It has been about a moon since Jayfeather decided on Songkit, now Songpaw, wanting to be a medicine cat apprentice.
To all honesty, this apprentice knew as much about herbs as Jayfeather did, but not as much as him. Jayfeather was walking alongside Songpaw, heading out to collect some borage. As they were walking, Songpaw decided to break the silence.
"Jayfeather, can medicine cats love one another." she said.
That question made Jayfeather's fur rise and tingle. He was so frozen in shock of the question that he had to swing himself around to face her.
"W-w-why do you ask that? Remember that medicine cats can't have m-m-mates." He stuttered. He sensed a feeling coming from her, a feeling that he has felt in Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and Leafpool.
Is that . . . Love?! He thought. Soon she came up to him and brushed her fur against his, purring. His fur was red hot with embarrassment, but what happened shocked him like lightning.
She twined his tail with hers; gaining an even louder purr from her and made him hear the three words a medicine cat should never hear from their apprentice.
"I love you, Jayfeather. Always have, always will." She said with the sweetest voice I ever heard. She buried her head in his chest fur and stayed there for a minute or two. Finally remembering their task at hand, Jayfeather broke away from her sweet embrace.
"W-w-w-we sh-should be going now." Jayfeather stuttered. Songpaw right behind him, tails twined.
After they got the Borage, they made their way back to camp.
"Songpaw, umm, can you check the elders den in case if they need bedding? I need to lie down for a bit." He said.
But before he could make it halfway to the medicine den, he passed out.
Jayfeather woke up in the medicine den being treated on by Songpaw with his brother, Lionblaze, standing next him.
"What happened, Jayfeather? You passed out walking towards the medicine den like as if a squirrel hit your head with an acorn." said Lionblaze.
Jayfeather knew exactly why he passed out. It was because of the shock knowing that his new apprentice is in love with him, including the pressure of his clan possibly finding out.
"Are you okay, Jayfeather? said Songpaw. Jayfeather was still trying to recover from the previous information that it took him a few seconds to say something.
"H-how long was I out?" he said.
"About four days, honestly, we thought you were dead." said Lionblaze.
Jayfeather got a weird feeling, and then suddenly remembered. Tonight was the night of the Half-moon. He thanked Starclan for not keeping him asleep on the meeting day.
"Songpaw, do you know what's going on tonight?" said Jayfeather.
She shook her head, but stopped mid-shake and said, "Oh right, tonight is the Half-moon, isn't."
"Yes it is, it is when all medicine cats meet at the Moonpool to share tongues with Starclan." said Jayfeather with a bit of giddiness in his voice.
Both Songpaw and Lionblaze looked at him with both confusion and surprise coming from their pelts. Jayfeather immediately got back to his old self.
"Well . . . I'll be going . . . . Have fun Jayfeather, Songpaw." said Lionblaze with a sly tone of voice when he said 'have fun.'
"Bye Lionblaze . . umm Jayfeather?" said Songpaw.
Jayfeather was stuck in place as he found out what his sick brother meant.
His fur stood on end as his brother's voice said in his head "DEFILE HER!" It wasn't a long thought as he finally realized that Songpaw was at his side calling his name over and over again.
"Jayfeather . . . Jayfeather . . . Jayfeather! Are you listening?" said Songpaw.
"Oh what, sorry, sort of spaced out there. So are you ready to go to the Meeting?" he said.
Songpaw then rubbed her fur against his and purred.
"I go wherever you go, mentor." she said as she tried to twine her tail with his, but failed.
"Let's keep that out of the camp, okay." said Jayfeather.
"Okay!" she said.
They separated and Jayfeather started preparing a bunch of traveling herbs for the apprentice for her first time going to the Moonpool.
"There, that should be it. So now we just wait." said Jayfeather.
They both sat by the entrance, waiting for the time to leave.
After a few minutes, Songpaw scooted over towards Jayfeather
and closer
and closer
and closer
and closer until their furs were nearly touching.
Jayfeather thanked Starclan that by then they needed to head out.
With Songpaw behind him and a Starclan meeting ahead, all he did was think.
tonight is going to be a looonnnggg night.