This line is going to repeat and IDK why
This line is going to repeat and IDK why XP
Qzil - I'd update For Real except that I've got a block towards it tonight. I might be over it by tomorrow.
Foxstar24 - a lil opinionated, are we? Hmmmm… don't worry, I'm just kidding since I agree with -most- of what you said.
All The Stars In The Sky - thank you! Here's your update :)
Across the Borders, Chapter 11
by: rainfeather's hope
"I've got to go," I tell Applenose. "In four days, meet at the Twoleg path?" She ndos drowsily, and I lick her forehead before taking off. Prior to entering ThunderClan territory, I stop and hurriedly wash her scent off my fur. That quickly proves to have been the right thing to do, for I meet Whiteflower nearly as soon as my paws touch ThunderClan soil.
"Where have you been?" she growls. "I had to cover for you, so you owe me!"
"I had to get away," I tell her. "A ton of the cats keep asking if we're mates." That is true. "Can you keep it on the D.L? That we are?"
"I haven't told any cat!" Whiteflower sounds bewildered and hurt. I try to soothe her by licking her ear, but she swipes at me. "You know what? You smell of Applenose!"
I recoil like she's bit me. "I - I-"
"No, don't try lying to me! You've been with her, her, that ShadowClan female, and…"
"We're just friends, Whiteflower!" I say desperately. This tangled web of lies is getting harder and harder to sustain. "I was asking her opinion about how to make the toms shut up about you and me!" I improvise wildly.
The suspicion in her eyes doesn't fade, not a bit, but she stops theorizing and looks at me hard. "Just friends, friends and nothing more?"
"Yes," I lie, my fear beginning to build up inside me.
"I'm not saying I believe you, but I'll try to put it out of my mind. And if I catch her scent on you often, you'd better believe it'll be all heck breaking loose, Birchfeather. Cats don't lie to me, because I'll tell you straight up - I won't tolerate it." She looks as steely as Bluestar did, two nights ago. "We may be mates but that doesn't mean I'm going to sit pretty and drool all over you, no matter what you do."
"I know, I know. It won't happen again," I promise my mate. She looks temporarily appeased. "I've got to get back to camp now," I say. "Before anymore of our Clanmates get suspicious."
She lets me pass, wariness apparent in every hair of her pelt. She doesn't quite believe me. I'll have to watch my step from now on, I think.
My heart belongs to two she-cats, one not of my Clan, StarClan has promised vengeance against me, and I don't know who I can trust with my story. Oh yeah, life is great.
-x-(one. moon. later. birch. pov) -x-
Whiteflower and I have gotten closer, while Applenose and I haven't been able to meet for a moon. I'm always busy on patrol since I don't have an apprentice, and Applenose always was occupied with her duties. ShadowClan have way fewer cats than ThunderClan. Also, I wasn't at the Gathering a quarter-moon ago. Spiderleg did tell me, grudgingly, that Snowstep has had two kits. I think he said their names were Stripekit and Skykit.
Spiderleg still hasn't forgiven me for the Whiteflower thing. Word, aka gossip, flies fast around here.
StarClan still show no sign of punishing either Applenose or I for what we've done. I'm not afraid any longer; on the contrary, I wish we could meet more often. I miss being able to meet frequently with Applenose. I think I'll check the border for her tonight… possibly in just a few hours. In the meantime, I'll catch up on sleep. I took dawn patrol and sundown patrol today.
-x-
Twilight envelops the lakeside. Whiteflower's just fallen asleep, and I've already snuck away from the den.
"Hi Ashfur," I greet my former mentor. "I fancy a bit of night hunting. Would you mind telling Firestar if he asks?"
"No problem, Birchfeather," he replies, a tad sleepily. Home free.
Cold air slices through my thin pelt. A three quarter moon, waning, shines through the sky. A clump of clouds soon obscures its brightness, dying the snow a darker tint. Leaf-bare truly has hit, but no one in ThunderClan will be kept down. With all this frosty glitter carpeting the lake, cats and prey should be easy to spot tonight.
I weave through hickory and cedar trees, then pass a walnut. My ears are alert and my eyes are searching for any sign of any living creature, be it ThunderClan, ShadowClan, or prey. A rabbit soon appears from its hole and I chase after it, my hind paws kicking up puffs of snow as I go. With a flying leap to make SkyClan proud, I tackle the hare and with a single claw I cut its throat. I bury my prey under a hickory tree and keep on searching. I take out a squirrel soon after and hide it back with the rabbit.
I've crept up on a robin, and I pounce on it just when a low moan catches my attention. It's coming from the other side of this border I've been traveling. The wind is howling away from me, so I can't scent the cats. While I'm distracted, the robin pulls its wing free and flutters away from me. As I stare after it despairingly, the clouds covering the moon fragment. I recognize two ShadowClan cats by moonlight, and all of the sudden even my heart feels cold. Oakfur's with Applenose, and she's moaning wildly beneath him. Her paws work the empty air as Oakfur continues.
I don't believe this. How could Applenose be so cold? It's right in front of my nose, and I don't believe it.
Oakfur's attention is all centered on Applenose, whose eyes are shut. He's grinning down at her; I could yowl my heart out and I doubt he'd notice.
Suddenly her eyes open, and lock onto mine in horror. I stare icily at her. This is the deepest betrayal I've ever known.
You and Whiteflower did the same.
I do not have the strength to deal with my conscience right now. I can't think straight. I weave around as if in a drunken stupor, unable to see anything but that horrible image I just witnessed. Finally I collapse into some stream. The water rushes over my head, nearly frozen. Everything blurs, and water fills my ears. At last I am rid of the awful image.
"Birchfeather! Hey, Birchfeather? What do you think you're doing?" The voice, though seriously muted, is recognizable as Leafpool's.
I feel pain like teeth around ground into my scruff; I am dimly aware of tugging on my fur. But all I know is I'm cold. So bitterly cold…
Before I get some PMs and crazy reviews yelling, "ohmegee you killt birchie11!1eleven!," he isn't suicidal; he's just so shocked he has no idea what he's doing. He's basically a danger to himself at this point in time. And yea Leafpool found him. He lives.
--Rainey/
