The following day, Whispersong avoided Valorclaw as much as she could. She went hunting all day, and came back at dawn to eat. The beech tree was now taken by Valorclaw and Lilyheart, so Whispersong ate by the elders den where she had a perfect view of the tree. Rockstripe was now sat with them. She strained her ears to listen to their conversation.
"You're a fine hunter, I see." Rockstripe praised Lilyheart who blushed in embarrassment.
"And I'm sure you'll be a fine mother in time." he continued, smiling at his son.
Valorclaw looked delighted at his words.
"Not that we're planning any just yet." Valorclaw meowed purring.
"I wish you both well for the future." Rockstripe dipped his head and left.
Whispersong froze, this meant Valorclaw was now mates with Lilyheart. Something bubbled inside her and made her neck fur bristle. A strange feeling which she couldn't put a name to. She shook the feeling away and looked back at Valorclaw. He was nuzzling Lilyheart happily while she groomed his neck fur. Whispersong sighed. She remembered the days when they would nuzzle each other, laugh and eat together. As she looked at Lilyheart, a growl escaped from her throat.
Am I jealous of her? she asked herself. Pushing the thought away, she stood up and wondered out of camp, ignoring the questioning look from Thistlefire guarding the entrance. Her paws took her to the stream at the centre of the territory where the water meandered left and into Duskclan territory. Carefully, she crouched down and lapped up the icy cold water. Her thirst satisfied, she sat back and stared into the river. Her reflection looked twisted and broken in the tumbling water. She imagined Valorclaw sat next to her, his reflection perfect and looking at her with loving eyes. Whispersong looked back at the imaginary figure with longing. Instantly, she realized. Leaving Valorclaw was a mistake, she still loved him with all her heart. Valorclaw wouldn't have left her for Lilyheart, he was the most loyal cat in the clan.
"But it's too late now!" she wailed sadly. Tears rolled off her whiskers and dripped into the river, making Valorclaw's imaginary reflection disappear. "Oh what have I done?" she stopped and crouched lower to the ground, shaking with grief. "But i-it wasn't my fault, it was her!" she yowled at an imaginary reflection of Lilyheart, leaping at it with claws unsheathed. She landed in the lake, panting heavily with fury. She looked down at her paws, hidden by the current of the water. Realizing where she was, she leaped onto the bank to shake the water from her pelt vigorously before turning back to the river once more.
"You'll be mine again one day, Valorclaw. I promise." She murmured to herself. Her muscles still tense and eyes glaring, she disappeared into the bushes.
Valorclaw looked up from his meal. He noticed Whispersong had disappeared after seeing her just moments ago. He scanned the camp from where he was sat.
"Where's Whispersong gone?" he asked aloud. Lilyheart frowned.
"No idea. Why are you so worried about her all the time?" she asked curiously.
"I'm not worried about her, I'm just wondering." he replied back uncertainly.
"What happened to you two? Weren't you best friends or something?" Lilyheart guessed.
"Not friends... we were mates. She left me because... because I hung around with you a lot." he carefully picked the right words. Lilyheart looked shocked.
"Oh I'm so sorry! I had no idea, I-I thought you were just friends." she meowed, astonished. Valorclaw shook his head.
"It doesn't matter, I had to leave her anyway. Father wouldn't let me have a family with her." he murmured. Lilyheart's gaze softened.
"Do you still love her?" she broke the silence. Valorclaw whipped his head round to face her. Taking a deep breath, he looked into her eyes.
"No." he answered.
"It's alright if you do, I don't want you to live unhappy." Lilyheart pursued.
"I only love you, Lilyheart." he purred.
"I love you too." The two spent the rest of their evening under the beech tree, gossiping about the future adventures they would have together. As the night drew in, all the cats in the camp retreated to their dens for the night. The last to snuggle up in her nest was Whispersong. She ignored Valorclaw's gaze and curled up in her nest, tucking her paws underneath her. She breathed in the sweet scent of Valorclaw drifting through the den before closing her eyes.