*FOUR MOONS LATER*

It had been four moons sense Molepelt had confronted the gray tabby loner and now was enjoying a nice walk in the snow laden forest. Enjoying the weak warmth the sun-light gave. As he padded slowly through the dried undergrowth when he picked up a faint but familiar scent, as he began to follow it the scent became stronger. It led him to a hollow of an oak tree. As Molepelt inched cautiously forward he was struck by an overwhelming scent of sickness. Gaging on the foul smell he inched closer still. As he peered carefully into the hollow he saw a gray tabby lump of fur. The cat's breaths came in slow and ragged. Though the cats scent was nearly covered by the scent of sickness he knew who this cat was. This was the loner that he had found on ShadowClan territory before and the one that had stolen ShadowClan prey. Now she was here at his mercy, but Molepelt hesitated to disrupt her. She was very sick. Molepelt slowly backed away trying to disturb the sleeping loner. He ran back to the ShadowClan camp kicking up white snow in his wake. He slowed down when he got close to the camp entrance to catch his breath. As he walked into the clearing he saw it was completely disserted. He picked his way quickly to his den. When he entered he headed for his medicine store. Reaching in he pulled out some catmint. Picking it up he ran towards to entrance hoping no one would see him. Molepelt safely made his way out of camp he dashed back to the hollow tree. Setting down the precious bundle of herbs, Molepelt thrust his head into the hollow tree. Then he poked the she-cat with a paw. What am I doing? Molepelt thought. But it was too late to stop now; the tabby loner had managed to push herself to her paws. She let out a hiss when she saw him, but that was all she had the strength for.

"Relax and lay back down." Molepelt growled at her.

Too weak to sit up anymore she laid back down. Molepelt grabbed the catmint and began to chew it up plopping the juices into the cats' mouth. Rubbing her throat she swallowed them. Now she had stopped struggling to breath Molepelt turned to find something for her to eat. Molepelt came back later he had caught a scrawny squirrel. When he got back to the tree the she-cat was awoken by the smell of fresh kill. Lifting her head as he approached her, she eyed him and the squirrel with distrust clouding her blue eyes.

"Why have you helped me?" she rasped to him.

"Because I am a medicine cat, that is what I do." he told her dropping the squirrel in front of her.

She sniffed the squirrel suspiciously.

"Don't worry I didn't poison it." he growled at her.

After staring at him she gave in to her hunger and ate the squirrel in a few ravenous bites. After finishing the prey she sat up, looking at him with curiosity in her round blue eyes.

"So, what is your name?" she asked him.

This question took Molepelt by surprise, one second this loner thinks he is going to poison her, and then she is making small talk like they are at a Gathering.

"My name is Minnow." she told him.

"My name is Molepelt." he said cautiously.

"So Molepelt, tell me more about these Clans that live around here." Minnow meowed looking at him with blue eyes full of curiosity.

Before Molepelt knew what he was doing he was telling her all about the four Clans.

"I am ShadowClan's medicine cat." he finished.

"Wow!" Minnow meowed breathlessly.

"I should really be going; my Clan will start to wonder where I am." Molepelt said.

Minnow looked sad now that he had to leave.

"I will come back after night fall with more food and herbs. Just don't leave this spot." he whispered.

Minnow nodded. Turning Molepelt left her to rest. Surprisingly it had been fun to tell her about Clan life. And her eyes were the most beautiful blue he had ever seen. What are you thinking! he scolded himself.

"You are a medicine cat. You can't be in love." he growled under his breath.

When he got back to camp the sun was sinking over the pine trees, staining the clouds red. Molepelt grabbed a mouse. The prey pile was a decent size for leaf-bare. The hunting was going well so far. When all the other warriors retreated to the warmth of their dens Molepelt got up and picked a black bird of the pile. Staying to the shadows he snuck out of the camp, exited at the prospect of seeing Minnow again. When he got to the tree where Minnow was sheltering he saw to blue eyes shining in the moon light. Minnow had waited for him!

"Hello Molepelt." she greeted him.

Dropping the black bird at her feet Molepelt asked, "Have you seen any patrols come this way?"

"No." she murmured.

"Good. So… I brought you some prey." he meowed awkwardly.

"Thank you." Minnow said.

"Here, Molepelt meowed pushing the left over catmint toward her, "Eat this, it will make you feel better."

Minnow ducked her head down and ate the herbs before turning to the black bird.

"Would you like to share?" she asked him.

"No thank you. I ate before I came." he told her.

