Chapter Six

"What are you, an otter?" Silversky taunted.

Stonetail came ashore, shaking his fur out. Silversky let out a hiss as she jumped back from being sprayed by scattering water. "Funny. I often wonder if LeafClan cats are mice since you like to hide in the forest so much."

Silversky snorted. "At least we don't have webbed paws. Next thing you know, I'll start seeing cats with gills."

Twitching an ear, Stonetail pushed past her. "Then maybe your medicine cat should check you out, as you're obviously frog-brained."

Spitting, Silversky shoved past him to stand before him. "Why are you even over here? On LeafClan territory?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he retorted. "I was swimming peacefully before you just came out of nowhere."

"I'm allowed wherever I want on my territory," she pointed out sharply. "Now get off of LeafClan land or I'll personally make you."

Eyeing the silver she-cat, Stonetail realized with a start that she had looked thinner than before. Her silver eyes wee wary, and he could sense exhaustion in her voice. The prey must not be running well now that leaf-bare is almost here, he reasoned. Deciding not to give anything away, Stonetail let out a huff.

"Like a mangy LeafClan cat can take me on," he challenged, wading back into the river. "Maybe if you forest cats didn't mind getting your paws wet, you'd be more fit to defend your borders."

Silversky bristled. "LeafClan can always defend their borders!"

Diving underwater, Stonetail spotted a trout hiding by a bed of reeds. Quickly darting down, he snagged the fish with his paws and killed it with a quick bite. Relishing in the metallic taste, he swam back to the surface. He threw the fish onto the shore next to Silversky, and he suppressed a purr of amusement when she let out a surprised yelp.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, looking at him with confusion.

Stonetail climbed onto his side of the river, shaking out his fur. "It slipped from my jaws. And since it's on your side of the river, I suppose it's yours now, according to the code."

He half expected the touchy she-cat to refuse, and throw the fish back into the river. However instead, she sniffed it warily before giving a small dip of her head. She murmured a quiet thanks, before taking the fish and hurrying back into the forest. Stonetail watched after her, wondering if her Clanmates would be suspicious about the unusual forest prey. Deciding he wouldn't dwell on it, Stonetail headed downstream to see if he could catch any more fish before returning back to camp.

Over the next few days, Stonetail found himself going back to the border. He knew he shouldn't, but he hoped to see Silversky across the river often. It didn't take long for the ReedClan warrior to realize he had fallen in love with the pretty silver-furred she-cat. No matter what he did, he couldn't push his feelings for her away.

As he came close to the border, he picked up fresh LeafClan scent. Heart quickening with hope, Stonetail crept through the reeds to peer across the river. A border patrol was remarking their borders, and Stonetail recognized the LeafClan warriors. Echopool, Sootfeather, Flowerheart, and Silversky were sniffing along the border unaware of Stonetail watching them.

Silversky! Stonetail's heart leaped at the sight of the pretty she-cat. I have to speak with her somehow.

Quietly creeping through the reeds, he went downstream a bit. Slipping into the water quieter than an otter, he drifted across and down towards the LeafClan border. Silversky was only a few tail-lengths in front of him, her Clanmates a little further down. He let out a tiny hiss, trying to catch Silversky's attention.

She spun around, catching Stonetail's eyes. "You! What are you-"

"Silversky!" that was Echopool's mew. "Are you done over there?"

Silversky turned to answer her sister. "A-Almost! Go on ahead without me."

Watching her Clanmates pad ahead, she turned her head sharply back towards him. Stonetail met her gaze. "Silversky, I-"

"Why are you here?" she demanded. "Are you trying to get shredded?"

Stonetail shook his head. "Of course not! I just needed to talk to you."

"What? Why?" she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"We can't talk her," he mewed urgently. "Meet me downstream at moonhigh. I'll explain everything then."

Silversky blinked. "Wha-? Why would I do that?"

Stonetail was already swimming back to his side of the border. "Just do it!" Please! He added silently.

Forcing himself not to look back, Stonetail pushed through the reeds back in his territory. His heart was thudding heavily in his chest. What was he doing? He knew he shouldn't have asked Silversky to meet him. Yet, it somehow felt right to him. Maybe if he met her just this once, he would finally be able to put his feelings behind him.

Staring up at the darkening sky, Stonetail felt a flash of excitement run through his fur. No matter what, he wasn't going to miss tonight. He was going to meet Silversky, and nothing was going to change his mind. Taking a deep breath, he ran through the marsh in hopes of catching a frog and fish or two before returning back to camp. For the first time in days, Stonetail felt energy flow through him. Tonight he would finally get to meet the she-cat that had occupied his thoughts for days.