Chapter 9: A Forbidden Love Affair

It was just past sunhigh as a light rain came through. Spottedleaf was feeling a lot better since the past several days. Her appetite has greatly improved and so as her fever. She still has not gathered all of her strength yet, but Yellowfang has allowed her to walk around the camp. Spottedleaf has been in the warriors den as her sister cleans her fur and treated her wounds, while Yellowfang went to go on a medicine cat mission. Yellowfang told Willowpelt and Patchpelt to keep a close watch on their sister while she is out.

"Plah!" Willowpelt stated as she pulls out some green stuff stuck in her sister's beautiful dapple coat.

"What?" Spottedleaf asks.

"When was the last time you had a really good grooming?" Willowpelt asks.

Spottedleaf plays with the moss bed, "A few moons ago."

"Well tell your care taker, to take more care of you." Willowpelt teases.

Mousefur got up and went beside who told her that she is wanted on the patrol team. Willowpelt, softly meows to her sister, "I'm going on a patrol, need anything before I go?"

Spottedleaf looks into her soft blue eyes, "No….I probably should be heading back to my den anyway."

"Oh no need to, besides, you have a long overdue visit with the elders." Willowpelt got up and to escort Spottedleaf to the elders den. They were all gathered in the log while waiting for the rain to pass. Willowpelt said her goodbyes to her sister as she joins Tigerclaw and the rest of the patrol out. Mousefur went over to the nursery to check up on the queens and kits.

After a while her sister's patrol came back, and Spottedleaf was resting with her half brother Patchpelt when the two warriors Graystripe and Fireheart came back from their solo mission. Mousefur was the first to greet them, and Spottedleaf looks up from her spot and her heart skipped a beat. However she sense that something went wrong on the mission, when she sense Fireheart and Graystripe body language. Other cats formed near them but kept a safe distance.

Patchpelt looked up from his napping along side Oneeye, and his sister. "Well….it looks like our two young warriors have returned."

Oneeye looks at them, "Yeah. But I don't think it went very well…."

"What do you mean?" Patchpelt asks.

"I maybe blind in one eye, but I can sense the danger that something awful has happened." Oneeye stated.

Spottedleaf took her gaze off the two elders and went to Fireheart and Greystripe as Tigerclaw lead them into Bluestar's den. A moment later and Willowpelt was by her side. Spottedleaf looked into her sister's eyes. "Well….what had happened?"

"Oh, the two nearly appointed warriors decided it will be a great idea to cross into RiverClan territory to be back to camp. Mouse brained!" Willowpelt huffed. "Come on Spottedleaf…you are wanted back into the den of Yellowfang."

"Already? But Willowpelt she just came here not too long ago. I can keep watch over her." Patchpelt stated.

"Don't blame me. I'm not the one who is in charge. It's Yellowfang. After all our baby sister is her patient. Don't want to argue with a medicine cat now do we!" Willowpelt spat at her brother.

Spottedleaf gave her half brother a friendly lick, "It's alright Patch. I enjoyed my time with you and Oneeye."

Patchpelt nuzzles her cheek and purred his thanks to his sister. "Hurry up and recover faster. I miss you for being the medicine cat."

Spottedleaf let out a small chuckle, "So do everyone else. And only time will I make my full recovery. Patients my good elder."

Willowpelt smiles to her remark and carefully lead Spottedleaf back to Yellowfang's den. Spottedleaf wanted to walk faster, but still is regaining her strength. Willowpelt guides her to the clearing as Runningwind and Goldenflower were there.

"Little bit more Goldenflower. There that is good." Yellowfang stated. "Ah good you're here!"

"Yes…what ah…..what is this?" Spottedleaf asks.

Goldenflower comes up next to her, "It's your new den…well sort of. Yellowfang wanted you out of the cold and more into a sheltered area until you fully get your strength back. Runningwind and I have been helping Yellowfang to make this for you."

Spottedleaf looked to Yellowfang and gave her a nuzzle and purred her thanks. Runningwind looks to his old medicine cat and nods for her to check out her new den. Spottedleaf came forth and with Yellowfang behind her. It was a small log with a half circle cut out. Just big enough for a cat to fit through. Spottedleaf ducked her head under the entrance way and inside was a soft freshly new moss tucked beside two small boulders. Spottedleaf poked her head out and smiles to everyone around her, "Thank you. All of you, for this."

Willowpelt smiles and looks to Runningwind, "Come Runningwind, want to come eat with me and Patchpelt?"

