Chapter 2
"Hawkfrost," Leafpool hissed softly, peeking out from her hiding place in a clump of heather near the WindClan border. "Are you here...?" Her heart was racing in her chest as she scanned the surrounding land for the dark tabby, though its frantic thrumming slowed drastically when she could neither see nor scent the RiverClan warrior. Did he get stuck in camp...? The light brown tabby sighed, her crestfallen gaze dropping to her paws. As much as she wanted to stay and wait for him, the moon was past its peak, and Leafpool knew she would have to return to camp soon. With one final glance towards the WindClan border, Leafpool stood, forcing her reluctant paws to carry her back towards camp.
"And where do you think you're going?"
Electricity sparked in her veins, and Leafpool whirled around, her heart nearly leaping out of her throat as her eyes met Hawkfrost's teasing blue gaze. "You made it," she exhaled softly, only managing to take one step towards him before the RiverClan warrior closed the space between them, a surprisingly gentle purr rumbling in his chest. Leafpool pressed her face into his thick fur, a warm purr of her own erupting from her throat. "I was worried you wouldn't be here..."
Hawkfrost scoffed, "As if." He wrapped himself around the lithe tabby, and Leafpool welcomed his affection, shivering as the water left on his pelt seeped through her thinner fur. "There was a WindClan patrol on the border, so I had to wait until I would be out of sight and wade around the edge of the lake. I would have swam all the way here if that what it took."
Leafpool blinked up at the RiverClan warrior, her eyes glowing with a mixture of love and amusement. "I believe that you could, too," she joked playfully. The RiverClan warrior rolled his eyes, but bent to press his muzzle against hers.
"I was thinking earlier today," Leafpool mewed quietly, "about when we met."
Hawkfrost tilted his head. "Oh yeah?" The medicine cat nodded, and Hawkfrost sighed. "I was, too," he admitted.
"So much has changed since then..." Leafpool glanced up at the RiverClan warrior, who shrugged.
"I suppose." He paused, stepping away and gazing up at the stars before continuing, "But all of the important things have stayed the same. There are still four clans, four territories, peace during the full moon..." He turned towards her again, and the medicine cat felt instantly soothed by his words. "You look tired," he observed suddenly, the warmth in his eyes dissipating. It was replaced by mild irritation, and Leafpool had to fight to keep her exasperated sigh at bay.
"I'm fine," she began, but by that point she knew her words fell on deaf ears. The dark brown tabby was already padding towards the lake. "Hawkfrost!" She rushed after him, panting as she caught up. "Where are you going? You're not leaving, are you?"
"Leaving?" The RiverClan warrior snorted sarcastically. "No, I'm going to catch you a fish."
Leafpool nearly fell over how kit-like the dark warrior suddenly sounded. "A fish?" She echoed incredulously.
"You heard me," he growled, shooting her a seething glare. "I must have told you a thousand times Leafpool—don't strain yourself to come see me. You've got plenty to do as it is, taking care of your Clan-mates."
Leafpool flattened her ears. "I could say the same to you!" She huffed, stalking forward to sit beside him at the edge of the lake. Despite their disagreement, their pelts brushed as they sat by the water.
"I just worry about you," Hawkfrost finally sighed, before his paw shot out like lightning, hooking a fish on his long, curved claws.
"I know," Leafpool averted her gaze until the RiverClan warrior brushed his tail along her flank, warming her from her ears to her tail-tip and prompting her to look at him again.
"Here." He pushed the shimmering fish towards her, and though his tone left no room for objection, Leafpool flattened her ears.
"Hawkfrost," she muttered, doing her best to sound cross. "We've been over this, you don't need to hunt for me-"
The dark tabby lunged forward suddenly, bowling Leafpool over, though he wrapped his paws around her to cushion the fall. "Maybe it's not for you," he growled playfully, pinning the lithe tabby beneath him. Leafpool could only purr in amusement, stretching one snowy white paw up to swat gently at the dark tabby's ear.
"Who's it for then?" His eyes met hers, their icy hues seeming warmer than the sun.
"Us," he answered simply. He stepped off of her, flicking his tail towards the horizon. "It will be dawn soon... I guess I..."
Leafpool felt her eyes widen in disbelief. Was Hawkfrost—the over-confident RiverClan warrior that the whole forest knew was going to lead RiverClan one day—the tom that had fallen in love with her on the Great Journey and boldly confessed only days after she had been given her medicine cat name—the only cat that would dare to fake a sign from StarClan just to help his sister achieve her dreams... at a loss for words?
