Author's Note: I am SOO terribly sorry for the long wait, and I wish I can make it up to you! I was busy for the last few months of school. Hopefully this chapter will satisfy you for the wait, and I will (Promise!) get to work on Chapter 12 as fast as I can. Please Read & Review! Since I've noticed that most readers only make it to the first chapter, I've decided to re-write this. Of course, longer chapters, but I'd need to revise them. (I've already written the Allegiances; tell me if you'd like me to put them up!) This version will be kept up until I have at least 15 chapters typed and written or re-written. That will probably take a while, but, with summer in my midst, it will hopefully be a short wait. Thanks, and sorry for the long A/N. Again, please R&R! Thanks!

DISCLAIMER: The Erins own the awesome world that is the Warriors world. I own nothing except Spottedfeather, Riverstrike, Brindlepelt, Orangeheart, and company.

CHAPTER 11: An Important Talk

One and A Half Moons Later:

Waking up to the bright sunlight seeping through the small holes uncovered by brambles, Spottedfeather accidentally kicked out, and, in the process, hit Riverstrike, who was sleeping by her. She gasped, but he didn't seem to notice, not even emitting a loud-nosed grunt, as he'd usually do. She smiled slightly to herself, and stood up, deciding to stretch when she entered the clearing of their camp, just in case she hit another cat, accidentally.

He's probably bone-tired since he was on patrol last night. She remembered going to sleep without the comforting warmth of her mate, but she understood the reason for the safety. The badger that had killed Icespririt would probably have offspring (Dreamtail and Crimsonsight had said the badger was a female) and the warriors hadn't been able to find the badger's den.

They had to keep the camp safe, and she'd happily sleep without Riverstrike's warmth in favor of safety in the camp. Yawning widely, she looked around the seemingly deserted clearing. Only two cats were awake: Orangeheart and Goldenstorm.

Of course, the two cats had mates inside the Nursery, waiting excitedly for the kits yet to come. She understood the fact that they would be worrying their tails off, and she purred to herself. Some toms were just so dedicated!

Riverstrike was dedicated to her, wasn't he? He had been busier lately, but it was to be expected. He had also been in Silverstar's den with other warriors: Tigerheart, Hazelstream, and, even Spottedfeather's own father, Nightspot.

Riverstrike would tell her what had been discussed just last night… wouldn't he? Her pelt prickling with apprehension, Spottedfeather trotted over to the two toms vigilantly guarding the Nursery.

"Hello, you two," she meowed, her eyes shining with mirth. "Had a nice sleep? No badgers anywhere?" Both toms looked up, seemingly thinking of an answer.

"No, Spottedfeather," Orangeheart said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "we saw badgers, and decided to stay quiet about it." He rolled his eyes good-naturedly, his tail flicking her shoulder playfully.

"Really?" Spottedfeather played along. "I might as well go tell Silverstar, since you two will be guarding the Nursery for the rest of the day, won't you?"

"Yes," Goldenstorm mewed, finally speaking up in the conversation, also playing along, "we will. Would you mind getting us some fresh-kill? 4 pieces? All for the queens inside the Nursery? We're too dedicated to leave our post right now."

"Of course, Goldenstorm. I will go ahead and do that." She turned around, abruptly stopping when she saw the fresh-kill pile. It was barely full, only 2 thrushes, both yesterday's catch, lying in the designated pile. Spottedfeather sighed, walked forward and grabbed the 2 thrushes off the pile, promising herself that she'd go hunting later today... hopefully with Riverstrike when he woke up.

"Here ya go you two. There were only two pieces left so I'll have to ask Silverstar or Bearfur if they'll set up hunting patrols later today."

"Thanks." Both toms took one thrush each and entered the Nursery. Spottedfeather could hear the mingled voices inside.

"Oh, thanks you two! But, please, give it to your mates. We probably have enough milk for the kits. We'll eat later."

"Mm, thank you Whitecloud!" Spottedfeather could just make out Silverbranch's voice.

"Yes, thank you Whitecloud." Brindlepelt's mew.

Both toms exited the Nursery, and sat down at opposite ends of the entrance, looking very much as though they were the permanent guards of the Nursery.

Spottedfeather sighed.

"Might as well go wake up my own furball." With a dramatic exit, she entered the Warrior's Den again. Spotting Riverstrike's black pelt with little difficulty, she weaved her way through the sleeping cats. Arriving at her destination, Spottedfeather promptly poked his stomach with one paw.

