Gray Wing licked his paw and drew it across his forehead. "thunder!" he exclaimed. "get in here!"
the muscular orange tom hurried inside the elders den. "what is it?!" he gasped.
his kin laughed and nudged his shoulder. "calm down, youngster. I just wanted to tell you a story!"
Thunder's eyes lit up in panic. he really didn't want to get sucked into a tale that probably wasn't half true. "umm... sorry Gray Wing, but.. I don't exactly have time right now-
his uncle gave him a reproving look.
the elderly tom straightened up. "fine, fine. but at least get some hunting done."
Thunder nodded in relief. he stepped out of the den, glad that Gray Wing was letting him off the hook.
right when he reached the prey heap, a sweet scent wafted over him, and as he looked around, he understood why.
Tall Shadow walked into camp, carrying a plump rabbit. he admired her bright green eyes and sleek glossy pelt. as soon as she put the rabbit down, she walked over to moon shadow, who was lying down near Cloud Spot's den. he had layed a scrawny shrew in front of him, and he looked ready to devour it when his sister came over. "want some?" he asked. she shook her head. "I'll get a mouse." Thunder picked up the rabbit that she had caught, bringing it over to wind runner. he dropped it at his leader's paws, still watching Tall Shadow. he could still smell her sweet scent of pine trees and dew grass.
"thunder? thunder!" Wind Runner exclaimed. "stop day dreaming! either go hunting, or get something to eat!"
the young tom stumbled over his huge paws and padded to the camp entrance, nearly bumping into Tall Shadow. "Hey Thunder!" the cheery young she-cat meowed. "want some prey?"
"actually, I was just about to go hunting," thunder told her. "great! can I come?" Tall Shadow asked.
"sure!" the orange tom replied. the two set of into the pine forest.
tall shadow's dark fur brushed against Thunder's. his heart thumped faster.
"so, where are we going to hunt?" she exclaimed, breaking the silence. "I was thinking fourtrees!"
Thunder nodded enthusiasticly. sounds great! I haven't been there for a while.
as they kept on walking, the air got colder and colder as the sky got darker and darker. finally, they reached the large clearing where the four great oaks stood. Tall Shadow's bright green eyes flashed in the darkness. "It's too dark to hunt now," she mewed disapointedly. "and too late to travel back. we'll have to spend the night here!"
the young tom shrugged and replied,
"well, I suppose we could hunt in the morning! we'll just have to steer clear of clear sky's territory."
the two started building a nest, ripping moss from tree trunks and then shoving it together to form a large pile. they dug a small hole and then layed the moss in it.
thunder yawned and climbed into the shallow hole. he regreted not eating anything from the prey heap before he set out; his belly growled like a monster on the thunderpath. suddenly, he realized he couldn't smell Tall shadow anymore; his belly filled with dread as he imagined what terrible things could've happened to her-
"hey, thunder! I'm back!" Tall Shadow exclaimed, laying a vole at his paws. I caught this running at the edge of the clearing, and I figured you would be pretty hungry."
she crawled into the nest, turning around three times before settling down, her black, shiny fur murging with his orange pelt. Thunder's heart beat even faster as he felt her warmth. the she-cat snuggled closer to him, and as thunder closed his eyes the last thing he remembered was Tall Shadow's sweet scent wreathing around him, putting him to sleep.