Crowfeather awoke as a thin line of light appeared on the horison, a slash of red like a claw searing, causing the sky to bleed. He watched as the light spread, like blood staining the grass aroung its victim. A screen of brambles protected him from the awakening camp, and all it's secrets. His heart longed to be somewhere in the distance, runing through trees, springy moss underpaw, electricity pulsing between him and Leafpool as they raced, fur brushing, laughing.

But the laughter was lost. The electricity set lose. And Leafpool...She was gone. Instead he thought of his growing relationship with Nightcloud, Can this relationship really be love after what I had with Leafpool? Somehow he didn't think so. These thoughts disturbed him. How can I be loyal if I still think of Leafpool. So he pushed his thoughts of her to the back of his mind and concentrated on Nightcloud's pro's. Well, she's in my clan and I can be loyal to my clan when I'm with her. If I'm with her my clan might retrust me. He couldn't think of anymore.

He streched, flexing each claw individually, mouth opening in an enormous yawn. Nightcloud stirred beside him, whiskas twitching as she pushed her muzzel into his flank. They sat there for a while, grooming each other carefully. Then Crowfeather stood up and ducked under a screen of brambles, closely followed by Nightcloud. The morning sun had only just risen and the air was still crisp. He could see each breath he took, rising out in a cloud of swirling white.

"Hey, um Crowfeather do you wanna go hunting together, just me and you. I have to tell you something." Nightcloud meowed, still yawning.

"Um yeh sure!" Crowfeather replied as they padded out of the camp "What do you need to tell me?"

"Not here come on lets go somewhere more private!" Nightcloud insisted

They walked together side by side fur just brushing. The lsky was now light, but the sun still low. Heather swayed around them as they padded towards the small strech of woodland near the Thunderclan border. Trees now covered over them, saving their eyes from the brightness of the sun. Nightcloud sat down next to a holly bush and curled her tail over her paws, she flicked her ears for Crowfeather to sit down. He sat staring at her with questioning eyes.

"Crowfeather..." she began.

"Yes" he breathed.

"I-I'm going to have kits. Yours I think."

"Wow- um" Crowfeather didn't know what to do or say he knew he should feel overjoyed but his heart was screaming Leafpool, why couldn't these kits be yours! We were supposed to be together forever and live our love fully. No we are torn apart because of StarClan. Why is their way so difficult! So he padded forwards, forcing himself to purr pushing his nose into her fur and grooming her ear.

After what seemed like hours, or maybe even moons Nightcloud pulled away meowing "If we want to get some hunting done we better get going, we'll catch more if we split up."

Crowfeather narrowed his eyes was she trying to get rid of him? "Will you be okay on your own?"

"Of course I will what do you take me for, a feeble leaf?!" Nightcloud meowed as she padded away.

The words stung Crowfeather like a badgers claw. Leaf...Oh Leafpool. He got up and slipped under a nearby bush. Memories flooded over him when he poked his head out of the other side and saw the gurgling river. This was where he used to hide when he waited for Leafpool. He looked to his left and surely enough embeded in the bark of the tree next to him were long scratch marks where he had sharpened his claws in anticipation. As if on que a beautiful, young light tabby padded out of the trees on the other side of the river, looking cautiously around with round attractive eyes. Then to his great suprise, she splashed into the river flicking her tail as she pulled her self out on the otherside shaking, pearly drops of water out of her fur, sending them spinning in all directions.

"Crowfeather!" she hissed as she slipped into the bush next to him. "I have to talk to you!"