::: Chapter One - One Dark Night :::

Night had fallen over the ThunderClan camp. The silvery white moon and bright stars above them was the clan cats only source of light. A small brown and white tabby she-cat poked her head out of her den, glancing around to see if anyone was still up. Leafpool saw her sister Squirrelflight heading into the warriors den with her mate Brambleclaw, their tails twined together. Atop the high-ledge sat her parents Firestar and Sandstorm, sharing a last meal for the night together. She also caught sight of Birchfall and Whitewing leaving the camp from the main entrance, off for a romantic moonlit walk she supposed.

'Crowfeather, what are you doing now? Cuddled up in your nest with Nightcloud?' Leafpool asked silently, feeling some bitter resentment towards the black she-cat. However, deep down she knew that none of this was Nightcloud's fault. She was a medicine cat. She should have never let herself fall in love, especially not with a cat from another clan! She should have realized that. It had happened to so many before her. Spottedleaf Yellowfang, even Cinderpelt… It was times like these she found the rules of StarClan a bit unfair.

"I need a walk." She finally muttered to herself aloud. She needed to get that gray-black tom with his piercing blue eyes out of her mind. She passed Jaypaw on her way out and stopped to stare at him? Was anybody looking? No. She leaned down, swiping her tongue over his ear gently. "Sleep well my little one." She continued on her way and as she passed the warriors den she once again couldn't resist, but to look inside. Hollyleaf and Lionblaze where curled up together near the edge, peacefully sleeping, though Lionblaze's ears and tail kept twitching.

She soon learned why however. Berrynose had began complaining quite loudly, for Honeyfern had attempted to slide into his nest next to him for one reason or another. Dustpelt was shooting them death glares, Cloudtail was looking at them as if they had grown two heads each and it was Spiderleg who finally shouted at them to shut it, which of course woke up anyone else who had been sleeping. She hurried away after that.

"Where are you off to Leafpool?" She nearly jumped out of her fur, Thornclaw was standing at the camp entrance, on guard no doubt, and was giving her a curious look.

"Oh nowhere. I'm just off to collect some herbs. I can't sleep for some reason." She replied softly. It wasn't exactly a lie now was it? He nodded at her simply and she hurried off down to the lake. As she was walking upon the roots she came across Jaypaw's beloved stick. What was it about that thing he found so interesting? She felt a sudden urge to run her paws over it, but somehow she knew Jaypaw would be angry if she did and his temper was bad enough to begin with. He reminded her so much of Crowfeather.

She was not exactly in the mood to look for herbs and as far as she knew they had enough for now. No hurry right? There where still a few moons to go before leaf bare. She was walking along the lakeside, enjoying the cool breeze when she heard an odd noise. It sounded like someone was in pain. Intense agony. A low distressed yowling. She hurried forward, her heart filled with panic. Who was hurt!? She leaped over a nearby log and raced towards the sound as fast as she could. She was surprised by what she saw.

A damp gray cat was laying on the lake's shore, so close that his front paws touched the water. His dark blue eyes seemed dull and unhappy and once again that heart breaking sound escaped his mouth. It was Ashfur.

"Ashfur?" Leafpool asked cautiously. "Ashfur are you alright? Are you hurt?"

He lifted his head to stare at her, obviously shocked by her being there. An embarrassed look crossed his face at the clan's medicine cat seeing and apparently hearing him in the pathetic state he was in. He rose to his paws, and then sat on his haunches, head bowed.

"If I told you I was fine, I would be lying. But... I will live none the less."

Leafpool tilted her head to the side slightly and after a moment of hesitation padded closer and then sat down next to him. "You're wet. Did you fall in the lake? Tell me what's wrong Ashfur. As your medicine cat I need to know if something ails you."

He just stared down at his paws. Could he really talk to Leafpool? She was her sister after all. Would she really listen to him? He felt he might burst if he didn't tell someone. He could literally feel rage building up inside of him, hatred for that horrible ginger she-cat. "It just keeps happening. Over and over again." He finally murmured.

"What keeps happening?" Leafpool asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"I can't stop thinking about Squirrelflight. I loved her so much, I thought we would have kits together someday and then she just left me for Brambleclaw. She dumped me for the son of Tigerstar! The cat who killed my mother! Who tried to kill Bluestar! Who tried to kill us all! For Brambleclaw who always took her for granted and never treated her the way she should have been treated! Like the little princess that she is!" He spat venomously. "But, now... I see that I was wrong about Brambleclaw. He's not a bad cat and he makes a fine deputy." He added quickly, seeing the look of fright crossing Leafpool's face.

"I started to move on. Whitewing and I where hanging around each other a lot. Be it was with Lionblaze and Icepaw, or just us two alone. I began to feel for her. Then Birchfall stepped into the picture, going on and on about how much he loves her. And she fell for such nonsense! He'll have left her in a moon I'm sure. Just like Spiderleg and Daisy!"

"So now you are alone. With no one to love you? Is that what you are saying?" Leafpool asked, suddenly angry. "Well tough! At least you CAN love. I'm not allowed! I can never have a mate, never have kits, never have a real family of my own! I had to say goodbye to Crowfeather and watch him move on with another she-cat! Just like you watched Squirrelflight move on! You are not the only one who feels pain Ashfur! I feel it too, we all do! It's a part of life. You just have to get over it," she growled, the fur along her spine bristling.

Leafpool had always seemed so sweet and quiet, he could hardly believe she was yelling at him now. He saw fire burning in her bright amber eyes and was suddenly reminded of the she-cat he had once loved, but now hated. Yet he felt no hate for Leafpool. She had never done him any harm and in the end she was right. Wasn't she?

"I-I'm sorry Leafpool. I'm going back to camp now," he said quickly before getting to his feet and heading quickly away from her, but soon he found she was right on his tail.

"No! I'm the one who should be sorry Ashfur. I shouldn't have yelled at you, that was very insensitive of me. I'm just…I'm having a really bad night. As you are to I can see." She was silent for a moment. "Lets make it up to each other and ourselves. Fancy some late night hunting? It may do us both some good." She offered apologetically. The guilt quite obvious on her face.

He gave her an unsure look. Should he?