Rivers of doom

WARNING: NOT FINISHED!!

“I hate him….No...I can’t...But I must. He’s nothing but a betraying, un-loyal, heartless...handsome…” Ivypool shook her head of these thoughts that were disgusting to her. “I was a stupid apprentice, and now I’m an even more stupid warrior.” she sighed to herself, looking over at her sleeping sister, Dovewing. “She’s me...except...better...perfect…” she scoffed. Dovewing was obviously the favorite of the two sisters; to EVERYONE. She even believed her own parents loved Dovewing more because she was the ‘special one’. She growled and rose out of her nest and simply walked out of camp, it wasn’t an odd sight, she’s been doing that a lot lately. No one had ever stopped her, and that included tonight.

The white she-cat wandered the forest, it was Leaf-Fall; so the forest glew many beautiful colors, even under the crescent moon light. She sat down at the base of a large tree looking up at the shining, silver stars above, “Why? Toms love her, she-cats want to be her, while no one notices me...her sister.” she sighed softly. Her eyes flared with a sudden anger as she unsheathed her claws and dug up the dirt and grass, “Why me!? She could have been a single kit! Then at least I wouldn’t need to be compared all the time!” She yowled towards the stars, blaming StarClan. She took a deep breath.

“There is one cat who’s ever shown an interest in me...and I never want to see him again…” She thought to herself angrily. “That tall, handsome, strong tom…” Ivypool shook her head to clear it again. She could visibly see the tom in her mind now. Tall, dark brown, muscular tabby with eyes as blue as the morning sky. She loved those eyes of his. The she-cat growled at her thoughts and slashed the tree behind her angrily before yowling in sharp pain. The tree bark was a lot thicker than she had thought and her claw got caught and pulled, causing one of her claws to bleed.

“Why me…?” she said out loud, looking up at the shining stars again. “Everything always happens to ME. Why…?” she asked herself. Ivypool looked at her bleeding claws and kept them unsheathed so that it didn’t hurt as long; it did not work. Her paw continued to ache as she just sat there silently, looking towards the lake that was shining and shimmering in the moonlight, in complete silence. The only noises she could hear was the rustling of the wind, and she loved that sound.. “This view...It’s so pretty...Just like you my love…” a male voice echoed very quietly into her ear. She flinched and her heart nearly stopped. How could Ivypool forget that deep, loving, but scary voice. It was Hawkfrost. She quickly turned around and looked all around her, no sign of movement, and no scent, just the sound of his honey-sounding voice. “H-Hawkfrost…?” A sudden fear gripped her heart. She knew that he could kill at any moment he wished. It mattered not to him. Ivypool looked around more and called out, “Come on out…!” she said halfheartedly. No response.

“Am I going insane…?” she asked herself with a yawn. Her ears perked and her gorgeous eyes lit up as she had an idea. “I’ll go visit him...But I’ll keep close to StarClan just to be safe…” she thought the plan was a good one and rested on the ground, her claws still trickling with a bit of blood that got on her paws. She rested her head on the ground and muttered in a hush whisper, “Well...Here goes nothing…” as the white she-cat soon fell into a deep sleep.

=
================== Her blue eyes slowly opened. She was all alone in a field. To her right was the star studded sky of StarClan. To the left was the ominous and black Dark Forest. She scented who she had came for and sat impatiently. The cool wind brushed through her fur as she tensed. “Oh dear StarClan...This can only end badly…I’m going to die…” she took a deep breath and stood tall as the cat she expected appeared from the darkness. Those cold….blue eyes. She could never forget them. Nor will she ever.

“Ivypool. It’s been a while since we’ve...talked.” His deep voice echoed throughout the silent space. It sent shivers down her spine, she had always admired his cool, smooth, and intimidating voice. Hawkfrost’s eyes widened slightly, “Your paw…” he said. He had noticed  her injury on her claw.

Ivypool was sitting down at this point. Her previous Dark Forest mentor padded up to her and sat as well, taking her injured paw up to his nose and licking off the blood. She blinked at him in surprise, completely speechless. This was the calmest and reasonable side she’s ever seen of him. “He’s a lot more tame now…” she thought to herself as he finished licking her claws clean. It didn’t hurt anymore, she retracted her claws. “Hawkfrost...I’ve missed you.” she said with a slight cough to fill the silent. The cool tom glanced into her eyes with a deep gaze, “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss you.” he said softly.

The she-cat sat there in the awkward silence. However, she didn’t mind it much. She loved seeing the strong tom again. Even if he was more quiet and tame then when she last had contact with him. “Did he have feelings for me…?” she thought to herself. Ivypool glanced over at Hawkfrost. His icy blue gaze never left her, he was completely focused on the she-cat that sparkled in the stars. “There’s not a better time…” she thought, taking a deep breath before looking deep into Hawkfrost’s pretty eyes.

“Did you ever love me?” she seemingly spat out. Her heart stopped for a moment and so did the wind, leaving them both in an eerie silence. Hawkfrost took a deep breath, “Love is a rather strong word…” he muttered, “Don’t you agree?” Hawkfrost said coolly. Ivypool was taken aback, she wasn't really prepared for that answer. “Did I enjoy the company of you? Yes. Did I think of you every second you weren't with me? Yes… However. Love is not the right word…” he said with a smirk.

“You’re right...it’s obsessed.” Ivypool said in a hush whisper, getting closer to the tom with a quiet voice. Hawkfrost stood and walked over the short distance in between them in order to nuzzle her rather closely, he whispered back, “I wouldn't say that…Maybe the feeling is...I dunno...I’m just going crazy about you...I haven’t felt this way about anyone before…” He said, licking her cheek quickly. “I've never felt so many different emotions for just one cat before.” he elaborated slightly before sitting down, breaking their nuzzle.

She smiled a bit as she licked his cheek in return with a small smile. That smile soon faded though. “I’m going to need to go back soon…” she said looking back at StarClan with a sad gleam in her sparkling star-lit eyes. Hawkfrost glared at her slightly, “Back? Already?!” he asked, “We've only been together a few moments and you’re already going back…?” the tom’s voice died down from the first sentence and calmed himself a bit, “We’re finally together, and you’re just leaving...Will you come back?” Ivypool looked down, “I...I don’t know…” she whispered.

Hawkfrost shook his head, “Wrong answer.” he said, standing up and facing her with a familiar glare. The moment he said those two words, Ivypool’s heart froze in place, she couldn't believe he had said it, and for a moment, she unsheathed her claws and felt as if, this is it. She was about to die. Her heart rate increased, beating heavily on her chest, “Am I going to have to fight him…?” she thought to herself with worry. She had confessed, he had confessed, why the sudden revert back to the way he was, she didn't understand it. However, Ivypool blinked her eyes as she prepared for a fight.

He turned his back on her and began walking off. “Wait!” Ivypool called after him and chasing him. Suddenly Hawkfrost showed no hesitation and pounced on her, pinning her with ease, considering he had caught her off guard. She growled, “Get off of me you--” she froze as his eyes met hers again, “I don’t want you to leave me…” Hawkfrost muttered. “Ever again, I died once, and you've killed me, I refuse to let that happen again…” He said in a hush growl. Hawkfrost had loosened his grip and let her go suddenly.

Ivypool had realized why he had let go too. She could smell an unmistakable scent. A large tom came into view, covered in battle scars and eyes burning amber as he glared at the two cats. “T-Tigerstar!” Ivypool exclaimed in surprise as she backed up a bit away from Hawkfrost. The leader of the Dark Forest scoffed, “What is she doing back here?” he asked in a growl. The blue-eyed tom went up to him, “She asked if we have any ThunderClan cats in training...The nerve.” he scowled at her, an almost entirely different cat.

