WINDSTAR PLUSHIES TO EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY LEOPARDHEART!;)

Chapter Seventeen: Plotting
"You know," Bob, Julie's father, commented. "I've never seen a cat and a dog that close."

Then his wife joined him in speculating as to why the dog and the cat were sitting close together, barking, yipping, growling, purring, meowing, hissing-you get it.

"It's almost like they're... plotting!" Leslie, his wife, said.

They were.

"I've already tried digging a hole through the back yard," Swift sighed. "And from what I understood of their threats, they were going to put something in that shocked me."

"Do they have that for cats?"

"I think."

"Ok. Plan B."

Windstar was finding himself really liking Swift. She was sensible, smart, and judging from the fact that she weighed around two-hundred pounds, better to have as a friend than an enemy.

"Has Starclan sent you any messages lately?" Swift asked. Windstar shook his head.

"Swift," He began hesistantly. "What do you believe in?"

"Well," She said thoughtfully. "I know there's a Starclan and a Tribe of Rushing Water. They've both spoken to me. But they aren't who I follow. I follow Skypack."

"Skypack?"

"My..." Swift looked embarrassed, and she stared at her large paws. Larger than any full dog's paws. "My ancestors from the wilder side of my family. I lived as a loner, you know. An outcast from the pack because of my wolf blood. Dog gangs didn't even accept me. You see, I come from up north, where Twolegs use sled dogs. My father was a lead dog, a malamute, and my mother was a timber wolf." She shrugged. "They met. I'm the result."

Windstar nodded sympathetically. He was thinking of Dreamcloud. Though she had excellent blood, it was blended with Tigerstar's blood. Her long claws were apparent from that. Swift was cursed in a similar way.

"I met Midnight in... interesting circumstances." Swift chuckled in amusement. "I was hunting, and she was about to become my next meal-"

"You were about to eat a badger?" Windstar asked in amazement.

"Yes," Swift barked. "It's natural for wolves, and, despite my dog blood, I was raised like one. Now, when Midnight started speaking my tongue-not very good, but reasonable-I knew that she was special."

Windstar dipped his head. "I would think so."

xxx

"Congratulations on Lightfur's kits," Calicofur murmured, avoiding Spiderleg's eyes. The tom seemed just as awkward as she.

"Thanks..."

Calicofur could feel, her heart breaking he said that. There was a spark of pride in his eyes. The spark you expected a tom soon to be a father to have.

"Will you go hunting with me for old time's sake?" Spiderleg meowed unexpectedly. Calicofur's eyes widened. What?

"Sure," She blurted out, then regretted it. This would not look good for Spiderleg, since she had seen the odd glances they had been given when they talked before.

As the two padded out of the entrance, she saw Lightfur, speaking to Dreamcloud. The she-cat's eyes were suspicious. Calicofur felt a pang, then felt Dreamcloud's amber eyes on her. More guilt. Who was Dreamcloud to side with? Which friend?

Once nobody in the Clan could hear them, Spiderleg began.

"I hope that you don't think I'm just thoughtlessly going into this," He said firmly. "I'm not."

Calicofur wanted to lash her tail and yowl at him that that was exactly what he was doing, but couldn't. She simply was silent.

"Calicofur..." Spiderleg mewed. "I've thought about it, and you were right. You're a medicine cat. We don't belong together. I love Lightfur, and she's having our kits. That's that."

"I never said I had a problem with it," Calicofur said between gritted teeth.

"But you act like you do-"

"I don't," She spat. "And you're a conceited furball if you think I do!"

Spiderleg watched her with his amber eyes, and finally muttered under his breath:

"Too bad for me, then."

Calicofur pricked her ears. "W-what?"

Spiderleg licked a paw casually and rubbed it over one ear, sitting down. "I don't love Lightfur," He sighed. "I didn't want to have kits-not with her, anyway. I still love you, Calicofur."

She gaped.

"After all I've done to you?" She cried. "You can't-really-I mean-"

Spiderleg stood. "But," He said gently. "Right now, I can't be with you. Not when Lightfur is expecting kits... not-"

"Not ever..." Calicofur finished for him, her sky blue eyes sad. "We just can't, can we?"

There was longing in Spiderleg's eyes as he answered her question.

"No."

xxx

"He always spends his time with her," Lightfur snarled. "She's a medicine cat apprentice, and I'm having his kits!"

Dreamcloud venomously thought of Applebird. "So?" She then shook her head. Lightfur had a reason to worry about her mate's loyalty. She didn't.

Lightfur turned to her friend. "Who are you going to side with on this one, Dreamcloud?" She asked in a soft voice. "I mean-"
That was it.

"STOP IT!" Dreamcloud cried, standing. "I'm having to make all these stupid choices, and I'm not going to choose between you and Calicofur! Do you want to know the truth?"

Lightfur, stunned, could do nothing but nod.

"Spiderleg," Dreamcloud hissed. "Loves Calicofur. Not you. Calicofur. It doesn't matter if you're having his kits." Angrily, she turned on her heel, hissing under her breath.

xxx

Stormfur opened his eyes, then almost winced from the fact that his mate, Brook, was not at his side. He stretched slowly. Brook had been gone for a while now...

Wordlessly, the warrior turned cave-guard padded across the Tribe camp to go see his son. A little kit, around three moons old, tumbled around with the others. His pelt, though it was not silver tabby, was silver, though solid, like Stormfur's. His eyes were a shining blue.

Moon Where Cloud Parts.

"Good morning, Moon," Stormfur purred.(AN: Sorry, HAD to write that )

The kit stood and ran over. "Is Mother back now?"

Stormfur spotted the kit-mother who had been taking care of Moon, Pine Swaying In Wind, meeting his eyes. The black and white she-cat understood his pain, for her first mate had been killed by Sharptooth.

"Not yet," Stormfur murmured, touching noses with his son. Moon was from his and Brook's second litter, the only kit to make it.

"Hello, Father."

Stormfur heard the silky voice of his daughter, Crane In Calm Waters. The dark gray she-cat with white paws padded forward with her tabby littermate and brother, Hawk From Sharp Cliffs. Both were prey-hunters, like their mother, lithe and quick.

"Crane. Hawk. How has it been going?" Stormfur asked. He had been careful about his kits lately, even though Crane and Hawk were grown, just in case.

"As good as possible," Hawk sighed. "What about you?"

Stormfur shook his head. "I wonder if Brook is back in the Clans," He pondered. "She's met them..."

"Why would she?" Crane reminded him.

Stormfur watched as Moon played. He wanted his son to one day meet the Clans... it would really be best...

But not for a while.

At least not until Brook was back.

xxx

Well, new PoV. Might go there every now and then, but Moon's PoV might be in a later installment. R and R!

PS- HORMONAL DREAMCLOUD IS INSANE, NO?