"Riverstrike," she cooed sweetly, "wake up, please. I have something to ask you." After a slow, purposeful lick across his ear, Riverstrike woke up, looking quite dazed.

"Spottedfeather," he purred, using his tail to pull her to him, "what is it, love?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to go hunting with me."

She watched his face for a reaction, and she found one. His eyes lit up, and he seemed truly delighted about it. Inside, she grinned. She was still able to elicit that kind of reaction from him, even through something as simple as hunting for the Clan.

"Is that a yes, then?" She asked, her eyes also lighting up in the process.

"Of course! I love you, and I'll go anywhere you go, even when we're hunting." He nuzzled her, and she licked his ear before getting up and leading the way to the entrance.

"So, Riverstrike. What did Silverstar tell you last night?" Surprisingly, to her, he looked uncomfortable, as if he was thinking about telling her or not.

What he said totally surprised her. "I'll tell you later, yes?" he asked.

"Sure," she replied, her heart lifting at the thought that he'd actually tell her something that was obviously bothering him. "Why don't we get hunting then?"

"Okay, I say I'll catch more than you, love."

"Pfft, yeah right. Wanna bet?"

"Fine. If I catch more, I'll lock both of us in a cave so I can have my way with you."

Spottedfeather turned hot under her fur at the thought, but she couldn't help maybe letting a few pieces of prey slip from under her paws. He looked oddly smug, as her response took longer than usual.

"Okay, then, if I catch more, we need to talk about.. starting a family." She ended this declaration in a whisper, her fur heating up again.

It was his turn for embarrassment: Riverstrike was displaying eyes too big for his head, and the emotions playing across his face at the thought of kits. She understood the pressure wholeheartedly. After their bets, both cats were "blushing" furiously under their fur, though neither was too happy about leaving each other to search for prey.

And it also left a whole life-changing conversation ahead of them.

Trotting towards the designated meeting place they had decided upon, Spottedfeather carried 5 pieces of prey, and she was almost hoping that Riverstrike had caught more than her.

He saw her first and his eyes positively lit up again, so much like when they had in the morning. His reaction sent a lovely shock through Spottedfeather's fur.

"Hi," she gasped breathlessly, trying to show him how much she appreciated his companionship through a few licks on the nose.

"Hi," he said, looking amused at her flustered actions. Sitting down, he set his catch on the floor by his paws. Spottedfeather mirrored him, sitting in his line of vision.

"How many did you catch, Riverstrike?" Spottedfeather asked.

"5, I think."

"R-really? 5?" She sounded shocked.

"Yeah, why?"

"I caught 5 too," she whispered, "We'd need a tie-breaker..." she trailed off.

"Why, though? Can't we do both of those things? We never agreed on a tie-breaker." He looked smug.

Her eyes were filled with comprehension. "Of course! That's perfect!" She bounded up to him, and nearly toppled him over. He sunk his claws into the earth to keep from doing just that, and she fell on the ground a right in front of him. "Sorry," she meowed softly, "I think we should get this," she gestured to the prey with a sweep of her tail, "back to camp. Then, after that, we can... carry out the bet." She was "blushing" again, and hastily picked up her share of the prey to cover it up.

Riverstrike didn't seem to notice. At least, it didn't look like he did, but Spottedfeather was almost certain that he was following her example, covering his own "blush."

A few moments later, immersed in complete – and total – silence, both cats were back at camp, and a considerable amount of their Clanmates were out and about, heading to and fro around the camp, doing their clan-ly duties. Very few looked up as they entered.

The two cats headed towards the fresh-kill pile, dropping the day's catch onto the small mound already present.

They discreetly headed towards the entrance together, but Bearfur intercepted them, saying, "I see you two were out hunting early this morning. Nice job, you two. Go and take a break, please."

Bearfur really is a wonderful deputy, Spottedfeather mused, but I can't help thinking of Riverstrike in his place. Of course, I may be a bit biased, but it could happen, hopefully not in the near future.

Taking up their previous route towards the forest, and the private little clearing Riverstrike had found when he had been chasing the blackbird; both felines took a starting run, Spottedfeather squealing gleefully, as Riverstrike shook off the fear of hurting her, and snapped at her heels playfully, growling as he did so.

She turned to look at him over his shoulder, smiling cheekily as she put on a burst of speed, and he only rolled his eyes before easily catching up to her slow, almost deliberate pace (she ran faster than that), pouncing on her once she entered the small little clearing.

