Silverstream Speaks:

An unsuspected relationship

It was like any other day; I'd woken up to the sound of Stonefur ordering patrols and birds chirping. I was planning to ask my best friend, Mistyfoot, to go hunting with me, but by the time I made it out of the shell-filled den, she'd already gone. As soon as I stepped out of the den, I knew today was not going to be fun. The river was almost completely frozen over! Snow sparkled like moonstone everywhere, it was a beautiful sight. The snow was cold, and it crunched under my paws, but I yearned to leave the crowded camp and take a walk and be alone with my own thoughts.

I wasn't questioned when I left and was thankful. I would've never gotten away with meandering around without a purpose. I unconsciously wandered to across where ThunderClan's border was. That's when I saw a small gray apprentice bound down the slope. My nose flared in frustration, didn't ThunderClan keep after their new apprentices? She was soon followed by a large longhaired gray tom and a ginger tom. I'd seen these warriors at gatherings before, and knew that they were around my age. I could see that the flame-colored tom was scolding his apprentice when I caught sight of a water vole on the ice.

I hoped that the apprentice wouldn't be foolish enough to leap after it, and was about to leap out of the reeds when I saw the gray tom lumber towards it. FOOL! I thought wildly. I bolted from my spot, arriving at the edge of the river in less than a heartbeat. He cracked through the ice, into the freezing waters below. The ginger tom stood rigid in horror and I screamed to myself for him to not leap in after. I waited and saw as the tom bobbed his head up out of the water further along, out of the ice. I didn't hesitate. Sliding across the ice on the opposite shore to him, I dove into the icy water and swam hard, forcing my paws to flap faster. I was at his side after what seemed like forever and I grasped onto his neck fur. Uh! His pelt stank of wet ThunderClan and it threw me off for a moment. We went under. I thrashed to the surface, his body still hanging limply from my jaws. From there I brought him to land, where his friend was waiting anxiously.

As the gray tom coughed, I gave the fiery tom a cold, stern stare. Then I shook myself from the river water and tried to catch my breath. Then the wet tom looked up at me with amber eyes and croaked, "Thanks."

I spat angrily at him, "You idiot! What are you doing in my territory?!" I flattened my ears and fluffed out my silver fur.

"Uhh, Drowning?" The gray tom stared up at me, sniffling. I couldn't help but be amused by this. I had been looking for a real explanation, but even when he saw the fury in my eyes, he couldn't help but crack a joke. "Can't you drown yourself in your own territory?" I mewed.

"Ah, but who would rescue me there?" he croaked. I felt flattered by his comment, and twitched my whiskers uncomfortably. He stood up and I finally got a really good look at him. He was handsome, with his bright amber eyes and the unusual dark gray stripe running down his back. I remember muttering something about them getting off the territory and that I'd saved him because of instinct, but not vividly. I was too distracted by the hard stare the one tom was giving me. He introduced himself as Graystripe and I replied, giving my own name before slipping back into the river.

I could feel the tom's gaze burning into my pelt as I left, and though I attempted to shake it off, I couldn't. That night, I dreamt of him and his strong presence. I was so distracted the next few days because I could only think of one cat, Graystripe. How much the name suited him.

Before I knew it, I started meeting the ThunderClan warrior, more often than I thought I would. I would sneak out of camp and find him waiting for me where I'd brought him back to his friend. I remember the feeling of pushing my muzzle into his pelt and breathing in his warm scent, my green eyes burning with such passion into his. My heart heavy with love, I finally had the stomach to tell Mistyfoot. She didn't approve at all and I didn't expect her to, but she wouldn't give me away. Fireheart came one time, begging me to give his friend up, but I couldn't. I loved him so much it hurt.

Then came one day that I would never forget; Mistyfoot told me I seemed sick to her and with my belly all bloated all the time, she directed me straight to Mudfur. Not only was I irritated by this, but I got even more flustered when he welcomed me with a "be careful, don't slip". I wasn't an apprentice! I sat in the moss and waited for him to finish patching up Stonefur from a fall he'd suffered. Mudfur padded up to me and took one look at my swollen belly and meowed, "Silverstream, you're expecting kits!" I gasped with shock and disbelief. I was to have Graystripe's kits! I suddenly became frozen with fear. What if one of the kits resembled Graystripe? Everyone would find out about their secret affair. Then Mudfur trotted off to tell Crookedstar the good news.

When I told Graystripe about the kits after a gathering, he was thrilled. I was excited too, but not that excited. I had other worries about the pregnancy, but didn't tell him about them. The moment was short-lived for we had to split off into our own clans again.

The next few moons went by fast. I'd moved into the nursery soon after that gathering and was bored out of my mind! I could no longer see Graystripe, at Fourtrees or even in my territory. I didn't have anyone to talk to about my fears because Mistyfoot was already too busy with her own kits. But then the day came, I could feel the kits coming. I panicked and was unable to think correctly. For some reason, I felt that I wasn't going to be safe unless I had Graystripe at my side at that moment. I slipped out of camp and across the river. Suddenly, before I knew it, I was on Sunningrocks in ThunderClan territory. I slid across the smooth stone and landed hard on my back. I hoped I hadn't hurt the kits and I yowled as hard as I could.

"Graystripe, Fireheart, somebody help!" I screeched. Pain shot through my body as I went through another spasm. I blacked out then woke up to find Graystripe looming over me, fear and terror flashing through his eyes. Fireheart was bolting over the rocks, heading into ThunderClan territory. I couldn't feel any pain and watched helplessly as my love attempted to comfort me. Everything seemed to be in slow motion. Graystripe was licking my pelt franticly and I saw a massive tabby shape come into view above his head. Fireheart appeared a few moments later with the gray apprentice that had first wandered into RiverClan territory that first day, but now she was limping and had herbs clasped in her jaws. I swallowed some of the mushy leaves as she pushed on my flank and I then watched as she took a small gray lump towards Fireheart. Blood pounded in my ears, that was my kit! She bounded back as fast as she could and licked my flank until I saw her pad up to Fireheart with another kit. She yowled to me, "You've done it Silverstream!"

The pain was coming back, but I hardly noticed. I was brimming with happiness and love. I wanted to see my kits so badly. My vision started to brighten and my gaze settled on Graystripe, my one true love and I whispered softly, "Good-bye Graystripe, I love you. Take care of our kits."

I shuddered and stood from my limp body, sadly watching Graystripe grieve over me. Then I faced the bright light, and in it stood Brambleberry, the former medicine cat. "Come my daughter," the white she-cat meowed, and I was on my way to StarClan. I died for Graystripe, for my kits, for our love.