I Fell In Love With My Apprentice 2: Mocking Jay

a/n Well here it is, everyone… the much anticipated sequal. I just decided to start it today… I suggest re reading the first book to refresh your mind on the story...

And I'm back on fan fiction now… I figure I might as well keep posting until I get that third strike and I'm banned for good.

I hope you enjoy it!

malicent

Some wonder if Starclan was where I went after I died. Some wonder the opposite, their minds wandering around the edges of the Dark Forest. I try not to take offense to that. I mean, it's not a sin to love someone. And if that's all I was guilty of then that will be that.

Not like it matters anymore, though.

Oh, and to answer your question, I did go to Starclan.

Guess someone out there took pity on me after all.

Thirty six moons after the death of Darkclaw

"Foxkit, look what I can do!" Wolfkit cried out, balancing with two legs on a small boulder.

"How did you do that?" Foxkit demanded, running over to his brother. "You have to show me how to do that right now."

"No," Wolfkit said with glee. "I learned all on my own so you have to too!"

"Don't be stubborn," Foxkit growled, bunting Wolfkit with his soft head. Foxkit gave a grunt and tumbled off the boulder. He stood up and shook the dirt off his dark yellow fur.

"I was just teasing," Foxkit mumbled. Wolfkit nuzzled him kindly. "I know," he said affectionately. Wolfkit looked down at his chest, a slight orange color. Foxkit was very similar, the only difference being his fur being a slighter shade of yellow. Both toms had subtle darker stripes.

"Kits, what are you doing?"

Foxkit and Wolfkit looked up at the same time, only to look into the eyes of their parents, Moonfeather and Lilypool. Lilypool looked tired, her brown pelt slightly matted as if she hadn't washed today. Moonfeather was quite the opposite, his pelt shiny with excessive grooming. Foxkit wondered briefly why he looked so polished.

"I was balancing on my hind legs on that rock," Wolfkit declared proudly, breaking Foxkit from his thoughts. "Foxkit wants me to show him how."

"Not really," Foxkit muttered, lowering his head. He was embarrassed that Wolfkit had mentioned something that he couldn't do so openly. To his relief, his parents didn't seem to notice.

"That's good," Lilypool said with a false excitement.

"We were thinking of going on a walk in the forest," Moonfeather said to his sons. "Want to come along? It can be a nice family outing."

"Yes," Wolfkit whispered in pure awe. "It will be our first time out of the camp!"

"Good," Moonfeather purred. Then he turned to Foxkit. "You're quiet, today." He commented. "Something wrong, Foxkit?"

"No," Foxkit mumbled. He looked over at his mother, who was looking off into the distance. Lilypools gaze lingered on a small group of cats who were being organized into a patrol.

Foxkit recognized Talonstrike, who was sitting with his back towards him. Foxkit could recognize him from his reddish brown pelt. But that wasn't who Lilypool was looking at, Foxkit felt a weird pang in his belly as he followed her gaze.

Jaystorm.

Jaystorm was one of Willowclans senior warriors, and Foxkit had only met him twice. The first was when he came into the nursery to meet him and Wolfkit for the first time. The second time was when he was playing with a pile of leaves outside in the camp. The memory burned deep into the back of Foxkits mind. Foxkit himself didn't understand why the memory was still so vivid after happening so long ago.

"What are you doing?" Jaystorm asked as he padded up to Foxkit. Foxkit was so startled by the unexpected voice his paw slapped the leaves and sent a few flying. Jaystorm purred in amusement and shuffled them back to the pile.

"I was building a leaf fort," Foxkit explained, pointing to the dirty pile of assorted colors. "This is the door," he jabbed a paw at the leaf that stuck out of the side. "And this is the flag," Foxkit pointed to a leaf punctured by a twig. He waited impatiently for Jaystorms reply.

"No, no, you're missing one thing," Jaystorm said at last. Foxkits heart thudded in a painful way. "What?"

Jaystorm flicked a black claw and stabbed a leaf. He then gently set it onto Foxkits soft yellow head. "You forgot the crown."

"Crown?" Foxkit repeated, confused.

"For your castle," Jaystorm smiled slightly. "You are a king and the king needs a crown."

Foxkit beamed, looking up into Jaystorms dark blue eyes. They were full of affection, making Foxkits insides feel tingly and warm.

"Don't let the queen take over," Jaystorm warned as he turned around to walk away. "The kingdom is only yours until someone reaches out and steals it from you."

The memory vanished as his brother started to rustle beside him. They were getting ready to leave for the walk, and Foxkit looked at Lilypool again, wondering if she had looked away from Jaystorm. She wasn't, to Foxkits relief. Now she was furiously licking Wolfkits dusty head.

"One would think you spent all day in the dirt," she mumbled between licks. Foxkit couldn't resist taking another look over at Jaystorm. He sat tall and proud, with his four kits around him. Roseheart stood awkwardly at the side, and Foxkit felt a pang of unexpected sadness. Roseheart was the daughter who had a different mother than the rest. Foxkit never really understood how that worked.

"Why does Roseheart have a different mother?" Foxkit wondered out loud as Lilypool leaned over to groom him too. Lilypool visibly stiffened, but she kept licking like he hadn't spoken.

"I thought I've told you this," Lilypool whispered through his fur. "Several times, in fact."

Foxkit knew he had annoyed her. But the question was nagging like a burr to the pelt. "Tell me again," he pleaded. "Please."

Lilypool heaved a huge, agitated sigh before launching into the story. "Jaystorm loved a cat before Hollyfern," Lilypool started, a heavy stress over the word 'love'. "They decided to have a kit, like your father and I did, and that kit was Roseheart."

"Why did they stop loving each other?" Foxkit asked, still confused.

"It just happens, okay?" Lilypool snapped, annoyance lacing her usually gentle voice. "Stop asking about such adult things."

"Sorry," Foxkit mumbled. "Jeez."

"Let's go," Lilypool said, not meeting anyone's eyes. "It will be getting dark soon."

Moonfeather took no notice to his mates tone and rubbed against her cheek affectionately. Foxkit and Wolfkit scampered after them; Foxkits weird feeling disappeared as he ran out of the camp.

"What do you mean, he's getting worse?" Lilypaw demanded at Rainsong, who was pacing the den. Frustration and fear rolled off her, making the air so thick it was hard to breathe.

"Darkclaw is dying, Lilypaw," Rainsong choked, legs trembling. "There's nothing more we can do."

"Well, you have to!" Lilypaw screamed. She slumped to the ground, tracing a paw over Darkclaws sweat matted head.

"Darkclaw," she whispered miserably. "Darkclaw, please. Don't die."

"I can't live any longer," Darkclaw whispered, closing his eyes. "I just can't. It hurts to breathe. It hurts to see."

"Well, it will get better," Lilypaw sobbed. "Don't leave me, Darkclaw. What will I do without you?"

"You will be just fine," Darkclaw looked at her one last time, eyes clouded and gray. "You have Jaystorm. And Talonstrike. They will take care of you."

"NO!" Lilypaw cried, chest heaving. "You were my mentor! You're my best friend! No one can replace that."

"You were much more than that to me," Darkclaws voice was barely audible. "Goodbye, Lilypaw.

I love you."