AN: Sorry for this coming late. Its my brothers birthday today. My mom was busy today, and I don't have school today (suspended), so she asked me to make dessert. Also, if you've read the first two books (which I hope so), I made a change to chapter seventeen (nineteen according to the chapter list) and posted the REAL chapter (finally)! I don't know what happened to it...-_-

Anyway, I don't want to take too much of your time!

~Topaz

Morningsplash

Morningsplash still couldn't believe Greystar had chosen her as a mentor for Bluepaw. She had wanted to protest at the time, but what could she say? Greystar, I can't be Bluepaw's mentor, I'm secretly meeting a Shadowclan cat? He'd throw her out faster than you can say minnow. She still hadn't gotten a chance to talk to Nightfall.

Bluepaw was bouncing excitedly next to her. "What are we doing first?" she demanded. Morningsplash snapped back to the present.

"Um…" She glanced over at the other apprentices.

"Bluepaw can come with us to collect moss," Blackwater offered. Morningsplash smiled gratefully at her former mentors compassion.

"Thanks."

"Aw…" Morningsplash stifled a purr at Bluepaw's disappointed complaint.

"Cheer up, you'll be with your sister," she said, "Blackwater, I have to talk to Nightfall about...Littlflowers recovery. Can I meet Bluepaw at the moss gathering clearing later?" With Blackwater's nod, Morningsplash walked over to the medicine cat den. "Nightfall?"

"What?" Nightfall backed out of the small area he used to store herbs, and turned to face her, glancing back at his sorting. "You don't look sick or hurt...shouldn't you be out with Bluepaw?"

"I needed to talk to you." At Morningsplash's serious tone, Nightfall stopped looking distracted. He gestured for her to sit, then sat back, waiting for her to continue. Morningsplash felt awkard. "Have you ever...been in love with a cat, and known it was wrong, but wanted it anyway?" she finally blurted out. Nightfall's expression darkened. Before she could tell him never mind and leave, he spoke.

"Do you remember some of the elders talking about the greenleaf before you were born, that so many cats died?" When Morningsplash nodded yes, he continued. "I was just a young apprentice. I hadn't gotten my full medicine cat name yet. Swallowflight and Brightfur had just been made apprentices a while back, along with their sisters...Patchpaw." The tom swallowed. "She looked like Minnowsplash, if Minnowsplash had white markings. She was...beautiful. Graceful. Talented. I was a dedicated apprentice, but I couldn't help wishing…I…I fell in love with her. She never knew. To her I was her best friend, but nothing more. I had to watch her every day, and not say anything. Then...one day...kittypets came into camp, intent on disrupting everything. They wanted our prey, our moss, they wanted everything we had. They sat by the rivers and creeks and streams, trying to fish and scaring it all away. We were starving. They were selfish and spoiled, but used to having their way. Greystar told them they had to get off our territory, and they attacked. Patchpaw...was killed." He looked down. Morningsplash felt horrible.

"Thats awful, Nightfall, I'm so sorry." He sighed.

"In some ways, it was for the best...I couldn't stray from my path. I belonged as a medicine cat, not a warrior." He sighed again. "So, yes, the answer is I guess. Why?" Morningsplash looked down. "Its Owlclaw, isn't it." It wasn't a question. Morningsplash looked up, surprised.

"How do you-"

"You're always hunting by the Shadowclan borders, and I see you at gatherings. For Starclan's sake, you're more obvious than a badger." Nightfall's tone was light and mocking, not angry.

"I…" Morningsplash gave up. "What do I do?"

"I don't know." Nightfall shrugged. "You know the warrior code backwards and forwards. You honor it almost all the time. For once, think with your heart. What does your heart tell you to do?"

"Be with Owlclaw…" Morningsplash whispered, feeling like she was betraying the warrior code by saying that to him.

"So keep meeting him, maybe try to be a little more discreet. Now go meet your apprentice for training and let me finish sorting these herbs!"