Goldenflower follows the two warriors out. She pauses briefly at the doorway, "I'll bring some fresh kill back for you two."

Yellowfang nods to the young queen. Once she was gone she looks back at the pretty tortoiseshell she-cat. "Hope you like it."

Spottedleaf smiles, "I do…thank you…but out of curiosity, why did you do this for me?"

Yellowfang dug at the ground to make a mud casting for Spottedleaf's new home. She then stared at her, "Because, it is getting colder out now that leaf bare is approaching, and wouldn't want you to freeze."

"Yellowfang…..that is not the real reason why and you know that." Spottedleaf stated.

Yellowfang pauses for a moment then she looks into her eyes. She sighs and tells Spottedleaf the real reason why she made the hut for her, "I wanted to give you something special. You still have a long recovery ahead of you young one. That needs special care for me to do. You are a rare gifted medicine cat that I wished I have brought up in my own clan. I've seen the work you have done to many warriors over the past moons. And I want to help you anyway I can to get you back to being who you are meant to be. So that is why I had Runningwind and Goldenflower in here today, so that you have a den of your own."

Spottedleaf was so moved by Yellowfang she couldn't help but to move into her embrace. "Oh Yellowfang you do care."

Yellowfang clears her throat, "Yeah, Yeah…..okay okay…that is enough….before I go all kitty soft again!" Yellowfang goes into the old crack in the wall of huge boulder.

Spottedleaf smiles to the old she-cats change in mood. She may be as tough as claws, but underneath it all, she really does care for her. Goldenflower returns with the fresh kill she had promise to bring, and soon left to join the other clan mates. As much as Spottedleaf wanted to go out to be with the others she knows she has to stay in Yellowfang's den. Spottedleaf carefully caries her meal to the log of her home and ate beside it. Then she felt really tired as she curls up in her new den. It was smaller than her old one, but at least it kept her warm and sheltered.

Spottedleaf had just fallen asleep when she felt a cold nose nudging her. In a daze Spottedleaf raised her head. "Wake up Spottedleaf….Bluestar is calling a meeting."

Spottedleaf let out a long yawing as she got out of her den. Still feeling weak she stumbles sideways a bit. Yellowfang was there to help her out of the den. Yellowfang kept Spottedleaf beside her as they walk near the Highrock. Spottedleaf saw her sister in-law's sister and her two kits near the base of the Highrock. The moon is just at the highest peak as the naming ceremony begins.

Spottedleaf looks to her caretaker and she nods for her to join the group, "Your not coming?"

"Not real found of kits. Besides this is your moment. Be with your loved ones." Yellowfang let out a smile.

Spottedleaf smiles back as she makes her way to sit beside her Brindleface. Brindleface makes room and smiles to her sister in-law, "Oh Spottedleaf, my niece and nephew are going to get their mentors!"

Spottedleaf purrs her sister's in-law's excitement. "I watch them as they were just kits. I helped out with the birthing. And now….can't believe they are already 6 moons. I wonder who are going to trained them."

"Haven't you heard?" Brindleface asks.

"No." Spottedleaf stated.

"Fireheart and Graystripe are going to be the mentors." Brindleface stated.

Spottedleaf looks up and her gaze fell on Fireheart. He was across from her as he near her niece and his best friend Graystripe. She was so happy for him that he will be training his first apprentice. Her heart sored at the moment and she couldn't help but to gaze at him. Brindleface caught onto her gaze. "You alright there Spottedleaf?"

Spottedleaf shook her head to clear her thoughts, "yeah…I'm fine…just fine." She didn't want anyone to know about her romantic feelings with Fireheart.

Just then Bluestar spoke out, and it silence the crowd, "This moonhigh we gathered together to name two new apprentices. Come forward you two." Spottedleaf felt the pride and joy in her as she gets to witness her cousins to receive their apprentice names. She remembers her naming ceremony when she was a kit, long ago. How it felt exciting but in the same time terrifying all at once. The first kit ran up to Bluestar boldly and courage with the tail held high with confidence. She can see a little bit of Redtail in her. The other one the ginger kit went more cautiously to Bluestar.

Bluestar smiles as she raised her voice to the Clan, "From this day forward, until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be called Cinderpaw."

"Cinderpaw!" the little gray she-kit repeated. A hiss from her mother made her sink down and gave Bluestar an apologetically look. Spottedleaf and Brindleface couldn't help but to chuckle at the kit's outburst of excitement.

