Desire
I shook my pelt free of any moss that might have stuck while I was sleeping, arching my back and yawning afterwards. I had just awoken from a most troubling dream; the trees were on fire, and everybody was staring at a single leaf on the ground. I figured it had no symbolic meaning, nor a message from StarClan; just a disturbing dream. I blinked and flicked my ears back as dawn's gentle caress floated into my den, signaling another day in ThunderClan.
The camp was bustling already, cats returning from dawn patrols. I stretched my neck to look for any sign of the familiar ginger pelt that I had come to love, but there was no avail. Turning, I heard someone yowl my name above the rest.
"Spottedleaf!"
I flicked my tail impatiently as I saw a gray mass hurtle towards me. Purring, I leaned down to study my pursuer. Graystripe, formerly Graypaw. Laughing, I shook my head. He had brambles stuck in his pelt, obviously causing much pain.
"And you didn't bother to try to get them out." I meowed impatiently, cuffing him over the head. He looked hurt, so I bit around one particularly painful mess. Graypaw winced and his tail curled up, but the brambles fell, taking half of his pelt with it.
The tom glared at me, even though his amber eyes were flashing jokingly. I couldn't help giving him a quick lick on the ear, and felt something twist as he turned around and left. Surely it was just friendship?
"Great StarClan!"
Startled, I turned around, only to have Firepaw pounce on me playfully. We laid there, playing in the sand for a while before both of us tired. My eyes met his as he gave my ear a gentle lick, and in return I rubbed my muzzle against his.
It was forbidden, our love. I was a medicine cat, never to feel another's pelt beside mine. But it was love nonetheless.
"Firepaw…" I whispered, our tails entwined. I quickly drew away when our fellow clanmates started through glances. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head sadly.
"This is stupid. We're just friends." He yowled, frusturated. My heart panged sadly. Friends. Right. I could never love him, and besides he didn't love me. Sandpaw padded over, sneering, and twitched her tail towards Graypaw and Dustpaw, who were standing a few foxlengths away.
"Bye.." Firepaw mewed uneasily, "Patrol." I nodded, being careful not to show my emotions. He didn't know, and he wouldn't. Sandpaw bowed her head in a gracious good-bye and gave Firepaw a playful lick on the ear. I frowned. Could it be…?
Healing scents wafted from my den, causing my whole body to shake witrh excitement. Healing was the best thing that ever happened to me, and here was another fresh day of it. Firepaw and his troubles couldn't bother me whenever the calming sense of slight power that is being a medicine cat was in control.
