I Fell In Love With My Apprentice 2: Mocking Jay

Chapter 3: Only if for a Night

The gathering passed in a haze of irritation. Lilypool angrily scratched her ear for what seemed to be the millionth time, glaring at Moonfeather as he did so.

Freaking cat's attracting every bug in the forest.

However, despite the bugs that were wandering around Moonfeathers honey slicked fur; he sat tall with his eyes staring straight ahead. Lilypool shuddered as she saw a bug disappear through his fur and into his skin.

"I pronounce the gathering over!" Leafstar, Willowclans leader called out. She looked up at the full moon before turning to jump off the rock.

"Let's go," Moonfeather said at once. Lilypool stiffened, angered at how aggressively he spoke to her.

"I wanted to stay and mingle with the others," Lilypool protested, not meeting his eyes. "I only see the other clans once a moon."

"What do you care about the other clans?" Moonfeather snapped, spitting on the ground. "What are you going to even do? Parade up to Greenclan and strike up a cheerful conversation?"

"Well, maybe not Greenclan," Lilypool mumbled. She flashed a glance over to where Jaystorm and Talonstrike were sitting. I wish they would come talk to me.

Lilypool desperately missed her friendships with the two tom cats, and how they used to spend every waking moment together.

When Darkclaw was alive, we were inseparable, Lilypool thought miserably. Now I'm lucky to even get a quick hello once a moon.

"Come on!" Moonfeather cried. "Stop staring into space!"

Lilypool shook her head to clear her thoughts. "Coming," she whispered. As Moonfeather turned away, Lilypool gave one last longing glance at Jaystorm.

See you back at camp, she thought, pretending that he could hear her. She stared at him for a second more, then turned and sadly followed Moonfeather back to the trail.

…

"I wish we were made warriors today!" Lionpaw growled, tearing up the grass in frustration. "Then we could have impressed everyone!"

"Chill," Mintpaw said, rolling her eyes slightly. "It'll happen any day now. And we will probably attend a billion more gatherings before we go to the elders den."

"It just would have been cool if we could go to the gathering the day we became warriors," Lionpaw replied. "I don't think it's happened before and we would have been remembered for it."

"Gingertail told me the assessment would be in a few days," Petalpaw added, her quiet voice unusually clear. "We just have to be patient."

"Yeah, well Amberpelt told me that the assessment would be before the gathering," Lionpaw grumbled. "And did that happen? Nope."

Mintpaw remained quiet when her brother and sister started talking about their mentors. She always felt left out. Lionpaw and Petalpaw had gotten Gingertail and Amberpelt for mentors, and they did everything together because the older warriors were best friends. Mintpaw had gotten Moonfeather for a mentor. Moonfeather usually would separate her apprentice training away from her siblings, because he said she needed to branch out from them. Mintpaw knew the excuse was rubbish. It was no secret Gingertail and Amberpelt made fun of Moonfeather when they were younger.

They were in the fearsome four, Mintpaw thought dreamily, forgetting about Moonfeather for a moment. Just like my dad!

The fearsome four was a group of cats that broke up before Mintpaw was born, consisting of Darkclaw, Talonstrike, Amberpelt and Gingertail. She had heard countless stories about them, and she wished that she could be in an exclusive group like they were. Well, I guess Amberpelt and Gingertail weren't in it forever, Mintpaw thought to herself. They were kicked out for being too mean to others… and Lilypool and Jaystorm were invited in!

"I wish Moonfeather would participate in more training exercises with us," Lionpaw said, shattering Mintpaws thoughts. "It seems like he's always pulling you away from everyone."

"That's because he does!" Mintpaw couldn't control the way the words burst out of her mouth. She rolled her eyes and sighed. "I swear to Starclan, whenever there's an opportunity for us to hunt or train of even go on a border patrol, he just won't."

"Yeah, I don't get it," Petalpaw said. "Gingertail doesn't have a problem with him."

"Amberpelt doesn't either," Lionpaw added.

"Weird," Mintpaw mumbled. She had a strange feeling, but she couldn't place it.

"Wow, look at Lilypool," Lionpaw suddenly smirked. Mintpaw pushed her thoughts about her mentor away and looked up to see what Lionpaw was talking about.

"What's she looking at?" Mintpaw asked, confused. Lilypool had her head twisted around on her shoulders, staring at something.

"What does she ever look at?" Petalpaw scoffed, her tone slightly sarcastic.

"Dad," Lionpaw whispered when Mintpaw remained blank.

"Oh," Mintpaw mumbled, feeling silly. I should have figured that out myself.

"She's so obvious with her staring," Petalpaw said. "I don't know how it doesn't burn a hole in the back of his skull."

"What I'm confused about is how Moonfeathers not catching on," Mintpaw exclaimed. "It's almost as if he doesn't know she's there."

