Warriors: The Forbidden Fruit - Chapter 4

Yay! Chapter 4 is finally here! Okay, I know that the chapters are short, but there will be many of them. Um... The next chapter will be from Jayfeather's point of view and will deal with Briarlight and the Gathering! :D Bramblestar confronting Blackstar is gonna be good. ;D

I do not own Warriors in anyway, the series belongs to Erin Hunter. I just love torturing their poor characters.

By the way, Jayfeather's relationship with Half-Moon WILL be addressed. :D Oh I love it. XD

Chapter 4

"Waiting for a friend to call

and say they're still alive.

I've given everyone I know

a good reason to go.

I was surprised you stuck around

long enough to figure out

That it's all alright.

I guess it's all alright.

I got nothing left inside of my chest,

but it's all alright"

-"All Alright" by Fun.

Briarlight

"He'll be stable in a few minutes," Leafpool mewed, taking a few steps away from Jayfeather.

"Thanks StarClan," Lionblaze breathed nuzzling his brother's ear in a friendly way.

"We cannot let this go unpunished," Squirrelflight growled suddenly, her hackles rising. "Tigerheart had no right to attack him."

Bramblestar hummed in agreement. "Indeed. I will confront Blackstar about it at the Gathering. Then, all of the Clans will see that ShadowClan has once again gone against the warrior code."

"It wouldn't be the first time," Lionblaze growled, raising his eyes to his adopted father.

Briarlight watched them all with wide eyes. Would they really seek punishment on Tigerheart for hurting Jayfeather? She looked down at the gray-furred tom lying on the floor of the den, his fur dried with blood around the back of his neck. He was just trying to protect me! Briarlight thought with dismay. If only I could learn how to defend myself! Maybe I'll ask Brightheart for some pointers or something. At least I could help Jayfeather defend the medicine cat den.

Leafpool padded over to Briarlight and sniffed her carefully. "Are you injured, Briarlight?" she inquired gently.

She shook her head, testing her moveable extremities. "I don't think so. Jayfeather was just trying to protect me. That's why Tigerheart attacked him."

"He is not supposed to attack a warrior," Leafpool murmured, almost to herself.

"A warrior is not supposed to attack a medicine cat!" Lionblaze snapped at the former medicine cat, his amber eyes blazing. "I might have once thought of Tigerheart as my kin, but now he is my enemy! I have no respect for that no-good, lying son of a badger!"

A groan came from the limp shape on the floor. Briarlight pricked her ears and watched him as he let out a weak cough before sitting up. "Briarlight!" was the first word out of his mouth. "Briarlight… where is she? Is she alright?!"

"She's fine, Jayfeather," Leafpool assured, resting her tail on her biological son's flank. "Relax."

"Where is she?" he demanded, pushing himself to his feet.

"I'm right here, Jayfeather," Briarlight mewed hesitantly, watching him. It warmed her heart to see him worry about her, but it also made her feel guilty. Jayfeather shouldn't have to worry about me… If I wasn't crippled, I could take care of us both.

Jayfeather cleared his throat as if he was trying to return to a professional manner. "Are you alright? Any serious injuries?"

"No, I don't think so. Tigerheart's claw clipped my ear, but otherwise nothing too bad," she answered, feeling her heartbeat speed up as Jayfeather moved closer.

"Good," he meowed shooting her a small smile before turning to address Leafpool. "Any other serious injuries on other warriors?"

Briarlight watched him speak to Leafpool in awe. Jayfeather never smiled. Ever… but he smiled at her. Her heart swelled three times its normal size, almost making it difficult to breathe. She watched dreamily as Jayfeather and Leafpool left the medicine cat den to check on the other injured warriors.

"I'll kill him," Lionblaze hissed when Jayfeather was out of earshot.

Squirrelflight shook her head. "That is not the answer, Lionblaze," she meowed simply. "Bramblestar will speak with Blackstar about it at the gathering two sunrises from now. Blackstar has more to answer for than the attack of a medicine cat! That attack was completely unprovoked."
Bramblestar nodded his head solemnly. "Go on, Lionblaze," he said dismissively, flicking his tail toward the entrance.

Opening his jaws to object, Squirrelflight shot him a stern look. Sighing, Lionblaze slunk out of the den leaving them alone. "What would Firestar do?" Bramblestar asked, almost to himself.

"My father would do the same thing you're doing," Squirrelflight encouraged. "Just stick to the plan."

The two mates left the den as well, their tails entwined together. Briarlight watched them go sadly. Jayfeather and I can never walk with our tails entwined, she thought. I can't even move my tail let alone stand… Jayfeather doesn't like me… how could he? I'm just a burden.

Briarlight closed her eyes and rested her head on her forepaws, trying to block out the noise of the camp. She slipped into a peaceful slumber, dreaming of Jayfeather and the life they could never have.

A/N: Well, did you like this chapter?! Leave a review and let me know! Did you like you like what you've seen here? Click on my username to see more! :D