The white she-cat couldn't believe her ears; not moments ago Hawkfrost was confessing and wishing her to stay with him forever, and now he’s bad mouthing her to his own father. She stayed silent. She knew those two would kill in an instant’s notice. Hawkfrost continued to go along with some story on why he was out here with Ivypool, and Tigerstar believed it. The large leader finally turned his gaze towards her, “This is your one warning, you have no business here, leave and never return.” he growled, “Hawkfrost, see to it that she leaves.” Tigerstar said, turning around and disappearing into the darkness. His scent still lingered, he was watching, he was not gone.

Hawkfrost growled and cursed something under his breath, “Get out.” he growled, nudging her roughly towards StarClan. As he shoved her roughly one final time he sighed, “I’m sorry this happened.” he said quietly, “I did care for you...believe it or not…” Hawkfrost sighed before turning his back on her, “I hope I never see you again...If I do, I might be forced to kill you...Goodbye Ivypool…” he muttered, before dashing off into the Dark Forest.

It didn't take Ivypool long to awaken under her tree, her claws all cleaned. She rubbed her watering blue eyes and groaned in pain as her shoulder hurt from being pushed to the ground. “I hate him… but I know I can’t...But I must. He’s nothing but a betraying, un-loyal, heartless...handsome…one...one confusing tom...” she thought to herself as she took a deep breath and padded back to the ThunderClan camp. The gray tom sat on the shore of the lakeside, it had been only a few sunsets since the death of his secret mate Hawkfrost. He had been suffering since that fateful night. Ashfur had not eaten or slept since he saw the bleeding body of the RiverClan warrior. The gray warrior was suffering from a disease that had made all cats miserable, no matter who they were, some never recovered. The disease of a broken heart. The memory of the dead body was awful. A blood covered, wooden steak was wedged his way into Hawkfrost's throat, causing him to bleed out all over the clean grass underneath him. Ashfur had not seen who killed his lover, but only knew it was someone in ThunderClan. "I promise you Hawkfrost...I'll find who did this...And avenge you...I'll miss you..." he remembered saying to the dead body of his mate. His muscular, brown tabby fur was stained with blood. He couldn't sleep, he knew that. Hawkfrost's dead body would haunt his dreams. Ashfur had refused to sleep, so he refused to dream about the bad RiverClan tom. A cool voice snapped back to reality, "Ashfur? You're still here?" The flecked tom turned around quickly to see Hawkfrost's brother, Brambleclaw. The muscular ThunderClan deputy had lighter fur than his brother, and amber eyes, but there was an obvious resemblance. "Oh...Hawk- I mean...Brambleclaw...What are you doing here?" he asked, confused. The ThunderClan deputy sighed, "You seem to be taking Squirrelflight's choice very harshly..." he said, thinking that the reason Ashfur had a broken heart was because Squirrelflight chose Brambleclaw as a mate rather than him. "Oh! I had forgotten about Squirrelflight..." he said quietly with a slight chuckle, "I liked her all this time, when Hawkfrost was there, waiting for me..." he thought to himself at the irony. "He pities me." Ashfur concluded, "No...I'm fine. You're the better tom anyways. You being deputy and all." he said, trying to shrug it off. Brambleclaw smiled softly, "He has Hawkfrost's smile..." he observed with a sad smile, "Well, that may be true...but we can still be best friends, right? Nothing's changed." he smiled again at the gray warrior. The muscular deputy looked down at Ashfur with hope glistening in his eyes, hoping that he wasn't going to loose a friend over Squirrelflight. Ashfur simply nodded, "Of course Brambleclaw, we're still friends. Just because you won over Squirrelflight doesn't mean we're not friends." he said with a smile. The ThunderClan deputy gave a hefty sigh of relief, "That's good, I'm glad you're not stuck in the past." Brambleclaw mewed, walking next to Ashfur, leading him back towards camp. "Where are we going?" he asked, looking up at the muscular deputy. "We're headed back to camp, Stupid." he teased with a purr and a smile. "I'm not stupid!" Ashfur said over dramatically, acting like it offended him. Brambleclaw pushed him with a laugh, "Calm down, I was only joking." he purred softly. The purr that Brambleclaw had made sent Ashfur flying through his memories, "Even his purr reminds me of him...Even if he never told me he loved me...I still knew it was true..." he smiled, hoping Hawkfrost was in a better place now. The tabby tom nudged Ashfur, "You okay? You seem very spacey tonight." he concluded. The gray tom darted his blue eyes into Brambleclaw's amber gaze with a simple purr and smile, "I'm fine you worrying clump of fur!" he teased back. The two toms continued to walk towards the camp, teasing and laughing together. As they walked into camp, they were greeted by a ginger she-cat with green eyes and a white paw. "Brambleclaw! Ashfur!" she greeted. "How ARE you two?" she continued on. The young she-cat warrior had not seen either of the toms since the previous morning. Ashfur was the one who answered, "Evening Squirrelflight, We're fine, how are you?" The leader's daughter pouted as she glared at Brambleclaw, "Lonely! Stupid Brambleclaw hasn't seen me since yesterday!" she padded over to him, "Are you avoiding me!?" she questioned. Before Ashfur or even Brambleclaw could even say anything, Squirrelflight was bombarding the ThunderClan deputy with questions. The gray tom flattened his ears, feeling unneeded since this was a matter between mates. He nodded a silent goodbye to Brambleclaw and walked off towards the warriors den. 'You should get some sleep when we get back.' Brambleclaw had said on their way back. Ashfur didn't want to admit it, but Brambleclaw had the right idea, he needed sleep if he was going to find out who killed his lover. "Once I find them...I'll avenge you....My love..." he thought himself as he closed his eyes heavily and quickly. The next morning, Ashfur was awoken abruptly by a a sharp pain in his tail. He yowled in pain as he awoke quickly, standing straight up. The warriors den was empty with the exception of himself and the cat that had stumbled over his tail. He turned around to see Brambleclaw, flat on the floor with a nervous laugh, "Sorry Ashfur...Didn't mean to awaken you..." he mewed, "Is your tail okay?" he continued. Ashfur sighed a bit, for a reason, he felt as though he couldn't be angry with Brambleclaw. The gray tom decided to change the subject. "What did Squirrelflight bark at you about yesterday?" he asked, with a teasing glare in his shining blue eyes. The question caught the ThunderClan deputy by surprise as he rose off of the cool den floor, "I'll tell you on a hunting patrol. Just me and you, Let's go." The large muscular tabby stood up and began walking, not even waiting for Ashfur's response. The blue-eyed warrior dashed off after him as the two left camp. Once they were at the sandy beach of the lake, they had already pooled together a total of two mice and a large sparrow. "Let's take a break, we've earned it!" Ashfur exclaimed with a purr. The larger brown warrior nodded with a happy gleam in his amber eyes, "Sure, Let's take a walk on the shore too, is that alright?" he asked. "Sure, why not, it's been a while sense we've talked. Besides, you still need to tell me about what happened between you and Squirrelflight." he purred mischievously. When it came to clan gossip, Ashfur was like an elder or a queen. He nudged his friend, "Come and tell me!" he urged. The amber eyed tom smiled and chuckled a bit, "Oh alright...If you must know...Squirrelflight has  been wanting kits ever since I agreed to be her mate." The sapphire eyes of the other warrior had a hint of confusion, "Is she really that desperate?" he asked with a chuckle. He realized soon after that Brambleclaw might get offended if he called his mate desperate. Brambleclaw smiled a bit, "Yea...I guess so...Besides, I...I think I'm falling out of love..." he said sadly. "I mean...she's great and all...But I don't think she's the one for me." he said, glancing over the shining lake. "Want to know a secret?" he laughed a bit. "That laugh...Hawkfrost..." Ashfur purred slightly, "Sure, why not?" he mewled as the muscular brown tabby reminded him of his deceased mate. "You know the Great Journey right?" he asked, "The one where Tawnypelt, Feathertail, Stormfur, Crowfeather, Squirrelflight, and I went on?" How could Ashfur forget, Brambleclaw and several other cats made a journey to find a badger named Midnight, who told them about the incoming destruction of the forest. "How could I forget?" Ashfur said, "What are you getting at?" he asked, his blue eyes now shining with curiosity. The ThunderClan deputy took a deep inhale before saying, "I had a thing with Crowfeather during the journey..." he admitted. Ashfur's heart skipped a beat, "You...You like toms?" he asked, unable to hide his astonishment. "He...Likes toms..." he confirmed in his head. Brambleclaw chuckled nervously, "Yea...I think the reason I'm falling out of love with Squirrelflight is because I'm falling in love with...well...a tom." he continued on. The gray tom felt his heart skip again, "A...A tom...Like...Who...?" Ashfur looked deep into the amber eyes of the deputy. A soft, loving gaze was behind the amber sparkle as he stepped to Ashfur, nuzzling the smaller tom close, "I...I think it's you..." he said in a hush whisper. "Did...Did he just..." Ashfur's thoughts were spinning and his head wasn't much different. His pelt was hot with embarrassment as he looked around nervously, "I...I think you got in Leafpool's catmint..." he said, not wanting to meet eye contact with the muscular...and suddenly handsome tom. The amber eyed warrior purred a bit and used his tail to lift Ashfur's chin up, making them meet eye to eye. "No...I'm not on catmint. I'm aware of every word I'm saying..." he purred softly. Ashfur's fur grew hotter then a drought in Greenleaf. "B...But...Squirrelflight..." he managed to say, getting lost in Brambleclaw's gaze. The deputy simply shrugged, "I've been meaning to break it off with her anyway..." he whispered, leaning in as he bit his ear. Ashfur purred a bit, Hawkfrost did that exact same thing on their first night. "B...Brambleclaw...I...I'm not into toms..." he said softly, keeping a constant purr. Brambleclaw smiled and whispered, "I know about what you and my brother did..." he mewled. Ashfur froze in fear, "He knows I tried to kill Firestar...?" he thought horrified, "W..What did we do...?" he asked in a hush whisper himself. "You did...Mate things..." he said bluntly, "So I know you like toms..." Brambleclaw mewled as he stopped biting the ear and started biting his neck softly, earning many purrs from the smaller gray warrior. "Br...Brambleclaw...I...I can't...Hawkfrost..." he mewled, enjoying it anyways. The broad deputy bit slightly harder, "He's gone..." he said softly, "Now you have me...Love..." he mewled. The two toms spent the entire night together underneath the halfmoon. Jayfeather sat in his den, ripping apart Burdock leaves. The den held little and there was almost no sunlight inside the den except the sun flowing in through the tiny holes and cracks in the walls. The bramble entrance to the den rustled as one of the ThunderClan cats pounded in. Jayfeather turned his blind gaze towards the unfamiliar cat and sniffed the air. "Cinderheart, what's wrong?" he asked in alarm. Cinderheart held up her paw. "I just got a thorn stuck in there when I was patrolling," she explained quietly. Jayfeather beckoned her over with a wave of his tail and a flick of his ears. Cinderheart hopped over to him and sat on her haunches slowly. Jayfeather heard her make a grunt in her throat. "Is your leg hurting too?" he asked. "A little," she mewed quietly. Jayfeather said, "Sit down." and he picked up a mouthful of Burdock leaves. He put them down at her paws. "Chew these and rub them on your wound after I pull this thing out." he meowed. Cinderheart nodded her head slowly and closed her eyes tightly, as if she was terrified. Jayfeather leaned close to Cinderheart and saw she was opening her eyes slowly. She looked up immediately, Jayfeather leaning downward and grabbing a hold of the thorn. With a jerk of his head, he yanked the thorn out. Cinderheart let out a yowl and winced. She peeled her eyes open and let out a deep breath. "Chew the leaves." Jayfeather reminded her as he padded to the small waterfall in the corner of the den to wash his paws. Cinderheart chewed her herbs slowly, watching Jayfeather with respect, adoration, and admiration.Cinderheart chewed the herbs quickly and spread them onto her bloody paw. She looked at Jayfeather. "Jayfeather?" she inquired in a short whisper. "What?" he meowed back without looking up from what he was doing. "Well... never mind. Thank you,"she mewed back and stood up, starting to walk away. She stepped on her wounded paw the wrong way and let out a pained moan and fell down. Jayfeather looked up from his work and walked to her side. "You okay?" he asked. Cinderheart stood up and shook the dirt from her fur. "Fine," she answered quickly and sadly. Jayfeather shook his head. "Is your leg bothering you?" "No," she lied. "I can tell you're lying," "I'm not lying, Jayfeather," "I can tell you are," Jayfeather insisted. "I am NOT LY--" Jayfeather touched her nose with his quickly and turned her around with his paw. "Go. And be careful." he meowed firmly and padded away. Cinderheart's fur fluffed up and she bounded away carefully, her ears hot with embarrassment.

