Qzil - lol, and thankee for the fave :) I hope he gets hit by a train too.
Niah-Miyoki - shh!! Haha, maybeeeee…
Evershine of FrostClan - also lol. Yay Brits! I hate bloody Blackstar! -is proud of self- and also, thankee!
Leopardmask - Thanks! Here's the update you wanted.
Across the Borders, Chapter 9
by: rainfeather's hope
--(birchfeather's pov)
Whiteflower had wanted to come with me. I was supposed to meet Applenose here at sundown. I race into the clearing, searching for the sight of a pretty tortoiseshell with the scent of wildflowers. Applenose isn't here yet. I sit down on the fallen maple and conjure up an image of Applenose's face. She's gorgeous, and even better, she's mine. I'll wait for her, as long as it takes.
-x-
Twilight has fallen. The birds have become silent one by one. The wind has even died down. Dead silence that leaves my ears ringing, ringing with Applenose's words the last time I saw her:
"Let's meet at sundown. At the fallen maple - It's so pretty in leaf-fall."
Yeah, well!? I should've stayed with Whiteflower!
"Stupid she-cats! StarClan!" I yowl, cursing and spitting and scoring my claws into tree bark.
You're only so mad because you're hurt.
"Shut up, voice!" I screeched, not caring if I appeared stark raving mad.
Birchfeather, think, will you? Applenose must have a reason for not showing up. Maybe she couldn't get away, maybe she was assigned to a patrol -
"But she stood me up," I whine. There's no response from the more sensible half of me. My anger drains away to where I just want to curl up and die. So I collapse onto the crinkly, dry leaves, staring up at the star-swathed sky. "I feel so alon," I hear myself say again and again.
Why isn't Applenose here?
My voice gives out, and I fall asleep from pure exhaustion.
-x-
When I wake up, I'm in a glittering field. The shining grass make me want to romp around and play like a four moon old kit. But before I can do so, starry-furred spirits surround me.
StarClan! Am I dead?
"You are not dead, Birchfeather." A silvery-blue she-cat that is simply majestic in her shimmery glory is speaking.
"Bluestar!" I cry, licking her shoulder and bowing my head in the deepest respect.
She pulls away, her eyes like flint fire chips. "It's too late for that now, Birchfeather. You and Applenose are planning to break the warrior code, and for that you will be punished." She says menacingly. I cower beneath her paws. "Go now." So much force is put behind the words that I fear they could shatter me into pieces as they echo around my head.
I wake up, panting for breath. It's near midnight.
This is the StarClan that every cat worships so?
I think I understand where Cloudtail comes from now. But what will happen to Applenose and I?
I can't ponder on that too long or I will drive myself simply insane. Before I can even begin to theorize, I find my paws taking me back to camp. Firestar will be furious when he finds out that I fell asleep away from camp, but my mind is too blank to begin churning out excuses. When I stumble upon Whiteflower, asleep, alone, by a stream near WindClan territory, I wake her with a twitch of my tail. "I fell asleep out of camp too," I admit. I'm ready to take whatever punishment Firestar can throw my way; but Whiteflower has different ideas.
"Let's say we were… you know, having alone time?" She proposes suggestively.
"We don't smell like each other," is all I can come up with. I'm trying halfheartedly to shoot down her theory. It's actually a good one.
Whiteflower starts to remedy that issue by rubbing her cheek along mine. The tingle I get from it feels really good, but like I'd ever admit that. I stiffly press my pelt into her fur. "Well you know if we're going to claim that we'll have to act like mates," she complains impatiently. "We could be," she adds in a much softer voice.
I can't deny that I have deep-rooted feelings for Whiteflower, but since I like Applenose I try to keep them in check.
Maybe… well, Applenose and I were only mates once, when we were apprentices. If I take Whiteflower maybe StarClan would see that s repentance. It doesn't hurt that she's bright, talented, and just as pretty as Applenose.
"Maybe we should be," I answer her. Her eyes light up with unspoken surprise. "I'm sorry," I mew. She touches her muzzle to mine.
"Don't mention it, Birchfeather. I'd always forgive you. I love you." Whiteflower's voice is a mere whisper.
What am I doing? "I love you too." I tell her. A lie. A little white lie. But maybe StarClan will forgive Applenose and I. And in the meanwhile, I can have Whiteflower. Right?
-x-
After a long night with Whiteflower, I wake up to chattering birds.
Oh StarClan, what did we do
Hey, at least our alibi is true; the disgusting part of me comes up with.
Whiteflower's awake; she looks at me once and I'm trapped. What can I say? So I try to explain: "Whiteflower, last night we really… we were out of control - I didn't know what I was doing-" She brushes her tail over my mouth to quiet my rambling.
"Last night was amazing. I thought that you didn't feel for me in that way, but I was wrong! And I'm so happy… just so happy…" Whiteflower trails off, looking to meet my eyes. Just a little too late, I purr. She seems to accept that, and twines her tail with mine.
We get up and walk to the camp together. While others ask where we were and Whiteflower covers for me, I think of how I'm going back to that maple tree tonight. I shouldn't've done that with Whiteflower.
I don't care what StarClan says. I want Applenose and Whiteflower to be mine. Maybe I can have both she-cats - but if not, I'll pick Applenose, any season of the year!
Dun dun dun DUN!!
I have almost the entire story written out by hand, but typing it will take a long time. R&R, please and thankies.
--Rainey