(This is a bit of a weird one, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.)

(warning: contains mild gore)

The blissful scent of wildflowers drifted in the breeze, enveloping the two cats as they walked slowly through the forest. Their tails were intertwined together, locked in a mutual bond of love, and their pelts clashed in a sharp contrast of bright orange against pitch-black.

"That was a wonderful time," the black she-cat meowed wistfully. "My only regret is that we had to end it so soon..."

"Yeah...If only we could do this all day," the orange cat whispered into his mate's ear. "No responsibilities, no other cats...Just the two of us..."

"Yes, well..." The black she-cat gave the tom a gentle lick on the cheek as she spoke. "I do sometimes dream of the two of us running away together, but that would be rather foolish...We each have our duty to our Clan. It wouldn't be right to just leave it behind when so many cats are depending on us..."

"Us? I think you mean 'depending on you.' You're the one who's earned it, after all."

The black she-cat stopped in her tracks, forcing the tom to do the same. "Huh? No...I meant exactly what I said. Why?"

The tom sighed. "Well, you...You're our deputy, so it's obvious why the Clan needs you...You've worked so hard for your position, and it's no wonder every cat here respects you...But I'm just...I'm just another warrior. The Clan is no different with one more or one less...They don't need me nearly as much as they need you."

"F-Flamefeather!" The she-cat's jaw hung open, shocked to even hear the words coming from her mate's mouth. "Now what in StarClan's name has gotten you thinking that? Every warrior in the Clan is just as important as any other cat! Why, it only takes one extra warrior to make the difference between winning and losing a battle! Our loyalty to to each other is what gives a Clan strength, and the more of us there are, the stronger we all become! So don't you go doubting yourself on my watch, you hear?"

"I...Nightclaw, you..." Flamefeather's speech fumbled as he felt his own purr begin to rise in his throat, and a hint of a smile begin to creep onto his face. "I just really love how you never fail to cheer me up...And you keep reminding me of how lucky I am to be yours..."

"Luck?...Heh. There is no such thing as luck," Nightclaw purred, brushing up against Flamefeather's front as she playfully flicked at his ears with her tail. "I know you have always questioned yourself, but you've done more for me than you even realize. And even if you hadn't, it wouldn't matter to me. I feel that this was meant to happen...That StarClan has something wonderful planned for us."

"Well, if that's the case, I look forward to whatever that may be," Flamefeather replied, feeling his heart race like a runaway hare. "Though, it's hard to imagine anything better than what we already have. I mean, there's you becoming BerryClan's future leader, Dawnkit is healthy and growing up fast-"

He was interrupted as Nightclaw suddenly pressed her muzzle against his cheek, shuddering instinctively as he felt her purrs resonating through his body.

"You talk too much," she mewed gently. "Just live in the moment, and let fate grant us what it will. Why does it matter, as long as we're together?"

"R-Right...Of course," he stammered. "Um, sh-shouldn't we be, like, heading back to camp right about now? I mean...I don't want you to be late for your patrol..."

Nightclaw giggled and gave her mate's cheek another lick. "Yeah, you're right...I suppose a deputy's work is never done...But you know what? My patrol should be back before sunset...Perhaps, aftwerward, we could...meet up at our spot by the river?"

"That...that sounds wonderful," Flamefeather replied, feeling himself grow hot underneath his pelt. "I'll, um...I'll meet you there with some freshly caught mice, and...maybe if I find some of those berries that you like, I'll have those too..."

"Oh, you're much too kind. You don't have to do all that..."

"No, no, I insist. It's not a problem, really."

"Well, then...I suppose I have no choice but to listen to you," she teased. "Really, though, that's...that's very nice of you..."

For a moment, neither of the cats said or did anything. They simply stood staring, lost in each other's gaze, seemingly unaware of even time itself.

Flamefeather blinked a few times as his mind jolted back into reality. "Oh!...Um, should we...go back now?"

"Ah...Right. Can't keep them waiting too long. Let's get moving."

The two cats resumed their walk back to camp, their tails looping together once more.

"Flamefeather! There you are!"

He'd heard the voice as soon as he had poked his head through the camp entrance alongside Nightclaw's. He recognized it as Twigfur, the medicine cat.

"Oh! Good afternoon, Twigfur...What is it?" Flamefeather replied, his cheerful tone dropping like a rock when he saw the unusually serious expression on Twigfur's face.

"I need to speak to you in my den. Urgently. In private. Come in when you're ready."

Flamefeather tilted his head to one side as he watched the sand-coloured she-cat disappear back into her den, curious as to what the problem could be. He continued standing absentmindedly until he heard Nightclaw's voice.

