Another chapter of the challenge! Couple number two, Nightcloud and… ?

R&R!

-----------------

I understand now. I should have understood that night after the Gathering, but I didn't.

But I understand it all now.

__________

Why did he love her? It wasn't fair!

I would follow him faithfully to the ends of the earth, and he kept drooling after her- the Thunderclan medicine cat, for Starclan's sake! He denied it, of course.

"I would never betray my clan!" he said.

I looked into his dark blue eyes, and I wanted so badly to believe him. I almost did. I let myself forget.

But now I know.

"And Crowfeather is our father." Hollyleaf yowled.

I stood up and hissed and yowled denial like Breezepelt and Crowfeather, but I knew that the young Thunderclan warrior spoke the truth. The lean form, the dark pelt- I should have known.

And it didn't matter whether or not Crowfeather knew they were his before this. It didn't change the fact that they were his kits. Nothing could change it.

Leafpool stood up, and the spark of envy and anger in my stomach grew into a flame of pure hatred.

"I'm sorry, Crowfeather." She mewed. "I should have told you."

Crowfeather spat at her, but I could tell what he was feeling- he still loved the brown tabby, despite everything. My heart seemed to be breaking in two.

When the Gathering ended soon after, I raced away from Windclan. Crowfeather didn't even notice. No one did.

I skidded to a halt by the lake-side. The water was calm and clear and dark. I dipped one black paw into it. I could just slide in, and let Starclan take me away….

Just as I stepped into the icy water, I heard footsteps. A light brown tabby was racing towards me. I unsheathed my claws. Maybe I could take the Thunderclan medicine cat with me.

But it wasn't Leafpool. It was Owlwhisker.

He was about my age, though he was very quiet. We'd almost never exchanged more than pleasantries before. But from the glow in his eyes, I could tell this was about something much more.

"Nightcloud," he whispered, his breath rising into pale fog in the cool air. "Don't leave. Please."

"You don't understand," I rasped. "No cat does." He just looked at me through sad amber eyes, so I continued. "To know that the cat you love more than all other cats loves a different cat more than you/ To know that the cat you love wants to be with someone else, that they doesn't even care about you at all."

I was practically yowling it out by now. "No cat understands!"

Owlwhisker had been silent through my rant. "Do you really love him?" he asked me quietly.

I nodded. He stepped closer to me. "Then I'll be your shoulder to lean on. Just Don't let Crowfeather keeping hurting you."

I stared at the ground. "But I love him. He can't help but hurt me." Owlwhisker shook his head, but didn't argue. "So?" he asked me. "So?" I responded.

"Do you want to be…friends?" I didn't have anywhere else to go. I nodded.


I should have realized, all those moons, I should have known. He went through the same as me. He loved me, and I didn't even realize. But he was happy just to be with me, even as just friends.

No friendwould never disagree with you. No friend would be ready to rip the pelt off any cat who hurt you in any way.

No friend would sacrifice his life in battle for you.

It's been 7 moons since Owlwhisker died. He died in battle, leaping in the way of a death blow to save me. Even then, I didn't realize.

But now that Greencough takes my life, I know. I know he loved me.

And I know something else too. I'm too weak even to open my mouth to say it.

Owlwhisker, I love you too.

------------

Aha! Crack! Very fun to think of. And Owlwhisker is a real cat form Windclan, though I don't know if he is Nightcloud's age or not. ^_^;

Don't forget to review and suggest! ~