This chapter is incredibly short, I know… but it is a very important chapter! Very important indeed!

Galefire: Haha, you said Rosepaw in there. Thanks for all the compliments, and I'll keep Warriors Discover Music for now!

Pengirl: Aww, sorry for your loss. Do you want me to add a character in this story in honor of her?

Zestia240: Ah, don't we all like romance?

Dawn-of-The-Wolf: Okay, thanks! And I think you'll be in for a surprise about Larchpaw and Lionfire…

Starbomb: Haha well said my friend, well said.

Chapter 22: A New Surprise

Rosewater hid in the brush, her eyes intent on Lionfire's ginger pelt in the distance. It glazed across the darkening forest, moving simply and quickly. Rosewater could detect the fear scent coming off of him in waves. He didn't want to be caught.

Rosewater took in a deep breath. She advanced on her brother, her paw steps silent against the bristling grasses. He froze for a moment. Rosewater's heart beat quickened as he looked around with interest. Rosewater stood motionless. Did he know she was here? Relief flooded her when he continued along the trail.

Rosewater's gaze broke across to see the island in the distance. That's where Lionfire would be meeting Larchpaw. Maybe she could get there first. Rosewater's eyes flickered to the dark waves lapping hungrily at the shore. She could get there first. And then she could speak to Larchpaw alone for awhile.

Inhaling deeply, Rosewater approached the lake. The water brushed against her fur, wetting it down. I'll feel like a RiverClan cat after this. She thought but continued onward. The water was pretty calm today. Rosewater was able to easily slice her way through it with hard and long strokes, her dark red tail streaming behind her.

The Island neared her now. Rosewater cast a glance at the WindClan shore to see the ginger shadow of Lionfire bounding across it. She was ahead of him already. She squinted her eyes harder to see a figure sitting on the Island. Larchpaw.

Rosewater's legs felt tired but she continued to push them. She had to get there first. She had to tell Larchpaw to stay away from her brother for their greater good. She had to.

Her fur dragged her down a lot, it was soaking up the water and making it twice as heavy for her, but she pushed on. She was almost there. She could almost feel earth beneath her paws again, she could see Larchpaw's body clearly. The she-cat sat very erectly.

Finally, Rosewater's paws reached the land. She pulled herself out and gave her pelt a quick shake. That grabbed Larchpaw's attention. The golden she-cat whipped to face Rosewater. Rosewater could practically hear the she-cat's deep and fast breathing.

"Who's there!" Larchpaw cried out, unsheathing her claws in defense.

Rosewater slipped out of from the dark lake. "Put your claws away Larchpaw. It's me, Rosewater." She flicked her tail. "Lionfire's sister."

"Oh…" Larchpaw looked downcast for a moment before staring back at Rosewater. "And it's Larchwing now, as it has been for over a moon."

Rosewater shrugged. "Very well." She meowed, struggling to keep her cool. How does Lionfire have feelings for this arrogant she-cat? She wondered, flicking her tail in irritation.

"We need to talk." Rosewater meowed, lowering her head to glare into Larchwing's eyes. The golden she-cat refused to meet her gaze.

"Very well." She meowed. "Go on then, what is it?" she asked, lashing her tail.

"You need to stop seeing Lionfire. It's not good for him… or for you in that matter, or our Clans. What would they think if they found out what you two were doing?" Rosewater hissed.

Larchwing blinked for a moment. "But… I can't stop seeing him Rosewater… I… I love him!"

Rosewater only blinked in annoyance. "I'm well aware of that Larchwing." She meowed.

Larchwing looked down at her paws.

"What else is the reason?"

"I…"

"Spit it out then!" Rosewater growled.

"I'm expecting his kits."

"What!" Rosewater yowled. A new rage over came her. "How!" She snarled. "How could you do this to him!"

"I had no control over it!" Larchwing snapped back, her eyes shone in hurt but at the moment, Rosewater couldn't care.

"You could have stopped seeing him back when you were apprentices!" Rosewater yowled, flexing her claws.

"I couldn't! Haven't you ever been in love Rosewater! Do you know how it feels?" That caught Rosewater off guard for a moment.

"I… That's still no excuse!" Rosewater tried not to stutter. "What do you plan on doing now? For the kits!"