Cinderheart walked out into the sunlight and sat by the fresh-kill pile and picked through it. A vole, a sparrow, and a giant rabbit. Cinderheart picked up the rabbit with her good paw and held it by the tail in her jaws. She thought, Maybe Jayfeather would want to share this with me... he looked a little hungry. Lionblaze bounded over to her. "Cinderheart!" he exclaimed, startling her. Cinderheart dropped the rabbit and looked behind her. "Oh... hi, Lionblaze," she mewed sweetly. Lionblaze spotted the rabbit. "Have a big appetite today?" he teased. "Well... no. I was planning to eat with Jayfeather," Cinderheart explained. Lionblaze looked a little bothered by that. He shook his head. "Why don't you share with me? Jayfeather's probably busy, right?" he meowed. "I guess so," Cinderheart muttered sadly. She pawed the rabbit over to Lionblaze and bent over, her back hunched, next to Lionblaze. They devoured the rabbit together.

Jayfeather walked out to the clearing as Cinderheart sat in the clearing, cleaning her paw and ears. She saw him and she felt her pelt burn and her heart beat fast. She felt terrible for ever believing they could be more than just clanmates, or letting Lionblaze eat with her. "Jayfeather." she mewed quietly. Jayfeather's ears twitched and he gazed at her blindly. Cinderheart turned and walked away, scared to talk to him.

Jayfeather looked down as he walked to the fresh-kill pile. He picked up the small vole and walked back to the Medicine den.

At sundown, Jayfeather emerged from his den for a small meal, seeing as Cinderheart was returning from her hunting with his other clanmates. "Jayfeather!" Poppyfrost called out, emerging from the bramble entrance to camp. She caught up to him and stood in front of him, holding a plump sparrow. "Would you like to share?" she asked, batting her eyes. Jayfeather glanced blindly at Cinderheart, who was staring back at him with sad and begging eyes. He nodded and sat with Poppyfrost, who was purring.

Cinderheart whimpered as she passed the two, dropped the fresh-kill she caught, and walked away to the Warriors' den. She curled up in her nest, her nose tucked underneath her paws, and tried to fall asleep. But, sleep wouldn't come. Why had Jayfeather seemed so mad at her? Was it because she shared that giant rabbit with Lionblaze, or was it for another reason that she didn't know? Why was he eating with Poppyfrost, anyway?

Poppyfrost cleaned her paws and ears as she licked her lips to ensure she had eaten the last bits of the sparrow. Jayfeather licked his paws, his belly comfortably full. He stood up, thanked Poppyfrost with a whisker twitch, and walked off. Poppyfrost walked to the Warriors den, where she took the nest beside her sister.

