Shadepaw had to wait until after sunhigh to speak with Creekpaw. After she had saved Sagekit, with help from Silkpaw and Whitepelt, the black and white apprentice had spent the remainder of the morning cleaning out both the nursery and the medicine cat den, settling down a ruffled Lilyface and helping Silkpaw make a nest for Sagekit.

Shadepaw padded over to the fresh-kill pile and picked up two mice, one for Silkpaw and one for Creekpaw. As the juicy flavour seeped into her mouth, she felt a wave of sympathy for Sagekit. The white she-kit would never know the taste of a piece of fresh-kill, flowing into her jaws.

Shadepaw slipped through the ferns guarding the entrance to the medicine cat den, and straightened up inside. Silkpaw was sorting out berries on the other side of the den. "Is that fresh-kill I can smell?" she mewed eagerly.

Shadepaw padded over to her littermate and placed one mouse beside her. "I've got this one for Creekpaw," she mumbled through the second mouse's tail. "He hasn't eaten already has he?"

Silkpaw shook her head. "I'm trying to figure out what we can feed Sagekit." The medicine cat apprentice looked anxiously at the kit, who was sleeping calmly in a nest of lichen and moss. "She can't eat mouse and I wouldn't try her with any other meat. I think my only option is juniper berries and a few of these herbs. She'll be very thin though." Silkpaw sighed. "And her food won't taste exactly nice!"

Now that's where you're wrong! Whitepelt's voice erupted in Shadepaw's head.

Silkpaw stiffened, then looked up, confused. "Shadepaw," she asked. "Did you say something?"

Shadepaw gasped. "You can hear him too?"

Silkpaw looked even more confused. "What are you on about Shadepaw?" She glanced at the black and white apprentice uneasily. "Hear who?"

"Whitepelt," Shadepaw insisted. "He came to me while Sagekit was sick and told me that she had allergies."

Silkpaw's eyes widened. "So that's how you knew what was wrong! I was worried; I thought that you'd make a better medicine cat than me."

Shadepaw snorted. "Me, a medicine cat? No way!" She flicked her ginger tipped tail across her littermate's ear. "Silkpaw, you're a great medicine cat. I had no idea what to do with the yarrow and everything."

Silkpaw glanced at Shadepaw gratefully.

Shadepaw gazed questioningly at the medicine cat apprentice. "So how can Whitepelt speak to us if he's dead?"

Silkpaw shook her head. "I don't know."

Suddenly Whitepelt's voice came to them. I have chosen a path that not many take. I have chosen to remain with my kits and protect them and Lilyface from danger as best I can. You must know that my spirit will always linger here, until Sagekit and Emberkit join StarClan.

Silkpaw gasped but Shadepaw, who had gotten used to Whitepelt's interruptions whispered, "So, Whitepelt, since your spirit lingers here and everything, can't you talk to us all the time?"

No, mewed Whitepelt, I am bound by rules. I am only able to converse with the living when it is in aid of my kits or mate. I must go now, to StarClan, but Silkpaw you might want to add honey due to the herbs you feed Sagekit. That'll make them taste nicer. And I know that she is not allergic to insects.

Silkpaw nodded. "I had not thought of that. Thanks Whitepelt. But if she is allergic to meat then how will she be able to bite other cats in combat?"

She will be able to because she isn't allergic to cats, he said and then he was gone.

Shadepaw sighed and pressed herself to Silkpaw. "Are you alright?"

Silkpaw nodded. "It's just weird talking to a cat from StarClan."

"I know," mewed Shadepaw. She waved her tail at the mouse. "You eat up and I'll take this mouse to Creekpaw."

She made sure that Silkpaw had started to eat before picking up the mouse. She took a deep breath. Now she had to talk to Creekpaw for Finchpaw's place in WoodClan.

She padded over to the grey flecked tom. "Hey Creekpaw," she mewed, settling herself on the edge of his nest.

"Oh, hi Shadepaw." Creekpaw glanced at the mouse. "Is that for me?"

"Sure," meowed Shadepaw. "If you want it; I'll have it if you don't."

