Sorry it took longer to post a new chapter. I've had writer's block (groan). Anyway, here you are, the next chapter of Forbidden Romance.

Birchclaw yawned, stretching his paws. Sunlight streamed through the branches of the warriors den. Apart from the golden tabby pelt of Thornclaw in one corner, he was alone.

Birchclaw pulled himself to his feet. He extended his front legs in a stretch before padding out into the camp clearing.

It was a beautiful day. The camp was bathed in the sun's rays; Sorreltail and Daisy were lying outside the nursery, sharing tongues. Sorreltail's kits played beside them, while Hazelpaw and Berrypaw engaged in a more violent tussle outside their den. There was a feeling of peace and security in the air.

"Hey, Birchclaw!" Birchclaw turned to see Cloudtail bounding over to him. "Sandstorm wants you for a hunting patrol."

Birchclaw dipped his head. "Thanks, Cloudtail." He followed the white warrior over to where a small group of cats were gathering.

"Finally!" Sandstorm twitched her tail impatiently. "You're in the patrol with Brackenfur, Spiderleg and Ashfur."

Birchclaw sat next to Spiderleg. His older brother flicked Birchclaw's flank with his tail as a greeting.

"You can hunt over near the WindClan border," Sandstorm told the first lot of cats. "And you can check out the Foxpath," she continued, turning to Birchclaw's group. "Keep out an eye for any traps. Remember what they've done to cats in the past."

Birchclaw shuddered, recalling how Berrypaw had lost most of his tail in a trap.

"If that's all, Sandstorm." Brackenfur stood up and turned to the group. "Birchclaw, do you need to eat anything? You did only just wake up."

Birchclaw jumped to his feet, sudden energy flooding through him. "No," he meowed, his fur tingling. "Let's go."

Brackenfur nodded, then took the lead and led the others out into the forest.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Slowly, Birchclaw crept across the forest floor. His mouth was teeming with prey scents. With pinpoint accuracy, he leapt.

His teeth cut off the vole's squeal. He got up, twisting around to see that Spiderleg had a thrush in his mouth. The black-brown tom dropped the thrush and covered it with some dirt. "Good catch, Birchclaw," he purred.

"Thanks," Birchclaw replied, also dropping his vole. "You're not so bad yourself."

Spiderleg playfully cuffed him over the ear as Brackenfur joined them. Fresh-kill dangled in his jaws.

"I think we've caught enough prey," Brackenfur meowed. "We should be getting back."

"Where's Ashfur?" Birchclaw asked. The gray tom had been his mentor.

"He decided to go hunting by himself," Brackenfur smiled. "He said he wanted to catch as much as he could for the Clan."

Spiderleg and Birchclaw nodded, each dipping their head to pick up their fresh-kill. But as they began to go back, Birchclaw caught an unusual smell mixed in the ShadowClan scent that was blowing across to them.

"You guys go on," he called after them. "I'm going to try for some more prey in these bushes."

Brackenfur twitched his ears in acknowledgement, already disappearing into the undergrowth. Spiderleg glanced questioningly at his brother before following the golden tabby tom.

Birchclaw scrapped some earth over his prey. He'd come back and pick it up later. Cautiously, he began pursuing the scent trail. The smell was sweet, and brought with it a sense of security that reminded Birchclaw of when he was a young kit, curling up to his mother.

Dropping into a crouch, Birchclaw followed it. To his surprise, it led to the ShadowClan border. Birchclaw sat down, puzzled. How could a smell so nice come from ShadowClan?

A bush rustled on the ShadowClan side of the border. Birchclaw pricked up his ears, suddenly tense. He relaxed as he recognised a squirrel scamper across the forest floor. But then he noticed a pair of green eyes gleaming from the shadowy forest. A pale tabby crept out, gaze fixed on the squirrel. Appleheart! Birchclaw felt his heart leap with joy, but he forced himself to stay still, watching as Appleheart stalked her prey.

She pounced directly on top of the squirrel. Before it could make a noise she killed it.

"Well done!" Birchclaw called from his side of the border. Appleheart heard him, and dropped the squirrel's limp body in surprise.

"Birchclaw?" she meowed. "What are you doing here?"

"I was hunting," he replied with perfect honesty. "You're much better than me, if that catch was anything to go by."

Appleheart blushed a little. "So, how are you?" she asked, sitting down opposite him on her side of the border.

"Can't complain." Birchclaw smiled at her. "I've been hoping to see you again."

"Have you?" Appleheart meowed happily. "I have too."

"How come we never meet as apprentices?" Birchclaw wondered, giving his chest a few self-conscious licks. "We would have been at a Gathering at the same time."

"Maybe it was just coincidence we never ran into each other," Appleheart suggested. "It is weird though. We were good friends on the Great Journey."

"We were, weren't we?" Birchclaw agreed. He suddenly remembered what had happened at the Gathering. "How's your tail?"

"It seems fine," Appleheart responded. "It wasn't your fault, stepping on it. You were probably trying to impress some she-cat by acting like a badger."

Birchclaw laughed. "Nah, I'm not good with females."

"I find that hard to believe," Appleheart purred. "You seem to be a very smooth-talking tom."

"Appleheart," Birchclaw began, then stopped. He couldn't tell her what was running through his mind.

"Yes, Birchclaw?" Appleheart suddenly felt lighter then air. What was he going to say?

"I…" he scuffed the ground with his paw. "I think we should meet up again. I like being with you. It feels… right."

Appleheart nodded. "I feel the same," she whispered.

Their eyes connected; ThunderClan amber and ShadowClan green.

"Can I see you tomorrow? I'll meet you down by the lake." Birchclaw felt an urge to stay with her now, but he knew the Clan would get suspicious. Whitecloud already was.

"Sure," Appleheart agreed. "When about?"

"Sunhigh." Birchclaw felt daring. He stepped across the border and gently rasped his tongue over her ear. She responded by pressing her muzzle into his neck.

"Sunhigh, then."