Thornbushes and Moonlight



Chapter 1: Meeting By the Thornbush
"Hold still." Willowshine hissed, glaring darkly at the black warrior as she smeared herbs on the punture wounds in his leg. "You shouldn't be on this side of the border anyway, much less in a thorn bush!" she berated him. He looked at her, eyes narrowed against the sting of the herbs.

"You know why I'm on this side of the border, and as for the thorn bush, what else was I supposed to do with Mothwing wandering all over like a lost soul? Where is she now, anyway?" he asked. Willowshine snorted at his excuses, but answered his question.

"She's gone back to camp. Where I should be right now." she added. I was his turn to snort.

"Will you stop acting like you're furious with me?" he grumbled, flexing his leg and glancing at her. She maintained her irritated look for a moment, then relented, her gaze softening.

"Does your leg feel any better?" she asked, flicking it lightly with her tail.

"Yes. Thank you." he replied, leaning forward to touch his nose to her ear. She purred softly, leaning into his touch.

"I am glad to see you." she murmured. "But I was worried; Mothwing almost caught you."

He purred. "She didn't though. And I'm happy to see you too." he twined his tail with hers. They sat like that for a while, basking in each company and gazing up at the starlit sky, until a hint of grey on the horizon brought them back to reality.

"I have to get back." Willowshine whispered, pulling herself away from his side. "They'll be wondering where I am."

He nodded, getting to his feet and nuzzling her cheek gently. "Next time?" he asked softly. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Quarter moon." she murmured. He nodded and watched as she turned to go. As she did, she glanced back over her shoulder at him, a mischievious glint in her eyes. "And next time, try and stay out of the thorns, you stupid furball."

Breezepelt purred, watching her vanish in the direction of the RiverClan camp, then turned and bounded back toward his own territory, his way illuminated by the light of the waning moon.