Oakheart Tells Crookedjaw

Crookedjaw sat quietly in the middle of the camp, his ears pricked and eyes sharp for any sudden movement. His claws scraped the ground out of impatience.

The reeds along the RiverClan camp rustled, and a cat with a reddish-brown pelt stepped out. Crookedjaw instantly recognized his brother, Oakheart.

"Oakheart!" the crooked-mouthed warrior called, "There you are! Where have you been? I was about to send out a search party." Oakheart jumped at Crookedjaw's voice, "Oh, it's you," he mewed, relaxing, "I..uh...didn't think you'd be awake."

The RiverClan deputy flicked his tail. "Wide awake, actually."

"I'm sorry if I worried you," Oakheart apologized, looking down at his paws. "It's okay," Crookedjaw sighed, "Now, can you tell where you've been?"

Oakheart averted his eyes. "I...I don't know if I should."

Crookedjaw was starting to grow irritated. "Tell me," he repeated sternly.

Oakheart turned his green gaze to his brother. "Promise you won't tell anyone?"

Crookedjaw hesitated. It was obvious Oakheart had done something he shouldn't. But the desperation in his brother's green eyes shone so brightly, that Crookejaw had to simply give in. "All right," he sighed, "I won't tell anyone."

Oakheart blinked gratefully at Crookejaw, before turning his head in every direction to check no one was watching them. Returning to Crookedjaw, he whispered, "I left to meet with Bluefur."

Crookedjaw took a step back. Oakheart had broken the first and most important law of the warrior code! "Oakheart, how could you?" he gasped.

"I'm sorry," Oakheart murmured, "I know I shouldn't have done it, but I just couldn't stop myself. Crookedjaw, I love her. I know everyone's been wanting me to have a mate, but I can't find anyone in RiverClan that would be perfect for me. Only her."

"What about Graypool?"

"What about her?"

Crookedjaw rolled his pale-green eyes. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed. She's has special feelings for you, Oakheart. Even if she is expecting Timberfur's kits, I'm sure she'd rather be expecting yours."

Oakheart sat down irritably. "Well that's too bad for her," he muttered, "We're just friends, and she's got to realize that."

Crookedjaw gave his brother a little nudge with his shoulder. "Don't let her know that. You'd be lining her bedding by the end of the day."

But Oakheart didn't seem to look amused by his light-hearted joke. The reddish-brown tom simply muttered, "What am I going to do, Crookedjaw? I love Bluefur, but I can't keep seeing her. It's against the warrior code."

"My thoughts exactly," Crookedjaw replied, "If you know what's right, Oakheart, then you have to stop seeing her. I don't blame you for liking her, though. She's a great cat; strong and beautiful. You two would be perfect together. But you're from different Clans, it just wouldn't work out."

"I guess you're right," Oakheart sighed, and slowly padded to the warrior's den.