"You okay, Cinderheart?" she asked, smiling. "Yeah, just fine," Cinderheart murmured. "I'm going to go see Jayfeather. I can't sleep." Without another word, Cinderheart got up out of her nest and left her sister. Poppyfrost stared at her sister as she lay her head down on her paws to summon sleep to come upon her.

Jayfeather sat on the floor of the Medicine den, pulling the petals from chamomile flowers and putting them into a large, cupped leaf. Cinderheart wandered into the den and sat down. "Jayfeather?" she meowed softly. "Yeah?" he asked, quietly. "I can't sleep. Is there anything at all you could use to make me sleep, maybe?" Cinderheart asked sweetly. "Sure. Four poppy seeds" --Jayfeather wet his paw with water and dipped his paw into a pile of poppy seeds, shaking off the rest. He hopped over to Cinderheart and held out his paw-- "and you'll be sleeping almost immediately," "If I'm falling asleep almost immediately, won't I do that in the middle of the clearing?" asked Cinderheart in a challenging tone. Jayfeather said nothing. "Are you saying I should sleep here?" she asked. "I guess... if you... want to... you can... yes," Jayfeather said, quietly. His ears felt hot. Cinderheart's fur stood on end and she licked the poppy seeds from Jayfeather's paws. She lied down in the nearest nest. Jayfeather didn't say anything, but that was his nest. He walked over to that nest and lied down next to her. Cinderheart looked at Jayfeather. "Jayfeather?" she said. Jayfeather looked right back at Cinderheart with a large intensity, it was as if he weren't blind. "Yes?" "...Never mind... good night," Cinderheart muttered and her eyes drooped into a heavy sleep.

Cinderheart was awoken by the sound of Leafpool shouting angrily at Jayfeather. She sat up, realizing she was still in Jayfeather's nest, and still in the medicine den. Jayfeather looked as if he'd either spontaneously explode from anger or break down into cries of defeat. Leafpool stopped speaking and stared at Cinderheart with furious and hateful eyes. Jayfeather stopped yowling and stomped away, muttering to himself.

Cinderheart felt uncomfortably awkward, being alone with Leafpool, so she followed Jayfeather. "Jayfeather? What's wrong?" she asked. "Leafpool's mad at me for sharing a nest with you," Jayfeather spat back. "I'm sorry, Jayfeather. I... I didn't know that you'd get in trouble! I'd never have done it if I knew--" Cinderheart stammered. "Well, it happened and now I'm in huge trouble with the Warrior Code!" he snapped. Cinderheart flinched at his words. "I... I'm sorry I made you... oh never mind!" Cinderheart pelted out into the forest, afraid to finish talking.

Jayfeather looked down and sat on his haunches by the fresh-kill pile. He knew everyone saw them quarreling at one another. With that thought, his ears grew hot with embarrassment. Poppyfrost padded out of the Warriors den and sat next to Jayfeather. "Hi there," she said, smiling. Jayfeather stared blankly at the ground, anyway. "In a bad mood?" she guessed. "Obviously. What gave it away, dare I ask? I bet you saw that," Jayfeather meowed in an irritated tone. "Since you seem to be busy being a mouse-brain, I'll talk to you later, okay?" Poppyfrost bounded away to meet Firestar at the bottom of the highledge. Jayfeather watched Poppyfrost, sighing. Things wouldn't have ever been so complicated if he only hadn't such a terrible, as he thought of it, destiny.

Lionblaze walked through the forest slowly, wanting to hear the sound of prey very badly. He heard rustling in a nearby bush as he turned around to make his way back to camp. Cinderheart padded out of the bush, slowly, but stopped as she saw Lionblaze. "Hi, Lionblaze." she mewed softly, forcing a smile. "Hi there Cinderheart. Are you okay? You don't sound too good." he sounded worried. Cinderheart shrugged. "Not really," she meowed, shrugging her shoulders and continuing. "Jayfeather and I got into an argument," "Well... how about we go hunting or something to get our minds off of it?" Lionblaze suggested with a smile. "You go ahead. I need to go back to camp. To talk to Jayfeather. I mean, I don't want to be his enemy," said Cinderheart gently. She padded off, leaving Lionblaze to pout in the middle of the woods in Thunderclan territory.

Cinderheart padded nearer and nearer to the bramble entrance to camp. She entered the camp with little attentiveness and went straight to the Medicine den. "Jayfeather?" she called. No answer. She called again, "Jayfeather?" "What?" said the sleepy voice of the gray-striped Medicine cat. Cinderheart padded over to where she heard his voice, which was in his nest, and sat beside him. "What do you want?" Jayfeather asked again. Cinderheart lied down beside him. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I want to talk about what happened," "Why? There's nothing to talk about. You acted the way you did and that's the end of it." "It's all me now?" "I never said that," Jayfeather argued. "Yes, you did," Cinderheart mewed. "I said nothing about that," Cinderheart growled.

Poppyfrost padded into the Medicine den, carrying a plump vole. She dropped it beside Jayfeather. "I got this from the pile for you. Would you like to share it?" she asked, flirtatiously. Jayfeather nodded slowly. "Do you MIND, Poppyfrost?" Cinderheart hissed. "Cinderheart," said Jayfeather. Cinderheart turned her attention to Jayfeather. "Just go away if you have nothing worth anyone's while to say," Jayfeather's cold words rang in her head like church bells. "I DO have something worth while but you won't listen!" argued Cinderheart. "Then say it now!" Jayfeather demanded. "Poppyfrost is right here!" Cinderheart complained. "It's something you can't say in front of your own sister, Cinderheart?" said Poppyfrost. "It's between Jayfeather and I!" meowed Cinderheart.

Poppyfrost stormed out of the medicine den. Jayfeather waited. "Well?" he meowed. "Jayfeather, I'm sorry I got you in trouble with Leafpool. I want to be just acquaintances. It makes it harder on me and I know it's getting you in trouble. It's best if we just don't talk to each other anymore," Cinderheart murmured sadly as she turned around and stepped out of the Medicine den.

Jayfeather watched Cinderheart leave. He felt as if a claw sliced his heart in two. He rested his head on his paws and closed his blind eyes.

Cinderheart walked out into the clearing, her vision clouded and her pawsteps lazy and careless. She seriously didn't care about anything around her. Lionblaze padded over to her and meowed angrily, "What happened!? What did Jayfeather do!?" he looked worried. Cinderheart, shocked, didn't reply. She pushed past Lionblaze and slunk away, head hanging low and tail trailing slowly behind her. "Cinderheart!" Lionblaze called out in a worried voice. Again, Cinderheart ignored completely.

Cinderheart found her nest in the darkness of the Warriors den and curled up in it, her nose tucked beneath her paws. Her tail wrapped around her paws and her dark blue eyes closed. She started whimpering and bawling like a helpless kit that had lost it's mother. Lionblaze padded into the Warriors den behind her and sat down. "Cinderheart?" "What!?" Cinderheart meowed, frustratedly. "What if Jayfeather's not the cat for you?" he meowed slowly. "I never said he was, Lionblaze! Besides, he's a Medicine cat and he can't have a mate!" "Will you take a walk in the forest with me?" Lionblaze suddenly asked. "Sure..." she meowed slowly and stood up.

The moon shone brightly above Cinderheart as she walked through the forest with Lionblaze. "Are we more than friends?" Lionblaze asked slowly. "Maybe," Cinderheart meowed, sweetly and started to quicken her pace, playfully. Lionblaze followed, laughing. "Haha!" Cinderheart laughed out and ran fast. Lionblaze followed quickly, laughing louder now.

