ionblaze crawled out of the warriors den and let out a huge yawn. He shook the last bits of moss off his fur and began washing.
'Lionblaze,' Brambleclaw appeared from the thorn tunnel with the dawn patrol, 'Hunting patrol. Take Snowflower, Thornclaw and Brightheart.'
Lionblaze slipped back into the den, prodded Thornclaw (receiving a grumble from him) poked Brightheart and shook Snowflower awake. 'Hunting,' Lionblaze announced and padded to wait for the rest of the patrol in the clearing. Snowflower ran out, Brightheart hard on her paws. 'Right,' said Lionblaze, 'where's Thornclaw.' 'He thinks he's a hedgehog in leaf – bare,' Brightheart let out an amused purr. 'Am not,' Thornclaw hissed joining them. 'Take it easy,' meowed Snowflower resting her tail – tip on his shoulder, 'Brightheart's joking!' Thornclaw relaxed a bit. 'Come on,' he meowed and bounded out of the camp.
Brightheart smiled and followed Thornclaw. Snowflower and Lionblaze followed. The young gold tom threw a fast look at the beatifull white she - cat. He remembered Brambleclaw bringing her when he was still a kit. He said they found her on WindClan border, but she didn't smell of it. His 'mother' Squirrelflight, told them, that Snowkit was a moon younger then they were and that she is relying on Hollykit, Jaykit and Lionkit to look after her. Since then Lionblaze and Snowflower became good friends and maybe even more.
'So… uh… how did you sleep?' Lionblaze began stupidly.
Snowflower laid her tail tip on his shoulder and smiled: 'Fine, thanks. What about you?'
Lionblaze didn't have time to reply, because strong WindClan scent hit his nose. Thornclaw and Brightheart noticed it too. Lionblaze flicked his tail for them to be quiet. 'Come on,' he hissed to Snowflower and pointed at a holly bush, 'in there.' Snowflower shivered and squeezed herself inside. 'Don't do anything, okay, just keep quiet!' he breathed into her ear. She forced a nod.
Lionblaze concentrated on the scent. In were Crowfeather, Breezepelt and Heathertail. 'Great,' the gold warrior thought grimly, 'just my 'favorite' cats.' He heard Snowflower gasp and a second later found out why. Heathertail chased a rabbit right across the border.
The forest blew up. Brightheart and Snowflower, whose white pelts blend in with the snowy ground burst out of their hiding places rising clouds of snow after themselves. Thornclaw roared loud enough for StarClan to hear him: 'What's your problem?' and Lionblaze let out a battle cry and ran for Heathertail. The WindClan patrol ran to join the she – cat, who was already rolling in a fight with Snowflower. 'They're outnumbered,' Thornclaw sneered, landing on Breezepelt's shoulders. 'You're wrong,' whispered Brightheart pointing her nose at another WindClan patrol running down from the hills. 'Fox – dung!' spat Lionblaze, battering his father's belly with his hind paws. Crowfeather meant nothing to Lionblaze. Lionblaze meant nothing to Crowfeather. They were enemies. Forever.
Tornear, Owlwhisker and Whitetail joined they're Clanmates. Snowflower finally gave Heathertail the last bite and saw her across the border. Lionblaze seemed stuck with Crowfeather. Tornear attacked Thornclaw. Brightheart was battering Breezepelt and Snowflower was using her last bits of dying strength to fight off Whitetail.
Crowfeather jumped at Lionblaze. The gold warrior dodged and slipped under him to bite his tail. Crowfeather yowled of fury and pain and sent a blow at his son's ear. Lionblaze dodged. Suddenly he heard a shriek of pain: Snowflower! 'SNOWFLOWER!' roared Lionblaze. At this moment he felt that he had the power of stars in his paws.
Throwing off Crowfeather he flew across the snow and dragged Whitetail off Snowflower. He paws and teeth worked, his power glowed in his claws, he didn't control himself. 'Lionblaze! Lionblaze stop!' shrieked Snowflower trembling, 'Stop! You'll kill her!' Lionblaze felt as thought he fell off the sky. He looked down in horror. His paws were covered in blood and fur. Whitetail, terrified, was fleeing. No one else seemed to notice. Tornear finally bounded away, tripping, the last of the WindClan patrol hard on his paws. A moment passed. The battle was short but hard and scary.
'Is everyone okay?' Lionblaze asked warily.
Brightheart groaned. 'My tail hurts a bit,' she confessed. Thornclaw raised his head to stop the blood from dropping from his ear and Snowflower was licking a gash on her side.
'How do you feel?' Lionblaze asked her worriedly.
'I'm okay,' Snowflower purred leaning on his shoulder, 'It's you you should worry about. You're covered in blood all over.'
'Let's get back to camp and see Leafpool,' Brightheart suggested softly. Snowflower leaned on Lionblaze's shoulder a bit and padded to camp.
'What's their problem?' bellowed Berrynose.
'Can't they get a life?' yowled Spiderleg.
'I'm sick of this!' muttered Jayfeather.
'We must attack!' hissed Birchfall
'My kits!' wailed Daisy.
'Can't you all shut up?' growled Lionblaze under his breath.
It took several minutes for Firestar to calm the clan down. Clan meetings weren't usually this loud and strained.
'We will not attack immediately,' began Firestar over yowls of disapproval, 'We will first find out what is happening in WindClan.
'How?' Jayfeather snorted sarcastically: 'Hi Onestar, do you mind if we butt in please?'
Snowflower's whiskers twitched with amusement. Lionblaze started at her. His mind was on this preety she - cat, but not in the meeting.
'Clan meeting over,' sighed Firestar at last jumping down.
Brambleclaw padded to him and said something in a hushed voice. 'Shouldn't you go and rest?' Lionblaze spun around: It was Sandstorm.
'I guess,' he meowed uncertainly, 'Come on, Snowflower.'
The she – cat nodded and padded into the warriors den.
'Love,' a faintly familiar voice scoffed. Lionblaze blinked his eyes open. Tigerstar!
'What do you want from me?' he spat at the huge tom.
'To wash your brain,' Tigerstar sneered.
'Don't you see that love is useless?' another voice joined in as Hawkfrost appeared from the bushes, 'Remember what it did to you last time.'
'Heathertail was different,' Lionblaze cut off.
'How do you know that your little stupid Snowflower won't betray you?'
A growl rumbled in Lionblaze's throat: 'Don't call her stupid.'
'Why not?' laughed Tigerstar
He's provoking you! Lionblaze told himself, Don't listen to him! Don't!
'And how do you want to be the best warrior you can, having mate and kits?' cooed Hawkfrost mockingly.
'Firestar managed,' muttered Lionblaze through gritted teeth, 'and so will I!'
Before he could say anything else his eyes flicked open. Snowflower was curled safely next to him, her pelt heaving lightly.
Lionblaze admired her…. he loved her.
