Another chapter!! Hope that you are enjoying this so far and so sorry for how slow I am with all the others. All my stories are in the works. It's just actually finishing the chapter itself that I procrastinate on! I know what the story is, I have it all planned out, I know how they all end…it's just writing them all down that's taking time!!! It's like that song; "Hard to be the Bard" song by 'Something Rotten' Ensemble and Christian Borle

Follow, favorite and review!

O0O0O0O

Oakheart liked to think he knew his brother better than anyone else. There were things private between them, Crookedstar being leader and having a special connection with StarClan, but on a closer brotherly level he expects his younger brother to come to him whenever things become too much for him or when problems arose so they could fix them together. Oakheart was there for him when their mother, Rainflower, deserted him, something Oakheart will never forgive her for doing to his brother, he encouraged him throughout his late apprenticeship, he was the first to congratulate him on becoming a warrior and although momentarily jealous, he was proud of his brother for becoming deputy and then leader. Oakheart was there for Crookedstar when Willowbreeze died and was there to knock sense into him when he almost abandoned Silverstream as a kit during his grief. And Oakheart liked to think that he was a pretty decent and trustworthy deputy.

So it vexed him in the same way a fish scale stuck between his fangs would, to not know what was going on between Crookedstar and the newly made warrior, Morningbreeze.

His brother showed reluctance to accept Morningbreeze into the Clan in the beginning, but clearly the small, sleek flame-pelted she-cat proved herself twice over. She was a smart, reliable, hardworking RiverClan warrior through and through, regardless of her heritage. Morningbreeze was also very likable, endearing and was probably the most reckless she-cat known to the Clan's. Morningbreeze sort of reminds him of himself.

Morningbreeze was special and it was plain to see. But something about her had caught Crookedstar's eye and Oakheart wanted to know what his intentions were regarding the younger she-cat warrior.

If Oakheart hadn't personally known how much in love Crookedstar and Willowbreeze were then he would have assumed that his brother had fallen in love again. The last suffix of Morningbreeze's warrior name was surprising, Oakheart didn't expect any form of reminders of Willowbreeze, unless the cat was truly someone special.

It only left a few other theories.

One of those theories is that it concerned StarClan. Perhaps Crookedstar had received an Omen or Prophecy and he thought it involved Morningbreeze? It wasn't far-fetched and very much possible, but if that was the case then wouldn't his brother have said something about it yet? Crookedstar had a tendency to keep things to himself but something as serious as an Omen or Prophecy would be something worth sharing. Then there was a possibility of a unforseen threat that only Morningbreeze could aid in preventing. Perhaps something to do with Twolegplace? Morningbreeze had once been a Kittypet and would know more about Twolegs than anyone else in the Clan. They had plenty of issues with Twolegs this past season, even Morningbreeze had been kidnapped by them. But the Twolegs have left now and haven't been seen since their attack and rescue of Morningbreeze. Then there was the possibility that there was something personally wrong with Morningbreeze. But it was strange that she would have gone to Crookedstar of all cat's. He had so many questions but no answers.

Crookedstar was currently being stubborn, more stubborn than a clam in its shell and wasn't keen on opening up and sharing the cause of the obvious distress he was in with his deputy. It put Oakheart in a predicament where on one paw he would be going behind his leader's back to figure out what was going on, but then on the other he only had the best intentions to help his brother. Out of both these paws he decided that sometimes it's best to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Besides, it wouldn't be the first time he's broken rules and he felt as though it wouldn't be his last. Another connection that he and Morningbreeze shared. Instead of going to Crookedstar to get answers, he decided to go to the other cat involved in all the secrecy, Morningbreeze. Was it underpawed of him to use the authority of being RiverClan's deputy to freely interrogate one of his own warriors? Yes, yes it was. Does he feel bad about it? No, no he does not. That's why he led the new warrior out far enough away to speak with her in private. So they wouldn't be interrupted.