"Gotcha!" Riverstrike was looking down on her, since, in the process of toppling her over, he had managed to maneuver her delightful body to be facing the sky instead of the ground.

It took all of his willpower to not do the act that nature intended, and managed to, reluctantly, pull away from her.

He settled a few paces in front of her, careful not to show her how reluctantly he had pulled away, but he already knew that she had noticed, and had decided not to mention it. He was glad of that.

Spottedfeather took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts, and looked at him with beautiful, hazel eyes.

"Riverstrike, I want kits." It was so straightforward that Riverstrike was momentarily stunned.

"I-I knew that," he gasped, "but I never would've thought that you'd be so... blunt about it." His eyes were filled with a mixture of shock and amusement.

She smiled slightly. "I thought that if I were blunt, it would be easier for me. I wouldn't have to be so embarrassed, but you're not helping!" At the end, she shot a playful little glance in his direction, and he fought the male instinct rising inside him.

"When?" He asked, also trying to be straightforward, believing her theory of bluntness equaled less embarrassment.

"I don't really know, I- I mean, soon would be nice, but I can wait." Her theory was proving effective, since she seemed perfectly comfortable with the conversation. Only the slightest hint of embarrassment showed on her face.

"What would you think about soon?" He asked softly.

"I'd like that very much, but if you don't want to…" She trailed off here, looking away from his face as though she were embarrassed.

"Oh, I want to, you don't know how bad-" he broke off, looking thoroughly as though he wanted to sink into the ground and become a weed.

"What did you say?" she asked, a slightly teasing smile appearing on her lips.

"I-I," he growled, "You don't know how much I want you right now."

"You don't know how much I want you right now either," she whispered.

"Well, then," Riverstrike meowed, looking delighted, "what would you like?"

Spottedfeather purred, looking at him through her eyelashes, "Is there a cozy cave around here somewhere?" She asked, blushing as she did so.

Even though the clearing was private, she would never know if eyes would peek through the bushes. It was better to be safe than sorry.

"I'll find one for you," he stated, and Spottedfeather's heart was beating crazily as she thought of the undying sense of being cared for, "I'll be right back, okay?"

She smiled, "That's fine, I'll just wait here." She lowered herself to the ground, and closed her eyes, thinking of a certain black tom as she did so.

Brindlepelt's eyes sparkled as Orangeheart entered the Nursery, walked behind her, and settled himself snug and comfy around her form. "How are you feeling?" He asked, peering over her shoulder to look her in the face.

"Fine. Why?"

"Just making sure, you know, just in case our kits come earlier than expected." Brindlepelt closed her eyes as he put emphasis on the word, 'our'; she knew he was excited, and so was she.

"Orangeheart, I'd tell you if I felt something. You know that, don't you?" She looked at him with her amber eyes, blinking them as his own green eyes stared at her with an intensity that left her breathless.

"Of course I do," he whispered, licking her between the ears, "you better rest, love, you'll need it in a few days."

She purred softly, obediently closing her eyes, and, without her consent, she managed to fall asleep, never really knowing that she had been that tired.

Orangeheart looked down at her with all the love he had for the brindle she-cat reflected in his eyes. He was sure that he'd love her for the rest of his life, and, if she were ever to die - he shuddered at the word - he'd never be as happy as he was at that precise moment when they had confessed their love for each other. It had been when she was a newly made warrior.

He looked at her, green eyes glinting with an unsaid emotion in them. They had been in camp, a few moments since she'd been let off of the mandatory vigil. Riverstrike and Spottedfeather were hunting and, besides a few elders, kits, queens, and apprentices, they had been alone. All the warriors had been sent on patrols.

"Brindlepelt, walk with me?" he asked, out of the blue.

"Sure, Orangeheart." And they had set off.

When they had walked for a moment, she looked at him, her eyes speaking an unsaid question, "Orangeheart, where are we going?"

"You'll see," he whispered mysteriously, "You'll see."

Another moment, and they were near the Sky Oak. Not there, but near it. Brindlepelt was expecting him to head straight for the tree, but he turned right, silently swerving in the dim light that seeped through the trees.

"Where are we going? I demand you tell me right now!" She gasped.

He only shook his head – the nerve! – and kept walking forward. "You'll see," he repeated, shaking his head in an amused way.

They walked for another moment more, and Brindlepelt was getting impatient. Luckily, Orangeheart seemed to be in tune to her growing impatience, and he stopped.