…

"Oh, Lilypool. I didn't see you standing there."

Lilypool jumped, surprised to hear a voice at this time of night. She quickly wiped the tears that stained her cheeks, and turned to face the familiar figure standing behind her.

"Jaystorm," Lilypool winced as her voice cracked. "What are you doing out here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Jaystorm smiled. Then he got a funny look on his face. "Remember the time we got caught hiding in the bushes by Darkclaw?"

Lilypool thought of her cherished memory with her friends and struggled not to start crying again. "Of course I remember," she said, voice wobbling.

"It reminds me of right now," Jaystorm said. Then after a moment's hesitation he added, "Well, I guess Darkclaws not here to break us up this time."

"How could you say that?" Lilypool snapped, feeling a sudden anger at Jaystorm making light of a deceased friend. "He's dead."

"I know," Jaystorm nodded slowly. "And I bet he's watching right now, happy that I'm still doing okay even though we lost him."

"Yeah," Lilypool whispered. Jaystorm stared at her for a moment, and Lilypool realized he had figured out she had been crying before he showed up.

"Oh, what's wrong?" Jaystorm asked, gently touching Lilypools shoulder with a paw. Lilypaw recoiled back at once, his touch was like a spark hitting a pile of dead leaves.

It made her fur burn on fire.

"Sorry," Jaystorm mumbled, looking down. "My paws get full of static for no reason sometimes."

"It's fine," Lilypool said.

"Why are you so upset?" Jaystorm pressed. "I didn't mean to make you sad about talking about Darkclaw, I'm sorry."

"It wasn't Darkclaw I was crying about," Lilypool replied. "Well, of course I'm sad about him being dead. He just wasn't on my mind until you brought him up."

"Oh," Jaystorm said, thinking this over. "So what were you so sad about?"

"I just hate the way things are now!" Lilypool cried out. "I hate the way Darkclaws dead… and I hate the way I miss your friendship."

"Awe," Jaystorm said softly. "We're still friends, Lilypool."

"No," Lilypool said miserably. "Friends spend time together, and share things."

"We are right now," Jaystorm said, trying not to smile.

"This is the first time we've spoken in moons," Lilypool whispered. "I feel like I've lost you and Talonstrike. All I'm left with is Moonfeather."

"Is that anyway to talk about your mate?" Jaystorm crowed. Lilypool struggled not to smile at his delighted tone. It lasted for a second, and then vanished. Lilypool started to frown from sadness.

"What?" Jaystorm asked, face turning concerned. "He's not hurting you, is he?"

"No," Lilypool mumbled. Jaystorms ear flicked. "Then what's the problem?"

"The problem is I have no idea what the hell I'm doing!" Lilypool cried. "I thought it would be a healthy choice for me… and for you."

"For me?" Jaystorm repeated, confused. "Need I remind you Lilypool, we were mates once."

"Yeah, before you had another kit to raise," Lilypool whispered, thinking of Jaystorms other daughter, Roseheart. "We couldn't have been mates at that time… you had four young cats to care for. To still care for!"

"And me being with you would have hurt that," Jaystorm said quietly. "I know."

"I thought this would be easier," Lilypool confessed. "But it's the hardest thing I've ever done. I can't go a minute without thinking of you."

Jaystorm stared at her, eyes square. "I can't go one second, Lilypool," he said slowly. "Without thinking of you."

Lilypool leaned forward and brushed her cheek with his. Her pelt burned with happiness and guilt, but she didn't care that she was being unfaithful.

"I still need you," Lilypool said, breathing in his scent. "You're all I ever want."

"Ditch Moonfeather," Jaystorm said into her fur. "Come be with me. You know you want to. You've always wanted to."

"I know," Lilypool replied. "And I've tried. But he just won't listen."

"Make him listen," Jaystorm whispered.

"Ever since his dad died he won't accept the fact that I want out," Lilypool said truthfully. "He knows I don't love him. He just doesn't want anyone to know."

"Yeah," Lilypool said, feeling her heart beat against her chest. "Yeah."

"Yeah?" Jaystorm said playfully. He narrowed his eyes, and Lilypool knew it was an unspoken question.

"We'll wait until your kits become warriors," Lilypool decided, a pang of pain hitting her as she realized that would be quite a few moons. "And then we'll be mates."

"Well what if I want to be mates right now?" Jaystorm said, pushing her over gently. Lilypool stared at him, and a strange feeling flooded through her. It felt as though she was standing under and invisible rock, with a waterfall beating down on it.

"Tonight, we'll be mates," Lilypool breathed as Jaystorm gently climbed over her. "And then we'll wait. Promise me you'll wait!"

"I promise."

Lilypool didn't respond. She felt as though the moon was under her skin. Like neon lights, under the earth.

Like a million hours crushed into one.

Like an unreal dream, Lilypool could barely believe it was real.

Only if for a night