Maybe Jayfeather and I really aren't meant to be..., Cinderheart thought to herself as she stopped, Lionblaze stopping too, and touched noses with him. Lionblaze sat down on his haunches. Cinderheart did as well. "Will you be my mate?" Lionblaze asked. Cinderheart's heart beat fast. She didn't know what to say. She cared for Jayfeather so deeply, but she could never be with him and she knew it. "Can I think about it?" she asked quietly. Lionblaze nodded frantically. "Of COURSE!" he meowed loudly. Cinderheart smiled as bright as the sun at the sun-drown place and padded towards the camp. Lionblaze followed, not smiling anymore.

Jayfeather sat outside of the Medicine den, awaiting Cinderheart's arrival. As soon as the bramble entrance rustled, Jayfeather's fur puffed up. Cinderheart walked into camp, Lionblaze by her side. Jayfeather's heart sank, he stood up. What would happen now? Did Cinderheart still like him?

Cinderheart ran off away from Lionblaze, who called out her name angrily, and into Jayfeather's Medicine den and stood in the entrance. "Jayfeather?" she meowed. Jayfeather's voice came from the shadows near the small waterfall, "Go away, Cinderheart." he hissed coldly. Cinderheart flinched at his tone then slowly, taking in all her bravery and caring for Jayfeather, crept toward him. Jayfeather stood and he scrabbled out of the shadows. "Jayfeather, are you okay?" she mewed quietly. Cinderheart purred before adding, "Jayfeather... I think I love yo--" "YOU CAN'T LOVE ME! I'm only... a--" --Jayfeather looked down, his forehead fur slipping down-- "I'M A MEDICINE CAT!" he yowled out. Cinderheart's eyes looked glossy as she turned. Her tail stood up straight behind her. "SO WHAT!? JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A MEDICINE CAT, I CAN'T CARE FOR YOU!? I can feel... I can feel whatever I want," she said, quieting down slowly. She ran away.

Jayfeather's eyes looked glossy. His blind gaze hit the ground and he lay down on his paws. He shrugged away the feeling of terror for losing the one he truly cared for. The words played back in his head. "YOU CAN'T LOVE ME!" "I CAN'T CARE FOR YOU!" Jayfeather whimpered loudly and started to whine.

Cinderheart stood outside the Warriors den, staring back at the Medicine den over her shoulder. She stood for what seemed like seasons then turned around. Cinderheart couldn't stand the feeling of losing Jayfeather, so she ran to Jayfeather's den and stood in the entrance.

Jayfeather looked up from the ground and tasted the air. "Cinderheart?" he meowed. Cinderheart threw herself beside Jayfeather and gave him brisk licks between the ears. She rolled him over with one paw playfully and stood over him. Jayfeather's blind eyes widened blankly. A smirk crept up on his face and he pawed her ear playfully. Cinderheart opened her jaws to speak, but Jayfeather silenced her with a flick of his tail to her flank.

The nighttime came and Jayfeather lied with Cinderheart in his nest. Cinderheart smiled. "I should go before someone notices I was gone." she mewed quietly. "Of course." Jayfeather smiled. He licked her ear and stood, stretching his legs. Cinderheart rubbed her nose into Jayfeather's scruff before departing. She stretched on her way out of the den. Lionblaze padded up to her quickly. He opened his jaws to speak, but before he could, he tasted the air. "I smell Jayfeather on you...," he leaned closer and added, "and... you...--" "OH WELL! GOTTA RUN!" Cinderheart interrupted and ran to the Warriors den. She found her nest quickly and lied down. She closed her eyes tightly, begging sleep to come.

Jayfeather lay in his nest, happy and prideful. He had done what he'd always wanted to. Lionblaze stormed into Jayfeather's den and stared at him. "You little fox dung!" Lionblaze roared and charged at Jayfeather. Jayfeather jumped up and dodged just in time. Lionblaze rammed into the wall, into the herb shop, and on the ground. Jayfeather hissed. "Get out, Lionblaze!" he grumbled. Lionblaze shook his head. "YOU TOOK HER FROM ME!" he roared.'' Jayfeather's ears pricked. Does he mean Cinderheart!?'' he thought. "CINDERHEART!" Lionblaze roared. "Cinderheart forced herself on me!" Jayfeather yowled. "That doesn't make a difference! You could have stopped her you useless, blind cat!" Lionblaze hissed. Jayfeather closed his eyes and shook his head. "GET OUT OF MY DEN!" he roared out and shoved his brother with his paws. Lionblaze backed away. He swatted at his brother with unsheathed claws. Jayfeather jumped backward and fell into a pile of dock leaves. Lionblaze turned. "You lost yourself a brother!" he hissed.

"Would Hollyleaf want you to fight like this!?" the voice of Cinderheart yowled. "Cinderheart!" Lionblaze exclaimed. "Hollyleaf is missing! Would she really want to come back and find you two like this!?" Cinderheart meowed. "N...No..." Lionblaze stammered. Jayfeather sat up and stared into space, though Cinderheart felt as if he were listening intently to her words. Lionblaze looked at his brother. "I'm sorry, Jayfeather," he meowed slowly.

Jayfeather hissed and turned around. He curled up in his nest. "I'll forgive you when I wish," he grumbled. Lionblaze stared doubtfully at Cinderheart and shouldered his way out of the den. Cinderheart raised her eyebrows worriedly and padded over to him. She laid down next to him and meowed, "You can forgive me whenever you want to as well." she murmured in his ear and ran her tail along his spine. Jayfeather stared up at her with hopeful eyes and touched his nose to hers affectionately.

Firestar finished the story of how Leafpool died then added, "But we still haven't found the cat responsible," "Could it have been...--" Sandstorm began slowly. "It was Hollyleaf," meowed Jayfeather, angrily. Cinderheart shot an angry look at Jayfeather. "WHAT!?" she yowled. "She killed Ashfur already! What would stop her from killing Leafpool!?" Jayfeather inquired. Cinderheart's heart skipped a beat and her pelt rose. "Jayfeather!" she meowed then stormed out of Firestar's den. Firestar watched them, wondering what Jayfeather would do. Jayfeather stood up on his paws and padded out of the den.

Cinderheart sat in the clearing of the stone hollow. She couldn't believe Jayfeather thought Hollyleaf, her own best friend and his own sister, would kill Leafpool! Talk about once in a blue moon. Jayfeather bounded over to Cinderheart and smiled. "Cinderheart?" he meowed gently. "What, Jayfeather?" meowed Cinderheart in an annoyed voice. He said nothing but sit down next to her. "I'm sorry." Cinderheart let out a sigh. "It's alright," meowed Jayfeather in a bothered voice. How could he get Cinderheart to believe him? He added slowly, "I miss Leafpool already." "I hope it wasn't Hollyleaf... you know... that killed her...--" "It was Hollyleaf, Cinderheart!" Jayfeather insisted. "How do you know, Jayfeather!?" Cinderheart mumbled. "Because...," Jayfeather  let out a breath, "I saw it through Leafpool's eyes," he confessed. Cinderheart's eyes twinkled a little. "You have a power, just like Lionblaze..." she meowed slowly. "Yes. It's normal for a Medicine cat, though... I guess," Jayfeather replied quickly, not wanting to know Cinderheart's reaction to him having powers. "Oh," Cinderheart mewed.

