Warrior Cats: Shadow Propechy (ENG VER.)

CHAPTER 7

He went at a brisk pace, ignoring the cats that looked interested. Treestripe entered Morningcloud's den, his short Siamese pelt ruffled slightly from the earlier commotion. The medicine cat moved her tail from side to side. She paced up and down the den, muttering. "I can't believe he's willing to run like a coward rat!" She did not spare the tom from offensive words. "It seems he doesn't understand the gravity of the situation!"

"Perhaps he's afraid." The warrior approached, nearly being attacked by Morningcloud's wrath.

"Fear to protect his clan? Don't be stupid, Treestripe!" She spat, shaking her head. "You always treated him like a spoiled kit. Well, guess what, he's the leader now. Either he learns to act like one or his Clan will end up being punished along with him!"

She breathed deeply, and the den made silence. Treestripe looked away, suddenly at a loss for words. It was true, he and Sharpear had always treated Wolfstar as if he were a helpless kit. Especially now that the tabby warrior looked full to overflowing with problems.

Morningcloud took a step back and sat up, kicking up dust and small leaves and flowers that were lying on the floor. She surveyed her den, once so neat and clean. "He has a future with FieldClan, Treestripe," she meowed softly, anger giving way to fear. "He can't just drop everything because he's afraid."

"I know that." The warrior walked over, pushing some branches off the ground to sit beside the medicine cat. "He just... needs time."

"We do not have time."

Morningcloud lowered her head, deep in thought. Treestripe encircled her with his tail, trying to comfort her, even though he knew the medicine cat's hatred of physical touch.

"I didn't want this life either," Morningcloud meowed, barely above a whisper. Her half-brother said nothing, just continued to groom her. "But I had to accept it. My Clan comes first, even if I don't like what I do. He has to understand this."

She lifted her pale green eyes, staring into the yellowish greens of Treestripe. The warrior nodded, agreeing with her words. "I understand. But he needs more time."

"Time..." She mouthed the word. She took a deep breath, her white chest rising and falling. "Only StarClan knows what will happen to us in the future."

Treestripe nodded, not quite sure what the she-cat meant. The medicine cat got up, starting to organize the countless leaves, flowers and roots that were lying on the ground. The warrior helped her, taking wads of medicinal herbs into his mouth, careful not to bite too hard and accidentally swallow the unknown contents. The cream she-cat broke the silence, drawing Treestripe's attention. "Do you intend to have kits in the future?"

The warrior pondered for a second. He had never thought of that. Would he really fall in love and carry on his legacy? Treestripe never found himself loving a queen, let alone having offspring with one. "I'm not sure," he stammered. The she-cat looked at him, waiting for a concrete answer. "Perhaps? I don't know yet, Morningcloud. Give me more time to think."

He turned his face to the side, almost hiding. The medicine cat exhaled through her mouth, but she wasn't happy. She sighed deeply, looking up at the roof of her den. "My dream has always been to have kits."

Treestripe eyes widened. It was totally forbidden for medicine cats to have children or any kind of romantic relationship, as it would end up getting in the way of his service as the Clan medicine cat. Morningcloud smiled sadly, refusing to meet her half-brother's eyes.

"I know what you're thinking." She fixed the plants in front of her, meticulously arranging them in order. "But I would never break the rules."

Treestripe knew that. Morningcloud was a cat who believed in fate, especially if StarClan itself had written it. At birth, the mystic cats of the Silverpelt had already prescribed the medicine cat's entire life, and there was nothing she could do to change it. But apparently, that didn't stop her from dreaming.