Okay, this chapter is reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyy short. But, it is necessary to fill in the gaps, cause if I started it any later, you would be totally lost. Anyways, thanks for seven awesome reviews!!! Please tell me what you think, and what you think Stoneheart should do. I need to know!!! *begs on knees* please, please, please, please, please, please....
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Warriors, I don't own Warriors, I don't own Warriors, I don't own Warriors... Littlestar, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!(I don't own that either)
Stoneheart blinked her eyes open. Sunlight was streaming into the warrior's den. Opening her jaws in a gaping yawn, Stoneheart stood and stretched her muscles, letting them ripple under her pelt. Sitting, she blinked and looked around. A couple warriors were still sleeping, but most of the nests were empty. She stood and padded out of the den and into the open DawnClan camp.
Once there, Stoneheart padded up to the fresh kill pile where Strongpaw, Hawkpaw, and Clawedfoot were eating.
"Good morning, Stoneheart!" Clawedfoot exclaimed. "Getting along well?"
"Yes, thanks, Clawedfoot," Stoneheart replied politely. She did not really like the DawnClan deputy, he was rather.... strong when it came to she-cats. In fact, he had gotten a clawing from a couple of them. Littlestar did not like his attitude towards the she-cats, but he did believe that Clawedfoot was a good leader, and very fair.
Without so much as another glance towards the brown tom cat, she picked up a mouse and padded off to eat. Bramblemask got up from where she was laying and walked over to the gray warrior.
"Sometimes I wonder why Clawedfoot even goes after any other she-cats!" the dark tabby snorted.
"What do you mean?" Stoneheart asked through a mouthful of vole.
"He has a mate, and even then he STILL padds after every she-cat in the clan... well, the ones that don't have mates yet," Bramblemask answered, casually drawing her tongue over her paw.
I have a mate! Stoneheart almost blurted that out, but stopped herself. No other cat besides Littlestar knew, and the tawny-brown leader wanted to keep it that way.
If everyone knew about us, they probably wouldn't be happy. Well, they would be overjoyed, but I don't want any of the DuskClan cats knowing and using that against you or me, Littlestar had said when Stoneheart asked why he didn't want any cat to know. She guessed that his reply wasn't really why he didn't want everyone knowing, she thought that he was embarassed. Not to be with her, but that he had a mate. Littlestar probably didn't know what to do with himself.
Finishing off her vole, Stoneheart nodded to Bramblemask and up to Littlestar, who was directing orders.
"Talonfur, you're on hunting patrol with Bramblemask, Hawkpaw, and any other cat... um.. STONEHEART.... you want to go on border patrol with Strongpaw, Clawedfoot and I?" Littlestar said hastily to make up for his mistake of sounding over excited around Talonfur.
"Sure, that would be fine with me," Stoneheart mewed. Talonfur padded away, and Littlestar sighed.
"It is so hard to keep this from them," he said, exasperated.
"Then tell them! Each cat here is loyal to you," Stoneheart purred. "And Clawedfoot would get off my case!" she added quietly. Littlestar laughed.
"Is he still bothering you?" Stoneheart nodded, and flicked her tail in annoyance. At that moment, Clawedfoot padded up to her.
"Hey! Stoneheart! Wanna come huntin' with me?" the brown tom sat close to Stoneheart, their pelts brushing, and tried to twine his tail with hers.
"Actually, you are coming with me, Stoneheart, and Strongpaw on border patrol," Littlestar mewed. Stoneheart took that moment to step away from Clawedfoot, and closer to Littlestar.
"Oh, okay then.. let's go," Clawedfoot sounded disappointed. Stoneheart growled and went up to Strongpaw.
"You're coming on border patrol," she mewed. The black and white apprentice finished off his mouse and nodded. Stoneheart turned back to Littlestar and Clawedfoot who were waiting by the entrance to the camp.
"Ready?" Littlestar asked. Stoneheart nodded, just as Strongpaw ran up.
"Kay, let's go," Clawedfoot hissed, stalking out of camp. Stoneheart shrugged when Littlestar looked at her, and followed. Soon, they were padding through the tall grass along the border of the gathering place. Stoneheart sniffed the air carefully, making sure that Rushpaw hadn't returned. No scent greeted her nose. As they passed the gathering place, Stoneheart realized that the next gathering was in two days. She hoped to go, and see how MoonClan was doing without her, but she didn't want to go for that same reason.
Stoneheart knew that she had left her life behind her, and tried not to think on it long. She missed the cats that she had known so well, but Stoneheart was happy in DawnClan... with Littlestar. Still, her minds wandered to the cats in MoonClan. Ripplestar would have missed her, but he would be strong for his clan. Then there was Goldpelt.
Stoneheart let out a loud sigh as she though of her friends. Littlestar turned and waited for her to catch up to him.
Placing his tail on her back, he asked, "Are you okay?" Stoneheart nodded, her pelt tingling where his tail touched her fur. She felt light as air, and full of happiness. That was why she loved Littlestar. He made her feel so wonderful, so special. He was so kind, so full of fun, a loving furball.
"Yes, I'm fine, let's go," Stoneheart whispered, licking his muzzle. Littlestar nodded, and the two cats raced forward to catch up with the rest of the patrol. There they were met with a large gang of DuskClan, SunClan, and four MoonClan cats. Among them were Ripplestar, Leopardear, Tigerstripe, and Stripedthoughts. When Stoneheart and Littlestar stopped, Ripplestar's eyes widened with horror.
Fallenstar stepped forward. "You didn't think that we were going to let you live forever, did you?" And the battle began.
Please, please, please, please, please, please tell me what you think should happen!!! REVIEW, READ, WHATEVER... JUST TELL ME!!!! (oh, and vote on my poll too, kay?)