"Minnowbreath believed that they were Badgerstorm's." Larchwing admitted shyly. "He's liked me for many moons, but I know that these kits are Lionfire's." she added.

"So are you just going to lie to your Clan and pretend that they were Badgerstorm's?"

"I was planning on it." Larchwing muttered.

"You can't do that!" Rosewater cried. "It would take too much away from him."

"Then what should I plan on doing?" Larchwing asked sharply.

"I don't know!" Rosewater murmured. She sighed. "I honestly don't… I suppose ThunderClan could take one kit and RiverClan could take the other." She meowed.

"We don't know how many there will be." Larchwing responded shortly.

Rosewater bit back a sharp remark, her fur still bristling. What was her brother thinking! She needed time to think about all the events that had happened, it was too much to take in!

"Larchwing?" Rosewater froze when she heard the call of her brother.

"I'm here!" Larchwing called back more quietly.

Rosewater watched as Lionfire emerged from the brush, his ginger fur sleek in the moonlight. "Rosewater!" His gaze immediately flickered to his sister. "What are you doing here!" he yowled. "You haven't told anyone have you?"

Rosewater thought back to her conversation with Stonefang. She couldn't let Lionfire know. "I haven't." she replied to him coolly. "You're secret is safe." He eyes flickered to Larchwing. "It won't be for long now though." She meowed.

Lionfire's eyes switched between the two of them. "What is it Larchwing?" he asked, his gaze resting gently on hers.

Larchwing shuffled her paws nervously.

"Go ahead Larchwing." Rosewater couldn't help but feel no pity for the she-cat. Sure she may be her brother's mate, but she was the reason that he had broken the warrior code! Things like such didn't go down very lightly within the Clans.

Lionfire cast Rosewater an irritated look before turning back to Larchwing.

"I'm expecting your kits."

Rosewater was surprised at how calm Larchwing sounded saying it this time. She looked at her brother's face. The look on it was horrified. His eyes seemed scrunched up and his mouth twisted in a forced smile.

"That's great!" he tried to purr but nothing came out.

"Cut the act Lionfire." Rosewater didn't mean to sound harsh, but she was sick of lying and pretending. She knew her brother better than that anyway, and she knew that Larchwing did as well.

Lionfire seemed to crumble. "Oh Larchwing…" he muttered. "What do we do?" his voice was low with undoubted grief.

Larchwing only blinked at him as though he was un-comprehendible. Then she shook her head very slowly. "I have no idea Lionfire. We need help." Her gaze flickered to meet Rosewater's.

"You have my support." The warrior meowed to them quietly.

Lionfire suppressed a small smile. Rosewater only wrapped her tail around her paws. Then again, what support could she give them?

"If only we could ask StarClan what we should do." Larchwing murmured with a sigh. Rosewater stiffened.

"I know the way to the Moonpool." She meowed very quietly, she wasn't sure if the mates even heard her.

"What?" Lionfire asked.

"I know the way to the Moonpool. I could go there and ask for their advice." She murmured.

To her surprise, Larchwing shook her head. "No." the golden she-cat meowed. "We don't want StarClan to know that we've broken their code."

Rosewater flicked her tail. "They already know." She meowed. "Trust me."

Larchwing frowned for an instant. "Well… I suppose if you are willing to go share tongues with StarClan… be my guest I would really appreciate it."

Rosewater nodded to them, feeling excitement boil inside of her. She loved the Moonpool. She thought it was beautiful. "I'll go now." She meowed. "The night is still young, I can get there and back again before sunrise."

Larchwing smiled at Rosewater, but Lionfire interfered. "Wait, Rosewater." He meowed.

Rosewater's fur prickled. "What is it Lionfire?" she asked, giving her wet pelt another shake.

"I can't let you go off again. Knowing you, you'll get in trouble. Somebody will happen to find you and you'll be assigned apprentice duties again." He meowed to her.

Rosewater smiled at how protective he sounded but only rolled her eyes. "I think that I can live with that." She meowed. Lionfire just sat there beside Larchwing, seeming speechless. Rosewater dipped her head to them. "Very well then, I'll be heading out."

Without waiting for an answer, she raced off into the wilderness, heading for the Moonpool.

Incredibly short… I know… but I hope the last one will be longer… sorry if its an empty promise which it probably will be. Thanks for reading it, please review!