I noticed I feature Palelegs in the last chapter... She's still missing... But there IS something going on between her and Thornclaw, you'll see.

Chapter Ten: Vows and Confessions

Dreamcloud paced back and forth in front of the medicine cat den. Robinpelt watched from above, his eyes sad. She was beautiful, and powerful.

He could never have her.

Carefully, he flexed his claws. Maybe there was a way to get Dreamcloud to be his...

To make the cat who did a crime pay.

xxx

The twoleg gave a yowl, beating Dreamcloud viciously with his stick. She hissed, defending the tiny faces below her.

"Get away, crowfood!" She snarled, slashing her claws into him. But nothing seemed to stop the Twoleg. He kept bringing the stick down on her again and again...

"Windshadow!" Dreamcloud yowled suddenly, seeing his body a few feet away.

That's when the faces were scooped up, and taken away...

"Don't take them!"

"Dreamcloud!"

Her eyes sprung open to reveal a worried looking Whiteleaf.

"Are you all right?" She asked.

"Yes," Dreamcloud murmured. "Fine."

She stood an stretched, then remembered the events of yesterday.

"Sandstorm!" She hissed, bounding out of the nursery at full speed.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she spotted the pale ginger she-cat sitting up with bright eyes, speaking to Firestar.

"Oh, thank goodness," Dreamcloud mewed to herself. But there was still a problem to be solved...

xxx

"Windshadow, wait! I want to talk to you!"

The white tom closed his eyes slowly, and kept them closed for several long moments before turning to meet...

Applebird.

Of course.

Her hazel eyes were hopeful, for some reason, and she gestured for him to follow her with her tail. Reluctantly, he nodded, and they padded into the forest.

"Windshadow," Applebird began. "As I imagine Dreamcloud told you, I used to see Birchpelt of Thunderclan."

Windshadow spoke slowly. "She told me."

"And she is what I wanted to talk about."

Oh no.

"I know from firstpaw experience that relationships between two clans never work," She sighed. "I mean, look at Silverstream and Graystripe, all those moons ago."

Windshadow had to give her that. The story of those two was quite infamous in clans.

"Are you asking me to stop seeing Dreamcloud?"

"Exactly." Applebird's eyes glowed softly, and she looked at her paws. "Dreamcloud isn't the only she-cat who cares for you, Windshadow."

His eyes widened. This was REALLY getting old. Why did he have this issue that he couldn't find a NORMAL mate? Spottedleaf had been fond of him, and of course there was now the one he loved himself, a spastic queen with a temper, and now a she-cat he only thought of as a friend? His former mentor?

Sure, he had known about Applebird being fond of him, but he had pretty much put it off till now.

"Applebird," Windshadow choked out. "Dreamcloud is expecting kits."

Applebird lashed her tail back and forth. "You can wait till they're born," She reasoned. Pain flickered through her eyes. "That's what Birchpelt did with me."
That's when it hit him. He knew why Applebird cared for him so! Windshadow touched his nose playfully to hers, and looked her in the eye.

"You're still in love with him."

"With who?" Applebird asked casually, but the look in her eyes gave it away.

"Birchpelt."

She nearly felt the urge to rake her claws down his muzzle. "I do not have feelings for the mouse-brain," She spat. "Leaving me with his kits, alone, never even to speak to me at Gatherings."

"See? I've never seen you speak that way."

She simply hissed.

"I'm guessing that this means you aren't going to stop seeing Dreamcloud."

Windshadow brushed his tail friendlily across her face as he walked past her.

"Not a chance."

xxx

"I promise you," Dreamcloud meowed, still pacing. "I'll find the cat who did this, Sandstorm, and make sure he gets what he deserves!"

Of course, she knew exactly who had done it. But how could she prove it. Ashfur was a respected warrior, and Dreamcloud was a young queen.

Still...

"Sun and Snow," She muttered to herself. Dreamcloud had been the only one to know that Windshadow was innocent all those moons ago. Maybe they would trust her word over his...

"Firestar-" She began, stepping forward. But a cat raced up in front of her.

Ashfur.

"Firestar," He panted. "I'm so sorry about all of this! I took my eyes off of her for one second-"

"Stop talking like I'm an elder!" Sandstorm spat, her pale green eyes glowing with annoyance.

"Now, Sandstorm," Firestar laughed, touching her shoulder with his tail. "He's just worried."

"Yes... I am," Ashfur replied quickly.

Shut your mouth, crowfood, Dreamcloud thought angrily to herself.

She then padded up toward Ashfur.

"Ashfur," She asked. "Can I speak to you for a moment?"

The tom dipped his head, and she lead him to behind the nursery.

"Look," Dreamcloud snarled, her tone not so friendly anymore. "I know what you did to my grandmother, so don't even try to-"

"So glad you brought this up," Ashfur purred. "I thought I would have to... And it's such an awkward conversation..." A murderous glint came to his eyes. "I smelled you after I came back there, Dreamcloud. And that Shadowclan cat too."

"W-what?" She gasped. Dreamcloud had nor been expecting this.

"Now," Ashfur continued. "We wouldn't want anyone to know about you're little affair correct? And if you need more force, then I'm sure you wouldn't like it if I did something to you, right?"

Her jaw dropped.

"You wouldn't dare harm a queen expecting kits! It's ag-"

"Against Starclan's will? Exactly."

Dreamcloud glared at him for a long moment. "The Clan will find out on it's own, if not from me," She finally spat, beginning to pad off. She would have braved his challenge anyway, if it weren't for the kits...

Flashback

"You want kits, don't you? With Robinpelt."


"Why would you ask a question like that?"

"Curiosity."

End Flashback

Oh... she remembered that day. Dreamcloud sat down, thinking lazily about when her kits were born. Only one more moon...

xxx

Windshadow yawned as he watched the apprentices bring in the fresh-kill. One, Stripedpaw, carefully placed his rabbit at Russetstar's paws. She dipped her head in thanks, and then began eating.

What a warm, newleaf day it was. Everything seemed so nice. So peaceful...

"Russetstar! What's happening to her?"

Peace over.

Whirling on his paws, Windshadow found a horrifying scene. A terrified Stripedpaw staring in shock, his leader writhing on the ground. Russetstar's amber eyes were set in front of her, and foam was coming from her jaws. A wordless screech of pain was being torn from her.

"Littlecloud! Nectarflower!" Windshadow called, coming to his leader's side. "Calm down, Russetstar. Be still."

But the leader was in too much pain to be still.

The medicine cat and his apprentice suddenly came racing over, herbs in their mouths.

"I think there was something in her food," Windshadow continued as they inspected her.

"I didn't do it!" Stripedpaw cried.

"I know you didn't. Don't worry."

Suddenly, before Littlecloud could even treat her, Russetstar was still.

"Wait!" Windshadow cried. "Her lives..."

Littlecloud's eyes were sad. "There's twoleg poison in the rabbit. Sniff it."

Carefully, Windshadow brought his nose to the prey and took in a deep whiff. Yes. The bitter poison was definitly there.

The shock hit him.

"You mean... Russetstar's dead?" He croaked.

"Yes."

"I'm leader?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Oh no."

xxx

"Thanks for coming with me," Calicofur murmured shyly to Spiderleg. The tom licked her ear.

"Don't worry."

He seemed very nervous, as if he wanted to say something. But what?

Please don't let it be what I think it is.

Spiderleg looked around the forest.

"Calicofur," He murmured. "I know this is forbidden, you being a medicine cat, but.."

"Spiderleg-"

"I think I've fallen in love with you."

xxx

FINALLY! So, who do you think should give Windshadow his nine lives? Tell me, I need ideas!