Nightwing and Jayfeather followed Sandstorm back to camp at full speed. The rest of the Clan was following. When the got there, Jayfeather raced to the nursery. Nightwing saw Brightheart run out of the medicine den with some herbs.
Nightwing ran to the nursery and saw Streamsong laying on her side, face twisted with pain.
"Jayfeather, is she going to be okay?" Nightwing asked frantically.
"I'm not sure," he looked up and snarled at Daisy and Ferncloud, "Everyone, please get out."
"But I want to stay here with Streamsong," Nightwing replied stubbornly.
"Come on," Thornclaw's voice sounded from behind, "Let's give them some space. How about we go hunting?"
"Okay," Nightwing sighed.
As they walked out, she heard Jayfeather urgently tell Streamsong, "You're going to be fine. It's okay. Breathe, breathe," followed by Streamsong's yowling.
"Relax," said Thornclaw, "Jayfeather knows what he's doing. Besides, he's got Brightheart helping."
Thornclaw smiled fondly as he watched his sister race back into the medicine den.
"So, how about that hunting?" Nightwing asked.
"Oh, yes."
She followed Thornclaw to the camp entrance.
"Where are you two going?" growled Berrynose, the guard.
"Hunting," replied Thornclaw sharply.
"Sure," Berrynose said doubtedly, "Sure."
On their way out, Nightwing could feel his pale green gaze burning into her fur. She and Thornclaw hunted for a while, but the whole time she thought about Streamsong. Would she be okay, would she make it, would the kits make it?
She eventually caught a vole near the bank, and watched Thornclaw as he stalked a mouse. He was perfectly silent, padding one foot behind the other. His muscles rippled under his fur, that shone more gold than brown in the moonlight. He killed the mouse in one perfect pounce, and a quick killing bite to the neck. It happened so fast that if Nightwing had blinked, she would have missed it. He came back over to her and dropped it at her feet.
"For you, my dear," he whispered.
"Why, thank you," she dipped her head and started eating.
"We'll take your vole back to camp when we're done," Thornclaw said.
"Okay. So, what were you going to ask me before the Gathering?" she asked.
"Oh, right. I forgot about that," he took a deep breath before asking, "Nightwing, will you be my mate?"
Nightwing let out a yelp of surprise. She couldn't have been happier.
"Of course, Thornclaw. I would like that very much."
He purred, a low, rumbling sound deep in his chest. Nightwing grinned and licked his ear affectionately. Thornclaw twined his tail with hers.
They walked down to the beautiful, shining lake and settled on the shore. Nightwing listened to the soothing sound of the cold water pulsing against the rocks.
"I love you," she whispered in Thornclaw's ear.
"I love you too," he replied.
They curled up together, black and gold fur blending, and fell asleep.