The sun set and the stone hollow grew cold. Jayfeather found it hard to sleep in the Medicine den, knowing Cinderheart was now in the nursery. What punishment would he and Cinderheart endure for breaking the Warrior Code? Then, one thought in particular popped into his head: Why is that rule even IN the Warrior Code, anyway? "Jayfeather?" mewed a familiar voice. Jayfeather lifted his head and his blind gaze hit the unknown cat in the entrance. He tasted the air carefully. "Leafpool?" he meowed. "Yes, my kit," Leafpool mewed in her same soft voice. Jayfeather looked around. "Am I dreaming?" he inquired. "Yes. I am coming to tell you of your mate, Cinderheart," "Well, get on with it!" hissed Jayfeather, impatiently. "There is a fate for her bigger than you may not be able to handle alone, so I will be by your side," Leafpool meowed. "What?" Jayfeather asked, confused. Though, the Medicine cat was already starting to fade, she murmured these words: "Be aware of a murderous relative..." and with that, she disappeared completely.

Jayfeather thought about what she had said. ''Murderous relative...? Hollyleaf!''

Could Hollyleaf still be alive, even after the den collapsed on her? Jayfeather thought. If so, he had to find her, or else... what kind of brother would he be?

Cinderheart padded over to the fresh-kill pile. As she nosed her way through tiny bodies, she realized other cats were staring at her. Brambleclaw and Lionblaze in particular. Cinderheart, feeling uncomfortable, picked out a sparrow, quickly, and sped back to the nursery. Had the cats lost their trust in her...? All because she fell in love? Cinderheart didn't want to find out. She ate her fresh-kill at the mouth of the nursery, cleaned her paws, and curled up comfortably in her nest. Cinderheart had the feeling in her belly that her kits would soon arrive. Then, it was only a matter of time till she could prove she was still loyal to her clan.

Jayfeather had made up a small pile of traveling herbs. He didn't know how long he'd be gone, searching for his sister. Jayfeather ate his herbs then made his way out of his den and out of the stone hollow to find his littermate. Lionblaze, seeing his brother's depart, followed not far behind.

After a while, Jayfeather said without looking back, "You can come out now, Lionblaze. If you were to try and follow me without" --Jayfeather flicked his tail, amused-- "me noticing you, don't let your tail stick out like that." Lionblaze crawled out from beneath the bush he was hiding under, his pelt hot with embarrassment. "Again, I see, like when we were going to the mountains, you forgot about the tail," Jayfeather meowed. "Sh-sh-shut up!" meowed Lionblaze, like he did when he was a kit. "Whatever you doing out here, Jayfeather I don't like it. Wait... this is the path to the tunnels...!" You're looking for Hollyleaf, aren't you!?" Lionblaze meowed. "So what if I am!?" Jayfeather hissed back. "She's. Dead. Move on, Jayfeather. I mean... I miss her too... a lot... but she died in the tunnels...--" Lionblaze began. "You don't know that!" Jayfeather spat back. "Neither do you! Come on. You have Cinderheart. What if you die in the tunnels!? What'll I tell her!?" Lionblaze meowed. At that, Jayfeather turned and padded past. "You're a mouse-brain," he meowed. "Well, you're a fox-brain," meowed Lionblaze.

Jayfeather sped past all the other cats and to the nursery. He stopped with a start at the sight of Sorreltail hunched over Cinderheart and Brackenfur pacing back and forth. "Sorreltail... what's going on--?" he was cut off by a yowl from Cinderheart. Jayfeather jumped back. Sorreltail stepped back and Jayfeather immediately took her place. He then realized that Cinderheart was going to have her kits. Jayfeather whipped his head around. "Sorreltail, get me some moss soaked in water and some Borage leaves from the herb store. They're hairy leaves onto the right," Sorreltail nodded and pelted off into the clearing and to the medicine den. Brackenfur crawled over to Jayfeather slowly. "What can I do?" he asked. "You can get out of my way and help Sorreltail the best you can," he ordered. Brackenfur let out a hiss, but he wasn't going to argue. He stepped back a little, but still worriedly, he paced back and forth. Cinderheart's wide eyes flashed to Jayfeather. Jayfeather's blind eyes blinked, worriedly. "Jayfeather...?" Cinderheart meowed, exhausted.

After what seemed like seasons, Jayfeather and Cinderheart had three beautiful kits. One was striped dark gray onto his lighter gray pelt, like Jayfeather. The other was completely black tom with solid white eyes. The final was the runt of the litter, an adorable gray-white she-cat. That was probably carried down from Whitestorm, Cinderheart's grandfather. "They're so beautiful," Jayfeather mewed slowly. Cinderheart smiled, tired. "I want to name the white she-cat Snowkit," "I want the striped tom to be named Stormkit," Jayfeather pressed his muzzle to Cinderheart's. "And the last one... I want him to be Nightkit," Cinderheart meowed.

"So this is what happened while I was gone, eh!?" meowed the ringing voice of someone Jayfeather thought he'd never see again. "Hollyleaf!?" he meowed loudly to the black she-cat in the entrance to the nursery. The new kits started mewling and screaming till they found their mother's warm belly again. Jayfeather stood in front of Cinderheart, protectively, and hissed, "I thought you were dead!" "I was," Hollyleaf replied, hissing between the two words.

Jayfeather stood, his neck fur bristling, as Hollyleaf entered the medicine den. She hissed, warning Jayfeather not to go near her. Hollyleaf ran at Jayfeather and shoved him against the wall, like a rabid cat. She let out a growl as she swiped Jayfeather across the muzzle. Jayfeather fell to the floor of the nursery with a cry of shock. Hollyleaf stalked over to Cinderheart and stared down. "So... Jayfeather... has... kits.. now?" she sounded surprised. "Y-Yes," Cinderheart stuttered. "Get... Get away from her!" Jayfeather struggled to stand. Hollyleaf turned around and ran at Jayfeather with such force, she knocked him into the clearing. Jayfeather hissed and ran back into the nursery. He grabbed Hollyleaf by the tail and bit down. Hard.

Hollyleaf slashed at Jayfeather's face over and over. She finally got him off his feet, but she was off hers too. Jayfeather jumped up quickly, only to be knocked over again. Eventually, the fight was carried out into the clearing.

Lionblaze stared at the battle as he ran into the camp. He forced himself in front of all the other cats and stood there. He stared in disbelief at Hollyleaf, tossing himself at the fight. Before he could reach Jayfeather, he felt heavy paws knock him to the ground. "FIRESTAR!" shouted Lionblaze. Firestar hissed. "Jayfeather HAS to die. It's part of the prophecy," Firestar meowed as he held Lionblaze beneath his heavy paws. Lionblaze jerked his head to the right, not wanting to watch the gruesome fight between his siblings. In only a matter of seconds, Jayfeather felt himself tugged to the ground and beneath Hollyleaf's paws. Hollyleaf bit down hard on Jayfeather's neck until blood sputtered everywhere from the wound. Jayfeather seemed to not care. He swiped at Hollyleaf, his claws unsheathed, and landed a blow over her eyes. Hollyleaf leaped backward and jumped at Jayfeather once more, blindly. She ended up hitting Jayfeather's neck. She bit him again.

By now, all the cats, excluding Cinderheart who was feeding her kits but nervously waiting while her mother told her all the details from outside the nursery, were gathered around to watch their medicine cat die. Firestar flinched as he saw Hollyleaf bite the all-important vein. The jugular. At that exact moment, Jayfeather went limp.

''Fox Dung! I can't be dead! I can't die! What about Cinderheart!? I need her! Mouse dung! Jayfeather saw his mother, Leafpool, walking to him slowly, saying, "Come home, my son." Jayfeather stopped fighting and struggling for a grip on life, and finally let go. "I'm here," he meowed slowly. ''

Fireheart, you are to tend to Brokentail in Yellowfang's stead."

Said tom glanced around, his ginger pelt aflame in the morning glow of the sun, his emerald eyes glimmering brightly as he glanced around, offering smiles and dips of his head of approval in the directions of a few of his Clanmates' who dared venture out today. The newleaf air was nice to breath in, the pleasant smell of fresh grass and the chirping of birds greeting his senses.

