Dovepaw

I went around camp as if nothing was wrong. Chattering happily, enjoying hunting and battle training. The one thing that I did show was anger towards Jayfeather. I know that we feel the same way, longing to love someone but that someone is off limits.

"Why don't you like Jayfeather?" Ivypaw asked me one sunny morning. "Ever since the last Gathering you've been rude to him."

I knew that some cats had noticed my coldness to Jayfeather, but I never imagined that it would be my own sister who asked about it.

"We had a bit of an argument." A bit of an argument? I laughed silently. "And we haven't gotten along real well since. And it's hard because we have to talk about—" I nearly revealed the prophecy.

"Talk about what?" Ivypaw asked, her eyes narrowing. "Are you keeping secrets from me?"

"Yes," I meowed sarcastically. "Of course I would keep secrets from my sister. No, really, Jayfeather wants me to be a medicine cat. And I don't want to be one." Would the lie convince her? I put on a straight face, looking in Ivypaw's eyes. I hope she wouldn't see through the lie that I was telling.

"Oh, Jayfeather is a stupid furball," Ivypaw purred after a few uncomfortable moments. "Why would you want to be a medicine cat?"

"I just know a lot of herbs, but if he wanted a real expert, he'd ask Cinderheart. She knows the most of everybody, except Jayfeather." Jayfeather had told me of how Cinderheart was the reincarnation of Cinderpelt, the old crippled medicine cat. He had asked me not to tell Lionblaze, because the she-cat was in love with him.

"My mentor knows a lot about herbs?" Ivypaw asked.

"Yeah." I would have said more, but just then, Bumblepaw bounced over.

"Hi, Dovepaw," he said, looking down at his paws. "I was wondering if you would like to eat with me. I caught a huge thrush that we can share."

"Sure." I sighed. Saying goodbye to my sister, I joined Bumblepaw at the fresh-kill pile.

At the edge of the clearing, we tucked in. We were sitting so close our fur touched, and I could feel his pelt tingling. We ate in silence, enjoying each other's company. Later, once we were done and the sun had set, we curled up in the apprentices' den, we curled up close to each other.

As I was falling asleep, I felt Bumblepaw get up and sit. Opening my eyes a sliver, I saw him staring at me.

Oh, StarClan. I thought. No way can he love me. I can't return the feeling, not since Jayfeather stopped me.