This little cute short story takes place in FoxClan. Chesnutfang is the son of Chesnuttail and Cloverpelt. (also yes I know chestnut is spelled wrong, but I've literally always spelled it the other way because I made up this character when I was eleven. So it's gonna be spelled wrong. Fight me). If you wanted some more Chesnuttail background, I recommend my three part short story series in previous chapters: "Chesnuttail's Twisted Life," "Hollypaw's Guilt," and "Chesnuttail's Return."
…
The destruction of the FoxClan's original home had been hard on Chesnutfang. They had lost many clan members, as well as their home. Fortunately, the forest was still full, and the few members left of their clan after the twoleg destruction had managed to gather in a new little home of their own.
It was this experience that made Chesnutfang think of the future, of how lucky he was to survive, as well as others. His life could have been taken as easily as the other members. Now, he wanted to make the most of it.
Chesnutfang had become increasingly enraptured with a golden-colored she-cat with long hair. Her name was Tanglenose. She was a little older than Chesnutfang, though he remembered her training with him, and occasionally, they would be on the same patrol. But it was only recently that Chesnutfang realized how little he knew about her. She was mysterious and beautiful, making Chesnutfang only want to learn more.
So he began speaking to her in little ways. He'd make small talk on patrol. He would sometimes invite her to hunt with him. Occasionally, he'd claim he'd grabbed too big of a piece of prey and needed someone to share it with.
If Tanglenose knew what he was up to, she didn't seem to show it. She spoke politely around him when they interacted, sharing bits and details of her life here and there. She had not been born in FoxClan like Chesnutfang had. Little by little, her kind and somewhat humble personality began to shine through. And Chesnuttail loved every second of it.
One day, as leaf-fall approached, Chesnutfang found Tanglenose sitting by the trees in the forest. He watched the way the yellow leaves swirled around her fur. She gracefully lifted her nose to the air as the wind ruffled her fur.
"Hey," Chesnutfang said, padding up to her. "How are you?"
Tanglenose was staring upward, at a nest with a mother feeding baby birds, Chesnutfang realized. She did not move her gaze from the birds as she stared. "I'm well."
"You seem to really like those birds," Chesnutfang noticed.
"Of course! They sing their melodies in the wind and care for their young. For some reason, it makes me happy," she said, turning to look at him. She smiled gently.
Chesnutfang felt like his heart was about to explode with the way she looked at him.
"Do you want to sit here with me?" Tanglenose inquired.
Chesnutfang nodded and took a seat beside her. Tanglenose lifted her head back up to the trees again and began to whisper a song. It was barely audible, but Chesnutfang could hear the notes nonetheless. He watched intently, listening as her voice grew louder until it echoed through the forest. He realized quickly she was speaking in a different language.
"What are you singing?" Chesnutfang wondered, silencing her song.
"It is a song I learned from my parents. A fox told them it," Tanglenose explained.
"A fox?"
"Yes! My parents were skilled in many languages. They spoke fox, badger, and dog. I can only speak fox and dog," Tanglenose explained.
"That's so neat!" Chesnutfang exclaimed. "I can speak...well...cat."
"Well, if we ever get attacked by a fox or dog, then I might be able to do some persuading," Tanglenose joked.
Chesnutfang smiled warmly at her. He loved her so much. He wondered if she knew that.
A warm smile came across Tanglenose's face. She inched closer to him, her fur brushing against his. He watched her close her eyes and breathe in the scent of the forest.
Chesnutfang grinned. Right now, with the wind swaying in the trees and the birds singing, it felt like the perfect moment.
"Tanglenose?" he asked.
Her eye peeped open. "Huh?"
"Can I tell you something?"
Both her eyes opened now, and she turned her head to listen to him.
"I'm sorry if this ruins our friendship, but I love you," Chesnutfang somehow managed to say. His heart was pounding against his chest, and his claws were digging into the earth with anxiety.
Tanglenose warmly smiled in response, calming Chesnutfang almost immediately.
"I guess I should tell you the truth as well. I love you, too," she whispered in his ear.
"You're beautiful, you know that," Chesnutfang purred, staring at her.
"Thanks," she said. "You aren't so bad looking yourself," she teased.
"Will-will you be my mate, then?!" Chesnutfang asked, his heart still racing.
