was just another mean cat from Shadowclan. He knew what it felt like to be rejected from his Clanmates for being different; having to earn his loyalty to the clan over and over again. This is when she started to fall in love. She always wanted to know how he was doing in training and was delighted whenever she got the chance to see him. She always waited in her den, hoping for Firepaw to come. She was falling into a chasm that no one can climb back up from and this one was a dark one. StarClan was watching, knowing that medicine cats cannot love another cat and have kits for the sake of their clan. She would have to run with Firepaw, run somewhere safe, somewhere not even StarClan could follow them. Could she give up loyalty to the Clan as a medicine cat ?All this turmoil was going around in her head when Firepaw was at the clearing of the den and asked, "Are you okay ?" Her heart stopped at that moment, quickly thinking about what to say to Firepaw."The spirits of StarClan are restless. I think they are trying to tell me something," She replied, flicking her tail uneasily. "What can I do for you ?" "I think Graypaw can do with some poppy seeds for his leg," Firepaw explained, "His rat bites are still hurting him." Thinking quickly about what to say Spottedleaf replied, "The pain of losing Lionheart will make his injuries feel worse. But he'll mend in time; don't worry. In the meantime, your right, poppy seeds will help." Spottedleaf went into her den to fetch a poppy head. She brought it out and placed it carefully on the ground. "Just shake one or two out and give them to him," she meowed. "Thanks," Firepaw mewed, "Are you sure you're okay ?" Spottedleaf was too worried, too worried about her affection for Firepaw. "Go and see your friend," she answered, avoiding Firepaw's gaze. Firepaw picked up the poppy head and began to walk away. Spottedleaf knew that it was now or never. She had to tell her feelings for him now.

"Wait," Spottedleaf hissed suddenly. Firepaw spun around and his gaze met hers. His green gaze locked her amber eyes. For a moment she felt like nothing, as if Firepaw gaze had made her weightless. Would she really tell her feelings about her love to an apprentice ? Her legs went numb as he kept staring. His fur looked so bright, so fiery in the sunlight. She couldn't help it. "Firepaw, I have no other way to say this, but I love you Firepaw, I love you," she mumbled. Firepaw only continued to stare as she began to worry. Was it too much, too early, too soon, she asked herself. Guilt and pain flooded back to her. Now their love had to be hidden, it was forbidden for a medicine cat to love another. She now had just locked their fate.

"I loved you too Spottedleaf. Since to first day I saw you, your pelt so beautiful, paws so delicate, eyes so soft and loving," Firepaw replied, "But now we can't escape our love; now confirmed." "I wish we could just run, run far away, run so far that not even StarClan can catch us. Then could have kits, they would be beautiful with your green eyes," she murmured. "I want to run with you after I get my warrior name. Being a beautiful cat like you, I want to be the best mate I can be, not one clumsy apprentice but a fine refined warrior. I want to be able to provide you a life without worry, being an apprentice won't help that goal. Until then I am not ready to run," he mewed.

Spottedleaf felt a pang of guilt. He is just an apprentice, how could I be so rash and embarrass him. "Don't worry," Firepaw mewed, "I feel as though I could rip the fur off my enemies and defend my friends and the ones I care about."

He read her mind, her hopes about the young cat.

"Firepaw, relating to that feeling, StarClan did send me a prophecy, that Fire would save the Clan," Spottedleaf mewed. He stared at her for a bit with a confused expression then mewed, "Well I'd better get to Graypaw before he runs off,". Spottedleaf pressed her flank against Firepaw's and purred, "Good-bye my love." When Firepaw padded out of the den, as she began to wonder, was it the right thing to tell him about her love and the prophecy ?