I Fell In Love With My Apprentice 2: Mocking Jay

Chapter 2: Honey Sap

Jaystorm padded up to Talonstrike, shaking his head.

"What's up?" Talonstrike asked, turning around to face his friend. He raised an eyebrow as he took a look at the worn out expression on Jaystorms face. "Wow. I don't think I've ever seen you so tired."

"I look like I've been dead for a moon and a half!" Jaystorm cried out, pointing to his face with his paw. "Look at these bags under my eyes, Talonstrike. Just look at them!"

Talonstrike looked at the purple bags under Jaystorms eyes, the color contrasting his yellow pelt.

"Do you see them?" Jaystorm asked again when Talonstrike didn't respond. Talonstrike rolled his eyes. "It's kind of hard to miss," he said.

"Raising kits is hard, I'll tell you that," Jaystorm sighed. "Thank Starclan they're going to be warriors in the next moon here. I've been up all hours helping them train."

Talonstrike felt a rush of pride for his young friend. He was tough, and embraced the challenge of being a father head on.

"I guess they aren't kits anymore," Jaystorm corrected himself after a moment's thought. "I just don't know what else to call them. They are my kits, after all."

"Yes, they are," Talonstrike nodded his head. "They're just full grown cats preparing for their warriors ceremony."

"They grew up so fast," Jaystorm said. "I don't know where the time went."

"I wouldn't know," Talonstrike mumbled, shifting his paws. He wondered to himself if he'd ever have kits one day and quickly dismissed the thought. After living with Jaystorm and his jumbled mess of kits and mates I don't really feel like entertaining it.

"Lilypools kits are growing fast too," Jaystorm said, his voice holding a hint of something Talonstrike didn't understand. "Every time I see them they're bigger."

"I guess," Talonstrike said. He hadn't actually spent much time with Lilypools kits, mainly because it felt weird to be around her now. Ever since she became mates with Moonfeather and Darkclaw died.

"Hello? Did you hear what I just said?"

Talonstrike jumped. He wasn't listening at all.

Jaystorm sighed, realizing Talonstrike was off in a different world. "I said," he said slowly. "Lilypools been looking very upset lately."

"Why?" Talonstrike asked, knowing very well that he just opened the door for a long Lilypool discussion. Jaystorm brought Lilypool up at least once a day, and it was getting old because it was always the same old thing. Have you noticed Lilypool has been acting strange? Have you noticed Lilypools been looking at me more lately? Do you think Lilypool still likes me? Do you think Lilypool thinks we're still friends? I miss the old days; do you think Lilypool misses the old days?

Did you notice Lilypool has been avoiding Moonfeather?

Do you think it's weird that I play with Lilypools kits?

Do you think things with Lilypool will ever be the same?

Lilypool?

Lilypool

LILYPOOL

"So I've been wondering about Lilypool," Jaystorm started. Talonstrike rolled his eyes and braced himself for the same old questions. To his surprise, Jaystorm took an entirely different route.

"I think Lilypools kits are mine," Jaystorm said very calmly, nodding his head slowly but not making eye contact with Talonstrike. Talonstrike was so lost in his annoyed thoughts he didn't quite hear him.

"I think I must have something in my ears," Talonstrike said, scratching his right ear. "I swore you just said something really weird."

"You didn't hear me?" Jaystorm said in disbelief.

"No," Talonstrike mumbled, being honest. I could have sworn he just said Lilypools kits are his… how ridiculous!

"Wolfkit and Foxkit are my sons," Jaystorm said simply. Talonstrike started to choke on nothing, this new information spinning around like a hail storm.

"WHAT did you say?" he choked. He couldn't believe his ears.

"How many freaking times do I have to repeat myself?" Jaystorm snapped. "For Starclans sake, one would think you've gone deaf. Lilypools. Kits. Are. Mine."

"What the hell, Jaystorm," Talonstrike whispered, not knowing what to think. "How could you do this?"

"We love each other," Jaystorm said defensively. "Don't act like you're surprised! I tell you every day!"

"I thought you were just talking," Talonstrike wheezed. He was starting to feel sick. This means Jaystorm has two more kits… with a third mate! Another realization dawned over him at the same time, and he struggled to digest it.

This also means Lilypool has been dishonest with Moonfeather… and he thinks the kits are his!

"Stop looking so freaked out," Jaystorm hissed. "For crying out loud I thought you knew."

"No," Talonstrike puffed, looking around. Everyone else in the clearing was minding their own business. It seems almost unreal…

"I've been watching the kits for a while, and I've confirmed it," Jaystorm continued, ignoring Talonstrikes mini heart attack. "They look like me. No, they look exactly like me. And they have similar facial structures and it's just obvious."