"Yes," she said, her tongue rasping across his nose. He could have collapsed right there and then.
"I can't wait to tell my mother," Chesnutfang said. His mother, Cloverstar, was now the new leader of FoxClan. She had been a constant figure in his life, caring for him and his siblings deeply. He was thrilled she now leader of their clan.
His father had not been as much of a presence. Chesnuttail, for whom Chesnutfang was named after, had constantly been in between Cloverstar and another she-cat, eventually remaining with his first love. The decision had been heartbreaking for his mother.
"Let's go," Chesnutfang said, leading Tanglenose back to FoxClan camp. He couldn't wait to push their nests together and feel her fur pressed against his during these colder nights. He wondered if one day they might have kits of their very own. The thought itself made him embarrassed.
Chesnutfang noticed his mother sitting in the shade of one of the trees at the edge of camp. Her gaze was staring directly at Chesnutfang's father and his mate. Chesnutfang frowned, hoping the news could ease her suffering some.
"Mother," he said, walking forward. Tanglenose had laid down in the sun, warming her coat.
"Oh, what is it?" she asked, breaking her gaze from the two lovers.
"I have exciting news. Tanglenose and I are now mates," he announced.
Cloverstar smiled warmly at him. "I'm glad. You two seem like a good pair. You'll be a great mate."
"Thank you," Chesnutfang said, stepping away to return to his new mate. Tanglenose had moved to sit at the base of a tree while she licked her fur.
"Was she okay with it?" Tanglenose asked, looking down at her paws nervously.
"Of course," Chesnutfang said. "But I worry for her. She's thrilled to be leader, but I catch her looking at my father often."
"You think she is sad?" Tanglenose asked, swaying her tail back and forth.
"Unfortunately. Even though it happened moons before. But I promise I will only love you, Tanglenose, no other she-cat."
Tanglenose purred and licked his cheek.
"I love you," he told her.
"I love you, too," she said, wrapping her tail around him.
...
Battle had struck FoxClan, so shortly into their revised clan as well. MoonClan, the same clan that had affected Chesnutfang's parents moons before, had returned. However, FoxClan had many allies, though the deaths were still imminent.
The battle was harder than Chesnutfang imagined. He kept by Tanglenose's side, fighting with her.
Chesnutfang watched in horror as his father was killed in battle, and his mate slit her throat beside him. He had never known his father well, but sometimes he had played with Chesnutfang and his siblings. Chesnutfang had been named after the tom after all.
"My father is dead," Chesnutfang murmured.
Tanglenose's tail curled around his body. "I am sorry. I love you."
...
When the battle was won and the bodies buried, Chesnutfang avoided his mother, knowing she was more sorrowful than ever before. Her one and only love had died.
"Chesnutfang, I must tell you something," Tanglenose said after Chesnutfang ended his vigil.
"Hm?"
"I am expecting kits," Tanglenose stated.
"K-Kits?!" Chesnutfang exclaimed. He wasn't sure he was ready to be a father, especially not when his own had not been very adequate. But perhaps this was a sign from StarClan after all.
"Are you not happy?" Tanglenose asked.
"I am!" he exclaimed, nuzzling her. "I'm going to tell my mother right now. We'll raise the best FoxClan warriors."
Tanglenose smiled warmly as Chesnutfang took off. He found his grieving mother in her den, her back facing the den's opening as she rested.
"Mother," he said.
She turned, her dull eyes staring at him.
"You look so much like him," she whispered.
"I don't know if this will ease your suffering at all. I know you loved Chesnuttail. I loved him too, even if he was never very good at being a father. But I hope what I'm about to say will make you feel a bit better. I'm going to be a father myself."
Cloverstar's eyes widened. "Congratulations! I hope you'll let me play with them every now and then."
"You're our leader. You're always welcome to," Chesnutfang said. "I hope to raise them as well as you raised me."
Cloverstar grinned and licked his face.
"And maybe...if we have a she-cat, I'll name her after you!"
Tears came to the leader's eyes.
"I would like that," she said quietly. "You should go to Tanglenose now. She's going to need your help more than ever soon."
Chesnutfang nodded, smiling at her one last time before exiting the den, taking a step forward to his new life.
