Challenge #7. This takes place in the old forest, as if the 2nd series and onward hadn't happened.

"There you go. That should settle your stomachache. If it doesn't, come back tonight for some juniper and poppy seeds, all right?" Lightpaw mewed, setting a leaf-wrap of horsetail and juniper between herself and her patient.

"Thanks, Lightpaw," Shadepaw meowed, his dark brown eyes glowing with warmth. "You're the best." He flicked her ear with his tail as he picked up the leaf-wrap and left the medicine den.

"You're welcome," She sighed, staring after the black tom wistfully. He was just so handsome - and almost a warrior, too. A lot of cats whispered that he was good - too good. The ThunderClan apprentice was on his seventh moon of training, something almost unheard of, unless the apprentice in question was really good. Or trained by the leader. In Shadepaw's case, both.

Unfortunately, she wasn't the only one swayed by his good looks.

"Lightpaw? Was that Shadepaw just leaving the den?" Shimmerpaw, Lightpaw's sister, demanded as she trotted in. "What was he doing here?"

"Of course it was him, mouse-brain," Lightpaw answered, rolling her eyes. "He's one-of-a-kind. And he was here for a bellyache."

Shimmerpaw narrowed her blue eyes. "'One-of-a-kind'? Is something going on between you two?"

"Of course not! That was just a... mistake. He's the only pure black cat in the Clan right now, isn't he?" Lightpaw protested quickly - too quickly. Thankfully, Shimmerpaw didn't seem to notice.

"Well, whatever. You're so lucky, Lightpaw! You get to look at him every day when he comes to get his treatment, and I -"

"How did you know about his treatment?" Lightpaw interrupted sharply, her pale ginger fur bristling. Her sister wasn't supposed to know - no one was supposed to know! "And he wasn't here for that, anyways! I told you he -"

"Don't worry, Lightpaw, his secret's safe with me," Shimmerpaw interrupted, rolling her eyes. "I'm just observant. And I know what it's for, too; I overheard Yarrowpelt talking about it with him a while ago. He says it's because his heart hurts, or something like that."

"Maybe." Lightpaw mumbled evasively. "Look, I have to go collect some more celandine, Rockflight's eyes are hurting again. Talk to you later, all right?" She ushered her identical sister out of the medicine den, ignoring Shimmerpaw's grumbled protests.

After she made sure her sister was off on a training session with her mentor, Falconwing, Lightpaw abandoned all pretenses of gathering herbs and looked around for Shadepaw. She needed to tell him that Shimmerpaw knew about his heartache, and to make sure he talked to the gossipy apprentice about keeping quiet.

To her dismay, Shadepaw was nowhere to be found. Lightpaw hesitated for a moment, trying to think of a reliable excuse; she wasn't a very good liar. At last, she just decided to go up to Beechstar and tell him the truth.

She padded tentatively to the leader's den and stopped just outside the hanging lichen curtain. ''Beechstar?''

"Come in, Lightpaw," a warm voice answered from within.

Lightpaw hesitated for only a moment, steeling herself, before entering Beechstar's den. "Um, hello, B-Beechstar," she stammered. "I, um, wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?" Beechstar asked curiously, sitting up in his feathery nest. He was a rare calico tom, with long, tapering ears and delicate paws. Lightpaw shuffled her paws before speaking.

"Have you - do you know where Shadepaw is?"

"Yes, he went out hunting with Lightningpaw a few minutes ago. Did you need to ask him something?"

"It's about his condition." The words spilled out in a rush. "My sister, Shimmerpaw, was observant enough to notice that he came in every few days for no apparent reason. Frankly, I think she was stalking him like half the females in the Clan." She laughed nervously. "Kind of silly, right? And, well, I just wanted to make sure he knew that she knew. She's a really big gossip, you know, and even though she promised she'd keep it quiet, she'd probably tell half the Clan -"

"That's enough, Lightpaw." Beechstar's whiskers twitched with amusement. "I understand your concern. But I... ah... don't think it's advisable for you to go and look for him. I'll tell him right now. You just go back to Yellowpelt, I'm sure he needs you."

"Yarrowpelt," Lightpaw corrected automatically, frowning at her leader. He seemed distracted all of a sudden. And why didn't he want her to go? "It's fine, Beechstar, I'll tell him. I'm free for the afternoon, and I can manage the forest, don't you think?" She asked half-jokingly.

"Well... all right then. Just come back quickly." Beechstar flicked his tail in a clear dismissal. Lightpaw backed away quickly, relieved that the meeting was over, but still curious as to why he seemed so worried about her. He'd never really paid that much attention to her and Shimmerpaw.

It took Lightpaw only five minutes or so to find Shadepaw. She heard him talking and laughing loudly with Lightningpaw moments before she caught sight of them, sitting next to the wide trunk of an oak tree.

"Did you see the look on her face?" Lightningpaw gasped between laughs. "She was terrified!"

"I know, right?" Shadepaw managed to say after a few moments; tears were streaming from his eyes. "Stupid apprentice, wandering onto ThunderClan territory... we showed her, didn't we? An hour to remember." He collapsed with laughter again and Lightningpaw let out another howl of mirth.

Lightpaw felt very confused. What were they talking about? Had they seen an intruder and chased her off? But why were they laughing about it? From their words, she was terrified! And why did they say 'an hour to remember'? Strange...

She shook her head to clear it, squared her shoulders, took a deep breath and emerged from her hiding place.

