AN: A request made by Briarthorn of MossClan. I do hope you enjoy! I changed a few things as a forewarning, but I hope it appeases you. :) Written in a format similar to an interview should anyone be confused.

Forbidden

Or...

Heartbreak is What's Evil

I served as RiverClan's medicine cat for...a great many moons. Innumerable moons. When you've lived and served for as long as I have you...experience a lot. Hear a lot of stories and witness just as many. As it turns out, most of them are tragedies, though I suppose that's not really all surprising given my role in the Clan.

"What's the most tragic story you've heard?"

That I've heard?

"Or experienced, I should say."

Well...there's always a certain melancholy in being a medicine cat. Your duties and death just seem to go together like fish and water. All of them - the stories - are tragic. However...there is this incident back in my apprentice years when I served under Poppytail and Robinstar. A love story, actually, and quite possibly the saddest one of all the clans.

"Would you mind telling us this story?"

Don't mind at all.

The main subject of our tale is a young warrior I knew in my youth, named Reedstripe. Handsome fellow really, with a rather handsome personality to go with. He had a brilliant snow-white pelt streaked beautifully with pale brown stripes, and he had stunning green eyes, not vibrant or anything, but pale and soothing to look at. Always reminded me of brisk leaf-fall air for some reason.

He was out hunting alone, I think, when he met the she-cat who would win his heart.

The rustling of brush by the river distracted Reedstripe from the vole he was hunting, white ears perking, senses suddenly more alert than they had been as he caught the whiff of an unfamiliar cat, not of any clan despite being so close to the borders. The vole scurried away as Reedstripe stalked forward. He could see the cat's lithe form, and without thinking, flung himself at the intruder. They rolled across the rock, with the stranger yowling in surprise, before Reedstripe had him pinned. Or rather, her.

Tell me, do you believe in love at first sight?

"No, I can't say that I do."

Well, that's what happened here. Not that I blame him necessarily.

The strange she-cat blinked up in surprise at the warrior, and despite himself, despite his natural inclination to defend his clan, shame tore threw him, and awkwardly he stepped off of her.

"Sorry," Reedstripe said sheepishly, "I -"

"It's fine. Defending the territory, right?"

She had the most stunning blue eyes of any cat I had ever met. And I'm sure Reedstripe though the same. He told me he couldn't stop staring.

Reedstripe's mouth opened and closed, not sure at all what to say. 'She's gorgeous…'

"What's your name?" The speckled she-cat asked, purring in amusement as the handsome tom shook himself.

"R-Reedstripe." The warrior stammered, embarrassed. The she-cat purred, tail curling happily.

"What an odd name. I like it. My name's Aspen, by the way."

Those two spent the rest of that day talking, Reedstripe discussing the warrior way with her mostly, though they both claimed later that they were speaking of other things as well, though what currently slips from my mind. In any case, the two fell in love almost instantly, and when Reedstripe asked if she would come with him, she was quick to agree. Reedstripe ended up pleading with Robinstar to let her join.

"Please, Robinstar! I'll train her and everything!" The ginger tabby leader frowned at his warrior, long tail winding around his paws.

Mind you, I've always praised Robinstar for his calm head. With the way Reedstripe was acting, I might've sliced his ears off.

"Please!"

"Reedstripe," Robinstar started, "you're a good warrior, and I'd happily do what I can for you. I have to ask though, why should I accept this…" He waved his tail dismissively. "Rouge into RiverClan?"

Silence first.

I doubt Reedstripe had any idea how to respond when the inevitable question of 'why' came up.

"Because...because I love her."

"You only just met her."

"I know, but…"

When Reedstripe told me how he convinced Robinstar to say yes, I thought it was a stroke of brilliance on the warrior's part.

Then, Reedstripe had a valid argument. "You're renowned for not just your calm temperament, Robinstar, but for your dedication to your mate, to Wingtail. It's a story all the clans tell that your guy's love was one of first sight, and that you'd give up the title of leader if she'd asked. The same can be said for me and Aspen."

Robinstar's vibrant blue eyes flashed with appreciation, though masked enough to not give anything away. "And you're certain Aspen feels the same?"

"I'm almost positive she does."

"Then I have just one more question for you…"

"Of course!"

Robinstar stood, walking towards his den entrance before looking back on his warrior, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "What do you think would be a suiting warrior name for her?"

Robinstar, per Reedstripe's suggestion, would accept Aspen into the clan and give her the name Aspenstorm. At first, the other warrior's were skeptical...and so was I, if I'm honest. What would a rogue know of our ways and traditions? She was quick to learn though, and quick to gain acceptance. She would eventually become one of my dearest friends, and so would Reedstripe.

One moon after her arrival, she was expecting kits. A happy occasion for the clan seeing as we had no expecting queens before her. Kits meant new, soon-to-be warriors after all. However, something went wrong...terribly wrong.

