Chapter 4: Understanding

"You're probably the only cat in RiverClan who doesn't hate me," mewed Graystripe miserably.

"That's not true," I insisted, pressing my muzzle against his flank, "they know you didn't mean to hurt Whiteclaw."

We were sitting, our tails stretched across each other's pelts, under a holly bush just besides the river. The moon was hung like a moth's wing in the velvety sky and its light bounced off from the ice on the river and echoed on to our coats, making each individual hair stand out.

"I tried to grab him, I did," protested Graystripe, staring off into the night.

This was the fourth day in a row that I had secretly met with the ThunderClan warrior. Something about him made me keep coming back. And I was getting to know him better than any other cat.

"I know, I know," I said soothingly, washing his ears with my tongue.

Graystripe sighed and faced me, his round eyes boring into mine.

"You're amazing, did you know that Silverstream?"

I laughed quietly. "If I'm so amazing why haven't I been given an apprentice to train yet?"

"Oh you'll get one," Graystripe predicted.

I leaned against his gray form, soaking in the warm heat that was pulsing out from his body. I shivered, it was cold at night but it was the only time we could meet without being caught.

"Silverstream?"

"Mm-hm?"

"What do you think about kits?"

My ears twitched; I wasn't sure I'd heard Graystripe right.

"What?" I asked. My breath had gotten strangely shallow.

"Well," Graystripe stammered, "would you ever want to have any?"

I stared at Graystripe's face, looking for a sign of amusement or humor to see if he was teasing me. But the tom's face was completely serious.

"I love kits," I relayed, "why?"

Graystripe pulled himself to his feet, his broad, friendly face determinedly composed.

"I really like you."

I felt my head reeling as I staggered to my paws. Was he crazy? I thought, It sounded like he wanted to have kits with me! I couldn't have kits with him! My father would rip me to shreds!

"Silverstream?"

I couldn't meet his eyes. My heart was pounding, daring me to deny what I was feeling. My head was screaming no but my intuition was crying at me to answer him with the truth. I hadn't felt so flustered since I was a kit caught stealing herbs from Mudfur's medicine stores.

"I like you too," I finally spluttered, "I don't know why though, you're such a mouse-brained furball."

Graystripe looked positively ecstatic. "Oh Silverstream! I knew you felt the same. Ever since you almost clawed my eyes out when you fished me from the river I knew we'd be together."

I couldn't help but laugh at that.