Talonstrike was still too shocked to reply. Jaystorm took no notice and shrugged. "Not to mention we got together right before she became mates with Moonfeather. I think it's safe to say that her being pregnant right away and our little get together not even a moon before was not just a coincidence."

"What will the clan think?" Talonstrike asked at last. "And your kits? Aren't you the least bit scared of what everyone's reaction will be? And don't even get me started on what Moonfeather will do!"

"Moonfeather is an image obsessed phony," Jaystorm scoffed. "He treats those kits like the biggest pieces of prey caught in a hunting competition."

"But still," Talonstrike said feebly. "This just feels really wrong."

"WRONG!" Jaystorm burst out. Talonstrike was taken off guard by the volume from his voice, and he looked at him without saying anything.

"What's wrong is Lilypool and Moonfeather being together!" Jaystorm hissed. "It's not right, and everyone knows it! She belongs with me!"

"Then why didn't she come to you instead of Moonfeather?" Talonstrike asked, trying to rattle some sense into his old friend. "Why is she mates with him?"

"Because," Jaystorm whispered. "She doesn't think I'm reliable enough to be mates with her."

Talonstrike decided not to mention Jaystorm was the only cat the entire forest with three separate litters.

"But she's wrong," Jaystorm continued quietly. "And I think it's time for her to know that."

"Do you have to do that?" Lilypool sighed in annoyance, staring at Moonfeather. Moonfeather was grooming the fur on his head, using a honey paste to slick it all to one side.

"I just want to look my best," Moonfeather rolled his eyes. "Something you obviously don't know how to do."

Lilypool rolled her eyes, and didn't reply. Since they were alone, Moonfeather had dropped the act of the perfect mate and father. His eyes were cold, and he stared at Lilypool with disgust.

"When was the last time you've even washed?" He growled. "I can smell you from here."

"Wolfkit and Foxkit climb all over me all day with their dirty paws," Lilypool defended herself. "I don't see the point to bathe every day."

Moonfeather muttered something under his breath and continued patting his fur into place. Lilypool sighed. Moonfeather though his slicked back fur made him look handsome and rugged. Lilypool personally thought he looked like a kitten that rolled around in sap.

"No one else takes the time to look the way I do," Moonfeather exclaimed. "You should be proud you have such a clean cut cat for a mate."

Lilypool involuntarily thought of the time Jaystorm had commented on Moonfeathers fur. "What the hell is that on your head?" he had asked. "It's called grooming," Moonfeather snapped. "Something you should try doing once in a while."

"I like to think I look good enough without honey smeared in my fur," Jaystorm smiled. "I think Lilypool does too." And with that, he nodded and winked at Lilypool, right in front of Moonfeather. Lilypools heart started to feel all warm and fuzzy as she thought of the memory, and she started to smile as she thought of Jaystorms face.

"What are you smiling about?" Moonfeather snapped.

"I was thinking about something funny that Fuzztuft told me yesterday," Lilypool lied.

"Whatever," Moonfeather rolled his eyes darkly.

Lilypools thoughts drifted back to Jaystorm, and she looked around the clearing to see if she could spot the yellow tom cat. She spotted him way in the back of the clearing, by the apprentices den, talking to Talonstrike.

Those two talk alone every day, Lilypool thought.

I wonder if they ever talk about me.

"Alright, it's time to go to the gathering," Moonfeather said. "Try to put a smile on that drab face, Lilypool."

And with that, Moonfeathers face twisted and stretched, leaving his scowl behind and replacing it with a delightful bright smile.

Lilypool had never seen anything so fake.

"Come on, darling," Moonfeather said in a cheerful voice as they came into the earshot of the other cats. "We should say goodbye to Wolfkit and Foxkit before we leave."

"Yeah," Lilypool said flatly. However, once her sons ran over, Lilypool smiled and opened her arms to hug them.

"Goodbye," Lilypool squeezed the two kits tightly, licking their soft heads. "We'll be back soon, okay!"

"We'll wait for you," Foxkit said, eyes shining.

"We want to hear all about it!" Wolfkit added. Lilypool looked into her kits eyes, and she could have sworn she could see Jaystorms smiling face in the depths of them.

Bye, Jaystorm, Lilypool thought to herself, staring at Jaystorm and fantasizing about having a conversation with him. See you after the gathering.

"Let's go," Moonfeather hissed under his breath. Louder, he added in a cheerful voice. "We're going to be late!"

Lilypool looked over at Jaystorm one last time before turning to leave. He was looking right at her.

Almost as if he could hear her thoughts.