"Here we are," he stated, his deep eyes filling her with a light, fuzzy feeling. She liked it. His eyes looked like fresh grass, the pine needles on pine trees, and they were swallowing her up.

"Where is this, exactly?" She asked, her amber eyes showing curiosity, luckily hiding the hidden emotion deep within with the intensity of her curious eyes.

"Oh, we're still in ThunderClan territory, but, well, it's where nobody's ventured before. I found it when I wandered away from a patrol." He looked sheepish, and she purred her amusement.

"Really? I never would've thought," she teased, her tail flicking him on the shoulder.

His eyes narrowed, but his amused ear-twitch betrayed him. He growled playfully, pouncing out of nowhere, knocking her to the ground.

"Hi," he whispered absently, momentarily lost in her bottomless amber eyes.

"Hi yourself," she smiled, also temporarily absorbed in his deep forest green eyes.

Orangeheart, after a few moments, hastily lifted himself up from her, not meeting her gaze.

"So, Orangeheart," Brindlepelt meowed, once she got over the feeling in her belly, "Where are we again?"

"Near a miniature forest," he responded promptly, probably afraid of another one of her impatient reactions.

"A miniature forest?" Brindlepelt repeated, awed, and very excited.

"Yeah, would you like to see?

"Of course!"

Orangeheart pushed open the covering of ferns, and Brindlepelt was undeniably breathless.

Lovely sunrays were basking on the grass, making the green-ness of it sparkle. The trees around the clearing shimmered with undeniable elegance. And, Orangeheart thought, it made Brindlepelt prettier than usual. She almost looked the same, what with the same sparkle in her eyes, but her fur - Great StarClan, her fur - the sun made her fur look shiny, luscious, and he wanted to rest beside her, what he was sure to be, warm, soft, body.

"Wow," she managed to say, although breathless.

"Yeah," Orangeheart agreed, looking sideways at her profile in the process. She caught him looking and boldly held his gaze.

He broke away first. Brindlepelt looked strangely thoughtful.

"Orangeheart," she began slowly, "Have you ever shown anyone else this lovely place?"

Orangeheart shook his head. "You're the first."

Now the brindle-pelted she-cat looked surprised. "Really?" She whispered, "Not even Riverstrike?"

"Not even Riverstrike," he agreed with a nod, "only you."

"I- I don't know what to say," she admitted, "but thanks. Is there a reason?"

Orangeheart looked nervous, and Brindlepelt had no idea why. Was he about to say what she had wanted him to say for a while? Since before her warriorship had begun, when she had been an apprentice? She was suddenly nervous too.

"Yeah," he agreed reluctantly, "there's one."

"What is it?" Brindlepelt was not surprised to be whispering.

"I- I-" he was breaking off every moment, and Brindlepelt could only wait with bated breath.

"Yes?" she prompted.

"I like you a lot," he finally admitted, staring at anything but the brindle she-cat.

"Oh," she breathed, her heart lifting, "I like you too."

He looked up so fast it looked like it hurt. He took no notice. "Really?" He looked delighted.

"Yes, yes I do." Her eyes were glittering, and she looked around her, reminding herself that he had taken her here to tell her the greatest secret he had kept for only StarClan knew how long. He hadn't even taken Riverstrike, his best friend, to this place, at that very moment she had felt light-hearted and loved.

"Really?" He repeated, looking as though he was near the verge of believing it.

"Yes. Do I need to say it a dozen times?" She teased, smiling gently.

"Yeah, that would be nice."

She purred loudly. "Okay, then. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Happy now?"

He looked amused, surprised, and happy at the same time. "Very," he purred.

She smiled down on him. "Whaddya say we go back to camp?" She asked, almost reluctantly.

"No." He promptly replied. She nearly laughed out loud.

"Fine," she sighed, laying herself next to him, something that had made Orangeheart quite happy.

And that was how it had been, light and fun, until something undeniably great had happened to change both their lives forever.

Author's Note: Well, what did you think? Please R&R! Thanks! Surprising? Too fast? (Sorry about that..) Did you like the bit of Brindle x Orange? Would you like more? What do you think Riverstrike will tell Spottedfeather? Please tell me in a review! (Surprisingly, I wrote 3,136 words without the 2 Author's Notes!)

The next chapter will, hopefully, be longer! And packed with fluff, and maybe some implications - as an advanced warning.