"Fireheart" Bluestar continues on with the ceremony, "You are ready for your first apprentice. You will begin Cinderpaw's training. You are fortunate to have had more than one mentor. I expect you to pass on everything I taught you to this young apprentice. And share with her the skills you learned from Tigerclaw and Lionheart."

Spottedleaf looks over at him. He looked so handsome and her heart glowed with happiness for him. His first apprentice. She shared his excitement along with him in that moment. Then she gaze back as Bluestar appointed the second kit.

"And this apprentice," Bluestar pauses as the young kit steps forward. "Will be known as Brackenpaw." Then the leader's gaze turned onto Graystripe. "Graystripe, you will train Brackenpaw. Our lost friend Lionheart was your mentor. I hope that his skill and wisdom will pass through you to your new apprentice."

Then the two young warriors greeted their new apprentices by touching each other's noses. The two of them stepped back. Everyone nodded in approval, and came to give their congrats to the two newly appointed apprentices.

Spottedleaf got up and went to congratulate Frostfur for her kits. She wanted to go to Fireheart, but not with Tigerclaw glaring at him. She nuzzles Frostfur's muzzle with hers and purrs her praise to her. "Congrats Frostfur, your patents will be proud of you."

Frostfur smiles to her, "You know…Cinderpaw reminds me a lot like your brother. I can see her becoming a successful warrior like he was."

Spottedleaf smiles to her, "She defiantly has the spirit of him."

"And who to train her better…a kittypet!" Longtail stated as he came up beside his half sister. "Your daughter will never be good as Redtail. Not if Fireheart trains her to behave like a kittypet."

Spottedleaf couldn't help her anger at Longtail's comment. "Fireheart has proven himself to be worthily warrior! So what if he doesn't have clan blood. He is loyal to Bluestar and to this Clan and that is all that matters. So just shut up about him being a kittypet! Because he is not, he is one of us now!" Spottedleaf hissed.

That surprise Frostfur, Longtail Brindleface and even Fireheart who heard what she said. Longtail's ears flatted against his head as he looks at her, "Do you have a thing for him? Or are you becoming kitty soft like him."

"No! I'm just so sick and tired of having to hear that he Is a kittypet. He has been mentored by Bluestar, and if you think that she trained him to behave like a kittypet, then maybe you are even dumber than a mouse brained kit." Spottedleaf glared at him with angry eyes and then watches as he hissed at her and then storms walks towards the warriors den.

Spottedleaf looks at the two queens, "What?"

"Nothing….we were not expected you to…you know stand up to Longtail like that….especially defend Fireheart." Brindleface replies.

Spottedleaf sighs as she dismisses herself from the two queens. Spottedleaf was about halfway to Yellowfang's den when she felt weave to one side. Then she felt a warm body pressed against her own. Spottedleaf turns and finds Fireheart beside her aiding her to her old den. "Thanks."

Fireheart purred as he helped her to her den, "Do you need me to walk you in?"

"No I think I can mange the rest." Spottedleaf smiled to him. "I see you are now a mentor, congratulations on that, you've earned it."

Fireheart looks deep into her amber eyes, "Why did you stick up with me. I heard what you said to Longtail."

Spottedleaf sighs, "Because you out of all the cats here, have to prove yourself to everyone that you are a worthily warrior. Just so tiered that they only see the one part of you that makes you weak, when I know deep down you are not. You are just as loyal and worthy as the other warriors here. And because…" Spottedleaf hesitated on the last words, "Because….I love you."

Fireheart smiled to her and he came close to her. Spottedleaf of course backs away from him, because she can see eyes on them. "Well…goodnight Fireheart. You should get some rest yourself….you have a big day in training your new apprentice."

Fireheart nods to her and wanted so very much to curl up next to her, but Spottedleaf does have a point. They have to keep their love affair secret. Fireheart came to her for a brief moment, and softly whispers to her, "Spottedleaf….this is so hard to keep my love from you. All I want is to express how I feel when I'm with you."

Spottedleaf nods, "I know….it's hard for me too but you have to…for both of our sakes. If anyone finds out, it will be a disaster not only for me but for you as well. They will see you as a traitor to the Clan. You have so much to give here Fireheart, and I don't want to see all of that go to waste because of our love for each other. Especially because you have to prove yourself the most, because of your kittypet blood." Spottedleaf saw the hurt in his eyes and she carefully places her paw on his for a loving support. With out her saying the words, her touch said it for her. Then she retrieves back inside the fern tunnel as Fireheart made his way to his own den.