Okay, I promised the next chapter would be up soon so here it is! Hope you enjoy it.
"Okay, I know you're being punished, but I'll let you hunt a little bit providing you stay near here. The clan can always use a little extra freshkill." Brackenfur permitted.
"Oh thank you!" Lionpaw jumped up, and eagerly and stalked towards the mouse he had been eyeing.
"Good catch." The golden brown tom replied before padding a little ways off to hunt on his own.
Deciding to make the best of this opportunity, Lionpaw caught another vole and a thrush before heading back to camp with his sister and Brackenfur.
Depositing the prey in the freshkill pile, he pulled out a mouse for himself and swallowed it in a couple of vigorous bites.
While licking his paws, he looked up anxiously as Firestar padded up to him.
"Are you ready to go?" the fiery red tom queried.
Lionpaw nodded and got to his feet, padding after his leader.
The cool forest breeze rustled the forest in the leaves and gently blew his golden fur, but Lionpaw found it hard to enjoy the woods when he was on his way to bail on Heatherpaw.
Letting out a sigh, the tom sprinted forward in an effort to keep up with his leader.
Finally they reached the stream, where both toms sat down to rest.
"We'll wait for a Windclan patrol to escort us back to camp." Firestar meowed as he began to groom his fur.
Lionpaw nodded and did the same. However much trouble he was in, he didn't need Windclan to think that Thunderclan apprentices didn't care for themselves.
After his fur was thoroughly cleaned, Firestar meowed, "Let's just lie down and wait. We can't just barge onto other Clan's territory." And with that the leader laid down and put his head on his paws.
Lionpaw however, found it hard to rest. He was eager to see Heatherpaw once more and talk to her about what Firestar had said. Would she really leave the clans with me though? The golden tom wondered. And if so, where would we even go?
His thoughts were interrupted however when a breeze carried Windclan scent to their nostrils. Firestar sat up immediately, and fluffed out his fur, looking very dignified. Lionpaw tried to do the same but he found it hard to look proud when he was about to get in even more trouble.
At last the Thunderclan apprentice caught sight of the cats, coming from the moor. By the looks of it, the patrol consisted of Tornear, Harepaw, Weaselfur, Crowfeather and, Lionpaw felt his heart drop, Heatherpaw.
"What are you doing so close to the border?" Tornear meowed boldly.
Firestar dipped his head. "We've come to talk to Onestar." He meowed, making it clear that no other explanation would be given.
Lionpaw however, was looking around at everything, trying to avoid Heatherpaw's piercing blue gaze.
"What if it's a trap?" Lionpaw heard Harepaw hiss to his mentor.
"Nonsense. Do you really think Thunderclan would send their clan leader and an apprentice to attack us? Our kits could handle that."
Lionpaw did everything he could to keep his claws sheathed and refrain from clawing his ears off. Well your kits can maybe handle it but I'd like to see you try. Lionpaw thought angrily as he lashed his tail.
"Very well." Weaselfur meowed at last. "You may come with us. But don't try anything funny."
Firestar sighed and Lionpaw wondered if he was thinking of old times, where Thunderclan and Windclan were at peace.
Stepping across the river, the icy water lapped at his paws, and sent a chill down his spine. Finally, dry land was reached and Lionpaw shook the extra water off his coat.
Padding through the moor, Lionpaw wondered how these cats could stand to live in the open like this with no trees to protect them and a chilly breeze consistently ruffling their fur.
"What are you doing here?" a voice hissed, and Lionpaw jumped to see Heatherpaw beside him.
"Honeypaw told Firestar everything. He says Onestar deserves to know too." Lionpaw admitted sadly.
Her blue eyes clouded with fear, the she-cat meowed, "Oh that's terrible! How much trouble are you in?"
"Well I'm confined to camp and have to care for the elders for a week." Lionpaw meowed; glad his punishment wasn't too harsh.
"I hope Onestar isn't too mean about it." Heatherpaw fretted.
