Thistleclaw watched from his place beside the warriors' den as Lilyspark padded out of the camp with Lionheart and Rosetail, his tail lashing in frustration. He had been waiting all day for a chance to speak to the white-furred warrior alone, but as usual, she was surrounded by her friends. Of course, it wasn't as though he couldn't talk to Lilyspark while her friends were around, but he would have much preferred to say what he needed to say without an audience.
For the life of him, he couldn't figure out why she wouldn't want to be with him. He was strong, respected, and fairly good-looking. More importantly, they were both Whitekit's kin–Lilyspark being his aunt and him being his father. If they were mates, they could raise him together. They would have been perfect together–why couldn't she see it too?
Lilyspark was magnificent. She had brilliant white fur, just like Snowfur. She walked with the same confident air as Snowfur. She was just as fierce and relentless in battle as Snowfur. She had the same witty sense of humor as Snowfur. She even made the same face when she was lost in thought as Snowfur.
With all of their similarities, Thistleclaw was even willing to overlook the fact that Lilyspark's ears were pure white instead of gray. He was willing to overlook the fact that her eyes were amber instead of blue. He was willing to overlook the fact that, when turned on him, those eyes were filled with disgust and hatred instead of love and adoration.
"You hate me. And I hate you. That's how it's always been."
Even now, almost a quarter of a moon later, her words from that day still burned him deeply. In fairness to her, perhaps she was right in being angry with him for confessing so soon after Snowfur's death. But he had never been one to wait around, and after all, Snowfur was gone and wouldn't be coming back. What was the point in sitting around when there was a perfectly good molly right there in ThunderClan?
Besides, Snowfur would have wanted this for him, he told himself. She would have been happy that he had found another cat to be with, and one that was so much like her at that. It would be as if Whitekit had his mother back, the two of them raising their little family together.
For whatever reason, however, she refused to see the truth. She continued to insist that they hated each other, that he couldn't possibly love her. Thistleclaw didn't know how much longer he would be able to stand it, waiting for Lilyspark to realize her true feelings for him. She didn't truly hate him; of that much, he was certain. Perhaps she was under the impression that she did, but he blamed that on Bluefur. It was obvious that the blue-gray warrior had brainwashed Lilyspark into believing that she hated him–but no matter. In time, he would help her realize that they were meant for each other.
But how am I supposed to do that? Thistleclaw wondered, lashing his tail again. She hardly ever goes anywhere without Bluefur, Lionheart, or Rosetail present. And every time I try to go over to talk to her, she finds a reason to leave the camp. How am I supposed to make her realize she likes me if she won't even let me talk to her?
Suddenly, an idea came to him. If Lilyspark wasn't going to let him explain his feelings for her, he would just have to make her see the truth in another way. With a plan forming in his mind, Thistleclaw rose to his paws and padded inside the warriors' den.
When Lilyspark returned to the camp later that afternoon with Lionheart and Rosetail, she could tell immediately that something was wrong. A crowd of warriors had gathered around outside the warriors' den, all of them apparently watching something intently. She craned her neck slightly and saw, to her horror, Thistleclaw and Bluefur having a blazing row. They stood about two fox-lengths apart, their fur fluffed up and their lips drawn back in a snarl.
What's going on? Lilyspark wondered in alarm.
Exchanging a worried glance with her friends, she started to walk over to the throng of warriors outside the den. Before she could get there, however, she found herself being intercepted by Goldenflower.
"Lilyspark!" she exclaimed. "You're back."
"Er...hello, Goldenflower," Lilyspark replied uncertainly. "What do you want?"
The golden-furred molly shook her head. "Listen, there's...there's something you should know," she meowed. "But first of all, um...do you like Thistleclaw?"
"Do I like Thistleclaw?" she repeated disbelievingly. "Goldenflower, I can safely say with no exaggeration whatsoever that the day that good-for-nothing piece of fox dung drops down dead can't come soon enough. I think I made myself extremely clear on that front, as you should know very well yourself."
If Goldenflower was at all bothered by the pointed reminder about their fight, she didn't say anything. Instead, she shook her head and replied, "In that case, I...I think you should come with me, Lilyspark. There's something you need to see."
More bewildered than ever, Lilyspark nodded and followed her denmate over to the crowd of warriors outside their den. As they approached the small gathering, she wondered to herself what had gotten everyone so worked up. When they were a bit closer, Lilyspark was able to pick up on some of Thistleclaw and Bluefur's argument.
"How many times do I have to say it? Lilyspark doesn't like you," she heard Bluefur snarling at the spiky-furred tom. "I don't know how you got this ridiculous idea in your head, Thistleclaw, but it ends now. Stay away from my sister if you know what's good for you."
"How many times do I have to say it? That's not for you to decide," Thistleclaw snarled back. "Lilyspark doesn't need you to speak for her, Bluefur. She can decide whether she wants to be with me for herself."
"Excuse me?" Now, Bluefur just sounded incredulous. "She has decided for herself. She told you that she doesn't like you. Are you deaf or just stupid?"
Lilyspark had heard enough. Hurrying forward, she pushed her way through the crowd until she was standing between the two quarreling warriors. "What in the world is going on right now?"
"Hello, Lilyspark." Thistleclaw's voice, which had been filled with rage and hatred just moments before, was suddenly softer, more soothing.
Instead of answering, Lilyspark kept her gaze trained on her sister. "What's going on?" she repeated.
"What's going on, Lilyspark is that Thistleclaw still doesn't know how to take no for an answer," Bluefur growled, shooting a furious look at the gray and white warrior.
"What are you...?"
Bluefur shook her head, the anger in her eyes fading to be replaced by a look of worry. "Listen, Lilyspark, we need to talk to Sunstar."
"Why?" Lilyspark asked, feeling even more confused now. "I know he's been annoying, but other than that, he hasn't done a lot, has he?"
"It's gone beyond just being annoying now," her sister growled, glaring at the spiky-furred tom again.
"How so?" she inquired.
"I don't think you want to know," Bluefur meowed, giving her a worried look. "It's...just trust me, Lilyspark. We should just speak to Sunstar now and put an end to...whatever Thistleclaw thinks he's up to."
But Lilyspark knew she couldn't just leave it at that. "No," she meowed firmly, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Bluefur, but...I need to know what you're talking about."
Her sister hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, then," she agreed reluctantly. "But I'm coming with you, Lilyspark. This isn't something that you should see alone."
Nodding in agreement, Lilyspark allowed her sister to guide her into the warriors' den, ignoring the whispers of her Clanmates as she walked inside. At first, she couldn't see anything that looked amiss. Puzzled, she glanced over at Bluefur.
"Er...what exactly am I meant to be looking at?" she asked.
In response, Bluefur pointed with her tail toward a spot near the center of the den. Lilyspark looked over in the direction she was pointing in and saw a new nest directly beside the one Thistleclaw always slept in, placed so closely together it was nearly impossible to tell that they were actually two separate nests instead of one large one. Without even realizing it, her shoulders stiffened and her eyes widened.
Surely this isn't...
Almost instinctively, Lilyspark glanced over to her left. Bile rose up in her throat at the sight that greeted her, and she had to clamp her jaws shut tightly in order to avoid vomiting all over the floor of the den.
The spot where her nest should have been was empty now.