OK. I know Ashfur is WAY OOC-or is he?-but I hate him, so any cat can have a dark side. I mean, nobody knew Crowfeather had a sweet side till he showed it. Plus...

did I mention I hate Ashfur? Lol. Plus, I'm having ideas for Windshadow's leader ceremony...

MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!(coughs)

Chapter Eleven: Answers

"Lightfur!"

The she-cat turned to find Dreamcloud racing up to her.

"What is it?" She responded in an icy tone.

Dreamcloud's amber eyes showed confusion. "I was just wondering... you seem so distant lately."

"Let's see," Her friend hissed. "First, you have no time at all to even speak to me. You're either slinking out of camp, or hanging out with that medicine cat apprentice. Second... you aren't the only one around her all the time."

"Oh..."

Dreamcloud kneaded her paws nervously. She had seen the way Lightfur looked at Spiderleg. She had also seen the way he looked at Calicofur.

"I mean, he isn't even allowed to think of her that way!" Lightfur sighed. Dreamcloud touched noses with her friend.

"Don't worry. I'm sure it's nothing," She lied. "And I'll try to spend more time with you."

"Who are you spending your time with, anyway?" Lightfur asked. Dreamcloud felt a prickle run through her fur.

"Nobody," She meowed quickly. No need for anyone else to know...

xxx

"I'm going to be Clan leader," Windshadow was muttering to himself. "I'm going to have to help Starclan out with twolegs. I'm going to be the father of half-clan kits..."

He glared up at Silverpelt. "Thanks a lot."

"When are you going up to the Moonpool?" Came a soft, familiar voice.

Applebird.

Windshadow stepped quickly to the side as she walked over to him. She had that affectionate look in her eyes that said that Birchpelt wasn't the only cat she cared about.

"In a few suns, according to Littlecloud," He said quickly. Other things were on his mind, like who would give him his nine lives. Hopefully, his brother, Magpiepaw(AN: Who has gone through many names, but will settle on this one) would be there.

"Has Littlecloud figured out what kind of poison killed Russetstar?" She asked. He shook his head, sorrow in his eyes. Russetstar had been buried moments ago.

"Whatever it was, I'm sure it was twoleg poisoning. They say the rabbits were poisoned last time."

"They were," Applebird said. "I was just a kit when it happened, but they were. But still... it never acted that fast."

A crashing sound came to reach Windshadow's ears. Some kind of clumsy animal must have been going through the forest. He opened his mouth to take in the thing's scent, and his eyes widened.

"Applebird," He hissed. "It's them!" The tom suddenly began racing back to camp as fast as he could go.

"Twolegs!" He yowled at the top of his lungs. "Twolegs invading the camp!"

Cats began to sleepily wander out of their nests, and looks of sheer panic came across their faces when they realized what he was saying.

"Get the queens and kits first!" He cried to his warriors. "Get the elders as well."

The camp was caos. Queens calling for their kits to follow, elders moving as fast as they could, warriors and apprentices ushering them out, Littlecloud and Nectarflower trying to collect as many herbs as they could...

That's when a twoleg came.

He was brandishing his stick, trying to fire the stingers, but luckily, was missing. Windshadow bared his fangs in snarl at the creature. The twoleg bared his teeth as well and fired, but the white tom nimbly avoided it.

The Clan was racing away, into the forest, and were all gathered around. Suddenly, a wail came. It was Littlecloud.

"Nectarflower isn't here!" He cried. Windshadow hissed and began to run back to camp, desperate to get the apprentice back.

But he skidded to a halt.

A twoleg was scooping up Nectarflower's still, unconcious body and depositing it in a cage. Windshadow's eyes widened in disbelief, but it was too late.

Nectarflower had been stolen.

xxx

Calicofur stared. She knew that Spiderleg had been about to say it, it was just... she loved him too. But it was forbidden. They couldn't be together. It was impossible.

"Sp-spiderleg!" She choked out. The tom's amber eyes were filled with dread, and he looked desperate.

"I know it's against the warrior code," He said quickly. "But look at the others! There have been many who've done this, and-"

"And that doesn't make it right," Calicofur murmured, brushing her tail tip against his shoulder. Her sky blue eyes were soft. "I'm sorry, Spiderleg. It just can't be..."

The tom was silent, before murmuring, "I understand."

And he was running off faster than she'd ever seen him run again. Calicofur gazed up at the evening sky.

"Starclan!" She cried. "Why are you doing this to me? To us?" She felt a pang of sorrow for her friend, Dreamcloud. Both of them were battling between their hearts and the warrior code. She had seen guilt in the queen's eyes... "You let us fall in love, but with cats we aren't allowed to be with! What is wrong with us?"

"Nothing is wrong with you, Calicofur."

She whirled around to see two she-cats watching her. Yellowfang and Spottedleaf. The two medicine cats who had fallen in love. Would she be like them.

"Maybe this is in your path, Calicofur," Spottedleaf murmured. "Your destiny. We all have destinies. Dreamcloud destiny is being laid out, just like yours."

"Spiderleg truly loves you," Yellowfang meowed gruffly. "Give the tom a chance."

"Maybe it's for the best."

"I can't," Calicofur whispered. "I can't be like... like you. Like Leafpool. I want to have a chance as a medicine cat."

"Is it worth all the heartache for you, Calicofur?" Spottedleaf asked. "Is there a chance you can balance it all out?"

"There can't be."

"Don't give up."

xxx

"You look... shaken," Dreamcloud commented, taking her eyes to Windshadow. The tom sighed.

"I guess I should tell you..."

"What?" She asked.

Windshadow met her eyes. "Russetstar is dead," He meowed. "I'm going to be leader."

Dreamcloud was silent in shock for a moment before replying. "Congratulations," She murmured, pressing her muzzle against his.

"Something's bothering you," He guessed.

"Nothing," She said quickly. "I'm happy for you. This just creates..."

"More problems?"

Dreamcloud looked at the ground. "Windshadow," She mewed. "If somebody finds out about this, then you'll be the leader with half-clan kits. You might be exiled!"

"Bluestar had half-clan kits."

"Yes. But she was dead when they found out."

"We'll just have to deal with it," Windshadow said firmly. "We want kits, so we'll have to look past it all."

"They might not even be able to meet you when they're older!"

"Gatherings."

"I'm Firestar's granddaughter," Dreamcloud sighed. "Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw's daughter!"

"And I'm Blackstar's son," Windshadow reasoned. "Why are you having problems with this now?"

She shrugged. "I don't know... this just brings things to focus."

Windshadow pressed his head to hers. "I'm not going to let us end up like Birchpelt and Applebird."

xxx

Calicofur watched as a night black cat padded up to her, a tom. She was in a grassy meadow. The cat was lean and fast-looking, a strong warrior.

"Who are you?" She asked sharply.

The tom watched her silently, pelt as dark as night. He looked down at the ground, and suddenly, a little spider scuttled over. It's legs were very long.

"What are you trying to tell me?" Calicofur asked. "Is it-"

She was speechless when a scrap of fur-calico fur-floated down from the sky to rest beside the spider. The tom fixed his gaze on them. Suddenly, the breeze blew the fur away, and a small beam of light came. The spider now crawled over to the light.

"I don't get i-" But Calicofur broke off again as the tom began to fade, eyes sad. What was he trying to tell her?

That's when she realized something.

The tom's eyes were exactly like hers.

xxx

What do you think the message meant? Windshadow's leader ceremony next!