Warning: Sex.

Prologue:

Icewing felt like she was walking on Silverpelt.

Hawkthorn's lips were on the crook of her neck. His breath was hot on her flesh as he panted, and it was all Icewing could do to stop herself from crying out when he gave another thrust. She heard him chuckle when she bit her lip, muffling a moan.

Not one to be laughed at, she lifted her hand from his back, reaching around to pinch at his nipple. The sharp intake of his breath and the throbbing between her legs was enough to satisfy her.

"Don't…ah…tease, ThunderClan," Icewing tried to growl. But her voice came out breathy.

"But I like your noises," Hawkthorn rumbled, "They turn me on."

But they couldn't afford to make too much noise, not when it could alert anyone who happened to be close enough to catch the sound of their lovemaking. Icewing knew this, and she knew that he knew, too. So instead of answering, she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled.

Hawkthorn groaned as he was forced into her, even if it was only a small amount. Still, it was enough to set him off. Icewing purred when he lifted his head from her shoulder, and she saw the dark look in his gray eyes.

The purr was cut off by a gasp as the ThunderClan warrior started thrusting in earnest. Icewing was forced to bite her lip again as she felt him; thick, heavy, and pulsing inside her, pushing in and pulling out rhythmically. The feeling of her core's flesh stretching around him was intoxicating. Her breasts, though small, were bouncing with each movement. It was good. So good.

"Look at you, Icewing," Hawkthorn murmured, pressing kisses to her face and neck, "You're beautiful. So damn beautiful…"

He trailed off, pulling out slowly. Icewing whined, sounding a little desperate even to herself, as she felt only a couple inches of his cock left inside of her. Trying to encourage him, she willed herself to tighten around him. Justly, she was rewarded with a hard thrust that took her breath away.

She clutched at his back desperately, claws digging into his skin. The only acknowledgement Hawkthorn gave was a hiss of pain and pleasure. He was warm to the touch. It was early leaf-bare, yet Icewing felt like her flesh was on fire. Every nerve in her body was tingling with pleasure, and she tried to open her legs wider, hoping to invite him further in.

They gasped and panted together, their whispers of praise and pleasure accompanied only by the sound of his hips slapping against hers. The heat of him inside her was overwhelming, intensified by the weight of his body over her own. She was close, so close…

Icewing nearly screamed when she felt his thumb against her clit, rubbing incessantly. It was dry, and at any other time, she would have complained that it was uncomfortable. But she was too far gone at this point. She curled in on herself, shaking and pressing her head into his shoulder as she finally came. The wave of pleasure was so intense that her vision went white for a moment, and it left her quivering from the sensation as it passed.

Icewing groaned, letting herself lie pliantly as Hawkthorn continued to push into her.

"I love you," his breath was coming out ragged, "I love you so much."

His thrusts fell into a faster, less rhythmic pace as he reached for his own release. When it finally came, he ducked his head, biting into her shoulder. Icewing could only whimper as she felt a flash of heat inside her core, too worn out to protest the mark he would leave.

They stayed like that for a moment, catching their breaths as the high of orgasm decreased. Icewing felt the sweat on their bodies already cooling. After a moment passed, Hawkthorn released her shoulder, and she hissed as he pulled out of her sensitive core. The man rolled off of her, flopping down beside her in an exhausted heap.

As her senses came back to her, Icewing reached up to feel her shoulder. The skin hadn't been broken, but she could tell it was going to be bruised. Frowning, she said, "You left a mark. My clanmates are going to question me over it."

"Sorry," Hawkthorn apologized. He then asked, "You know, if you came to ThunderClan, it wouldn't be an issue."

"Not this again," Icewing sighed, rolling over and hopping to her feet. By the looks of the moon, she'd already been gone for over an hour, and she didn't want to have trouble with whoever was guarding camp when she got back.

Hawkthorn stood as well, "I mean it. ThunderClan is great once you get used to it, and those careful feet of yours are made for walking through fallen leaves."

"And I would stick out like a sore thumb," Icewing replied, "White hair and fur don't do well in dark forests."

They started walking. Before either of them could go home, they had to wash each other's scent away. That meant a quick stop by the lake.

"It's not that dark," the man said, "And Whitepaw does well enough."

"Whitepaw is a healer apprentice. He doesn't hunt," Icewing countered.

Seeing the look on Hawkthorn's face, she continued, "It's not just that. Mosspaw and Brightpaw became apprentices yesterday. What will they do if I just leave them behind like that? And what about my parents? My friends?"

