Chapter 12
Honeywing thought about the stories that Mousefur and Longtail had told her and her sisters, and could just imagine the forest being destroyed. "Lionpaw, what are we going to do?" Honeywing asked him. "Maybe we should tell Firestar," she suggested.
Lionpaw shook his head. "I know we should, but I have a feeling we shouldn't," he meowed. "I mean, if StarClan wanted him to know, then they would have told him or at least would have told us to tell him," he told her. He saw her looked down at her paws.
"Lionpaw, how can we keep this to ourselves? How do we know when this thing is going to happen? How are we-" she began saying really quickly, until Lionpaw broke her off. "Honeywing, it's going to be okay," he mewed, pressing his muzzle against hers. He felt her stiffen and instantly stepped back, knowing he had just made her… and himself uncomfortable. He looked down at her and she was looking away.
"Lionpaw, can I tell you something? Even if it's completely off topic?" she asked him.
"You can tell my anything, Honeywing. You're my best friend," he told her. He saw her eyes darken as he finished his sentence. Had he said the wrong thing? She looked down at her paws and he sat beside her, his fur touching hers comfortingly. She looked up at him and for a moment, Lionpaw found himself lost in her eyes. He felt something that he… had never felt before, although it seemed a little familiar. She opened her mouth to say something, but then suddenly, the voice of Firestar sounded throughout the clearing. Suddenly, every cat that was at the gathering was back. "We're back," Honeywing mewed happily. She looked at Lionpaw and then bounded over to Berrynose and pressed her muzzle into his fur.
Lionpaw watched and felt something run through him. Am I jealous? He asked himself. He shook his head and saw Heathertail standing by herself. "Heathertail!" he mewed joyously. He pressed his muzzle against hers and he heard her purr. "I love you," he whispered to her. She looked at him and mewed, "I love you too."
Honeywing looked up at Berrynose. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked. "You're acting as if you haven't seen me in moons," Berrynose meowed. It sure felt like it, she thought to herself. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Did you talk to Lionpaw?" he asked her. His blue eyes were filled with concern.
"Yeah, I did," she told him. "We… we talked about a lot," she said, not lying, remembering talking about the prophecy. She longed to tell Berrynose, but she didn't. "I think we're friends again," she mewed. She saw Berrynose's eyes brighten. She was thankful to have him as a friend, even though she knew he didn't like Lionpaw that much. She liked Berrynose… a lot, but she didn't know if she liked him enough to be her mate. She then thought about who would be her mate. She shook her head. She didn't want a mate… at least not now.
She listened to the leaders begin the gathering. It was as if no time had passed since she and Lionpaw had been told the prophecy.
Firestar went first. "All is well in ThunderClan. We have recently chased a fox from our territory and have been blessed by StarClan not to have any sickness… however we do have a lot of herbs ready for leaf-bare, so we are ready. We also have made two new apprentices, Foxpaw and Icepaw. Also, we have three new warriors, Honeywing, Cinderheart and Poppyleaf," he meowed proudly.
All eyes fell on Honeywing, Cinderheart or Poppyleaf. Honeywing puffed out her chest with pride and held her head high. A few shouts of congratulations went out to them. "When the battle broke out between RiverClan and WindClan, we fought off both Clans away from our territory, but also mostly fighting RiverClan because WindClan was in their territory; however, they were too close. Other than that, ThunderClan's territory has been flourishing and as are we. We are growing stronger and are almost ready to make some more warriors soon," he meowed, stepping back.
Leopardstar then stepped forward. "RiverClan would like to point out that WindClan have been taking the only squirrels and rabbits we have on our territory," the spotted leader hissed. "RiverClan doesn't hunt squirrels! What's the use of having them!" a WindClan cat spat. "You don't hunt squirrels either!" spat Mistyfoot. "But Leopardstar, those squirrels and rabbits are useless to you! And we are starting to hunt squirrels because of the woodland in our territory," Onestar hissed. "I don't care if they are useless to us. If the fish ever run out, we turn to the squirrels and rabbits for prey. And even if they are useless to us right now, it doesn't matter. You don't cross our territory! At all, do you understand?" the leader hissed. Onestar drew his lip back, but then reluctantly nodded.