Reedstripe paced outside the nursery for a long while, only stopping when Robinstar made him, long ginger tail wrapping around the warrior's shoulders. Only the leader seemed to remain calm, with the others muttering worriedly amongst each other.

We, Poppytail and I, couldn't stop the bleeding…

The black furred, ginger tailed medicine cat made her way weakly out of the nursery, ignoring the questions as she approached Reedstripe. She didn't look him in the eyes, and her ears were flat against her head as she said, "I...think you should go in."

Eyes wide, Reedstripe ran in just as the medicine cat apprentice walked out. Blizzardpaw cringed as a heart-breaking yowl came from the nursery.

Aspenstorm died. I never heard a sound so terrible in my many seasons of life. Poppytail was so stricken with grief and self-blame that when the caterwaul sounded, she buried her face in Robinstar's chest. Still, we had duties to perform. The kits were miraculously healthy, and the other queen had agreed to take on the kits as her own. We told her to leave though, and Poppytail, Robinstar, and I sought to comfort Reedstripe as we looked over the kits.

Reedstripe sat slumped over the dead body of his mate, over the kits who mewled as the medicine cats looked over them. His eyes were closed, and he didn't acknowledge his leader as Robinstar pressed himself comfortingly against his warrior. Poppytail looked up.

"Reedstripe…"

"I want to be alone."

Poppytail blinked in surprise, then glanced at her apprentice, who said nothing. Frowning, the medicine cat dipped her head respectfully to the warrior.

"I'll go find Featherwhisker." Standing, the medicine cat left, and Blizzardpaw brushed against Reedstripe before doing the same. Robinstar lingered however, his tail brushing Reedstripe's back.

"If you ever need anything, my friend…"

"Please," Reedstripe croaked out. "Just go."

And Robinstar listened to his wishes.

Leaving him alone with those kits was the worst idea though. I knew Reedstripe...he was my best friend...I never even considered how much losing his mate - his mate he loved so much - would affect him. It...drove him mad...and he...did things. Things that made me and Poppytail and Robinstar wish we had never ever left him alone.

We found Featherwhisker, and we went with her to the nursery...and we found three dead kits. Three dead, precious newborn kits...and Reedstripe's claws covered in their blood...Great StarClan it's still a sight I still pray to forget…

"ROBINSTAR!" Poppytail's caterwaul warned everyone in camp, woke those sleeping in the dens, oblivious to what had happened. Robinstar flew into the den, and made to pin Reedstripe down. The warrior was faster though, and as his leader moved in he sprinted out of the nursery.

Robinstar didn't make chase, though.

"What's the point?" The leader asked the outraged warriors bitterly, grief-stricken at the tragedies that transpired that night and internally blaming himself for the kits, for Reedstripe. The ginger leader shook his fine head, speaking more quietly. "He...won't be coming back."

"And if he does?" Someone called out. Robinstar glared at his warriors, meeting each one's gaze.

"Then you bring him to me. You will not kill any cat who was a part of this clan. Do I make myself clear?" Nods and reluctant agreements chorused through the crowd. Robinstar paused, then his head and tail fell, and his shoulders slumped. "Good…" He turned to the medicine cats, looking older than he truly was. "Go...prepare the bodies. I...I need to be alone..."

Under his leader's breath, Blizzardpaw heard: "He won't come back. StarClan, please...grant him mercy."

Reedstripe never did come back. And StarClan never did grant him mercy.

"How do you know?"

He came to me in a dream. He lives now in the Dark Forest, the killing of kits an irreconcilable evil despite Robinstar's pleas. He told me that he still meets with Aspenstorm, a union of love so forbidden and so unheard of I wondered if I should believe him.

"Do you think there's still good in Reedstripe?"

I don't think Reedstripe was ever evil. Heartbreak is evil, and Reedstripe was its victim.

"Blizzardstripe, thank you very much for the story."

Of course.

"I have one more question. Do you feel guilty for what happened?"

All of us do, my dear. To this day, Robinstar, now in StarClan, still pleads for mercy to be granted to Reedstripe.

Someday, maybe our leader's pleas will be heard, and Aspenstorm and Reedstripe and their kits will truly be a family unforbidden.

Review Replies:

Briarthorn of MossClan - You're quite welcome! I hope you liked it! :) And yes, he hath blessed you, non-vole-eater! xD

ohmygawd - I did draw a bit of inspiration from Brightheart, and I imagine her creator did, too. xD

anim8or - AW AW AW! thank youu! :D I'm glad you liked it, and I'm glad I portrayed her correctly!

HollerChristina - Thanks doll! Your next update is here! :) :P

*I'd like to take this moment now to say that you can make another request after I've finished your current request. I won't accept multiple requests at once. Request one, then once I'm done with that, request another if you'd like. Make sense?*