This is kind of sad, and you'll probably be wondering, "Why in the world would a medicine cat announce her love for someone else, and, of all places, at a Gathering??? Well, because of true love, of course! ^^ Enjoy! :3
Broken Promises
Feathertail raced eagerly to the Gathering, along with her Clanmates. She was a medicine cat, and she had loved another cat, Jaywing, for a long time. Today, they were announcing their love for each other!
"It's no point in keeping it a secret…. right?" Jaywing sat by her, his blue eyes full of love. "Maybe StarClan will forgive us. Maybe we can just continue on with life like normal. Maybe…." His eyes sparkled as he uttered the last words: "We can even have kits."
"Oh, you really think so?" Feathertail purred. "I've always wanted to have kits."
"Yes…. if we don't officially announce our love for each other, what if somebody finds out inadvertently? Then we'll get in even more trouble," Jaywing reasoned.
"I love you, Jaywing," Feathertail purred.
Jaywing hesitated. "I love you too, Feathertail. I love you, too."
"Promise to love me forever?" Feathertail asked him.
Jaywing hesitated, for a bit longer this time. "….Yes. I promise to love you forever, Feathertail."
That was two nights ago. Feathertail hoped that Jaywing hadn't changed his mind since then! But he hadn't come to see her at night at their usual meeting place, so maybe he just wanted some space and alone time before they announced it together.
I don't know. I hope he hasn't changed his mind! Feathertail thought worriedly.
Lost in her reverie, Feathertail didn't really register that her Clan was already at the Gathering until she was sitting down next to one of her Clanmates, Sandfeather.
Sandfeather's pale orange, almost yellow, coat, dotted with darker golden specks, gleamed in the sunlight. She looked down at Feathertail. "I can't wait for the Gathering to begin!" she murmured. "I want to hear more about what WindClan has to say about the recent border dispute."
WindClan was Jaywing's Clan! Feathertail lived in ShadowClan. Their Clans were always at war…. but there was some room for love, wasn't there?
"We gather here tonight under the full moon," Feathertail's leader, Snowstar, yowled. "The Gathering shall now begin."
The leaders began to talk. When they were done, Feathertail stood up. "I have something to say," she yowled.
"Yes, Feathertail?" Snowstar asked, somewhat impatiently.
"It's big news," she shouted, as she daintily picked her way to the front of the group. She saw Jaywing at the front of the group, sitting with another she-cat known as Swiftwind.
"I'm in love with Jaywing, and Jaywing is in love with me, too," she yowled, her pelt prickling with selfish pride. She heard gasps all around her, and Jaywing stepped forward.
"What? I don't love you anymore, Feathertail," he said solemnly, looking her in the eye. "After we met two nights ago, I decided that I like Swiftwind better. She's actually in my own Clan, and besides, she's…. not a medicine cat."
A few cats laughed. Feathertail felt her pelt begin to burn with embarrassment. "But—But Jaywing!" she gasped. "You promised! You promised that you would love me forever!"
"Sorry, Feathertail," Jaywing murmured, "But I have to break that promise."
Feathertail gasped, extremely hurt, and whirled away from the group. She stalked up the hill, out from the clearing that the Gathering was held in, and as soon as she broke free from all the brambles, started to run.
As she ran, thoughts ran through her head. He betrayed me! But he promised me! I can't believe it! Oh…. I'm so hurt.
She didn't even notice when she got back to camp. She wouldn't have noticed, except that all of a sudden she was back in her own den.
She was so crushed she could do what she did next. She found a piece of fresh-kill that had been lying in her den since evening, and slit open the mouse's belly. She stuffed deathberries inside, and gorged herself on the mouse.
As she lay, panting, inside her den, about to die, she thought, Nothing is sure when there's always the possibility of broken promises.