CHAPTER 4
Guys I'm so sorry I haven't written a chapter in so long! :| School has been really busy lately with end of year assessments. Anyway, hope you enjoy! :)
Maplefall's heart was filled with excitement and anxiousness at the same time. She had just received her warrior name and was supposed to be watching the camp on her Warrior Vigil, but she had slipped away from her littermates as they were gazing wistfully at Silverpelt. Maplefall hadn't expected to get her warrior name a this time, and still had a promise to Falcon which she didn't want to break. Silently, she crept through the forest, slithering aside occasionally to avoid a clump of sharp brambles or thorns. Finally, reaching the twoleg nests, she glanced around and scampered towards the hole in the fence. Falcon was there, his eyes fixed on the gap where Maplefall had entered, waiting for her. "Your here!" he whispered, then licked Maplefall on the head. She purred and looked up at his valiant face. "Come on! I've got something to show you. But first, close your eyes." He nodded, then squeezed his eyes shut. Maplefall guided him through the thick undergrowth, then out towards the lake. A cool breeze drifted from the crystal water, and moonlight washed over them, almost as if Starclan themselves were lighting their path. "Can I open my eyes, now?" Falcon breathed into Maplefall's ear. "Yes," she replied, her eyes sparkling with adoration. When Falcon first saw what was around them, he gasped with amazement. "It's beautiful!" he exclaimed, stars reflecting in his eyes, "Almost as beautiful as you, Maplefall." Both cats walked down to the shore, not quite touching the endless lapping of waves, but not touching the plants and trees of the forest either. Maplefall buried her head into Falcon's thick, soft fur. "You are the most wonderfull cat I've ever met," she murmured. She never wanted the night to end, and as she drifted off to sleep, all she could hear was Falcon's purring and the gentle gurgle of the lake.
When Maplefall awoke, the pale light of dawn had started to cover the stars. Relieved, she still had a bit of time to get back to her Vigil, she swished her tail over Falcon to wake him. "You're leaving?" he muttered, still half asleep. "I have to get back to my Warrior Vigil, remember?" Immediately he got to his paws. "Right. I forgot." He gave her a quick lick of farewell, and told her to meet him at his nest after sunhigh. Once Maplefall had reached camp, Sunclaw and Fernwhisker, looked as if they might fall asleep then and there. Though Maplefall felt bad for them, she was glad because they didn't notice her padding back to sit next to them. Sunclaw's head turned, "I could have sworn you weren't here a minute ago." Fernwhisker looked puzzled aswell. "No, no. I've been here the whole time," Maplefall replied hastily, "You must have just been too tired." Then, there were footsteps behind them and Brambleclaw mewed, "Well done. From now on you hree will be sleeping in the Warriors den." Fernwhisker and Sunclaw nodded eagerly, but for the first time since meeting Falcon, Maplefall felt her belly churning with guilt. Is meeting Falcon the right thing to do?
Although she had doubts about seeing Falcon, for the next moon Maplefall kept meeting him. She hardly managed it with all these new Warriors duties, and once, by only sunhigh, she was so exhausted she went to the Warriors Den and slept. Her last thought told her that she must stop meeting Falcon, even though her heart pulled her back to him. She woke up again to a bright, lush forest, and instantly recognised it as Starclan hunting grounds. Feathertail appeared out of the undergrowth and padded towards her. "Hello again. I hear you have received your warrior name," she mewed. Maplefall nodded, "Yes, but this dream isn't about that, is it? It's about Falcon." Feathertail replied, "Yes, young warrior, it is about Falcon. The one you love will be someone you least expect, but Love is Love, and you must carry on. You know Falcon is the cat you love, don't you?" Maplefall nodded again, waiting for Feathertail to tell her to stop meeting him. But then, why does the prophecy tell me that 'Love is Love'? "Yes, Maplefall, I know what you're thinking. You must stop meeting Falcon, but there is another way. Just remember, Love is Love," Feathertail whispered, then faded away into the stars. Maplefall woke with distress churning in her belly. What would she do without her dearest Falcon? There is another way, Feathertail's words echoed in her mind. She knew the Starclan cat was right, but she couldn't bear it. All Maplefall knew was that she had to see those brilliant blue eyes and that soft dark fur one last time, just to say goodbye.
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