She couldn't imagine leaving any of them behind. Her younger sisters were still wide-eyed kits as far as she was concerned, and they needed her. She could already hear her mother, Nightflower, asking what about RiverClan had made her so unhappy that she'd leave. Accompanying that, she could see Sunstar's eyes, which held the kind of disappointment only a father could feel.

No, she couldn't leave them.

"Besides," she said, "If that promise you and Jayheart made is true, you're going to be deputy some day. I don't want to jeopardize that chance for you."

Hawkthorn spoke whole-heartedly, "I couldn't care less about that when it comes to you."

"Oh, shut up," Icewing said, knowing that her face had reddened at that. She sighed, "I don't know, Hawkthorn. Maybe in a few years. Maybe if everything starts to settle, and RiverClan won't miss me too much."

"No, I understand," the ThunderClanner replied, "I'm sorry."

So am I, Icewing thought. But she didn't want a night like this to end on a sour note.

With a sigh, she stepped closer to Hawkthorn, taking his hand in hers. It was warm, just like the rest of him, despite the cold of the air around them. She felt him squeeze her hand, and she returned the action.

"I love you, you know," she said softly, the end of her tail curling slightly around his.

Hawkthorn seemed to lose the tension he held, relaxing and giving a purr, "I love you too."

They continued on towards the lake, and Icewing tried to enjoy the little time she had left with him. As a means of remaining undetected, they only ever met once every moon, usually before the first rainfall. From the smell of the air, Icewing could tell that the morning would bring snow or rain. Either would wash Hawkthorn's scent from RiverClan territory. She was going to miss him for the time being.

"Icewing!"

Icewing jumped, wrenching her hand from Hawkthorn's grasp. For a moment, her heart pounded in her chest and she feared that they'd been discovered together. StarClan, they were still naked. But she saw no one around them.

"They're by the lake, I think," Hawkthorn said, "They probably tracked your scent."

Again, her name was called, and Icewing turned to him, "Go. Cut through WindClan and wash off in a stream or something. Don't let them see you."

"Got it," Hawkthorn said. He kissed her cheek, "I'll see you next moon."

"Yes, I'll see you," Icewing affirmed, starting to push him. Whoever was calling her could be coming in their direction. She didn't want to think about what would happen if Hawkthorn was caught. She could handle some scolding and a punishment on her part, but seeing him attacked or worse?

Hawkthorn gave her one last look, a mix of love and longing, before turning in the direction of WindClan's moors. Icewing waited until she couldn't see him before she started towards the lake. They very moment she exited the cover of trees and undergrowth, she spotted a familiar figure by the shore.

Cherrymist saw her at the same moment, and ran to her, "Icewing! Where have you been?"

"Couldn't sleep," Icewing lied, "I had to take a walk. Is something wrong?"

It was then that she noticed the look in her friend's eyes. Though Cherrymist appeared calm, her eyes were filled with panic and worry. Icewing felt the fur on her tail rise as she realized that something was indeed very wrong.

"Icewing, Sunstar drowned," Cherrymist said. The edge in her voice suggested that she was upset with her for being gone.

Just like that, Icewing felt like her heart had stopped. But as her mind continued to sort things out, she calmed again. Her father had only become leader nine years ago. In that time, he'd only lost two lives; one to greencough, and another to a fallen tree. So now, he had six left. Plenty.

"How is he now? Was he injured?" she asked, ready to rush back to camp and see to her likely-shaken father. But in the back of her mind, she wondered how it was possible for him to have drowned. Sunstar was an excellent swimmer. She'd have to ask later.

"No, Icewing," Cherrymist said, her voice full of sorrow, "He got caught in something by the halfbridge. He couldn't get back to the surface."

What Cherrymist was saying began to sink in. If Sunstar wasn't able to get out of the water, he wasn't able to get air after he revived.

"He's dead, Icewing."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N: And there we have it. Downpour has officially begun. This prologue took place two years prior to the actual story, but is beyond important. I suggest you guys remember that little detail about Sunstar's swimming skills.

As always, remember to review. Feedback lets me know what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong, and to be honest, I just love seeing new comments. They make my day!

Of course, I will be sticking a Warriors fun-fact at the end of each chapter. And here is this one:

Fun-Fact: Blossomfall believed she was wrong for wanting more of Millie's attention, and therefore believed she deserved to go to the Dark Forest.

Later, my lovelies~!

- Tina