Chapter #1 The Burrow -

The fern bushes and the trees hid the small brown queen walking though her territory. Although it was her own, she was quiet and careful until she reached her destination, the Thunderpath. Feared by most cats and many animals among the forest It was only a few tail lengths long and seemed deserted and quiet at the moment. The dusky brown she-cat looked around and convinced herself to cross the hard, dirty and cold earth made of rock. Her nose twitched at the fowl scent but she struggled on until she was on ShadowClan territory. A Monster flashed past, it's red coat blinding her in the sun. Once on the other side she looked for a black-gray pelt. Then a tom cat came before her. His dark gray, almost black, coat seemed to soak in the few sun rays left in the blood colored sky and his amber eyes met hers. Her ThunderClan sent mixed in with his ShadowClan's and they came to a old fox burrow and carefully went inside.

"It's so nice to see you again, Cedarheart. I was worried after your last battle with WindClan that you went on hunting with StarClan."

"I couldn't leave my mate before my kin was to be born. You know that, Mousefur."

The she-cat licked the tom's cheek. "I fear my Clan will be angered in my behavior. I'm not following the warrior code as I should. StarClan looks upon me with disappointment, so does my father Redtail and my mother Dappletail, I wish I could still see them without looking to the stars."

"StarClan understands our love as does Redtail and Dappletail. StarClan sees beautiful strong kits from us and is proud. When you see the stars tonight, they should wink at you in approval! I have seen them speak to me, they tell stories, legends, and hold the clans together. They see us as we are but, they can not stop a heart from beating to bleeding. We choose our own destiny, not StarClan."

Mousefur staggered back. Her swollen belly churned and shook. It soon calmed down and Cedarheart looked at her longingly. Mousefur's tail met his and the tails seemed to dance together.

"Who's the fake father? Your clan will wonder who the kits' father is. Though, you could not tell them if you choose not to but, they might get suspicious, we have been meeting a lot." Cedarheart said, disappointed that no one would know that they were his kits, but he had a point.

"Rainwhisker, he thinks that he is but, I do not love him as I love you... You must understand." Mousefur sighed, something inside her kicked "Sometimes, I can't believe I'm breaking the warrior code. I feel terrible, like a kitty-pet being scolded, it's not fair, I wish to be with you for every moment of my life!" She blinked, "I know, I will let my kits or kit see you if I can escape the camp. I promise."

The dark tom nodded and licked his mate. "A patrol might come soon so you best be leaving. I will think of you when I look to the stars, my love!"

Mousefur mewed a good-bye and scampered out of the burrow, looked around and bounded to her territory. Stopping only to sniff for Twolegs, ShadowClan, and gasoline. Cedar watched her small shape leave his gaze. His heart leaped back, he wanted to follow but it told him not to. He walked past some toadstools and to the camp.

He walked into the marshy land and quickly licked his pelt to get the ThunderClan scent off of his dark gray pelt and sighed. He slowly went back to his camp with his tail dragging. He already missed Mouse fur and wanted her to be at his side. He wished that he had been born in ThunderClan where there was much more food, warmth and forest. The air was fresh and prey was easy to get. The fact that they didn't get sick also stabbed at his heart. Green cough always travels though his clan quickly. He was actually glad that his kin was being born in such a beautiful and happy place. He soon discovered he was back in the ShadowClan camp and he settled down for a long rest in the warrior's den even though it was still a sunny morning.