Prolouge
It was moon-high. The sound of paw steps and rustling leaves could be heard through the forest. A short, fluffy brown tom was running through the bracken, short of breath and panting.
"Sprout?" the tom panted. "Are you here?" His scent was still fresh, and some of the foliage had been disturbed along the route. He has to be here. He just HAS to. It wasn't fair. Sprout didn't deserve this.
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Sprout and Cosmo are the best of friends. They've been friends ever since they were kits. Sprout and his brother, Dandy, were only 3 moons old when Cosmo was born. He would always play with Cosmo since he had no littermates. Of course, Sprout was sad when he had to move to the apprentice den when he became 6 moons old, but that didn't stop him from visiting Cosmo in the nursery under the excuse of cleaning out bedding. Cosmo loved helping other cats and kept them company when they got sick or injured, so nobody was surprised when he became a medicine cat apprentice.
Overtime, they became swamped in their training and grew further apart overtime. Dandy and Sprout were going to be warriors but then something happened.
A Great Battle.
It was both the brothers first big battle and they fought exceptionally well. He was lucky to get out with only a nick to the ear and and gash on his shoulder unlike, his mother, who he saw bleeding out through a terrible belly wound. He didn't know what to do! How to save her! He tried calling for help but it was all in vain. Her last breaths were nothing but the sound of gurgling then....
Silence.
His brother blamed sprout for the death of their mother. "You didn't even try to save her!," dandy once shouted. Sprout didn't try to fight back because he was overwhelmed by his own guilt and grief. They sat vigil for her that night. Surprisingly, cosmo joined him but didn't say anything, just bowed his head in respect.
After she was buried in the morning he was sent to his nest to get some rest. "If only I had known what to do...," he thought as he curled up in his nest.
"I could always learn..."
And with that idea in mind, is why he came to the leaders den and ask for a change in his role.
"Hmm?... and why do you want to become a medicine cat of a sudden," the leader asked.
"Because I don't want to see another cat die on my watch... not like...," Sprout said, ears drooping.
"Ah I see. I understand how important this is to you. And I'm sure our medicine cat wouldn't mind have two apprentices though your training will be a bit longer," the leader purred.
"Oh thank you! You won't regret this!," Sprout meowed.
"Oh I'm sure I won't. I'll tell your mentor about this and call a clan meeting later"
And with that, like the leader said, a clan meeting was called. Most his clan mates were shocked, cosmo most of all. And the only cat who seemed to be upset was his brother but he didn't say anything though, just grumbled off to his den. Over the seasons cosmo and sprout had become so close again that cat could mistake them as mates!
....well.
They weren't wrong.
Over time sprout began to develop feeling for cosmo. Of course he was shocked when cosmo came out to him first about his feelings. And just like that they became mates! Secret ones of course but still lovey dovey mates!
More seasons passed, dandy, who had became deputy was now the leader. And sprout and cosmos mentor had passed away which made them official medicine cats.
All was good until it happened.
"LET ALL CATS OLD ENOUGH TO CATCH THEIR OWN PREY JOIN ME AT ONCE FOR A CLAN MEETING."
As once, the whole clan stopped what they were doing to join the meeting.
"It seems we have code breakers among us," he snarled, staring right at sprout.
"Why are you looking at me like that," he said as he glared at dandy.
"You and cosmo are mates! Medicine can't have mates!"
The clan went silent at this allegation. Some cats were outraged while other looked like they didn't care, probably because they always knew.
"So what if we are!"
"I've decided to exile you"
"WHAT!? YOUR MY OWN BROTHER!"
"We stopped being brothers ever since you didn't save our mother!"
"IS THIS WHAT THIS IS TRUELY ABOUT? I WAS AN APPRENTICE!"
"Leave. Now"
"Fine! Come on, cosmo"
"Cosmo stays. Our clan needs a medicine cat."
"...what. no. NO. You can't make him stay!"
Dandy unsheathe his claws and bared his teeth stepping in front of a now scared cosmo. Sprout bared his teeth too, ready to rip his brothers throat out until cosmo stepped in.
"Please stop! I'll stay. Just please dont fight," cosmo meowed.
Sprout looked shocked. He was about to say something but his brother cut him off with a warning hiss. He looked backed at cosmo with a said face before fully leaving the camp.
And with that sprout was exiled while cosmo was forced to stay.