People are asking if I can switch POVs through chapters like in the New Prophecy, but I'm afraid it doesn't work with the story well... sorry:)

Chapter Seven: Not the Only One

Dreamcloud had never ran so fast in her life.

Of course, Calicofur or Leafpool would be chiding her about this, but who cared? Windshadow needed help. Now.

Luckily, Leafpool and Firestar were speaking right when she came into camp.

"There's an injured Shadowclan warrior that Calicofur and Spiderleg are bringing in," Dreamcloud panted, "There were Twolegs... these stick things... He saved them! Please help him, Leafpool!"

"Of course I will," Leafpool said, "If it's all right with F-"

"Yes, do it," Firestar growled, "He helps us, we help him. I can't let a cat die when he did nothing to us, let alone saved two of my cats."

Dreamcloud blinked at both of them faithfully. "Let's just hope that they bring him back in time," She murmured, a quaver audible in her voice.

Leafpool turned her head. Her feather had a strange look in his eyes as he observed Dreamcloud. Worry.

Oh no.

He couldn't be suspecting...

Could he?

xxx

"You're doing good, Windshadow," Calicofur meowed, even though she knew the white tom couldn't hear her.

"So are you, Calicofur," Spiderleg murmured, looking into her eyes for a moment. She looked at her paws as they trudged on.

"Spiderleg-" She began, but he cut her off.

"Your friendship means a lot to me," Spiderleg mewed awkwardly, "Just so you know."

Calicofur felt a prickle run down her spine.

But could it be more?

She had to ask Dreamcloud about this. It couldn't be more. Medicine cats weren't allowed to have lovers. It was forbidden. Starclan would punish them...

And she came from a well respected family. Her grandfather was Whitestorm, the former deputy, a cat who died in the Bloodclan battle. Her parents were Sorreltail and Brackenfur, well respected warriors, as was her brother, Robinpelt. She would shame them all...

Finally, she heard pawsteps. Her ears pricked, and she sniffed the air. Good. A patrol.

"Help!" Calicofur called desperately.

Quickly, four cats appeared. Cloudtail, Birchpelt, Sandstorm, and Cherrypaw.

Sandstorm's eyes narrowed. "What happened?"

"This Shadowclan warrior must have heard our cries when we were being attacked by Twolegs," Spiderleg said, "He helped us, but got badly injured. We need to take him back to camp."

Sandstorm, who had been leading the patrol, gave a quick nod, and walked over to help. The three other cats came as well, and soon, they were back at camp.

Dreamcloud was the first to see them, and raced up, Leafpool at her side. They helped drag Windshadow into Leafpool's den.

"All right," Leafpool murmured, "Calicofur, press some cobwebs to that gash, and keep them there 'til the bleeding stops."

"Will she be needed much after that?" Firestar asked sharply, padding into the den.

"Not for a while, no. Why?"

"I want someone to alert Shadowclan about this, and it would be best to send a medicine cat. Will you do it, Calicofur?"

The apprentice gave a quick nod. "Of course, Firestar." She then wrapped some cobwebs around her paw and pressed it to Windshadow's gash. The blood soaked through, but they still held the bleeding, until finally, it stopped. Carefully, she removed the cobwebs and turned to Leafpool.

"The bleeding stopped," She mewed, "May I go now?"

"Yes," The medicine cat replied, not looking up from her patient. Turning her gaze to Dreamcloud, pain stabbed at Calicofur's heart. Her friend was crouched down, her pelt touching the Shadowclan warrior's.

That had to mean something.

I'll ask her about it later.

Calicofur was just about to walk out of the den, when Spiderleg rushed up.

"You'll need an escort," He insisted, "It's dangerous."

Calicofur found herself touching noses with him. "Thank-you. That's very kind."

As the two walked off, their pelts were touching. Little did they know, that a couple of cats were watching them.

xxx

Calicofur flinched as the tom drew back his lips in a snarl.

"What are a couple of tresspassers doing on Shadowclan territory?" Oakfur snarled.

The senior warrior had found her and Spiderleg crossing the border, and cornered them.

"She's a medicine cat!" Spiderleg spat, "Don't you recognize her? Don't you smell the herbs on her fur, you fool?"

Oakfur looked like he was about to lunge, when a voice called:

"Oakfur? Oakfur, what are you doing, attacking a medicine cat?"

A tortoiseshell she-cat padded up, her green eyes looking apologetic.

"Hello," She said, "I'm Tawnypelt. Sorry about Oakfur. But might I ask, what exactly are you doing here?"

"One of your warriors was injured helping us," Calicofur said.

"Why was he helping cats who aren't in his own clan?" Oakfur growled.

Calicofur felt anger rising up in her. "There were Twolegs!" She spat, "He was doing a noble thing!"

"Yes," Tawnypelt agreed, "But who was it?"

"Windshadow."

"He's our deputy!"

"Exactly."

"Oakfur," Tawnypelt meowed, "Go get Applebird. She'll want to come. You know she's Windshadow's closest friend."

After a moment, Oakfur nodded, raced off, and was back moments later with a frantic looking she-cat.

