I kno, i just updated yesterday, but oh well, I wanted to post this chapter quickly. Thank you all that reviewed! This chapter is dedicated to xx-Secrets-xx because they (she/he?) reviewed to 3 out of 4 of my chapters, more than anyone else. As of now, I will dedicate each chapter to a different reviewer, either the first to review, or if you are a stready reviewer.
Again the majority of votes said they wanted it to remain a ThornxLeaf fic, and I'm sorry to Earthstorm and Roxy1095 who both wanted it to be a Crowleaf, but most people wanted a ThornLeaf... sorry.
REVIEW!
Hugs,
mysterys
P.S- please read my other two stories; Doubted: Grieving Hearts and it's sequel; Doubted: Divided.
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Later that night, Thornclaw and I were awoken by a shriek coming from below the tree. I looked down and saw Icepaw, her small body crumpled broken on the ground. Thornclaw exchanged a shocked glance with me as we saw the kittypets circled around her small form on the ground.
Thornclaw immediately looked angry and was about to jump for revenge, but I stopped him. I murmured, "Not with your leg Thornclaw. And it'll do no good anyway. Even from here, I can tell, Icepaw's dead."
Thornclaw looked angry, but resigned, and sadness took over his eyes. Icepaw was always optimistic and a beautiful she-cat. She would be missed.
But she was already dead, and we weren't. We had to get out of the tree somehow.
Where was Icepaw's mentor, and then I realized why Thornclaw had reacted so strongly. Icepaw was his apprentice. After Poppypaw became Poppyblaze, Icepaw had been assigned to Thornclaw as his apprentice.
I murmured, "I'm so sorry, Thornclaw, I didn't reali- I forgot that-" He looked at me with such a pained look in his eyes. Then he said, "It's not your fault."
He licked the top of my head and said, "I love you, Leafpool."
I snaked my head underneath his chin and nuzzled him lovingly. He froze momentarily and then pulled away, more pain in his eyes as he asked, "I must know, Leafpool. Do you actually love me, or does this have something to do with Crowfeather? I saw him yesterday."
It was my turn to freeze, but I relaxed and said, "I'm sorry Thornclaw, I should have told you. He tried to get me jealous with Nightcloud, so I decided to play along and seduce you in plain view of him so he'd be jealous and want me aga-"
He interrupted angrily and accused me, "So is that all I am to you, Leafpool? Someone to be used?"
"No!" I protested. He started to climb farther up in the tree until he was away from me, but we were interrupted below. There was Crowfeather, Tornear, Owlwhisker and Weaselfur pelting out of the trees and attacking the kittypets.
I heard Weaslefur yowl, "Prepare to find out what clancats are made of!"
Crowfeather scaled the tree within moments, and immediately looked towards me. He gestured with his neck and said, "C'mon, get outta here... quick!"
I flicked my tail at Thornclaw and scampered down the rough bark of the tree. Thornclaw followed, and we dashed out of the sight, running towards Thunderclan camp. Thornclaw was limping, and as soon as I couldn't hear the yowling Windclan warriors and kittypets, I stopped. Crowfeather and Thornclaw stopped moments behind me, a measure distance apart from each other.
Thornclaw was limping worse than ever, and the cobweb on his paw had burst, leaving his wound to bleed. I began to lick the blood away, but he recoiled and said, "Leav me alone, Leafpool , I'm fine."
I was hurt, and realized that I probably deserved it, but he hadn't given me a chance to fully explain.
Crowfeather was still staring at me, but looked angrily at Thornclaw and said, "Don't speak to her like that."
Thornclaw got right up in his face and said, "Oh yeah, defend her, the slimy user!" he stalked away, and I tried ot follow, but Crowfeather pinned my tail to the ground, not letting me leave.
I turned around angrily and said, "What's your problem, Crowfeather?"
He looked angry, then disappointed, "I saved you and your mousebrained boyfriend's lives and all you can say to me is "what's you problem?""
I looked down at my paws and said through clenched teeth, "That's not what a meant, and you know it. Can you either go on a diet or get off my tail?"
He laughed and said, "I'd better get you back to camp, Leafpool. C'mon."
I backed away and said, "I am perfectly capable of finding my own way back to camp, Crowfeather."
He looked hurt, and turned away, but I said, "Wait, don't go!"
He turned around, hope glinting in his eyes.
"Thank you," I said quietly, and he nodded curtly before running back to the faint battle cries.
I used instinct to get back to Thunderclan camp, and walked immediately to Firestar's den. "Icepaw's dead."
"Leafpool! You're all right!" it was Sandstorm. Firestar walked up beside his mate, clearly not having heard what I said and said, "Good, we all thought you'd run off again, but with Thornclaw this time." He and Sandstorm started laughing, and I tried to join in, but failed miserably.
Sandstorm looked at me and said, "What is it you said, dear?"
The fake smile vanished from my face and I said, "Icepaw's dead."
I told them the whole story, while they listened in horror; I skipped the romantic scenes.
I was dismissed, and Ferncloud and Dustclaw were informer of their daughters death. It was going to be hard for them. In their first litter they had lost all but Birchfall, and in this one, they lost all but Foxpaw. Besides Icekit and Foxkit, there had been another kitten in their litter named Skykit that had died four days after birth.
I wandered around trying to find Thornclaw, and found him up in the branches of the anient oak. I pinned him against a branch and said, "Thornclaw, listen to me and don't interrupt."
He didn't.
I started my speech I'd been planning, "Okay, I admit, at first I used you to get to Crowfeather. But then it became more than that. Yesterday and last night were the times of my life. I enjoyed spending time with you more than Crowfeather, more than Squirrelflight even. Last night when you told me you loved me, I told you I loved you back, and when i said that, I meant it."
I stepped back, wondering if I'd said too much or too little.
I guess I said the right amount, because Thornclaw immediately leaned forward from where I had pinned him to the branch and licked me on the nose. I smiled and he said, "I love you, Leafpool."
"I love you too, Thornclaw."
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Don't worry, there'll be one more chapter; an epilogue. I know this fanfic was really short, and I apologize for that, but I didn't know what else to write. If people want me to, I'll write a sequel, but no guarantees. REVIEW! The first person to review to this will have the next chapter dedicated to them!
Hugs,
mysterys