When she had finished her meal she tucked her paws under her chest.

Eyes shining she asked, "Will you tell me more about ShadowClan, and what it is like to be a medicine cat?"

"Well," he started, "I heal my clanmates, help queens deliver their kits, read signs from StarClan."

At the mention of StarClan Minnow looked confused.

"They are our ancestors. They watch over the Clans they have left, they guide us, and protect us." Molepelt explained to her.

"Oh." Minnow looked intrigued.

Then she yawned.

"You should get to sleep." Molepelt prompted her.

"Will you stay for a little longer?" Minnow said looking at him with her beautiful blue eyes.

"Sure." he said without thinking.

Minnow squeezed into the tree, curling up she looked at him, "Why don't you join me?"

Molepelt looked at her for a moment, "Ok." he agreed, curling up next to her.

"Good night." she purred.

"Good night." he mumbled to her, before falling into a deep sleep.

Molepelt was awoken by the chatter of bird song. When he looked around he was not in his nest. Sitting up he looked around bewildered, then remembered he was with Minnow. Turning to look at her he saw she was sleeping peacefully. He purred at the site of her, without thinking he rasped his tongue in between her ears. She purred at his touch.

Lifting her head up she meowed, "How did you sleep?"

"Good, how about you?" Molepelt answered.

"Better then yesterday." Minnow meowed pressing her head against his flank. Molepelt relished her warm touch. Looking to the sky he saw it was a little past dawn. He would need to head back to camp soon, but not yet.

"Let's go hunting." Molepelt suggested.

"Where?" Minnow questioned.

"Outside Clan territory, then you'll be safe." he said.

Minnow looked at him with eyes so warm it made him shiver. Leading the way out of Clan territories they walked so close their fur brushed.

Glancing at her he teased, "I bet I can beat you out of Clan territory!"

"I bet you can't!" Minnow yowled streaking forward.

Molepelt dashed after her. Feeling the wind rush through his fur he pushed harder to catch up with Minnow. When they crossed the ShadowClan markers into the Clanless territory beyond, they slowed breathing heavy, and padded on side by side. When they made it far enough not to be seen from the border they stopped.

Minnow lifted her head in the air and took a sniff, looking at him she exclaimed, "I smell rabbit!"

Molepelt lifted his head to take a sniff too. "Rabbit? It's rare to have rabbit here." he told Minnow.

"Who cares I'm starving, lets catch it." she said dashing off.

Molepelt followed more slowly, watching Minnow's tail disappear in the bracken ahead. Just the thought of her being so close to him, made Molepelt purr. But you can't be in love, not with a loner, rouge, a Clanmate; you can't be in love it's against the medicine cat code! Molepelt yowled at himself. But what if Minnow made him happy, what if she made him happier than he had ever been. Before Molepelt could scold himself anymore Minnow padded back to him with her head and tail held high, and in her jaws was a surprisingly plump rabbit for leaf-bare. Laying her kill on the snowy ground Minnow looked at him her eyes shining, she was obviously waiting for praise from him.

"Great catch!" he purred.

"Come on lets share it." Minnow said picking up the rabbit and heading back to the hollow tree.

When they arrived they both went into the tree and ate the rabbit, finishing with a groom. Molepelt looked up at the sky it would be sun-high soon, reluctantly he heaved himself to his paw.

With a big yawn and stretch Molepelt turned to Minnow, "I have to go back to camp."

She looked at him sadly. "I know" she whispered.

"Don't be sad, I will come back tonight." he promised her.

Looking at him she nodded slowly, then got to her paws and thrust her head next to his, and she rubbed her cheek against his, and whispered into his ear, "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too." Molepelt murmured back reluctantly pulling away from her warmth.

With one last glance at her Molepelt headed back to camp. When he entered the camp he was just in time to hear what Nightstar had called the Clan for a meeting. Standing before him was Crimsonpaw and Cliffpaw, and off to the side were their mentors Reedfeather and Redsparrow. Crimsonpaw looked like she was about to burst with pride, while Cliffpaw look remained unreadable. This must be their naming ceremony, he thought.

"I, Nightstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprenticee. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." Nightstar turned to Crimsonpaw first, "Crimsonpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Nightstar asked the dark ginger she-cat.

