Chapter 1
Love is in the Air
BTW, the time frame is shortly after the Clans arrive (and get settled) in their new home. This chapter is a few moons after the Prologue.
It was a chilly leaf-fall day, and the apprentices had just gotten back from training. Moonpaw went over to the fresh-kill pile and got a juicy vole.
"Want to share?" he offered to Lionpaw. She agreed.
Lionpaw realized she was falling in love with Moonpaw, and it seemed like he was in love with her, too. The two apprentices quietly ate their vole together. Pebblepaw ate a shrew a few fox-lengths away, and Lionpaw felt guilty for not eating with her sister also, but then Questheart (who is now a warrior) ate beside her.
After Moonpaw and Lionpaw finished eating, they heard Firestar call for a meeting, and they all headed beneath the Highledge.
"Pebblepaw, Moonpaw, and Lionpaw are all ready to become warriors," the ThunderClan leader announced. "I ask that StarClan look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as full warriors in your turn. Pebblepaw, Lionpaw, Moonpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your lives?"
"I do," replied Lionpaw, Moonpaw, and Pebblepaw, their bodies wriggling with excitement.
"Pebblepaw, you will be known as Pebblestream. Lionpaw, you'll be known as Liontide. And Moonpaw, you will be known as Moonfang." Firestar meowed.
"Pebblestream! Liontide! Moonfang!" called the cats of ThunderClan.
Lionpaw purred, but she knew she couldn't say anything for the rest of the night. As cats started heading for their dens to sleep, Liontide, Moonfang, and Pebblestream went to the camp clearing to sit vigil.
Moonfang edged closer to Liontide, so close that their pelts were touching. His fur felt warm against the cold leaf-fall wind, and she started purring happily.
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The dawn sun began to rise over the hills, turning the sky a light pink. Moonfang turned to Liontide. "We can speak now," he purred softly, "Liontide. It's so…beautiful. It fits you."
Liontide looked at her paws, embarrassed. She looked around for her sister, but she was already gone. She had probably gone to rest after the long, cold night of staying awake and guarding the camp. Moonfang nuzzled Liontide on the head.
"Follow me," he meowed, and hurried out of the camp. Liontide raced after him.
Together the two cats hurtled through the trees, avoiding large clumps of bracken. Soon they came to a shaded hollow, surrounded by beautiful flowers. Moonfang sat down, curling his tail around his paws.
"It's…beautiful," Liontide breathed, looking around. "I've never seen this before."
"I like to call it…my special spot. I come here a lot to think," Moonfang meowed.
Liontide purred, settling herself down against the cold air. "How do those flowers grow in leaf-fall? I thought they only grew in new-leaf and green-leaf."
"These are a special kind of flowers," Moonfang meowed.
Liontide nodded. Moonfang came to lay beside her.
"Liontide…I…I don't know how to say this, but…" Moonfang started.
Liontide looked puzzled. "Go on," she meowed.
"I…I love you, Liontide."
Liontide purred with relief. "I love you, too, Moonfang," she meowed.
The two cats lay together, basking in the leaf-fall sun, their tails twined together. They knew they were meant for each other. But the real trouble was soon to come…
Hope you liked this chapter! Remember, R&R! -Liontide