"No, I do want it!" Creekpaw picked up the mouse eagerly and started to tuck in savagely. "Thanks Shadepaw," he said between gulps. "I'm starving. I haven't eaten since dawn yesterday."

Shadepaw was not listening. "How do you feel about Finchpaw?" she asked, her voice taught.

Creekpaw stiffened and stopped in mid-bite. "I think that's rather private, don't you?"

Shadepaw bristled, impatient. "Please Creekpaw," she begged. "You can trust me. I have to know!"

Creekpaw glanced at her warily. "I like her a lot."

Shadepaw felt her heart beat faster. "Do you love her?"

"Shadepaw," he wailed. Shadepaw glared at him. "Ok," he sighed. "I love her more than any cat I've ever met."

Shadepaw's mind whirled. It was good that Creekpaw loved Finchpaw back but her last hope to keep her friend in the clan had been that the flecked tom would not have felt that way. She growled quietly.

Creekpaw's eyes were filled with despair. "It'll never work though," he sighed. "Soon we will each belong to different clans and our love will be forbidden."

Shadepaw felt respect rise in her chest for Creekpaw. At least he understood that cats from other clans could not be together. Unlike Fembrook, she added as an afterthought.

She took a deep breath. "Don't be so sure," she mumbled quietly.

Creekpaw looked at her, confused. "Don't be so sure about what?"

Shadepaw could not keep her thoughts for Finchpaw a secret any longer. "She wants to go with you to CaveClan," she burst out.

Creekpaw looked amazed. "Why?"

"She loves you too," Shadepaw revealed.

Creekpaw's eyes sparkled with happiness. "She does?"
"Yes," wailed the black and white apprentice. "She loves you lots. But Creekpaw, you can't let her go to CaveClan. She's only just been accepted into WoodClan and CaveClan are hardly going to accept a cat that has been a rogue and then a cat from another clan. They aren't the most accepting clan."

"I know," said Creekpaw. "I grew up with them." He looked thoughtful. "Do you know a cat called Talonclaw?"

Shadepaw nodded. "I met her at the last gathering."

His eyes sparkled. "How is she?"
"She's great," answered Shadepaw. "She is with kit!"

Creekpaw's tail curled up in delight. "She was my mentor. The kits are Talltail's, aren't they?" When Shadepaw nodded, he continued, "Talltail was one of my best friends but Blackpaw was the best of all."

Shadepaw tried to think of a cat she had met called Blackpaw. "I don't think I've met Blackpaw."

"He's probably a warrior now, he was older than me."

Shadepaw thought again. The realization hit her in a horrific wave. Creekpaw was talking about Blackwing. "Is he a black and white tom?" she asked, just to be sure.

Creekpaw nodded, his eyes alight with memories. "He was quite good looking, always after the she-cats."

You can say that again, thought Shadepaw. "He's called Blackwing now," she told Creekpaw.

Creekpaw sighed. "Blackwing, oh I do miss him."

Shadepaw was impatient, wanting to get back to Finchpaw. "So what are you going to do?"

Creekpaw jumped, as if surfacing from deep water. "Do about what?"

"About Finchpaw?"

His eyes darkened. "She can't come with me. I've spent a long time bringing her here. That would all be wasted if she went to CaveClan; she could have just stayed there in the first place."

"She's very adamant," said Shadepaw. "She's staying with you."

Creekpaw rested his tail on her shoulder. "Don't worry Shadepaw," he reassured her. "I've got three days. I'll think of something."

"I hope you can..."

Her mew was interrupted by a loud yowl from the entrance to the den. "Shadepaw!"

Shadepaw turned and saw Shrewfur standing there. "Oh hi Shrewfur," she greeted her mentor.

The stocky brown tabby padded over to her and flicked her ear with his tail. "Shadowpaw said I'd find you here. What are you doing?"

Shadepaw glanced frustrated at Creekpaw. "Just bringing Creekpaw some fresh-kill."

"Okay," Shrewfur said. "We're on patrol now. Come on!"

He led the way out of the den, Shadepaw following. Her heart beat anxiously. Creekpaw had better figure out a way to save his and Finchpaw's relationship; Shadepaw didn't think she could handle another forbidden romance like Fembrook's and Blackwing's.