"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" called out the familiar voice of Bluestar.
Slowly I came out of my den. It was just sunrise, and I was really tired. What the heck was going on this early? As I peered out of the tunnel, I saw almost the whole Clan lining up in front of the Highrock to look at what was going on. What was going on that was this important? Bluestar never had Clan meetings early in the morning, she just gathered together warriors for the sun-high patrol.
I could see that others were grumpy too. Tigerclaw stormed out of his den, and I steered clear of him. Dustpaw, the deputy's apprentice, went trailing after the dark tabby. I bet Dustpaw would give anything to be Tigerclaw's apprentice. Their attitudes fit together like a puzzle.
I settled myself down beside Graypaw, who beamed at me. I smiled back. Even though Graypaw was a tom, I could trust him. He was a very kind cat, and he was considered one of my minor friends.
Bluestar started her speech. I wasn't listening, not at all. I didn't hear one word that Bluestar was saying. Why, you ask? My attention wasn't focused on her. It was all focused on the tom at the front. He was just my age, I could tell, and it seemed that he was getting apprenticed. My heart throbbed like the rabbit I had eaten earlier last night was pounding on my insides. Suddenly, I didn't want to be a medicine cat anymore.
He was handsome, the most handsome tom I had ever seen. I tingled, but then held back. I was a medicine cat, not just some giggly apprentice like Sandpaw! I saw her sit by me and look at the ginger apprentice at the front seethingly. She seemed to be sniffing, so I took a whiff. And then I wished that I never did.
He was a kittypet. The stench had crept up my throat and made it sting. It was a terrible smell; almost as bad as a rogue's breath. My heart skipped a beat. I felt sick. I had fallen in love with a kittypet, and I didn't even know it until now. No wonder I didn't recognize him. I drooped.
Another warrior, Longtail, threw a few nasty insults at the kittypet apprentice. The kittypet eyed the harsh warrior as if he was saying, "Are you challenging me?" and next bared his teeth. They engaged in a fight, and I caught a sight of Longtail ripping at the kittypet's fur. It wasn't fair! The poor kittypet couldn't stand a chance against strong Longtail. Then, the pale tabby tom started tugging at the ginger tom's blue collar. I gasped and started to feel even more sick than I did when I found out I loved a kittypet.
There was a loud rrrrrrrrrrrippping noise and then, silence. I anxiously looked over Willowpelt's head and sighed with relief at the sight of the kittypet, sitting serenely with his tail tucked over his paws. His chest was heaving and gasping for breath, but he was still going. And there in front of him, was his torn collar.
The whole Clan yowled, both in protest and in joy. I even did a silent whoop. I no longer cared that I was a medicine cat. I loved Firepaw, which was now his name. I just couldn't show it. I heard a rustling in the bushes…