Splashflight's Mistake (book one)

Chapter 13

"Brightpaw?" Splashpaw whispered, shaking her ever so slightly. "Brightpaw, I need to tell you something important..."

Brightpaw stirred. "Splashpaw? Yeah, whats up?" She asked gently. It was almost dawn. Splashpaw looked at his paws, pulling Brightpaw after him as he padded out of the den and into the forest.

"Brightpaw, I have to tell you... I love you so much, Brightpaw, but I think StarClan is calling me to a different life. I-I think StarClan needs me to be-" he broke off, staring at his paws. He couldn't bear the way Brightpaw was looking at him.

Brightpaw was staring at him, her eye wide in sadness and hurt. She lowered her head slowly. "B-But what will happen to us? I thought we would be mates when we were older, Splashpaw... I-I..." She was speechless. Splashpaw felt his heart break.

"Brightpaw, we can still be mates when we are older. Because the only reason the code is against it is because it distracts the medicine cat! I won't get distracted!" He whispered. Moving forward to lick her missing eye, he nuzzled her. "I love you too much to let you go," he whispered.

Brightpaw purred. "I love you more than there are stars in the sky," she answered back quietly. Together they sat until the sun rose, vowing to never let their love get in the way of their duties. They would never reveal their secret.

•~•¥•~•

"All cats strong enough to swim against the current of the mighty river gather to hear my words!" Aquastar's crisp, clear yowl rang in Splashpaw's ears, and he uncurled his tail from Brightpaw's. Morningpaw gave Splashpaw a smug glare and trotted out next to Dawnpaw and Fallingpaw, twining her tail in his. Splashpaw sighed. His last day as a warrior apprentice...

"Today we welcome two new warriors and one new apprentice!" His mother said proudly. Splashpaw padded out, sheilding his eyes from the cutting light of the rising sun, and settling himself on the far side, beside Brightpaw.

"Morningpaw! Dawnpaw!" Aquastar called proudly, and Morningpaw gave a triumphant yowl of joy. She raced up as fast as she could and shot a satisfactory stare at Splashpaw, before turning back to Aquastar. "Morningpaw, you have received great training from Snowtip, and I think you are ready to become a warrior," his mother began. Morningpaw nodded, and Splashpaw heard a huff of exasperation from somewhere in the crowd. "You will be Morningshine," she finished. Morningshine trotted back down, and returned to her spot.

Dawnpaw replaced her. "Dawnpaw shall be Dawnmist, after the misty morning on which you were found," Aquastar said. Dawnmist beamed and ran back down the rock.

"Dawnmist! Morningshine!!" The clan chanted. Then all eyes turned on Splashpaw.

"Splashpaw, step forward," Aquastar ordered, and Splashpaw did as he was told. Here goes...