"Hawkfrost.." She pressed herself against the bold warrior, touched by his sudden sentiment. "I would love to share a morning meal with you," she purred. Instantly, Hawkfrost relaxed, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of the island had just been lifted from them.
"Thank-you," he mumbled, pulling the fish close again. "Go ahead," he urged her. "While it's still fresh."
Leafpool licked his shoulder as a sign of thanks, before tucking her paws beneath her and taking a bite out of the fish. After eating her fill—which wasn't even half of the piece of fresh-kill—she sat up, beginning to groom Hawkfrost's dark brown tabby pelt as he ate. He purred appreciatively, finishing the fish in a few quick bites. He didn't dare to move though, letting Leafpool continue her rhythmic work.
"I'll miss you," he finally meowed, rolling over to lie on his back and gaze up into the medicine cat's eyes.
Leafpool rolled her eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow night," she reminded him gently. She couldn't help but to lie down next to him for a moment, pillowing her head on his thick white belly fur. She could feel every breath as it pass through his chest, gently lifting her head with every inhale. "But I'll miss you, too..." she finally whispered.
For a moment, they were completely still. Neither wanting to move though they both knew the needed to return to their own Clans.
"Tomorrow night, huh?" Hawkfrost blinked up at her as Leafpool stood and stretched.
"Yes," she agreed. "Same place?"
The dark warrior nodded. "I'll be here as soon as I can."
"I will, too..." Leafpool watched as he stood and stretched, his muscles rippling beneath his sleek tabby coat. "Goodbye, for now..."
He touched his muzzle tenderly to hers, their breaths mingling as he whispered, "Goodbye for now, Leafpool."
With that, he turned and bounded away, his long legs carrying him quickly over ThunderClan's border with WindClan and around the lake. The light brown tabby watched until Hawkfrost was out of sight before turning back towards her own home. She padded through ThunderClan's territory in a happy, though drowsy, daze. It was only when she slipped into a puddle that the medicine cat realized she had been about to return to camp covered in Hawkfrost's scent—and with her breath smelling of fish, no less!
"Mouse-dung..." She sat where she had slipped, hastily washing the RiverClan scent from her ruffled pelt. It was growing lighter, and with a feeling of dread Leafpool silently accepted that she would probably return just in time to lay down in her nest and pretend to be asleep while Cinderpelt woke her. She had barely gotten any sleep recently. She and Hawkfrost had started off meeting as rarely as they could, sneaking out only every few days to avoid suspicion.
But now we meet up almost every other night, if not every night... and even when we're apart he's all that I can think about...
Suddenly feeling somber, Leafpool half-heartedly chewed on some chervil to mask any scent of fish that might be left on her breath. The herb was used to treat bellyaches; Cinderpelt wouldn't question Leafpool for treating herself for something as minor as an upset stomach.
With all of her tracks covered, Leafpool half-walked, half-slid down her secret entrance and exit to the hollow, slipping silently in the medicine den where she sank into her nest.
"You're up early." The young medicine cat didn't even have it in her to be surprised by the sound of her mentor's voice. The dark gray she-cat tilted her head. "You smell of chervil," she noticed immediately. "Stomachache?"
"Yes," Leafpool mumbled. "It woke me, and we were nearly out, so I went and fetched some from the patch just outside of camp.."
"Oh," Cinderpelt blinked gently at the younger cat. "You don't look so well. The Clan is in good health, why don't you take today to get some rest?"
"Rest...?" Leafpool couldn't keep the surprise from her tone. "Are you sure?"
The dark gray she-cat rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm sure. Now go back to sleep before I plant poppy seeds in your fresh-kill."
Leafpool let a tired purr slip from her lips as her eyes closed, and almost instantly sleep crashed over her, filled with dreams that were haunted by Hawkfrost's warm scent.
Hey guys! Woke up this morning to find that this story had 52 views-which honestly is much more than I was expecting it to get so soon. Thanks so much for taking the time to read! I've always liked Hawkfrost, and always thought that his kit-hood would affect him in a more positive way, as opposed to the way it did in the books... Anyways, thanks again, and feel free to drop a review (like Pikawarriorcat! Thanks again!) and let me know what you think (:
