Guys, we're already past halfway to the next goal of 300. It feels like it wasn't too long ago when I got the 200th review... When we reach 300, like always, I'm going to announce the user of the person that hit 300. For both 100 and 200 hit was winxclubfan1.
Anyway, thank you adreamyreality for the idea and I hope you all enjoy.
On an island, where cats were gathering together under a full moon, a thick furred ginger tabby tom was in full alert, as if trying to find someone. As more cats poured into the clearing, a slightly older, pale golden she-cat rolled her eyes in slight annoyance as she sat nearby.
"Appleclaw, just because you were made a warrior a quarter moon ago doesn't mean you can boast about it to your WindClan friend. She's probably not going to be here anyway." The tom bristled slightly and glanced over at the she-cat with slightly narrowed green eyes.
"You don't know that, Sweettail." After she didn't respond, the ginger tom turned his attention back, looking for Whiskerstar. It wasn't long until the fluffy white leader, who was currently the only tom leader, lead his Clan to the Gathering. The long, thick fur around his neck was bristled in slight annoyance, but the young warrior couldn't guess why. Right behind the leader was a she-cat that had the same fluffy white pelt, but her eyes were a frosted blue, unlike the leader's burning golden eyes. When the she-cat's eyes met Appleclaw's they widened with joy. Breaking away from her Clanmates, she joined the ginger tom.
"How's the prey been running, Applepaw?"
"It's Appleclaw now, Swanpaw." She let out a purr and puffed out her chest.
"Well, I'm Swanfrost now." Confusion struck the ThunderClan tom.
"You became a warrior?"
"Yep! I became a half moon ago."
"You became a warrior before me?!" He was struck with disbelief. He was nearly three moons older than the WindClan she-cat. Quietly he added, "I only became one a quarter moon ago."
"Really? I guess that means I was the better apprentice after all." She teased.
"Alright, furball, you win," Appleclaw purred. As the light from the pale moon shone down on Swanfrost, a feeling that had been bothering the ginger tabby for a while now returned. He shuffled his paws a bit before speaking again, this time in a much softer voice. "Swanfrost?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you like me?"
"Of course! You're a great friend!" Appleclaw shook his head. For a moment the white she-cat looked confused, but her icy blue eyes brightened when she realized what he had meant.
"Oh..."
"Oh?" His heart sank.
"You're a great tom, Appleclaw, but I know you. You don't really understand love." Her voice was in low, hushed whisper as the two sat in the very back away from their Clanmates. By now the leaders had started talking. The dark gray tabby she-cat, Lilystar, was the first to speak, but Appleclaw couldn't hear her over his own heartbreak.
"I don't?"
But I love you...
"You're headstrong and you don't think things through. When you learn more about what love is, then maybe we can have a chance. But, I think it's for the best if you just take a ThunderClan mate." With that, she looked towards the leaders. Lilystar, the leader of ShadowClan had just finished. Next was Magpiestar, the sharp-tongued leader of RiverClan. The black and white she-cat looked both concerned and fearful.
"We have some grim news from RiverClan today. Two of our warriors, Robinfeather and Smokefur, were killed without an explanation just last night. Not only that, but two of our she-cats went missing. Littermates Leaftail and Honeywhisker vanished overnight. We don't want to assume they killed their mates, the main reason being that Honeywhisker was expecting kits when she and her littermate vanished." Hearing the news made Appleclaw shiver lightly, though for the most part his mind was stuck on proving to Swanfrost he knew plenty about love. He almost had a plan when Whiskerstar's voice chased it away.
"So were those the warriors my dawn patrol picked up?"
"Your warriors found our missing cats?"
"Missing? By the scents it was as if they ran away."
"Impossible! They are loyal warriors! What reason would they have?"
"You said two cats died, right? And they just happened to both be mates to the two dead warriors?"
"Are accusing my cats of killing their own Clanmates?" The white-furred tom and the black and white she-cat were bristling. A few gasps made both leaders look up. wisps of clouds had started to cover the moon. Without apologizing to each other, the two simply turned their backs to each other and stopped speaking. The rest of the night was much more calm. They announced the warrior names of Swanfrost and her sister Paledapple, Appleclaw had his named cheered as well as the names of two new ThunderClan apprentices, Ivypaw and Duckpaw. The brown tabbies looked very proud at the attention they had received, though Duckpaw looked a little less thrilled than his sister. Finally, the gathering ended. The first to leave was Whiskerstar, the puffy white tom calling his warriors to move out as soon as it had ended. Swanfrost had left Appleclaw with only the wave of the tail for her goodbye. Next to leave was Lilystar and ShadowClan. The dark gray tabby seemed relieved to be heading home. Next was ThunderClan. As Appleclaw padded towards the very back, he noticed a familiar pale golden she-cat slow down to walk beside him.
"Are you alright? You look pretty upset." The worry in Sweettail's pale green eyes and the concern in her voice helped hatch a plan in Appleclaw's mind. Remembering what Swanfrost had said about learning about love and getting a ThunderClan mate, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. If he could eventually have Sweettail become his mate and have his kits, surely Swanfrost would see he knew plenty about love. First, he was going to get is Clanmate's sympathy.
"Swanfrost told me that we should stop being friends..."
"Really? You've been friends since the day you two met!"
"Yeah..." He let out a sigh, holding back the grin that was threatening to ruin the plan.
"If that she-cat can't see you're a good tom, then you don't need her."
"You really think I'm a good tom?" Sweettail's eyes widened as she realized what she had said. She was flustered and obviously trying to find the right words to say.
This might be easier then I thought.
It was two whole seasons before his plan was, for the most part, complete. Managing to play his part well enough, the ginger tom had managed to become mates with Sweettail. For a while they only talked about having kits. Now, as greenleaf was turning into leaffall, the pale golden she-cat was laying in the nursery with their newborn kits. At his white paws was four kits. Three she-cats and a tom. One of the she-kits was a pale golden tabby with dark stripes, another was a golden brown with darker patches, and the third she-kit was a small tortoiseshell who was half the size of her littermates. The small kit hadn't stopped mewling since she had been born. Meanwhile, the tom was the quietest. A ginger tabby, just like Appleclaw, he barely mewled once since being born. However, Icethorn had said he was healthy, and Appleclaw was going to trust the light silver tabby.
"I'll give you two some time together." Icethorn said right before she slipped out of the nursery. Appleclaw felt a burst of pride as he looked at the kits. Not because he was a father, but because he had been right. He knew what love was.
"What should we name them?" Sweettail asked, her voice worn and groggy.
"I was thinking Petalkit for the tortoiseshell and maybe Lightkit for the golden-brown one."
"Petalkit and Lightkit. Then I'll call the golden one Honeykit and the tom Sunnykit."
"They're wonderful names." He purred. As he licked his mate between the ears, he heard the deputy, Hawkscar, call him.
"Appleclaw, I need you to help. Apparently there's been a border skirmish and we need to make sure it doesn't turn into a fight." Hearing the pale brown tabby tom's call, the warrior excused himself. As he went with the backup patrol, he saw the she-cat he wanted to gloat to. as they approached, he noticed things seemed more calm then Hawkscar had lead on.
"We've settled the argument," Stormsplash, the WindClan deputy, said, his tone cold and sharp. "There was no need to fetch more of your warriors."
"Dawnstar will hear about this." Oliveheart warned, the black-furred ThunderClan warrior warned, her eyes narrowed on the black and dark gray tom. The tension between the two was thick and unnerving.
"I'm sure he will."
I have to make sure Swanfrost meets me at the border tonight! As his green eyes met the she-cat's icy blue orbs, he flicked his tail, pointing towards the spot where he was standing. Knowing what he meant, she blinked twice. After a long stare down with the senior warrior, Stormsplash made his Clanmates move, casting one more sharp glare at Oliveheart as he did.
"What was that about?" Appleclaw asked, but the she-cat only hissed and turned her back to the border.
"Sorry to get you all involved, but I can finish the border patrol with my cats. Go back to camp." Without a clear answer, the backup patrol returned. That night, Appleclaw slipped out of camp through the dirt place. After racing to the WindClan border, he was surprised to see Swanfrost was already there. She gave the ThunderClan warrior a careful look.
"What's this about?" At her question, Appleclaw puffed out his chest in pride.
"I know plenty about love."
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? I mean I took a ThunderClan mate and had kits with her to prove I know how love works. So now maybe..." He trailed off when he noticed she was glaring at him. Shocked to see this reaction from her, he took a small step back.
"This is crazy, Appleclaw. I didn't say that so you'd run around and try to impress me! I said that so that you could live a happy life with a mate from your own Clan! I can't believe you'd even do such a thing!"
"But I did it for you."
"I don't want to see you ever again, Appleclaw." Before he could stop her, the white she-cat turned away and took off into the moors. Sorrow quickly turned to anger as he glared after the fading white blur.
How dare she! I did so much for her and she doesn't accept me? Fine! I don't need her! I don't need Sweettail! I don't even need my Clan! Looking into the distance, he spotted mountains. The will to go towards them tugged at his paws.
I can start me new, she-cat free life there.
Alright a few things before I wrap this up:
Someone wanted to know if I would do a story about r-a-p-e. I told them I wasn't sure. I really want to know if you guys would be okay with if, even if it means my rating has to go to an M. Though I won't write out the scene, there will be mention and my first priority is knowing if you all will be okay with it. If not, I completely understand and so does the person requesting it.
I will leave it up to you all. I don't know if I want it to be unanimous or majority vote, but please voice your opinion on whether you would be okay with it or not!