"I know there is something going on between you and Crookedstar that you aren't telling anyone about," Oakheart found that being blunt and to the point worked best on Morningbreeze, she responded best to it and would give clearer answers without her getting the wrong ideas. "You're both always sneaking around together. Never giving any straight answers as to why. The reason why he took you and only you along with the other medicine cat's is unknown to everyone and I just want to know why. Crookedstar, my brother --" Oakheart sighed as he stepped towards the water edge, the part of his territory that was submerged by flooding. "I just want to help him and I can't do that if I don't know what's wrong."

Oakheart felt so tired. He was still young and fit and could take on any warrior if having to but in that moment, where he's expressing his concerns about Crookedstar, who he feels as though is drifting away, out of Oakheart's reach and safety, he felt closer to a limp fish on land. Oakheart felt so useless for being unable to aid his brother through a clearly troubling time.

He felt somewhat ridiculous for narrating his woes towards a barely day old warrior but it felt comfortable to do so. Especially when Morningbreeze comes to stand beside him and gently press reassuringly against his flank, a silent show of support as he continues speaking.

"Everything about him has been off lately. More so than usual. You know, I have been thinking much about it since you came, for some reason my brother has been more…" Oakheart struggled to find the word to express his brother's change in behavior as of late. "lighter since you arrived yet at the same time, more secretive. My brother has always had his secrets, I never pushed him to tell me about them, but I feel whatever is going on it's unlike anything I have ever seen so far with how it's impacting him. So tell me, Morningbreeze, how can I help my brother?"

"Have you talked with him about it?" Morningbreeze meowed, looking down at her paws.

"I've tried to talk to him." Oakheart huffed, hating the way that his brother just brushed him off. "But he's being stubborn, I bet he thinks I'm unreliable or can't understand--"

"Maybe he's just scared?" Morningbreeze blurted all of a sudden, cutting the RiverClan deputy off, and taking him by surprise.

"Scared?" Oakheart echoed, having a hard time following. "Why would he be scared to tell me? There isn't anything he could say that I wouldn't care about."

"Well maybe you wouldn't feel that way but he does." Morningbreeze explained, still not meeting his eyes. "Maybe you shouldn't press him on the matter…just give him time to come to you."

Have patience and he will come to you. That's what Morningbreeze was telling him. But Oakheart had been patient and still Crookedstar hadn't told him anything. How much longer would he have to wait? Till Crookedstar drove himself ragged and on his last leg? Did some calamity need to happen before he was told what was going on? Couldn't they resolve this issue before it got worse, whatever it was.

"But," Morningbreeze continued. "You should tell him how it makes you feel to be treated this way."

Oakheart had tried to express to Crookedstar about his behavior and how Oakheart was there for him and that no matter what he could be trusted to help him. But Crookedstar just wouldn't listen!

"Maybe I can--"

"MORNINGPAW!!"

Oakheart and Morningbreeze's conversation was abruptly cut short as Whiteclaw came bounding through the reeds like an overly energetic kit. His eyes were set firmly on Morningbreeze, not even seeming to acknowledge his deputy sitting right beside her.

The dark reddish-brown RiverClan deputy snorted as the young tom collided with his mate, sending them both sprawling dangerously close to the highwater's edge and nearly falling in. Sending that the pair might need some time alone, Oakheart decided to leave them alone for now.

The RiverClan deputy had other ways of figuring out what was going on with his brother.

O0O0O0O

Fun Facts

underpawed -- underhanded

Oakheart had a lot of theories. The first one I thought of for Oakheart to think was "oh! My brother is getting remarried!" So I had to add that!

Oakheart reminds me a lot of canon Firestar when he was investigating Tigerclaw!!! I think that's a good comparison with each other.

Yes. Willowbreeze's name is important and special to Crookedstar. He doesn't give the suffix "breeze" or "willow" to just anyone. He gave it to Morningbreeze because it symbolizes a great deal of trust and acceptance.

Also the way I see Crookedstar and Oakheart's relationship at the moment is Oakheart just wants to be relied upon by his brother, wants to help him because he cares about him. Crookedstar feels guilty about his past and doesn't want to disappoint or even have Oakheart hate him. So a lot of miscommunication as well.

Apparently Oakheart gets the fact that Morningbreeze needs direct bluntness to understand things.

White x Morning?