So, here it finally is! Hope you all like it!
"I…" Applefur studied her paws as they kneaded the ground. The only reason that I haven't answered you, Marshtail, is because I'm afraid of what the answer may be.
"Applefur?"
She gulped. "I… think I do, Marshtail."
Marshtail sighed. "I expected as much."
"I'm sorry, Marshtail," she mewed. "There's nothing I can do about my feelings."
"I know. The only question is, what are you going to do?"
"Leafpool, why did you give me chamomile?" Birchheart demanded. He wanted to know just how much she knew.
The medicine cat gave his ear a swift, comforting lick, and then mewed quietly, "I'm not the only one who loves one from a different Clan, Birchheart."
Birchheart stiffened. She knew everything.
"What... what do you mean?" he meowed quickly.
"Just because I'm a medicine cat doesn't make me blind." Leafpool purred. "I can see the way you look at Applefur."
"Then why haven't you told Firestar or Graystripe?"
"Because I was in your paws, once."
"But—"
"Go talk to her. You obviously don't know how she feels yet, or you wouldn't be so depressed. Go, you mouse-brain! I'll cover for you."
Birchheart blinked gratefully at the she-cat, and tore out of the camp to the Tallpine.
Applefur.
The golden-red she-cat purred and gave Marshtail a friendly lick. "Thank you," she whispered. "I knew you'd understand."
Her brother nudged her. "Go," he mewed playfully, "Before I change my mind."
Applefur flicked her tail in thanks, and ran toward the Tallpine. I love you, Birchheart! I'm coming!
As she reached the Tallpine, she almost crashed into Birchheart, who looked sullen but hopeful. "I was hoping I'd find you here," she meowed. "I talked to Marshtail about what you said… and I have something to tell you. I… I think—" her confession was cut off by a Twoleg. He had shot something strange into her. He knew, somehow, that it wouldn't kill her, but that it would paralyze her—if only temporarily.
"Applefur!" He cried.
"No, Birchheart… run, before they get you, too." Sure enough, the Twoleg had a strange stick pointed straight at Birchheart.
"I'll come back for you!" He growled, and tore back to camp before the clumsy thing could get him too. Only one thing was running through his head: She never even told me if she loved me back.
Devastated, Birchheart padded back to camp. He needed to talk to Leafpool… she would understand! She already knew, so he had nothing to lose.
He walked slowly into the medicine cat's den sadly, tail dragging in the dust.
Leafpool looked up from her poultice, and catching the defeated look on his face, padded over and pressed her muzzle into his gray fur.
"I'm sorry you didn't hear it back," she meowed sincerely.
"Actually," he confessed sadly, "I didn't hear anything. The Twolegs took her."
The she-cat's head snapped up. "No," she mewed in disbelief. "They're here, too?"
"Apparently," Birchheart replied angrily, fur bristling.
Leafpool shook her head. "Well, I wish there was some advice I could offer you, Birchheart. But the only thing I can offer you is, if you really love Applefur, how are you going to get her back?" And, judging by the look in her eyes, the brown tabby wasn't joking.
"You really think I should try to save her? Not leave it up to her Clan?"
Leafpool nodded fiercely.
"But what would Firestar think? I'd be breaking the warrior code!"
"Sometimes, Birchheart, you have to break the code to do what's right. Firestar did it himself quite a few times, as I'm sure any cat would tell you."
Birchheart blinked gratefully. "Leafpool, I don't think a Clan has ever had a medicine cat like you," he purred. "Thank you. For everything."
Who will help me save her? Birchheart wondered as he stalked a mouse. Pouncing and killing the mouse in one swift second, the answer came to him.
Marshtail. He knew, since Applefur had told him… and maybe he could get Toadfoot to come too! Maybe… maybe he could even get Whitenose or Spiderleg to come. After all, she was one of his best friends, and Spiderleg was his brother.
Birchheart picked up the mouth in his jaws and went to where he had buried a chaffinch early. He dug it up and grabbed it as well, and padded back to camp.
I'll approach Marshtail first, he decided. I caught his scent today. I'll just wait for him where I smelled him.
He tossed his catch onto the fresh-kill pile, and waited until sunset to pad back to the border of ShadowClan. I've been here much too often lately, he thought to himself. I hope they don't start to recognize my scent.
Suddenly, the scent of the cat he had been waiting for became much fresher.
"Marshtail!" Birchheart hissed quietly..
Marshtail nodded, and meowed to the rest of his patrol, "I'll scout up ahead. You go towards the lake and make sure that RiverClan is respecting their boundaries." After a few moments, he whispered, "You can come out, Birchheart."
"I'm sorry, Marshtail," he whispered as he stepped out of his hiding spot. "I'm so, so sorry."
Marshtail's eyes were flooded with worry and concern. "Did ThunderClan take Applefur prisoner? Is she all right? Where is she?"
Birchheart lowered his head. "Twolegs took her."
"They followed us from the old forest!" he spat angrily.
"I… I don't know. I tried to save her… maybe we can find her. I think we might be able to find her is we follow the Thunderpath. I know it's through WindClan's territory, but it may be the only way to save Applefur."
Marshtail nodded solemnly. "I'll help. StarClan can't stop me!" he declared. "I'll try to convince Toadfoot, too. I'll meet you at the Twoleg Path at sunset tomorrow."
"Spiderleg, Whitenose, can I talk to you? Alone?"
The two cats exchanged confused glances, and got up from sharing tounges.
"Of course, Birchheart. What is it?" Spiderleg asked. He seemed a bit concerned. He led his friends to behind Leafpool's den. Taking a deep breath, he realized what it meant to confess this to any Clan member other than Leafpool. But I would trust these two with my life, he realized.
He quickly filled his two Clanmates in on all that had happened, and they watched him, unmoving in stony silence. As soon as he requested their help, the white she-cat and the black, long-legged tom exchanged glances and mewed in perfect unison:
"We're in."
Wow, that was the longest chappie I've ever written! Not including this note, it's 1087 words! -wipes sweat from forehead-
If I could write a 1087 word chappie for you, you could write me a reveiw with many less words, right? Please? I have marshmellows!
