Sunlight (Warriors FanFic)

Chapter 1

Poppyleaf padded after her young apprentice, aware of her Clan's curious stares smothering her golden pelt. She and Rosepaw had just come from BreezeClan, to help Songbird, their medicince cat tend to ill cats. It had been too much on the elderly medicine cat. Snowstar, LakeClan's leader, came over to meet her. "Everything well in BreezeClan I suppose?" She asked, taking no notice of the Clan's circle around them. Rosepaw opened her mouth to speak, but Poppyleaf placed her tail over the tortoiseshell she-cat's mouth.

"Yes Snowstar, everything's fine. Just bad prey." She bowed her head respectfully, then padded to her den tiredly. Her shoulders slumped and her tail was drooping. Her leader sensed this was not the time to quiz the young medicine she-cat with questions. She paused only to snatch a vole from the fresh-kill pile. As she settled down to devour her meal, Shadepelt, her sister, bounded over to her with excitement in the green depths of her eyes.

"Hey Poppyleaf! How's BreezeClan?" She settled down next to Poppyleaf. Poppyleaf's pelt prickled at the thought of BreezeClan, and she instantly thought of the light grey warrior she loved so much. But, medicine cats are forbidden to fall in love and have kits. She had done both, and grief sprouted through her everytime she heard his name.

Crowfeather. And their kits lived in LakeClan with Poppyleaf, as Crowfeather doesn't even know them, or that they were even born. Her kits were named Silverpaw and Rainpaw. Every cat, of all four Clans, believe Feathertail is their mother. She has never once rejected it. Mainly because she couldn't have kits, for she is too weak. She is constantly straining her heart by going into battle, which always earns her a lecture form Poppyleaf. "Everything's fine Shadepelt." She pushed her muzzle into the dark grey warrior's pelt, comforted by her familiar, soothing scent. She looked at her sister. "Shadepelt," She beagn, wanting to pour out everything to her litter mate. But she couldn't without losing her rank as a medicine cat. Instead she asked her instead. "Have you ever loved a cat so much, but couldn't be with them?" Shadepelt stared at her, sorrow filling her green depths.

"Yes." She croaked. "Sunblaze. I had loved him so much, but he loves Featherstream." Her voice was thick with emotion. Her eyes narrowed suddenly. "Why do you ask?"

"Just asking. Medicine cats can't fall in love. You know that." She meowed. Agony tore through her heart like a badger's sharp claw. She thought of when she left Crowfeather. She could still see the pain and hurt in his amber eyes as she fought the words out. Suddenly, she was back at the day she crushed his heart.

"Why Poppyleaf? We could work it out some how..." The pleading of his eyes pierced her heart like a thorn. She shook her head.

"I can't Crowfeather. I'm a medicine cat. Your from a different Clan." She shut her amber eyes. His pelt brushed hers and his scent was heavy around her. He leaned into her sadly. "I love you so much Crowfeather, but how could we leave our Clans? They need us. I'm LakeClan's medicine cat. Rosepaw needs her mentor." Her voice shook when she spoke, and she felt like wailing Crowfeather no! Don't go! I need you! . Poppyleaf felt him back away. She opened her eyes slowly, half expecting him to have gone. Though there he was, staring at her, unblinking.

"I love you Poppyleaf. And I will love you forever." He rasped like he was seconds away from tearing in half. He trembled while he spoke. "You don't have to meet me anymore. But I will come here every night to see if you'll come back. I promise." Without another word, he padded away. Poppyleaf stared behind him as she watched the ferns swallow him into the darkness.

"Poppyleaf!" Shadepelt padded her with one forepaw. Dazed, she faced her, and she was sure Shadepelt saw the sadness in her eyes. She shook her head and stood up.

"I'm going to rest." She told the young warrior. "Goodbye Shadepelt."She let the ferns to her den swallow her into darkness just as they had done to Crowfeather moons ago. Despair was coming off of her in waves, As she settled in her mossy nest, she had to push the thought away of meeting the grey warrior at twilight and take him back.

"StarClan help me!" Poppyleaf yowled as  the tugging black waves fought to pull her under. She heard Crowfeather shriek as he watched her sink further. As she plunged deeper, her body stopped struggling and she let the waves crash on top of her, and waited for StarClan to claim her.

UNFINISHED