Chapter 26:A friendly shadow...

It was the beginning of Leafbare, the sun was at it's highest; it was two sunrises after Lionblaze had been dragged into the camp, full of claw wounds. Lionblaze would have to wait until he would be ready to start his duties again and Cinderheart's kits were due any day. Dovewing looked at the trees that surrounded the camp. They had no leaves, and their brittle branches rattled in the cold wind. Dovewing shivered, her grey pelt fluffed out in a attempt to keep out the cold wind. It had been three moons after the battle with the dark forest, now it just seemed like a bad dream. But Dovewing knew some cats hadn't forgotten yet. Brightheart would be with her kits Amberkit, Snowkit and Dewkit constantly, she seemed to have a need to protect them. Also Sandstorm kept having nightmares. She would scream out in the night, all the warriors had been gossiping, suggesting that she should join Purdy in the elders den. But the light gold she cat was persistent on still serving her clan, now that she had recovered from losing Firestar, she tried to be on as many hunting patrols as possible.

Dovewing however, that was a different story. Rumours were spreading that she and Bumblestripe were mates. The reality was far different, she liked the bubbly tom, but if Tigerheart didn't exist she would almost defiantly be his mate. But Dovewing couldn't help but wonder about the shadowclan or Darkclan tom.

She shook her head, she needed to go hunting. She padded out of the camp, through the thorn tunnel, its sharp thorns dug into her pelt. She entered the freedom of the thunderclan forest. The large trees overhead had no leaves, but their presence was comforting.

Dovewing sniffed the air, the scent of squirrel was coming from a clump of brambles. Dovewing curled her lip up in disgust. Brambles were painful... nether the less, she needed to catch food for the clan, especially with it being the beginning of Leafbare.

Dovewing hissed loud enough for the squirrel to hear, the squirrel bolted out of its cover in fright. It had no chance. Dovewing unsheathed her claws and leapt on the squirrel, she snapped it's neck. She sat up with her prize, and sniffed the smell of fresh kill eagerly. She dug a hole and hid her catch, and went in search of more prey.

It was moonrise, Dovewing had caught lots of prey and had been back and forward to Thunderclan dropping off her catches, she decided to do a spot of moonlight hunting. Another scent was caught in her nasal cavity. A scent that was very familiar. Tigerheart...

She wanted with all her heart to run to the tabby tom but she felt a pull to the thunderclan camp.

"Dovewing?" came a rough mew from the bushes.

Dovewing out of curiosity stepped towards the bushes. They were dark green with large leaves. She poked her head in them and was startled when she found herself looking into her favourite pair of amber eyes.

"Tigerheart!" she mewed happily, more happily than she had intended. Tigerheart had seen that she was pleased to see him and purred loudly.

"What are you doing here?!" Dovewing hissed.

"I came to see you" he mewed.

"Why?!" Dovewing recoiled and tried to look emotionless.

"Because I love you, mouse brain." Tigerheart purred, the tom's smile faded when she didn't reply.

Dovewing looked at her paws. She couldn't say what was on her mind, that had been on her mind for moons now. Tigerheart looked up at the sky. The moon reflected in his amber eyes. He crept out of the bushes, and sat opposite her.

"Cold night." He shivered.

"Yeahhpp." Dovewing mewed awkwardly.

Tigerheart stared at the love of his life, her pale grey pelt turned silver by the rising moon. She shifted her paws, uncomfortable. Tigerheart closed his eyes. Breathing in the Leafbare air. I know she loves me too...there's only one way..

Tigerheart opened his eyes and padded over to Dovewing silently. She sighed and Tigerheart felt grief for her pierce his heart. He licked the top of her head. She turned and looked at him with wide eyes. Tigerheart's heart was in his mouth. She looked at him with blue eyes, frantic. Then to Tigerheart's delight she pushed her muzzle into his fur and purred. Tigerheart had to refrain from yowling with happiness to the moon when she whispered. "Tigerheart, I love you."

Dovewing sat in the cold, her head hanging low. It killed her, she didn't know who she loved. Then she felt a warm tongue rasp over the top of her head, flattening the stray hairs down. She looked up at him, his amber eyes were concerned, almost worried at her reaction. Then, BAM! It hit her, she loved Tigerheart, and tonight when the moonlight shone on his gentle face, she would tell him. She shoved her muzzle in his warm fur. Then whispered "Tigerheart, I love you..."

She looked up at him, and saw warmth and complete happiness in his amber eyes. "I love you too Dovewing." He twined his tail with hers, Dovewing didn't protest. "I am going to join Thunderclan, I will always be there for you Dovewing, and I will always protect you. I promise." He purred.

Dovewing purred. "Come on, let's go and face the music."

Tigerheart nodded.

They walked back to Thunderclan with their pelts brushing, Dovewing felt like her world had completed, she had been missing something for so long, and now she knew that it had always been Tigerheart.

They padded through the fern tunnel, Tigerheart stopped dead, looking rather scared. "Welcome to Thunderclan" purred Dovewing as she looked around the camp. The moonlight filled the huge ditch, the stone wall rose high above them, sand coloured. Movement caught Dovewing's eye, cats were pelting out of the warriors den, all backs arched and hissing angrily.

Bramblestar leaped down from his den and hissed at Tigerheart. "What are you doing in the Thunderclan camp!?"

Tigerheart kept a even gaze with Bramblestar then to the astonishment of all the cats. "I would like to join Thunderclan"

Yeah I am suffering from writing block, mostly because I was looking at cat anatomy today and really want to draw!

So, yeah... Tigerheart is going to join thunderclan! YAY! Am I the only excited one?

Till next time!

Neon