"Of course." Crimsonpaw purred.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Crimsonpaw, from this moment you will be known as Crimsonwing. StarClan honors your strength and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." Nightstar finished then turned to Crimsonwing's brother, "Cliffpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Cliffpaw meowed confidently.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Cliffpaw, from this moment you will be known as Cliffpelt. StarClan honors your courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." Nightstar finished

"Cliffpelt, Crimsonwing, Cliffpelt, Crimsonwing!" the Clan called out the warriors new names

When the cheers dyed down Nightstar raised his voice again, "And with this tradition Crimsonwing and Cliffpelt will sit vigil alone while we sleep."

"You can count on me!" Crimsonwing's voice rang out through the clearing.

Some of the older warriors purred with amusement. Now it was time for a feast in Crimsonwing and Cliffpelt's honor.

Molepelt picked a squirrel to take to Minnow later, while heading back to his den he passed Crimsonwing, "Congratulations Crimsonwing!"

"Thank you Molepelt." Crimsonwing meowed dipping her head in appreciation.

When Molepelt got to his den he sat down the squirrel and stepped into his nest to take a nap before he went out to see Minnow. When Molepelt opened his eyes he was once again hiding in the same bush by the ThunderClan border. And once again a fox-length away sat the little black kit. As Molepelt stepped forward the bushes on the ThunderClan side of the border rustled and the same ThunderClan warrior pushed his way out. Seeing the kit he rushed forward, picking the kit by the scruff and headed back into his territory. Waking with a start Molepelt sat up and shook his fur out. Why had he had the same dream again, and so many moons later? StarClan what are you trying to tell me! Molepelt yowled inwardly. Pushing his head out of his den he saw that it would be moon high soon, he did not want to keep Minnow waiting. Grabbing the squirrel he came out of his den to stop dead, he had forgotten that Crimsonwing and Cliffpelt would be holding their vigil tonight. Crimsonwing was sitting by the entrance; there was no way to get past her. Then Molepelt noticed a pebble on the ground, batting it with all his might it flew across the clearing and hit the barrier opposite of the entrance. Alerted by the sound Crimsonwing's ears swiveled toward where the pebble hit. Jumping to her paws she cautiously padded to the barrier. Snatching up the prey, he dashed to the entrance. Snatching a glace backward he saw Crimsonwing was padding back to her spot to continue her silent vigil. Once Molepelt made it out of the camp he heard a crackle to his right and caught a whiff of Cliffpelt's scent. Molepelt quickly clawed his way up a pine tree and settled himself on the branch just as Cliffpelt came around the corner of the barrier. Cliffpelt paused under Molepelt's tree and siffed the air, Molepelt held his breath praying that he wouldn't look up. After a moment he continued patrolling the barrier. Jumping down from the tree Molepelt sprinted away from the camp. When Molepelt got to the hollow tree he saw Minnow sleeping soundly. Picking his way carefully trying not to disturb her he got to the entrance of the tree to see mouse bones lying outside the entrance.

Setting down the squirrel he purred, "Wake up I'm here."

Lifting her head Minnow purred a greeting to him.

"I brought you a squirrel." Molepelt said dropping the squirrel in front of her.

"Thank you." Minnow meowed, beginning to eat the squirrel.

Lifting her head up she pushed the prey toward him, "Eat."

"Ok. Thank you." he began eating.

"So, how was your day?" she looked up at him, her blue eyes turning very serious.

"What is it Minnow." Molepelt asked concerned.

"I kept thinking about us." Minnow began quietly.

"What do you mean?" Molepelt questioned her.

"I love you Molepelt, but I'm a loner and you're a Clan cat."

"There is something that I need to tell you." Molepelt began with a sigh.

"It's against the medicine cat code to have a mate and kits."

"What?!" Minnow said backing away from him.

"But Minnow, you make me so happy, I love you." he meowed desperately to her.

"Molepelt, I… I'm pregnant; I'm going to have your kits."

"What!" Molepelt exclaimed, "You can't be… I can't have kits, it's against the code!"

"Well you should have thought of that before!" Minnow hissed at him her eyes full of anger and sadness.

"I will visit you every other day and when the kits come I will bring you some chervil, borage leaves, and burnet to help the birth, I will still bring you fresh-kill, but these kits will not be mine." Molepelt ended sadly.

Minnow looked at him her blue eyes full of grief, "So you don't want me or our kits, fine then I don't need you!" Minnow yowled at him before whipping around and dashing away.

"Minnow come back!" he yelled for her but she didn't even glace back.

"I hope you're happy StarClan I have followed your code and now I have lost the one thing I loved the most." he growled at the sky.

Turning he headed back to the camp with a heavy heart.