It was roughly a moons and a half since Bluestar had commanded for him to tend to Yellowfang's illegitimate son, both of them originally reigning from ShadowClan. Fireheart twitched his long whiskers in anticipation, not daring to admit that he was actually yearning for the company of the brown tabby. Taking a deep whiff of the clean and crisp morning air, the warrior began to pad towards the fresh-kill pile. He scooped up a squirrel and returned to the sidelines of the camp, offering meows of greeting around the ginger fur of the squirrel, seating himself on his haunches and beginning to devour the squirrel, savoring it's luscious taste.

"Fireheart?" The ginger warrior glanced up slowly from his quick bites of his morsel of prey, eyeing his best friend, the familiar deep grey pelt with a streak running down the middle of it could only belong to Graystripe. Fireheart stopping munching on his squirrel and drew away, a soft smile splaying across his features. His best friend's amber eyes glowed slightly as he sat himself by Fireheart, without bothering to ask, a ritual that they preformed wordlessly.

Fireheart quirked an ear, eyeing his friend before bending to devour more of his morsel of prey, the juices tasting sweet in his mouse, the fur pleasant in his mouth, the meat tender as he continued to eat it. He waited patiently for Graystripe to speak wordlessly, then licking his maw with his long tongue and parting his jaws slightly. "Graystripe, if you don't mind me saying this, but could you already spit it out? I have to tend to Brokentail soon, bring him his meal before I'm allowed to go on my warrior duties." His amber-eyed friend glanced away, his jaw visibly clenching, his eyes dark with what he was about to say, his ears pinning against his head. Fireheart cocked his head curiously, a frown splaying across his maw. "..Graystripe?"

"I don't like you hanging out with Brokentail all the time." Graystripe dead-panned, spitting out what was troubling him, his eyes full of worry and concern for his friend. The gray warrior glanced at Fireheart, his claws digging in the moss beneath his paws. He tilted his head slightly, the troubled expression on his face was enough to worry Fireheart. "I think he might be... might be a bad influence to you."

"Silverstream should be waiting for you, why don't you go?" Fireheart asked quietly, his gaze fierce as he saw his best friend stiffen considerably and began to clamber to his paws. "She's probably waiting, so why not go?" he breathed out, suddenly itching to get Graystripe away from him. It unnerved the warrior to no end when Graystripe talked about Fireheart's relationship with the former-ShadowClanner.

Graystripe looked distraught but narrowed his eyes into a glare and huffed in annoyance, obviously not approving of Fireheart's tactic to get rid of him. "If you wanted me to go, you should've just said so," he sighed, beginning to pad towards the camp entrance. He glanced over his shoulder, shaking his head slowly. "You're just only going to get yourself burned, Fireheart." Fireheart watched his friend pad away, his expression unreadable. As soon as Graystripe was gone from his line of view, Fireheart sighed and trudged back to the fresh-kill pile.

It was a secret that Fireheart wasn't willing to share that he held feelings towards the former ShadowClan leader. He suspected that Yellowfang knew, but the gray she-cat never said anything about it, it was only by accident that Graystripe even knew, because the gray tom had padded into the den nonchalantly and found Fireheart tending to a sleeping Brokentail like the ginger tom used to do to Spottedleaf when she was still alive, with tenderness and a loving intent in his gaze. To say the least, it was a very awkward moment afterwards as Graystripe ushered Fireheart out the den to scold him, which Fireheart countered by asking about Graystripe's relationship with Silverstream. The conversation ended after that and they often didn't bring it up, preferring to stay on even terms with each other with their forbidden relationship.

Fireheart picked up a vole and began to pad towards the medicine cat den when he was stopped by a raspy voice. "I know you care for nothing, Brokentail. Not your own clan, nor your honor, nor your own kin." Fireheart took a deep breath, trying to steady his irregular heartbeat. He stared at the den entrance, most of it being covered by overhanging moss so that the view was sheltered inside. His eyes had widened considerably as Yellowfang continued to talk to her son. "You living is causing a war among the Clans that can be avoided."

A forced chuckle sounded from the only other cat in the den, "So you're saying murder's the only way to go, Yellowfang? How cruel of a mother to do to her only son. ...Get out, I don't want to talk about this anymore." Fireheart didn't bother moving out of the way or appear like he hadn't heard anything as the overhanging moss was brushed aside to reveal the scarred medicine cat. They exchanged a glance and Yellowfang padded away, like nothing happened and left Fireheart to stand there. Fireheart took in a deep breath and trudged into the den, glancing around until he spotted the matted, ragged fur of the familiar tom. He offered a smile and dropped the vole at the other tom's paws, trying to calm his jumping nerves and unsteady heartbeat. "Fireheart?" the older tom called out, turning his head slightly. Fireheart nodded his head, unable to form words, before remembering that Brokentail couldn't see him.

"Yeah, it's me, Brokentail," he managed out, offering a smile. He set his ginger paw gently against the former ShadowClan leader's paw comfortingly. The long-haired ex-leader glanced down at it, feeling the touch but not seeing it. Fireheart swallowed, admiring the long claws that protruded from the ex-leader's paw. The brown tabby's kinked tail flicked as he wrapped it around his body, grunting in acknowledgement. "I.. I brought a vole for you." Fireheart offered, his voice sounding soft and almost uncertain. Brokentail nodded wordlessly. It was amazing, actually, how Brokentail could speak a conversation without saying anything.

Suddenly Brokentail rounded on Fireheart, pinning the younger warrior to the ground, his breath tickling the ginger warrior's ear, his amber eyes glistening slightly. They were pressed close together, not that Fireheart minded in the least. The ginger tom stared up at the brown tabby with complete trust in his eyes, until the tabby tom pulled away, muttering about something and helping Fireheart up. "I've missed you," Fireheart whispered softly, staring intently at the blind tom. Fireheart was the only one who truly spoke about their affection towards the other, because often enough Brokentail didn't speak.

Brokentail didn't say anything and nuzzled Fireheart's ear, his breath tickling the ginger tom's cheek and causing him to shiver involuntarily. Fireheart closed his eyes, letting his emotions get the better of him and leaned into the touch. Brokentail still didn't say anything and continued to nuzzle the tom's ear, before licking it slowly. They often ended up in this scenario and often Fireheart would find himself pinned and let Brokentail dominate him in every way possible, not that Fireheart minded in the slightest, he never did. He whined pitifully when Brokentail pulled away the emerald-eyed warrior opened his eyes with confusion.

"Could you do it?" Fireheart's heart nearly stopped, hearing Brokentail speak. His eyes fogged over with confusion, opening his maw to reply before snapping it shut, uncertainty filling his gaze. He tilted his head curiously, a slight frown on his face. Brokentail sighed and meowed again, "Do you think you could do it? Kill me, I mean?" His eyes were dark, his expression unreadable, his kinked tail twitching slightly. He narrowed his eyes, as if sensing Fireheart's sudden dread. "I'd prefer dying by your paws then by my own cruel mother."

"I-I don't think I could," Fireheart said, bewildered, his eyes widening, his long white whiskers twitching slightly. He glanced away, sighing before returning his gaze to the brown tabby before him. Fireheart swallowed and glanced around, looking at everything but the ex-ShadowClanner. He swallowed nervously, trying to make up his mind. Brokentail had asked him to do it, he'd prefer for Fireheart to do it. It suddenly seemed so hard now, though. Brokentail nudged round and plump red berries forward, not saying anything. Hesitantly, he began to claw open the vole with a quick nick, before slowly inching the berries into it. He took in a deep breath and offered a shaky smile in Brokentail's direction. "I.." He stopped short and sighed softly.

