Crowfeather padded out of the stretch of trees and onto the moorland. Nightcloud was bristling beside him, he couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Why did you stop her talking. Why did you put her down like that you piece of fox dung!" Crowfeather yowled voice cracked with emotion. How could it be? He thought he was with Nightcloud but now...He knew he was still in love with Leafpool.

Nightcloud rounded on him, eyes blazing she yowled "What do you think she was going to tell you huh? Something for Barkface to look out for. I don't think so. She was trying to get back with you and you're mine now. I'm with you and she hurt you. I always hated her and she got what she deserves. A lifetime of unhappiness!"

"How could you wish that upon anyone. I hate you Nightcloud!" Crowfeather growled unsheathing his claws. He would give anything to rip her ears off now. He hated her. He hated her and anyone else who was in the way of him and Leafpool being together. "She could've wanted to tell me something important!"

She reflected him unseathing her claws and growled "How could you even think of her when we're having kits together?!"

His rage burnt up inside him, like a fire, ripping through him, yearning to explode. All he wanted was to get out of here. He didn't want to hurt anyone. But how could he ignore a challenge a obvious as this? The world seemed to shift around him as he stared at Nightcloud. The trees swayed cautiously as if they knew to tread carefully while the two mates glared at each other.

Nightcloud moved first, a flash of spiky black and white fur screamed past his face and a line of scorching hot pain rushed down his cheek where her claw had scored across it. He yowled in pain and reared backwards shaking his head from side to side, splattering droplets of blood everywhere. He launched himself forwards, fueled by his fury that his mate was doing this to him. His claws met with her ear and they tore through. She jerked her head backwards a slice out of her ear drizzled blood that oozed down her muzzel.

"Stop!" A loud yowl came from the top of the ridge and Onestar pelted down towards them and stepped in between them. " What in the name of StarClan is going on?!"

Barkface streaked down towards them and meowed "You shouldn't be fighting in your state Nightcloud you should be in the nursery sleeping gathering rest for your kits."

"Hold on. You told him before you told me" Crowfeather croaked, stung.

"Well I had to be sure!" Nightcloud replied "Look Crowfeather I'm sorry I said those things and I'm sorry about our fight. Lets make it around this"

Crowfeather narrowed his eyes. Why wasn't she mentioning Leafpool infront of the others. Maybe she had only meant to protect him from more hurt. "Okay Nightcloud. Come on lets get you to the Nursery"

The two cats padded away from the patrol towards tha camp. It seemed to take ages to get there. His paws felt like he had been walking over hot ashes non-stop from the old forest to the lake shore. The day was fading and streaks of purple and red were creeping along the twilight sky. On the way back Nightcloud bent over a small pool to drink. When Crowfeather looked over the edge the darkening sky covered half of his face with nothingness, so when he saw himself, he was only half. He shook his head to rid it of that terrible thought. Having kits. That made him whole.

They padded silently into the camp, fur barely brushing. Clouds rolled over ahead, rain pattering down formind droplets on his pelt and running down his face and dripping from his chin. Nightcloud slipped into the nursery quietly and Crowfeather followed her. Inside Nightcloud settled down in a comfortable nest and soon fell fast asleep. Heathertail, another queen who was very close to kitting looked at him and meowed:

"First litter eh?"

"Er...Yeh it is." Crowfeather replied

"Ahh troublesome kits. You'll love them. But here's a tip. Don't tell them not to do anything, or they'll only go and do it" The queen let out a mrrrwww of lauter and then meowed "But untill she is close to kitting you can't sleep in here. I'm soory off you go."

"Okay Heathertail." Crowfeather backed out and sat in the rain, happy to be alone with his thoughts... About Leafpool. What was so important that she would try seeing him again and risk her feelings coming back. Or had they never left her? Did Leafpool still have feeling for hi like he had for her? Oh StarClan he prayed silently Tell me what to do!