Chapter Twelve: By the Way...

"You seem to be fine," Leafpool observed as Windshadow stretched his legs.

"Finally!" He growled, "I hate not being able to hunt for myself. But it's even worse that Blackstar's still around. You know he wants to target the other leaders."

"Windshadow!"

Dreamcloud bounded over, a squirrel hanging from her jaws.

"Thanks," He purred, "This'll be the last day you have to hunt for me."

"Oh, I don't mind," She mewed shyly.

Leafpool sighed as she walked back to camp. Young cats. How innocent they-

OK, these two weren't so innocent, but so sue her.

000

"Dreamcloud, Robinpelt, can I go hunting with you?" Palekit squeaked enthusiastically.

"I'm sorry, Palekit," Dreamcloud murmured, touching noses with the tiny she-cat. "But you can't go hunting with us 'til your an apprentice."

"I hope I get you as a mentor," Palekit said solemnly.

"And I hope I get you as an apprentice," Dreamcloud mrowwed with laughter. But she was serious. Palekit was an excellent little cat, and she would be great for Dreamcloud's first apprentice.

"You're happy," Robinpelt meowed as the padded through the brush.

"Yes," Dreamcloud murmured, "Yes I am."

"Dreamcloud?" Robinpelt asked in a small voice, amber eyes looking down at the ground.

"Yes?" She mewed, wondering what was going on.

"I... I love you."

She stood in shock, wondering if this was a dream. No, it couldn't be, since lately there were DEAD CATS in all of her dreams, and as far as she knew, Robinpelt wasn't dead.

"Dream-"

"I'm sorry," She whispered, turning, "I have to think things over." She began to race off toward camp, and didn't hear Robinpelt's pawsteps behind her. Great. She had hurt his feelings. It was obvious that he had expected her to say that she loved him...

"Leafpool!" She called, now inside the medicine cat's den. Leafpool padded out, a bundle of herbs that she was chewing in her mouth.

"What is it?" She asked, spitting the mixture out.

"Robinpelt... Robinpelt told me that he loved me."

Leafpool froze. She had been expecting this since the day she had first seen Robinpelt begin to hang about with Dreamcloud. The glow in his eyes made it obvious. The problem was, Dreamcloud didn't exactly look like she agreed that it was joyous.

"You should've been expecting it," Leafpool remarked, "He's been padding after you for moons."

"I know," Dreamcloud mewed, "I just... I just don't think I love him."

"Why?" Leafpool asked, somewhat desperately. "He's a great tom, and maybe a future deputy. He has Brackenfur and Sorreltail as parents, plus Calicofur's an excellent medicine cat apprentice, and she's his sister-"

"It doesn't matter," Dreamcloud murmured as she laid down. "My heart belongs to another."

000

Spottedleaf was pacing back and forth in her den in Starclan. Her amber eyes were ablaze with anger, and her claws were unsheathed.

"Spottedleaf?"

"Come in, Silverstream."

The beautiful silver tabby walked in with a grace that made her almost seem like she was gliding. Her green eyes glowed, and she had her mate, Graystripe, at her side. Spottedleaf sighed. Wonderful, those two were BOTH in her den. One alone was all right, but both together... she shuddered.

"We know that you're mad about Windshadow and all-" Graystripe began, but Silverstream shoved him.

"What Graystripe MEANT to say is, we fully support you on things, but just not THIS thing. Windshadow's a mortal... it just isn't healthy."

An image of Windshadow nervously pacing around his hiding spot-aka, the Clearing- looking as if he were deep in thought.

"What's he thinking about?" Spottedleaf murmured.

"You tell me."

000

Firestar awoke to pawsteps in his den early at dawn. Sandstorm was still asleep next to him, and he carefully got up and stood in a position so that he could protect her.

That's when a heavy cat bowled him over.

"Blackstar!" He hissed.

Black.

That is when Firestar, leader of Thunderclan, realized that he had been an idiot for... MOONS.

He dug his claws into the cat's throat, and snarled, "Why did you frame your own son?"

"Firestar-aah!" Sandstorm's yowl came through to them, but they didn't stop fighting.

"Windshadow is competition. And I need to blame it one someone!"

Sandstorm watched the two in horror, then bounded into camp, yowling a warning. The warriors clambered out of their dens. Dreamcloud looked up at the sky.

It was a bloody red.

"The time has come!"

She turned to find Leafpool beside her. The medicine cat's eyes were wide.

"For what?"

"Sun and Snow!" She panted, "You and Windshadow's destiny."

Suddenly, Blackstar and Firestar, still fighting, rolled out of Firestar's den. Blackstar raised his head for a moment and yowled. Many Shadowclan cats came flooding into the camp, ready to fight.

"No," Dreamcloud whispered, and ran into the forest.

000

"What?"

"Blackstar attacked with warriors," She gasped.

"He must have forced them," Windshadow muttered, "Come on!"

As they ran back, Dreamcloud heard the yowls of dying cats. Leafpool was right. The time had come.

"Wow," Windshadow whispered as he stared at the battlefield. He suddenly turned to Dreamcloud and gave her a lick on the forhead.

"What was that for?" She asked.

"Just in case I don't make it out alive, I want to tell you something," Windshadow sighed.

"What is it?" She murmured.

"Dreamcloud, I love you," He said simply, and plunged into battle.

000

So, will they survive? Will Dreamcloud return his feelings? R and R and tell me what you think will happen!