Shadepaw saw her immediately. His grin abruptly disappeared, and he gave Lightningpaw a meaningful look. The golden apprentice nodded curtly to Shadepaw, all traces of mirth gone, and retreated into the undergrowth without even looking at Lightpaw.

"Um... Shadepaw? Is this a bad time?" she asked tentatively. He turned his dark amber eyes to her, and she thought she caught a glimpse of something dark before it was gone as quickly as it came.

"Shimmerpaw, how many times have I told you that I'm not interested in being mates? I don't care how often you dangle that secret over my head, I-" He padded a little closer to her and peered into her eyes. "Hang on... you're Lightpaw, aren't you?"

"Er, yes?" Lightpaw said, feeling a little hurt that he couldn't tell the difference between them. Sure, they had the same pale ginger fur, and the same eyes, but Shimmertail had a nick in her left ear! "Is Shimmerpaw... is she really trying to be mates with you?" Her voice came out more hushed than she wanted it too, as if they were discussing a dirty secret.

"Well... to but it bluntly, yes. We're almost warriors, you know - she's only got a moon to go, and of course I'm already on my seventh moon, so Branchstar should make me a warrior any day now. But that doesn't mean we're old enough to become mates - and besides, I don't like her very much." Shadepaw came even closer, so that he was less than a tail-length away from Lightpaw. She shivered slightly, despite the greenleaf warmth, and almost backed away - but stopped herself just in time. This could be her chance! Her chance to finally get him to notice her...

"Oh. I-I agree. She shouldn't be so demanding." She daringly took a step closer, drinking in Shadepaw's scent. It was a mixture of newleaf sweetness and late leaf-fall mustiness - no, even muskiness... he smelled like a delicious squirrel, freshly killed and temptingly enticing. All she wanted was to press her muzzle into his fur, and sniff his scent.

But she knew she couldn't. She was a medicine cat apprentice; she couldn't have a mate! She couldn't feel like this. It was forbidden.

"I know. That's why I like you better." He sidled even closer, lowering his eyelids and twining his tail around hers. "I mean, I know I shouldn't be saying this, since you're the medicine cat apprentice, and everything, but I can't help how I -"

"Shhh. Don't say that. Just forget about everything," Lightpaw purred, flicking her tail against his muzzle. She felt bold, excited, and fearful at the same time - but there was also the thrill of doing something she'd never done before, breaking the rules... it was exhilarating.

"I couldn't." He rubbed his muzzle against her shoulder, purring even louder than she was. "But I'll try. Although, I might require some assistance..." he trailed off meaningfully, as if it was some kind of cue. But Lightpaw wasn't listening.

"Let's run away," she blurted out. "Let's run away so we can be together. I can't... I can't be like this, with you but unable to show it. I'll die from agony." She put her paw on his and gazed deep into his eyes, almost melting from happiness.

"But... it's forbidden?" It came out as more of a question than a statement, as if Shadepaw was daring her to contradict him. And she did.

"I just love you too much to let you go. Shimmerpaw doesn't deserve you. We have to be together, Shadepaw."

As she declared the fateful words, her whole life seemed to flash before her. Being in the nursery, with their sick mother, Featherflight; playing with Shimmerkit and Jaykit, who became Jaypaw four moons ago; mourning Featherflight's passing; sitting proudly next to Yarrowpelt as Branchstar declared her a medicine cat apprentice; meeting StarClan; falling in love, yes, love, with Shadepaw; her quarrels and distance from Shimmerpaw; the estrangement of her and her father, Thornheart. Yarrowpelt was young, he'd find a new apprentice. Maybe he'd miss her, and Shimmerpaw would be sad for a little while; she would miss them too. But in the space of a few minutes, she'd had a life-changing discovery. Shadepaw was her life now. And she was willing to give all of that up for him.

"Good." Shadepaw's curt nod jerked her from her reminiscing. Lightpaw looked up at him, confused, as he stepped away from her and nodded to something behind her. She turned and saw Lightningpaw, crouching in the bramble bush behind which she'd been spying on them earlier.

"Wh-what are you doing, Shadepaw? And Lightningpaw? Why were you eavesdropping?" Lightpaw felt herself starting to panic; Lightningpaw would ruin everything! He'd probably tell Branchstar, and Yarrowpelt would call upon StarClan to stop her, and she'd never live down the humiliation -

"Stupid she-cat," Shadepaw hissed, all traces of warmth gone. "I was using catmint on you. Lightningpaw, hold her down while I stuff the poppy seeds into her ugly face. Let's get this over with."

"What?!" Lightpaw tried to take a step away from both of them, but Lightningpaw had already leaped. He pushed her down easily with his greater bulk, and ignored her struggles as Shadepaw withdrew a small leaf-wrap from behind the oak tree. She couldn't believe this was happening: what had happened to running away, and being together?

"Here you go, sweet. You won't remember a thing, until the rest of the Clan realises you're pregnant, of course. Then you'll be kicked out... but don't worry, I'm sure our kits will make fine warriors," Shadepaw sneered.

"WHAT? LET ME GO!" Lightpaw screeched, but Shadepaw stuffed the poppy seeds into her mouth while it was still open. The last thing she saw before the world turned dark was Shadepaw's ugly face. Dimly, she registered that poppy seeds shouldn't work this quickly... had they given her too much?... what if she... oh, StarClan...

She closed her eyes, and all she saw was stars forevermore.

Yaaaaa. Something went a little wrong there. Twisted story: accomplished... word count: 2063 (record!).