This is half a moon into the future. Lionpaw has half a moon to prepare for what's coming up.

Chapter 7: Not Much Time Left

It has been a half a moon since Tigerstar came to Lionpaw. Lionpaw still wasn't sure what to do. Did he want to join with Tigerstar?

"Lionpaw" Lionpaw was jolted out of his thoughts as Cloudtail padded over to him. The senior warrior smiled at him and took a seat next to him.

"Would you like to come hunting with me and Cinderpaw? Firestar is going to be busy today" Cloudtail mewed.

"With what?" Lionpaw asked. Cloudtail shrugged.

"He didn't say" Cloudtail replied, "Well, do you want to come?"

Lionpaw shrugged. He didn't have anything better to do.

"Sure" Lionpaw mewed. Just as the two stood up Brightheart came barreling toward them.

"Cloudtail!" She nearly yowled, making Lionpaw flatten his ears. What was so exciting that she needed to nearly break his eardrums?

"What's up?" Cloudtail asked rubbing against his mate. Lionpaw watched them, wishing that were him and Heatherpaw. But he knew they would never be more then friends.

"Whitewing… Whitewing and I… well we're both having kits!" Brightheart, again, nearly yowled. Cloudtail's eyes widened in happiness. He purred nonstop and continued to cover his mate with licks.

"That's amazing!" Cloudtail purred. Giving her a sly look he mewed "So, who's the lucky father?"

"Spiderleg is the father of Whitewing's kits" Brightheart purred, "Oh I knew those two were close"

"I meant the father of yours" Cloudtail teased. Brightheart purred. Lionpaw sighed. So much for hunting.

"Um, Cloudtail?" Lionpaw mewed. Cloudtail looked back at him.

"Um… Lionpaw maybe you and Cinderpaw should go. I need to comfort my mate and daughter" Cloudtail mewed, "I'm really sorry-"

Lionpaw cut him off with a flick of his tail.

"Don't be. We'll be fine" Lionpaw mewed. Cloudtail smiled.

"Your father would've said the same thing," Cloudtail purred. Lionpaw smiled weakly.

"Thanks…" He muttered. Cloudtail purred and he and Brightheart padded off to the nursery. Just as they left Cinderpaw came over to him.

"Hey" She mewed "I guess Cloudtail isn't coming"

Lionpaw nodded. He caught a glimpse of Whitewing racing off toward the Nursery, her tail flailing behind her like a streamer. Lionpaw had to smile.

"C'mon" Cinderpaw purred as she walked out of camp. Lionpaw grinned and ran after her.

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"Nice catch" Lionpaw mewed as Cinderpaw returned with a plump vole in her jaws. Cinderpaw nodded and buried the vole under a pile of leaves.

"So, how's everything been?" Cinderpaw asked. Lionpaw shrugged.

"Fine" He replied. Cinderpaw nodded.

"Well, I kind of meant the dreams. Nearly every night now you've been waking up to some kind of dream. I'm worried about you" Cinderpaw mewed. Lionpaw shrugged.

"Don't worry," He purred, "I'll be fine"

Cinderpaw didn't look as if she believed him, but nodded. Lionpaw padded over to her and gave her a friendly lick on the ear. Lionpaw saw the tips of Cinderpaw's ears turn red. Immediately he pulled away, shuffling his paws in embarrassment.

"Sorry…" He muttered. Cinderpaw smiled and licked his ear in return.

"It's ok" She purred, "I liked it…"

Lionpaw hated to admit it, but he liked it too. Lionpaw couldn't believe it, but he had a feeling he was starting to like Cinderpaw a lot more then he used to. A lot more.

"Maybe we should continue hunting…" Lionpaw mewed. Cinderpaw nodded.

"Y-Yeah" She replied. The two cats smiled at each other before continuing with their hunt.

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"No!" Tigerstar hissed as he watched Cinderpaw and Lionpaw. Hawkfrost was next to him, looking confused.

"What's wrong?" He asked. Tigerstar nearly yowled with frustration.

"If he falls in love with Cinderpaw, the plan is ruined" Tigerstar nearly yowled. Hawkfrost flattened his ears.

"Why not just bring Heatherpaw and Cinderpaw here?" Hawkfrost asked. Tigerstar opened his mouth to reply, then stopped. A smirk went across his face.

"Hawkfrost that is a great idea" He rumbled. Hawkfrost beamed.

"But it looks like we'll need to speed up Lionpaw's decision" Tigerstar growled, tapping the puddle where Lionpaw and Cinderpaw were. The ripples from the touch spread the two apart, making Tigerstar smirk again.

"Let's set this plan into motion…" He purred. Heatherpaw appeared in the pool, and Tigerstar gently touched her forehead with his claws…

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Lionpaw and Cinderpaw were sharing tongues at about Sunhigh. The two had obviously grown close. Lionpaw smiled. He hadn't felt this way since Heatherpaw.

"Help!" A moment after the yowl was heard a young tabby cat crashed into camp. Lionpaw recognized Kestrelpaw of WindClan. His eyes were wide with fear, and he was panting as if the whole Dark Forest were chasing him.

"What is it?" Leafpool asked coming out of the den. Jaypaw followed behind her, and Lionpaw found himself listening to the conversation.

"It's Heatherpaw!" Lionpaw felt his heart stop. Kestrelpaw continued "She… she was collecting herbs with me and Barkface when she just… collapsed. Barkface told me to come get you"

Lionpaw felt Cinderpaw press close to him for comfort. He purred softly, but he felt worried.

"I'll ask Firestar if I can-"

"I'll come with you!" Lionpaw mewed standing up. Cinderpaw nodded.

"Me too!" She purred. Leafpool looked at them.

"Well… sure. I'll ask Firestar if I can take you two" Leafpool mewed. Lionpaw nodded and he and Cinderpaw walked over to Jaypaw and Kestrelpaw.

"What… exactly happened?" Lionpaw asked Kestrelpaw. Kestrelpaw took a deep breath and replied, "Well… we were gathering herbs. Heatherpaw asked if we needed any thyme because she saw some a few tail-lengths away. When she turned to me her eyes grew wide. They changed shade for a quick second. They turned… amber. Then she just collapsed and passed out"

Lionpaw felt his heartbeat quicken. It had to be Tigerstar. What had Tigerstar done to her?

"Firestar said we could go" Leafpool mewed as she approached them. Lionpaw nodded. The five cats ran out of camp, Kestrelpaw leading the way.

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"Where am I?" Heatherpaw murmured as she opened her eyes. She looked around wildly. Darkened shadows made the ground black, and clouds covered the moon. Heatherpaw felt fear rise up within her.

"Hello Heatherpaw" A voice growled. Heatherpaw turned her head and saw four cats. A dark tabby tom with amber eyes, a dark tabby tom with ice blue eyes, another smaller dark tabby with amber eyes and a small black cat.

"Where am I? How do you know my name?" Heatherpaw asked. The dark tabby smirked.

"I'm Tigerstar. Welcome, Heatherpaw, to the Dark Forest"

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Ooh Cliffie! Sorry, I know how much you hate cliffies so I'll have the next chapter up later today or tomorrow.