The Beauty and the Warrior

The Sacrifice

Fire was thrown in the dungeon, much to all Crowfeather's friends'dismay, as they couldn't stand to see their friend being treated like that.

"Crowfeather!" Sandstorm hissed. "How could you do that to him!"

"He stole from me and ate my dinner!" Crow exclaimed.

"He was your fucking advisor!" Sandstorm exclaimed, feeling partly guilty for her foul language. "You can't just do this!"

"I can and I will!" Crowfeather stormed out. "I don't give two shits Sandstorm, cats change over the span of two years!"

"Yeah." Sand glared at him. "They really do."

She sighed as Crow locked the dungeon doors and left.

Meanwhile Leafpool was reading a book as her horse Lilac pulled a barrel through the water at the wash station. A young she-kit Feathertail looked up at the beautiful she-cat curiously. Her brother, Stormfur was off at school with the other boys and the other orphan girls were doing the laundry.

She was curious about Leafpool, and slowly approached her. Leafpool looked up at the sweet she-kit.

"Hello." Leaf smiled warmly.

"What are you doing?" Feathertail asked.

"Reading." Leafpool then had an idea. She pulled out the book her father had used to teach Leafpool how to read when she was young. "Would you like to try?"

Feathertail's face lit up in excitement as she hopped up on the bench, and for the rest of the afternoon Leafpool taught Feathertail some simple words like 'can', 'cool', and 'love'.

Feathertail turned out to be quite a fast learner and was soon able to read small sentences.

"The... blue, bird.... um, flew?" She looked up at Leafpool, who grinned at the little she-kit.

"That was amazing!" She congratulated the little girl.

"Why, Leafpool, what in heavens sake are you doing!? Teaching ANOTHER girl to read?!" A villager exclaimed as he walked past the two cats.

Other cats' heads began to turn, looking at the two girls with disdain. For many thought that having a proper education was only suited for toms.

Feathertail looked down guiltily, but Leafpool gave her the book, whispering; "Keep practicing, you'll soon be very, very smart, I know it. Maybe you can ask any friends you have for help?"

"I have a brother," Feathertail meowed. "I could ask him."

"Yes, yes!" Leafpool encouraged. "Do that! And don't let anyone keep you from learning, understand?"

"Okay!" Feathertail said, and trotted off to finish her chores.

Leafpool sighed, saddened that cats were so against she-cats learning. If only it was allowed for girls to go to school...

Suddenly, just as she was about to head inside with her clean laundry to put it up to dry, Pinestar stepped in front of her.

"Miss-"

"No!" Leafpool snapped. "It's never going to happen!"

"I was going to say that you shouldn't have been doing what you were doing." He meowed.

Leafpool rolled her eyes. "All I wanted was to teach a child to read."

"Leafpool, the only children you should be concerning yourself with are your own." Pinestar said.

"I'm not ready to have kits Pinestar." Leafpool shook her head.

"Well maybe you haven't met the right tom." Pinestar pressed.