Brokentail didn't say anything for a while, instead preferring to nuzzle the younger warrior comfortingly, knowing how hard this must've been. Finally, the battle-scared tabby meowed softly, "Yellowfang was wrong." Fireheart jumped and Brokentail chuckled, his laugh not quite reaching his blind eyes. "I know you were there, Fireheart. But what she said -about me caring not for anything-... was wrong. I care only for one thing." With a quick dip of his head, the brown tabby began to devour the vole, not noticing the wounded glances he kept getting from the emerald-eyed warrior. Brokentail offered a rare smile, and then didn't speak for a while.

The deathberries would be taking effect soon enough, as Fireheart knew well enough, and suddenly the reality of what was going to happen pressed upon Fireheart's chest. As Brokentail shifted himself into a more comfortable position, Fireheart pressed his muzzle to the older tom's shoulder, muttering incoherent apologies. Brokentail didn't say anything, as usual, as Fireheart sobbed into his shoulder, suddenly thinking that he didn't know well enough about Brokentail, hadn't -couldn't- be close enough to the brown tabby. Fireheart wound his lean body around the much more muscular one, trying to offer comforting words before choking them back and sniffing loudly, Brokentail's impending doom suddenly seemed more startling than Spottedleaf's. The fact that they knew it was coming, that they couldn't stop it, was weighing on their -mostly Fireheart's- shoulders.

Brokentail's breathing became labored, his eyes beginning to flutter close, the amount of time they were closed lengthening more and more until Fireheart feared that he would never open them again. Fireheart knew well enough that their relationship could've been purely one-sided, that he was being used by the older tom, but the fact that the older tom didn't reject Fireheart or anything of the sort was what had started the relationship anyways. Brokentail was probably using Fireheart, but the ginger tom didn't care about it, he never did, never thought about it because it was only him that Brokentail had ever had a relationship with, as far as the ginger tom could tell. But Fireheart still cared, probably more than he should have.

"Yellowfang was wrong," came the soft rumble from within Brokentail's chest, startling Fireheart into opening his emerald eyes -when had he closed them? he wondered- and staring down at the increasing frail body. The thorn-sharp clawed-tabby looked up, as if he could actually see with his bright amber eyes, like before Yellowfang had blinded him. Fireheart dipped his head, muttering hoarse apologies again, rubbing his muzzle along the tabby's face and neck and shoulders, trying to show his affection before Brokentail passed. "I don't need your pity, Fireheart." Brokentail sounded amused, if anything. "She.. said I didn't care for anything. She was wrong. You should know why." Fireheart didn't say anything, instead preferring to hoist Brokentail's head up onto his chest so that he was properly propped up, Brokentail's body hanging limp between Fireheart's other limbs. Fireheart rested his head against the flat of Brokentail's head, like the brown tabby used to do, trying to stop his sobs. "Because I care for you." Which was as close as Brokentail ever said to 'I love you' and as close as he'd ever stared ahead, trying to calm his jumbled nerves, suddenly all too aware of Brokentail's shaky breaths. An unspoken conversation flitted between them.

''This is goodbye, isn't it? No, Fireheart. This will never be a goodbye. I'll see you again.''

Fireheart almost laughed at that, a heartbroken laugh, because of how ironic it was, considering that Brokentail was blind. This was the longest conversation they ever had spoken out loud aside from Fireheart's attempts at conversation with the other tom, and it would be the last with Brokentail on his deathbed. Fireheart nestled his head slightly into the tabby's long fur, suddenly finding that he couldn't get enough of the older tom. Brokentail's chuckle filled the den, before growing weaker. He uttered hoarsely, as if confirming it not only to himself, but for Fireheart too. "I care for you." Fireheart heard him take in a deep breath and waited for him to speak - he never did, ever again.

It would be a while until Yellowfang came and found Fireheart and Brokentail's body, and by then he would remember Graystripe's bone-chilling words: "You're just only going to get yourself burned, Fireheart."And Fireheart.. was burned horribly. He would never be the same after Brokentail's death. But every day he awaited the day that Brokentail's unspoken promise would ring true. They would get united again and then Fireheart would finally be with his beloved, and not even StarClan would be able to force them apart. Fireheart would make sure of it. Yellowfang,” A young gray she-cat mewed at the sight of her former mentor. “Have you a message for me?” “Cinderpelt,” Yellowfang greeted the young medicine cat, her eyes shining with wisdom and starlight. “A raincloud shall place the paws of the Clan on the path of survival.” “What do you mean?” Cinderpelt asked anxiously. StarClan has never spoken so clearly to her before, and that worried her. “Is ThunderClan in danger?” “ I meant what I said: A raincloud shall place the paws of the Clan on the path of survival.” Yellowfang repeated the prophecy once, and then bounded up into the starry sky. “Wait!” Cinderpelt yowled after the StarClan warrior. “Don’t leave me!” But Yellowfang has already disappeared into the night sky. A wave of despair washed over Cinderpelt. Surely the Clan couldn’t be in more danger than it has been when the dog pack roamed the forest. Would the Clan make it through yet another challenge, with the cold, unforgiving leafbare closing its jaws around them? “Mother,” I whimpered. “Don’t throw me out.” “Rain, you know the rules.” My mother growled. Although she tried to sound harsh, her green eyes were filled with sadness. I was the only survivor out of her four kits. “Get out.”

I decided to go find my father. When I was little, my mother took me to his den at times. He’s the leader. His name is Scourge. I would have to use my tracking skills, which wasn’t easy in the stinky Twolegplace, but I could always try.

I found my way to the Twoleg park where I met my father. I found his scent. It was fading, but it was his scent. Trusting my nose, I ran through a maze of Thunderpaths, Twoleg nests, and piles of Twoleg rubbish, until I found one of those huge green boxes that Twolegs contain their rubbish in. Under there, was Scourge’s den.

“Father?” I asked tentatively, peering into the shadows. No one answered. “Father?” I asked again, louder this time. “Scourge?” “He won’t be here,” a voice growled behind me. I spun around to face a large black and white tom. “Greetings, Bone,” I mewed, dipping my head respectively to the second in command. “Who are you?” Bone asked, more aggressively this time. “I am Rain,” I answered. “Scourge’s daughter?” The large tom’s amber eyes lit up immediately, and he sounded friendlier. “Yes…” “How many moons are you? You don’t look old enough to be out here on your own.” He sounded concerned. “I’m twelve moons old,” I meowed, trying my best to sound older and more mature. I could feel myself blush with embarrassment.

“Rain, is that you?” a black tom stepped out from the shadows in the Twoleg rubbish piles. “Father!” I squealed, relieved, then I quickly scolded myself for sounding like a kit.

“Are you twelve moons yet?” Scourge sounded suspicious. “Yes,” I mewed. “Mother told me to find a place to live, but I wanted to come find you first.” Scourge beckoned to me with his tail. I trotted to his side obediently; I knew what Scourge was capable of doing. He leaped to the top of the Twoleg rubbish box. Scourge leaped up some piles  of Twoleg rubbish on top of the rubbish box, and onto a wall. I followed him.

Wow! I had never seen the Twolegplace like this before! It’s so big, and there are so many cats! I couldn’t believe that it was my father who ruled over all these cats, and… they’re all scared of him. “One day,” Scourge meowed to me, his ice blue gaze filled with pride. “One day, you will rule over these cats. You will be the leader of BloodClan!”

The thought of being as powerful as my father was tempting; to have all those cats out there fear and follow me seemed like the best thing I could ever want. Scourge chose me to be his successor. Not Bone, but me, tiny little Rain, because I am his daughter. Because I have what it takes to command the feline population in the Twolegplace!