Blazheart's awesome, huh? Three guesses who this is. On to my chappie! Oh, and...

Disclaimer: Blazeheart and I don't own the concept and everything, and the rules, setting, yada yada, but we DO own the plot and characters!

Chapter Two

Halfmoon concentrated on sharing tongues with Sparrowpaw, but he wasn't what-or who-she was thinking about.

Her mind was far off, with a different cat, in a different Clan. Why had they all separated, anyway? Yes, there was fighting, but things had been ruined... the future had been so bright...

"Wolffang, please!" Halfmoon begged, desperation edging her voice as she followed the reddish brown tom through the forest.

Wolffang simply picked up the pace. His golden eyes avoided Halfmoon's blue ones.

"I need to follow my sister," He hissed. "She's going to ShadowClan, so so am I."

"But why?" Halfmoon whispered, eyes pleading. "Why, when you can go to ThunderClan and be with me?"

Wolffang slowed, and he turned to face the she-cat. "Halfmoon," He murmured. "You and I... maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Not only is Brindlestripe going to be there, my only kin left, but Rippedstar wants me to be his deputy!"

Halfmoon looked at her paws. "So you're choosing a position over me."

"It isn't like that!"

"Well, it seems just like that to me!" She spat, turning and beginning to race off. But Wolffang leaped in front of her, blocking her path. His eyes met hers.

"I'm sorry, Halfmoon," He said softly. "But I just can't give you much in ThunderClan. You'll get over me. There will be plenty of toms who will love you."

"I'll have you," She replied firmly. "That's all I need."


Wordlessly, Wolffang pressed his face to hers, then turned around without another word, bounding towards what was soon to be ShadowClan territory.

Halfmoon stared at who could have been-who was almost-her mate, run off into the shadows.

"I'll never forget you," She murmured, before turning away and going to her new Clan.

Halfmoon buried her head in Sparrowpaw's fur at the thought of that awful day. It was just out of reflex, but the young tom stiffened, surprised.

"Oh-sorry," Halfmoon apologized, jumping to her paws. Embarrassment flooded through her body, and she turned, padding off towards the nursery. She had assisted Leaningshoulder in her kitting a few suns ago; might as well check on the young ones.

The gray and white queen was lying in her nest, looking content, two kits snuggled up to her.

"Halfmoon!" She purred. "Nice to see you."

"And I you," The younger cat nodded. "How are you and the kits?"

"We're all fine," Leaningshoulder mewed, her eyes full of love as she looked down at the kits. "They seem as healthy as can be."

"I'm sure they are," Halfmoon agreed, checking each kit over carefully. She couldn't hold back a little bit of jealousy. She didn't have a mate yet, herself. Sparrowpaw flashed through her mind, immediately accompanied by Wolffang.

Wolffang...

"Well, I'd better go now," Halfmoon murmured, quickly leaping out of the nursery. A voice called her over.

"Halfmoon! It's time for the Gathering!"

Sparrowpaw looked excited, and was shifting from paw to paw. Halfmoon purred as she walked up to him. The younger tom was always so excited about going to the Gathering.

"Now, you all know that things with ShadowClan have been a bit tense," Wildstar meowed at the head of the group. "I want you all to be careful."

"Yes, Wildstar," The Clan chimed. Halfmoon was the only one not to speak, looking at her paws uncomfortably. ShadowClan...

The Clan began to move down from camp, nearing Fourtrees. It was the place the Clans had used to live when they were all together... it had been near here that Wolffang had told Halfmoon that they could never meet again.

WindClan and RiverClan were already there, Travelingstar and Streamstar waiting expectantly. Halfmoon sat down immediately with Smallfoot and Graytail, the other medicine cats.

"How have things been going at your Clan?" Graytail asked her as she sat down. Being the first of the medicine cats, Halfmoon was often referred to for advice.

"I found out that buttercup petals are excellent for bad hearing," Halfmoon meowed, drawing one paw nervously over her ear.

"Is something wrong?" Smallfoot, the only tom medicine cat, asked. "You seem disturbed."

"No, I'm fine," she answered quickly. The scent of ShadowClan-something most cats found bad, but she thought sweet-flooded her senses.

Many cats slipped through the ferns, Rippedstar at the head. A reddish tom was close at his side, his deputy.

Wolffang.

Halfmoon kneaded the ground with her paws. Time to face facts. Wrinkledpelt, the ShadowClan medicine cat, padded into view, sitting down next to Halfmoon. Her eyes were set fondly on one of the warriors. At least she had a mate. Luckily, it wasn't Wolffang.

The large, red-brown tabby tom sat down with the deputies, his amber eyes distinctly avoiding her. As the leaders discussed what was going on, Halfmoon couldn't get rid of the dull ache in her heart...

She and Wolffang could never be together again.

xxx

Don't kill me, Blazeheart!!! (hides)