Ooops! I used the word 'cub' in the first chapter! Sorry. Thanks, 'oooh-squishy' for pointing it out!

FORBIDDEN APPRENTICE: Part IV

"Crowfeather," Leafpool consulted her mate. "Thunderclan knows that Honeypaw is my kit. I did not tell them that you are the father. I won't if you don't want me to."

Crowfeather was startled. Who knew what Thunderclan would do to Leafpool as a punishment?

"No. I don't want you in deeper trouble for breaking more codes." Leafpool pressed her face on top of his cool pelt. Crowfeather smiled. He looked up in the sky and could see faintly a gray she-cat smiling with approval.

Suddenly he heard a paw print, he instantly separated from Leafpool. Out from the trees came a black tom with yellow spots.

"Mother." He muttered. "Father."

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Honeypaw entered the Gathering, anxiously. He knew that he would have the chance to speak with his mother, and meet his father.

First, he saw Crowfeather, and Leafpool wasn't far behind. They were each behind the Gathering spot, hidden beside a giant oak tree.

He ran discreetly to them.

"Mother…" He paused. He croaked, "Father."

"Honeypaw, this is Crowfeather, the greatest warrior Windclan will ever know… and my mate." Crowfeather felt his cheeks glow with warmth. He added,

"If I got my way you would have been in Windclan, but then I would have competition for my spot as the best. From what Leafpool says you'll be a warrior soon. Even Squirrelflight could teach you real quickly, you'll be the youngest warrior!" Leafpool shot a glance at Crowfeather and he stopped teasing her sister, immediately.

"I don't understand! How could you both break the codes like that?" Honeypaw practically yelled. He didn't want to be condemned for their mistake.

"Before Leafpool, I loved a gray she-cat named Feathertail…" The ground seemed to shake as he spoke her name. Honeypaw had heard of Feathertail. He hadn't realized that she looked identical to the cats in his dreams. "When she died, I was torn apart. That's why they named me Crowfeather. But Feathertail wanted me to be happy… She chose Leafpool-"

"In other words, Starclan wanted us to mate. But we kept it a secret because we were afraid of what someone else might have done. You cannot tell anyone who your father is. Only Cinderpelt knows." Leafpool finished for Crowfeather. But after a moment Cinderpelt began calling for Leafpool and she had to go.

"Goodbye," she said, her eyes glimmering with the reflections of tears.

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The Medicine cats met under the full moon. Now, all of them knew that Leafpool was a mother. They all stood skeptically for a moment. Littlecloud spoke first,

"This is very bad. I suppose we should watch Honeypaw carefully."

"Maybe… Perhaps this is what Starclan wanted, and Honeypaw is a blessing." Barkface said wisely. He winked at Leafpool. Could he have guessed? It was very possible that he had. After all, Leafpool had used him as an excuse to visit Windclan, very often.

"I agree and—" Mothwing lifted her face upward. Her eyes widened. "Do you see that? It must be… a sign." All of the cats looked out into the clearing and saw… absolutely nothing.

"I said 'Do you see that?' Aren't you going to play along?" Everyone looked at her like she was an alien. Leafpool wondered if now would be a good time to reveal that Mothwing thought that Starclan was mumbo-jumbo that was made up as it went.

"Righhhhhhttttt… Well…. I think the Gathering is over. Let's go home." Cinderpelt said wearily.

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As soon as the Thunderclan cats arrived back to the camp, Firestar stepped forward.

"I have heard that Sorreltail's kits have excelled in their training (especially MY grandson)." He stuck his tongue out at Dustpelt. "Lagoonpaw, Maplepaw, and Honeypaw, step forward…"

Okay... Quickly now. There was a tie... Pick ONE OF THESE THREE:

A) Honeyfire

B) Honeydrop

C) Honeyspot

OKAY TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK, NOW... Any day now... Before the next century... press the button for Bluestar's sake!