"Anyways, other than that, the fish are flourishing and we have made two new warriors, Minnowfur and Pebblestorm," she meowed proudly.
Honeywing turned and looked at two warriors. Both were gray cats. One was a she-cat with downy fur and another who was a muscular tom. They both puffed out their chests with pride.
"We also have two new apprentices; Mallowpaw and Sneezepaw. But only Sneezepaw is here tonight," Leopardstar meowed. The apprentice's head lifted proudly and all eyes were of the RiverClan cat.
Blackstar then spoke, "ShadowClan welcomes the prey that has been running on our large territory. We also have three new apprentices: Flamepaw, Tigerpaw and Dawnpaw. And we also have new editions to our warriors. Ivyclaw and Owltail received their warrior names not too long ago and are making ShadowClan even stronger," the ShadowClan leader announces, letting Onestar finally speak.
"WindClan has been very lucky this moon. The rabbits and squirrels are running and we also welcome three apprentices, Swallowpaw, Thistlepaw and Sedgepaw. As well, we also welcome Heathertail and Breezepelt into the warriors nest tonight. We are stronger than ever and chased a badger from our territory. That is all," he mewed. "Let all Clans return home," Leopardstar meowed aloud.
Heathertail looked at Lionpaw. "Meet me tonight at the clearing," she whispered. She turned and flicked his cheek with her tail and padded over to Whitetail and Nightcloud. He watched her go, but suddenly, the words of the prophecy and the memories of the dream he had two moons ago popped into his head. He had hoped those dreams had gone for good, but he couldn't seem to get it out of his head. He could just see Heathertail so clearly, then turning into Breezepelt and then running towards her, but then she disappears and he feels like he's drowning in the emotions of being lost, being alone… being loved all at the same time.
Honeywing bounded over to him. "Hey," she murmured. "You look troubled," she mewed to him.
"Who wouldn't be?" he muttered. She sighed. "It said something about a rain drop being the sign," he told her. "Maybe we should be ready for rain and they said also that the cat had a silver pelt," he added. He watched her think.
"You know, I've been seeing this cat. He doesn't look like a kitty-pet, but he's very big and he has a silver pelt. He's... been roaming along the border, but it's as if he knows that there are borders. But he looks as if he could kill three full grown warriors. Maybe he's the cat that might tear the Clans apart," Honeywing mewed to Lionpaw.
"But… how could it just be one," he asked. He saw Honeywing think again.
"Maybe he has friends just like him," Honeywing suggested. "Maybe," Lionpaw murmured. "We're going to figure this out, though," he meowed. Honeywing nodded.
Lionpaw watched the sun set out in the forest. "Lionpaw!" he heard someone say. He was deep in ThunderClan territory, but he thought it was Heathertail. "Heathertail!" he said excitedly, spinning around
"No, just me, I'm afraid," Honeywing mewed, padding up to him. "You really love her, don't you?" she asked him softly. He looked at her. He swore he could see sadness in her eyes, but he shook it off.
"Yeah, but… I sometimes feel like… I'm lost. Like I'm not where I'm supposed to be. I feel like I want to be closer to her, but with everything okay. Where no one can judge us because we're from different Clans," he mewed. He saw Honeywing's eyes change to compassion.
"Lionpaw, no one ever gets a perfect love life… ever. Especially when you love someone from a different Clan," she mewed, looking at him and tilting her head to one side.
"I know, but I can wish can't I?" he mewed. Honeywing stared at him for a moment. Then, she nodded. "Yes," she murmured. "You can," she said, looking down. "Have you ever considered finding love in ThunderClan?" she asked hesitantly.
"N-no," he murmured. "I love Heathertail. And I'm going to do whatever it takes to be with her," he meowed. "Honeywing, can't you understand that I love her too much to let her go," he said, his voice rising a little bit. He saw her turn her head away.
She turned her gaze back to him and said, "Do you love her enough to let her go?"