"Where is he?" She asked sharply, "Where's Windshadow?"

"Back at camp. Leafpool's treating him."

"Take me there."

xxx

Dreamcloud laid her head on Windshadow's shoulder. Never in her life had she felt this much emotion. Her mate-the father of her kits-might be dead.

Everyone but Leafpool-of course-had left. Dreamcloud had seen the way her grandfather had looked at her. That suspicion...

"Do you think he'll be all right?" She asked Leafpool fearfully.

The tabby medicine cat looked worried. "I'm not sure," She finally admitted. "He's been unconcious this entire time. That isn't good."

A sudden voice made Dreamcloud lift her head quickly.

"What's going on?"

Robinpelt.

The tom's amber eyes showed hurt, but at the same time, there was no huge surprise. He padded over and sat down, his amber eyes on Windshadow.

"He's it, isn't he?"

Dreamcloud gazed at him for a moment. That love for her in his eyes hadn't faded. It was still there.

"Yes," She finally rasped, "His name is Windshadow."

Robinpelt was silent for a moment, as if he had convinced himself that what he thought wasn't true. But there. It had just been confirmed.

"He's lucky," Robinpelt whispered. Something told Dreamcloud that he would keep this a secret.

"I just..." She began, but trailed off. Robinpelt bent down, as if to touch his nose to hers, but then drew back, something clouding his eyes. Without a word, he turned and padded out.

"Our friendship is over," Dreamcloud murmured, sorrow in her heart. She had been so close to Robinpelt.

"Maybe it isn't," Leafpool reasoned, but even the optimistic medicine cat couldn't deny that the look in Robinpelt's eyes had been the look of a betrayed lover-even though he knew that Dreamcloud had never really loved him.

Gently, slowly, Dreamcloud passed her tongue over Windshadow's forehead, rythmically. She closed her amber eyes, wishing that everything was back to normal.

"Dreamcloud..."

Her eyes sprang open, and she found them looking into pale green ones.

"Windshadow?" She gasped, then quickly pressed her muzzle to his. "You're awake!"
"I'm awake," He replied steadily.

"Well, then," Leafpool mewed, "Now that you're awake, you should be fine. I'll let you two have a moment."

As she padded up, Windshadow lifted his head and gave his mate's ear a lick. Dreamcloud purred, touching her nose to his.

"Windshadow! Thank goodness!"

Quickly, they drew apart as Applebird came rushing into the den. The ginger she-cat quickly crouched down beside him and pressed her muzzle into his white pelt. Firestar was sitting in the entrance of the den, his eyes set on Dreamcloud, a critical look in them.

"I was so worried," Applebird purred. Windshadow looked a bit awkward, but meowed back:

"Well... I'm fine."

His eyes were on Dreamcloud, who had quickly drawn back. There was a slight arch in her back as she stared at Applebird, a contemptuous look in her eyes.

"Thank-you for helping us, Windshadow," She meowed, her voice formal. "I'd better go now."

As she padded out, she almost collided with a gray tabby, and she quickly leaped back.

"Birchpelt!" She exclaimed, "Sorry, sorry..."

The tom's eyes were amused. "It's all right."

But the amused look disappeared when he spotted the Shadowclan she-cat bent over Windshadow.

"Applebird..." He murmured. There was something in his eyes. Was it... regret?

xxx

"So Windshadow can go home?" Applebird asked.

"Just keep him off of his warrior duties for a few suns," Leafpool replied steadily, not intimidated by the larger, more outgoing she-cat.

"Russetstar won't like tha-"

Dreamcloud stepped forward, her eyes blazing, faces inches away from Applebird's.

"We really don't care what Russetstar thinks about that," She hissed, "Do you want him to get injured again?"

Looking offended, Applebird was silent for a moment before saying, in an icy voice, "Come take a walk with me, Dreamcloud."

Leafpool looked up at the setting sun, wondering what Starclan thought about all of this. Nothing.

Dreamcloud could feel the contempt pratically oozing from Applebird as they padded through the forest.

If you want to play that game, She thought to herself, So can I.

"What do you want?" She spat.

"I don't think this affair you're having with Windshadow is wise." Applebird said evenly.

"Sure," Dreamcloud admitted, "It's not wise. Obviously. But that doesn't mean anyone can stop it." She narrowed her eyes, thinking about how Birchpelt had looked at Applebird...

"And you would know that as well as me, wouldn't you?"

Applebird flinched, and halted. She closed her eyes, thinking about what to say, and finally answered.

"Yes," She murmured, "And I also know what it usually ends with."

xxx

Calicofur settled down, ready to go to sleep.

But she couldn't.

Her mind was on Spiderleg, for some odd reason. Her fur prickled at the thought of this.

"Can't go to sleep, can't you?" Leafpool mewed, unable to keep a note of amusement out of her voice.

"Not really," Calicofur murmured.

"Just know... you're not the only one, Calicofur."

What did she mean?

xxx

K, R and R, everyone! Which pairing do you like most?

Calicofur/Spiderleg

or

Dreamcloud/Windshadow?