Spotted Fire

Summary

What if Spottedleaf had survived and saved Frostfur's kits before they were kidnapped by Clawface? And what if Spottedleaf was willing to break the warrior code in order to be with Fireheart?

Firepaw's Confession

Firepaw was staring directly at my core! Oh what a thrill that gave me, but I have to control myself around him, or Lionheart will realize something between only reason I'm going to the Moonstone is asking StarClan for answers if it's right to feel like this... Has any other medicine cat felt this way? "Are you alright, Spottedleaf?" Lionheart jerked her out of her thoughts.

"Of course Lionheart, just worried about the Clan is all." I mewed briskly.

"I'm sure they'll be fine while we accompany you on your journey to the Moonstone. We'll keep you safe." Lionheart assured me. "Firepaw, you coming?" He called.

"Sorry! I'm coming." He rushed out of the tunnel. Firepaw's fur was ruffled and he had a distracted look on his face.

"Are you okay Firepaw? You look kind of moony." Lionheart couldn't hold back his amusement. "Is there a she-cat you've got an eye on?"

"No.. It's... uhh..." Firepaw was stuttering. He was looking around for a certain cat, but Spottedleaf could tell he wasn't looking at her for a reason. So he does! Maybe I could help him along. "It's nothing Lionheart." Firepaw mewed briskly.

"It's natural, Firepaw. If you got your eye on a she-cat, let her know how you feel. Don't be scared." Lionheart assured him.

"Thanks Lionheart, but I think this she-cat would think differently. I'm not comfortable talking about this." He shifted his paws on the ground. "Let's get going! I want to see the Moonstone again."

Lionheart stared at him and me for another moment, then just shook his head and signaled with his tail. "Come on, we have to get there at Moonhigh." It was just before Sunhigh as they parted out of camp.

Lionheart took the lead while me and Firepaw followed. Firepaw was walking so close to me our pelts brushed, and he tried to to match my steps. I felt comfortable and placed my tail over his shoulders. Firepaw tensed for a moment, then let it stay there.

"Spottedleaf, can I ask you something?" Firepaw spoke, breaking the silence.

"What is it Firepaw? Are you alright?" I wondered what he was going to ask.

"Have you ever known what love is like?" I jumped and widened my amber eyes. He's asking a medicine cat what love is like... Or me personally?

"I have Firepaw... When I was an apprentice, I always wanted to be a warrior. I even wanted to be a leader... But then I realized how much more my Clan would benefit if I became a medicine cat. I had to put my love aside for the better of my Clan." I replied.

"You would put loving your Clan more over loving a single cat and having kits with them? Why Spottedleaf? Was there something wrong with him?" Firepaw pressed on.

"I'll talk about this more later with you Firepaw. Just know, I made a choice for the better of my Clan. I found where I really belong." 'Or have I... StarClan why are you making me feel like this?' "You must really have your eye on a she-cat if you want to know what that's like, to ask a 'medicine cat' ." She said the last words importantly, then winked at him, and Firepaw's eyes widened, while I giggled. "Lionheart! Let's pick up the pace." With a nod Lionheart sped up. They walked in silence the rest of the way, taking in the forest scents.

"We're crossing into WindClan territory now. Let's stay silent until we get to the Thunderpath." Lionheart suggested. I gave a nod and turned to Firepaw. I moved close to whisper in his ear.

"Protect me, Firepaw. I trust you more than any other cat." I whispered. Then pull back so I looked to be talking with him. "I think that's best Lionheart. Firepaw, stay back here with me while Lionheart leads us through." Firepaw's eyes were wide, and I giggled. This is exactly how I want him to feel.

They padded further into the WindClan moors, a strong breeze blowing on the hills ruffling the three cats fur, and stinging their muzzles. "How do WindClan stand this?" Firepaw yowled.

"I said quietly, Firepaw. It stinks of ShadowClan here, and WindClan's scent is faint." He observed.

"I wonder if they aren't here." I thought out loud. "ShadowClan scent is covering almost everything."

"It's possible Spottedleaf, but I don't feel anymore comfortable here than you do. I'd rather stay silent." He replied honestly.

"Come closer, Firepaw. Lionheart and I will keep an eye on you." I ordered, and Firepaw padded up closer to them. When Lionheart wasn't looking, I whispered in his ear. "You and me are going into the Moonstone cave, I'll have Lionheart guard the outside. What I'm sharing with StarClan has to deal with you, and I want you there with me." Firepaw let out a small gasp, then nodded.

"I think I might know, but I won't tell yet." He whispered back. "How close are we to the Thunderpath, Lionheart?" He mewed quietly.

"Not far, at the pace we're going, we should reach Mothermouth by sunset." He answered. "The Thunderpath isn't far, Firepaw. Can't you smell it?"

Firepaw opened his jaws to taste the air. "Like those traveling herbs, ugh. The taste is stuck to my tongue." He licked the top of his maw.

"It's about a fox-length ahead. You remember how to cross a Thunderpath, right?" Lionheart challenged.

"Of course, I'll wait for your signal, Lionheart. " Firepaw mewed confidently, and Lionheart gave him a curt nod.

"Okay, Firepaw. Stay next to Spottedleaf, and when I say now, run as if a pack of badgers were after you." Lionheart instructed. Firepaw gave a curt nod, and a quick glance at Spottedleaf. They were determined to pass this Thunderpath, unharmed.

A shiny, red monster swept past them, and a silver one followed it. Both filled the air with nauseating fumes and a loud growl like thunder. When all was clear, The stench vanished and everything was quiet. Lionheart checked down both ways to make sure no more monsters were coming, then he yowled. "Now!" Lionheart sprang off, and Spottedleaf and Firepaw followed, pelts brushing, and tails entwined, Firepaw being completely unaware his tail was entwined with the cat of his dreams and medicine cat. A loud growling to the right of them was getting louder, and it noxious fumes sprayed into the air. "Don't stop if you ever want to see camp again!" Lionheart yowled. I pounded my paws on the ground faster, fearing for my life. Firepaw matched my pawsteps until we both felt grass underneath our paws, and a monster raced past then a tail-length behind us. All three cats collapsed on the ground, me and Firepaw fell in a panting heap, tails tightly entwined, while Lionheart stared at the monster passing by.

I untwined my tail with Firepaw, then whispered in his ear. "I'm not going anywhere yet, and neither are you. Not until we both know how we feel."

Firepaw nodded, then whispered in mine. "I know just how you feel about me, and I feel the same... I love you." He confessed, and I felt like I had just been thrown in the icy, cold river. He loves me! And I love him back! StarClan, please let this relationship last... I think I want his kits.