Forbidden Love Chapter One

Mossfire raced across the moor next to Speckledwing, adrenaline rushing through her veins. She couldn't wait – her first Gathering as a warrior!

Mossfire followed behind Thistlefur, jumping up on the fallen tree. She ran the last bit, eager to get to the clearing and rub in her warrior's name to somebody.

As Rushstar flicked her tail, giving the signal, Mossfire ran ahead, scenting the other Clan's as she burst into the clearing. Now closer, she could smell WindClan and RiverClan. Now she just had to find Graypaw and Starlingpaw.

Doing a quick scan and sniff of the clearing, she found that Graypaw hadn't seemed to come, and Starlingpaw was talking to some RiverClan warriors with a couple of his Clanmates.

Feeling dejected, Mossfire sat by a patch of ferns and watched as her sister and brother mingled. As outgoing as Mossfire seemed, it was difficult for her to talk to cats she didn't know. It was no problem in her Clan, but it was at Gatherings.

At her first Gathering, she'd gotten separated from Thistlefur, who'd come with her(Speckledwing'd had a bellyache) and ended up meeting three other cats, all newly apprenticed like her. Graypaw, a gray she-cat from RiverClan; Starlingpaw, a brown tabby tom from WindClan; and –

"Hey there Mosspaw." Mossfire heard a familiar voice behind her, but didn't respond. She was no 'paw anymore!

"Mosspaw." She felt a tail flick her shoulder. "Hello! Anybody in that giant fat head there? Or is it full of wind blowing off the moors – "

The voice stopped as Mossfire tackled the white-and-gray tom behind her. He let out purrs of amusement as he fought off his friend's weak attacks.

"Onepaw! Don't say things like that!"

The tom dropped his head, but Mossfire saw the glint in his eyes. "You're right, I'm sorry." He then lifted his head "It's an insult to the wind moors!" He purred again as Mossfire gave a friendly growl and butted his shoulder.

"So, Mosspaw, I haven't seen you for two moons! What'd you do this time?"

Mossfire sighed. In total, she'd been to three Gatherings in her life, this being the third. She was known for mischief. "Well, first I was caught sleeping in Rushstar's den." She glared at Onepaw, who was trying to hide his amusement by licking his chest. "Don't even comment on that."

"Wasn't going to."

"Good. Then, I don't know what happened. I ate before the elder's were fed. I forgot to fetch moss. Thing was, Rushstar was in a foul mood, and decided I could use a break from seeing the other Clans." She thought for a second then added on, "Oh yeah, don't call me Mosspaw. I won't respond starting now."

Onepaw shoved her shoulder. "Come on, tell me! What's your name!"

Mossfire's eyes lit up. "Okay, I've just been waiting to rub this in! I have a warrior's name! It's Mossfire. What do you think Onepaw?"

He nodded. "Pretty cool. But, you're going to have to stop calling me Onepaw."

"That's great! What's your name?"

"I think we can wait to see what Beechstar says."

"Um, no. I want to know now!"

"Okay fine. My name's Oneclaw." Silence.

Then, Mossfire slowly said. "That's actually pretty good. I was afraid it would be something like Onefoot, or Oneleg, or...Onetail." Then she snorted. "Oh, who am I kidding! That name's hilarious!"

As Mossfire practically collapsed to the ground, Oneclaw sighed. This was exactly why he had wanted to put off telling his name. Oh well.

Mossfire quieted down as Beechstar called a start to the meeting. He let Larchstar, the WindClan leader start. He nodded and stepped forward on his branch.

"The Clan has good hunting, and I am pleased to announce the birth of a new litter and two new warriors: Starlingflight and Gorsebush!"

Mossfire looked to Oneclaw as they called out their friend's and his sister's names with the other cats. It looked like they weren't the only ones out of their little group to have grown up. Oneclaw looked as happy as she did for their friend.

They looked back up to the Great Oak as Rushstar stepped forward. "We also have new warriors. Speckledwing, Thistlefur, and Mossfire." Mossfire's fur puffed up a little as the cats called her and her littermate's names. She was well known for not coming to Gathering's often, and her littermates were quite popular with the other Clan's. There was a lot of calling, but when it died down, Rushstar continued, some pride in her voice. "Also, we have a new apprentice, Ashpaw. She is most excited to start her training with her mentor, Thistlefur. That is all." She was bound to have pride for her own daughter.

Beechstar went next. "Our Clan is prospering, with a full nursery and a new warrior, Oneclaw." Mossfire poked her friend's side with her paw, trying to keep her amusement out of her voice as she called his name. He just gave her a small glare and said nothing.

Lastly, Froststar from RiverClan stepped forward. "Our Clan also has plenty of fresh kill and three new warriors." She paused to take a breath in. Mossfire and OneClaw looked to each other confusedly. They must be talking about Graypaw, but there were four in her litter. "Mallowfur, Hollybranch, and Emberstorm. Unfortunately, their sister Graypelt was killed by a fox two days after her warrior ceremony."

The cat's called out the RiverClan warrior's names, especially Graypelt's, knowing the loss of young cats was hard to take. Mossfire called as loud as she could, knowing with her whole being that Graypelt was with them. Starlingflight, Oneclaw, and her. It was all different know. They were warriors, and one of them was gone forever.

Change had been imminent, Mossfire had known that. She just didn't know it would come around so quickly.


Well, thanks to Amber342 for the reveiw!

Here's chapter one. A little short in my opinion, but I'm strange like that. If cats start confusing people, just tell me, 'cause then I'll make up a list or something. Hopefully it won't be that confusing.