Lionpaw licked her affectionately. "I'm sure he'll be just as fair."
"Heatherpaw, why don't you come and stand by your mentor?" Tornear suggested with a glare at Lionpaw.
"Okay, I was just making sure that he didn't try anything funny though." Heatherpaw lied with a mischievous glance at Lionpaw.
The golden tom turned away, and focused on how to state the proposal to Heatherpaw.
Suddenly, the cats veered off into a barrier of gorse bushes and Lionpaw hissed as the thorns snagged his pelt. As he pushed through the last bush, he realized he was looking over their camp.
Down this steep slope was a small dip, where gorse and bramble was scattered along the hillside. Even though several hollows stood at the bottom, Lionpaw couldn't imagine in living somewhere this open. Lionpaw opened his mouth to work out where each cat lived through scent, but Tornear interrupted him.
"Harepaw, Heatherpaw go see if the elders need taking care of. If not then take Barkface and Kestrelpaw some freshkill." The tabby tom meowed.
"Actually, I think Heatherpaw should come with us." Firestar meowed with a disappointed glance at Lionpaw. "This has to do with her too."
Tornear cast them a suspicious glance before finally nodding his approval.
"Heatherpaw, you come with me then while we go see if Onestar is here." He meowed, taking the lead.
Lionpaw raced down the slope, almost losing his footing once, but he managed to make it down without any further trouble.
Tornear led them through the hollow when a yowl made them all turn.
"Why is Thunderclan on our territory?" Onestar meowed, running down the slope. The leader sounded genuinely concerned though, not hostile.
Firestar dipped his head and so did Lionpaw. "Greetings Onestar. I have something to share with you about our irresponsible apprentices."
Onestar cast a suspicious glance at Heatherpaw and Lionpaw, who turned away unable to meet his gaze.
"Sure. Just follow me into my den. Tornear, you can go back to work now, I'm sure these apprentices aren't going anywhere." Onestar meowed with a threatening glare.
Tornear padded away with one last fierce look at the cats.
Settling down beside Heatherpaw, he decided now would be the best time to bring it up.
"Heatherpaw, yesterday when Firestar gave me my punishment, he also said something that I've been thinking about." Lionpaw started anxiously. "Well, he said that if I wasn't happy in Thunderclan, maybe I should leave."
Heatherpaw's eyes widened with shock. "Are you really thinking about it?" she asked incredulously.
Lionpaw nodded. "He said that it would be a loss for Thunderclan but he wants me to be as happy as possible."
Heatherpaw stood staring at him for several moments before responding. "Where would you go?" she asked.
"Well, wherever it is, I was hoping you'd come with me." The golden tom meowed, gazing into the depths of her ocean blue eyes.
"Of course I'd come with." She purred at last, and Lionpaw thought his heart would burst out of his chest at any moment. "I know that Windclan would miss me, but I don't think I could stand seeing you only at gatherings. And what would we do when our Clans had to fight? I can't fight you Lionpaw. I think this might be best for us."
Giving her ear a lick, he meowed, "But I'm not sure we should leave just yet."
"You're right. How about we go the gathering after we get made into warriors?" the light brown tabby suggested.
"That sounds perfect." Lionpaw purred. If they left at a gathering, no cat would notice their disappearance for a while.
Just then, Firestar and Onestar padded out of his den. "Thank you for telling me Firestar. I'll have to have a word with my apprentice."
Dipping their heads respectfully, the two leaders dispersed. Lionpaw cast a sympathetic glance at Heatherpaw before bounding after his leader.
Crossing the stepping-stones back into his own territory, Lionpaw realized that now he wanted to be a warrior more than ever!
Yay Lionpaw and Heatherpaw!! They'll be so cute together. But it's sad because this story is coming to an end. Sniff sniff. Isn't it tragic?! But I'll have you know that a sequel will be coming soon so don't worry. Also, I have quite a bit of free time on my hands today so you can expect an update soon. Hope you enjoyed the chappie, and please for the sake of LionxHeather, review!!