"Well, don't just stand there! Go see what she has to say. I have to organize my patrol now...I'll see you tonight!"

She licked his ear one more time before heading in the direction of the warriors' den. Flamefeather, suddenly feeling nervous, forced himself to enter the opening to the medicine den.

He found the medicine cat sitting restlessly on her bed of moss, and she greeted him with a quick nod.

"You had best sit down and...try to make yourself comfortable," she meowed solemnly. "The things that I must tell you are things that I never thought I would have to say..."

Flamefeather obeyed, taking a spot in one of the nearby nests, the suspense beginning to bite him like a leaf-bare wind.

"Twigfur, is...is this really that bad? Because if it is, shouldn't you be talking to Lightstar about it, and not me?"

"I wish I could. But this matter is something that can only be discussed with you," she replied. "It's...it's about Nightclaw."

"Nightclaw? What about her?"

Twigfur took a deep breath, blinking slowly. "I have received a warning from StarClan...They have told me that Nightclaw is...a threat to BerryClan."

"What?!" Flamefeather gasped, his claws unsheathing themselves. "That...that's impossible! Nightclaw is the most noble, hardworking cat that I've ever known! She's our deputy for good reason! She...she can't be dangerous to us!"

"Hm...I knew you would react this way," Twigfur sighed. "But you must hear me out on this. Everything Nightclaw has done up to this point...her strict adherence to the code, her expert border negotiations...It's all an act. A plan to work her way to the position of leader. And if she is allowed to get that position, BerryClan will be led into complete chaos...Pointless wars, elders cast away, kits forced to hunt and fight...This is what StarClan has shown me."

Flamefeather couldn't believe the words he was hearing. How could Nightclaw, the one he loved above all others, the one he would protect with his life...How could she be capable of this?

"No...No, you're wrong! There must be some mistake! There has to be!" he ended up shouting, his mind in a panic at the very thought of Nightclaw having wicked intentions.

"I don't want to believe it any more than you do, but please, you have to listen!" Twigfur pleaded. "There is a reason you are the one I am telling all of this to, and for BerryClan's sake, you have to keep it together or you'll never be able to carry out your task!"

"C-Carry out? What...what do I have to do?"

Twigfur took a deep breath once more. "If I know Lightstar, he will not remove Nightclaw from her position no matter what I tell him. Even if he did, Nightclaw would certainly just end up taking her leadership by by force...And you...You're closer to Nightclaw than any other cat...the only one she trusts completely. And so StarClan have chosen you to bear this burden..."

The realization slammed into Flamefeather like a monster, his legs becoming like frail branches that would snap at any moment. Tears began to well in his eyes, and he desperately tried to think of something-anything-he could possibly say or do to avoid the terrible destiny that he now saw.

"You know what you must do, don't you?" Twigfur meowed, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Nightclaw must be killed. And you must be the one to do it."

"You can't be serious!...There has to be another way!" Flamefeather wailed. "I-I can't do this! I won't!"

"But you must! It is what StarClan has said must happen!" Twigfur cried, her own tears beginning to form as she watched Flamefeather take a slash at the ground out of agony and heartbreak. "I wish there were an easier way, I really do! But you are the only one who can do this! Any other cat wouldn't stand a chance!"

Flamefeather didn't respond. His thoughts had completely shut down, overwhelmed by the confusion and sorrow that seemed to plague his entire body. Was all of this really true? What would Nightclaw have to gain from leading BerryClan to ruin? And would his love for her really be the exploit that would allow him to kill her?

"Please, Flamefeather..." The medicine cat padded over to Flamefeather's side and rested her tail on his shoulder in a futile attempt to comfort him. "I know this is hard to accept...And I know how strongly you feel about Nightclaw. But you cannot let your emotions cloud your vision."

"But...But I love her! I can't just look past that!" Flamefeather shouted.

"Would you rather let BerryClan be destroyed?! Think reasonably here, Flamefeather! Lightstar is frail and may hunt with StarClan as early as tomorrow, and when that happens, Nightclaw will sieze her chance without hesitation! We don't have a choice in this matter..."

Flamefeather had again fallen silent, drowned in his grief once more. He desperately wished that all of this was just a bad dream that he could escape, and never have to even think about ever again...but no matter how hard he wished, he knew this was a nightmare from which he would never wake up.

Twigfur was right; He did not have a choice. Ever since he was a kit, he had heard stories about how one's duty and loyalty to the Clan must come above all other sentiments...even love. And now, his loyalty - and place as a BerryClan warrior - were being put to the ultimate test.

One which he could not afford to fail.