Second chapter! ENJOY!

A round moon hung in the sky, shedding its white light upon the pine forest, upon the black she-cat that paced beneath these pines.

I shouldn't have agreed to come. The thoughts swirled around her head, anxiety keeping her ears pricked, her fur on end, her tail twitching.

"You came," A purr sounded as the orange tom slid from the trees, the delight in his voice surprising Fern.

"Yes," Fern murmured, wary still.

"You're much more jumpy than most kittypets I've met," the tom remarked.

"Well, I have my reasons."

"I suppose you do… What is your name anyway? I'm Redwhisker."

Fern hesitated, before replying, "Fern,"

"Where are you going, Fern? You seem in quite the hurry."

"Away." Fern scuffed the ground with her black paws.

Redwhisker flicked his tail, "Away from where?"

Fern glanced up, glanced toward his eyes for a fleeting moment. And in that moment she saw warmth, warmth and curiosity shining in deep pools of amber.

"Away from my old life."

Redwhisker glanced at her belly, "I heard that twolegs take kits from their mothers," His voice softer than a dandelion he continued; "Is that why you're leaving?"

"How do you know I'm expecting kits?" Fern raised her head, and backed a paw-step backwards.

Redwhisker purred in amusement, surprising Fern yet again, "I've seen enough cats to know when one is expecting."

In an attempt to change the subject Fern asked, "So there are a lot of cats in ShadowClan?"

"Very much so. There are many, many cats in ShadowClan, and ShadowClan is only one of the clans, there is also WindClan and ThunderClan and RiverClan."

"So there should be enough cats then for you to talk to besides me."

"But none are quite as lovely as you."

"Aren't you just the charmer?" Fern responded drily. "I'm surprised you don't already have she-cats from all four Clans just chasing after you."

"Oh yes," He smirked, "But you didn't answer my question, are you leaving your twolegs because of the kits?"

Fern returned her gaze to her paws. "No… I didn't exactly choose to leave…"

"Oh. So you're trying to go back?" Disappointment clouded Redwhisker's gaze.

"No, I can't go back there. I'm glad to be away."

The branches above the two cats rustled as a breeze brushed through the needles.

"You're very different from any kittypet I've ever seen. Why don't you want to go back?" Despite the question, relief sounded in the tom's voice.

Fern glanced at the sky, "The moon is starting to sink, shouldn't you be going back to your Clan now?"

Redwhisker sighed, "I'm not going to get an answer, am I?"

"Probably not."

"I guess I told you that you could go if you met me, so well, bye I guess. Unless maybe you'd meet me again…"

The desperate gleam in his eyes tugged at Fern. She thought of the delight in his purr when he saw her again. She thought of the kindness he'd shown her thus far.

"Alright," She agreed, "Tomorrow night, at the aspen?"

"Tomorrow night at the aspen." Redwhisker agreed, before turning and vanishing among the bracken.

Excitement fluttered deep inside Fern, surprising even her.

…

The late-afternoon sun dappled Fern's long black fur as it reached its slender golden fingers through the pine branches. Fern crouched; her eyes pinned on a squirrel nibbling a nut beneath a thick-trunked tree. She crept forward, inch by inch, until she was within a whisker-length of it. The squirrel tensed, sensing danger, dropped the nut. Fern pounced. She landed squarely on the squirrel's back and quickly finished it off with a nip to the spine. After pausing for a moment to thank the prey, as she had done ever since that first day over a moon ago, she leaned down and took a bite.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Startled, Fern spun around to find herself facing a brown she-cat, hackles raised and tail lashing angrily, "Rogue." She spat, "Get off our territory."

"I can go where I like," She returned, unsheathing her claws.

Another cat, a grey tom padded forward, "Do you want a fight, mouse-heart?"

"If that's what it comes to."

The brown she-cat leapt at her, claws outstretched. Fern ducked and spun at her, landing a scratch across her muzzle. The grey tom knocked into her, claws sinking into her shoulders. Fern tried shaking him off but the bulky warrior clung on.

"Crow-meat." The she-cat hissed as she pummeled Fern's flank with her long claws. Fern rolled over, pressing the tom to the ground, before jumping shakily to her paws. The she-cat was about to aim another blow, when a streak of orange knocked her over.

"Redwhisker get off of me!" The she-cat slid from beneath him, glaring, "What are you doing?"

"She's carrying kits; it's against the code to hurt a kit."

Relief swamped Fern.

"Only if the kits are born. This queen is a rogue on our territory!"

"Give her a chance to leave our territory then."

"Lizardclaw, he's right." The grey tom stepped forward wearily, "We can't hurt a queen. It is against the warrior code, and you know it."

"Fine." The brown she-cat stalked away, quickly followed by the grey tom.

After a few moments, Redwhisker turned to Fern.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, go back with your Clanmates."

Redwhisker shifted his paws uneasily, "But-

"Go."

Redwhisker, still hesitant, followed his Clanmates, with a few glances backward at Fern.

…

"Fern," Redwhisker rubbed his cheek against Fern's affectionately, "You fought bravely… but recklessly. You could've been hurt!"

"I can take care of myself, Redwhisker." Fern purred.

Redwhisker sighed, "I guess I can't stop you, can I?"

"Nope." Fern glanced at the sky. A round shed light across the dark night sky. She had been meeting Redwhisker almost every night for the past moon.

"Redwhisker…" She turned back to him, to his warm amber eyes that sparked with affection. She swallowed, "I have to keep going, Redwhisker. I can't stay here."

Redwhisker closed his eyes tight, "But Fern…"

"I want to stay, Redwhisker. I want to stay with you but, I just can't." Fern murmured.

Redwhisker opened his eyes, surprising Fern with the hard look of determination. "I'm coming with you."

"What?" Fern's green eyes widened.

"You heard me, I'm coming with you." Redwhisker smiled. "Whether you like it or not, I'm coming with you."

And there's the second chapter! Hope you enjoyed! Please review, and as always, constructive criticism very welcome!