This line is going to repeat and IDK why
Ghostpelt - thankee for the fave! And maybeeee…/./I'm going to try to update Flickering Truths too…
Across the Borders, Chapter 10
by: rainfeather's hope
--(applenose's pov)
Last night was awful. I haven't told Snowstep, for fear that she'd go crazy with all the layers of her problem and mine. I think I'm about to lose it myself.
My brothers and Ivylight now are warriors. Marshpaw became Marshtail and Toadheart still follows Snowstep everywhere, much to her displeasure. I feel bad for both of them.
But back to last night - or maybe just Oakfur in general. I knew I had to let Oakfur do that or face exile, but that didn't make things any easier on me. Actually, it scared me out of my wits, because if Oakfur's unhappy with the way I behave towards him, he could probably get me kicked out of ShadowClan! So I've got to act like I'm thrilled about this arrangement that stupid Blackstar set up. The plain idea repulses me since he's so much older than I am, and in the first place I've never wanted to have kits.I know he's respected and all, but I don't understand why - I certainly don't love him, but now I've got to act like it. And the thing that irritates me the most is that Oakfur never even said hi or anything, when I got there he just started carrying out Blackstar's orders like a mindless robot. When it was finally over, he just took off! And then this morning, when I was talking with Rowanclaw, Oakfur came over and wrapped his tail around my waist like the most loving mate ever. It's weird!
Birchfeather's simple to figure out. I know he isn't taking advantage of me; he never would do something like that. If he knew about Oakfur he'd flip off the walls. I know that Birchfeather loves me back, ThunderClan or not, and we can just have casual conversations if we please. And I love that about him!
Birchfeather also isn't about mating like crazy, but I think Oakfur is.
And so obviously I couldn't meet Birchfeather last night, since I was with Oakfur, but I'll meet him today. Sundown, at the fallen maple. We agreed long ago that if one of us couldn't make it to a meeting at all, to try again the next day. And if by the third day we haven't both shown up, that we need to forget that meeting; the next one should happen by chance. So by that theory, with any luck I should meet Birchfeather there tonight.
-x-
When I pad into the clearing, I've got a different story ready. I still think Birchfeather would flip if he found out about Oakfur and I, so I'm going to tell him I was on patrol. Birchfeather's amber eyes watch me unblinkingly as I weave my tale. "I'm really sorry, Birchfeather. At the last minute, Russetfur assigned me to patrol in place of Smokestream. He'd shown up with a thorn in his pad." I nonverbally plead with Birchfeather to accept my story.
His expression clears. "How could I be mad at you, Applenose?" He purrs, whiskers twitching. "How're things in ShadowClan?"
Instantly, I'm on my guard. I try to keep my voice lighthearted as I reply, "We're good. Snowstep's expected to have one or two kits, and Smokestream's crazy with pride. Toadpaw, Ivypaw, and Marshpaw became warriors; now they're Marshtail, Toadheart, and Ivylight. How's ThunderClan?" He comes over to my side, and I notice that his fur smells strongly of Whiteflower. Again, I'm on my guard for him to mention her name.
"ThunderClan's fine," Birchfeather begins, lying down on the leaf litter. "Berrykit, Mousekit, and Hazelkit were just apprenticed. Berrykit is being mentored by Brambleclaw, Hazelkit's got Dustpelt to train her, and Mousepaw is Spiderleg's first apprentice, so he's happy. Whiteflower and I-" there. I catch her name. "caught a trace of WindClan on patrol today, but since it was near the stream Firestar thinks an apprentice just fell in, nothing hostile."
"Who else was on the patrol?" I ask, taking care to make sure I don't sound threatening. I'll bet just she and him.
"Just us," he replies, tail twitching a bit. He doesn't meet my eyes, but busies himself twining my tail and his. When he looks up to notice my darkened face, he murmurs, "Applenose, that doesn't mean I love her."
I lie down on the leaf litter beside him. "I love you," he says.
After a short silence, I say, "Me too." And I really, really mean it.
Night surrounds us by the time he says something again, but the silence felt natural, not at all stiff or awkward. "Do you remember," Birchfeather meows, "that night, the first meeting we had by chance?"
I lean into his comforting build as I add, "The night we vowed to love each other forever?" But I've purposely left one important bit off, and I want to see if he'll remember it.
"Across the borders," he finally whispers.
And all of the sudden it's happening again; the thing that makes us traitors to our Clans in the first place, but this time it'll be alright, it'll be okay, because we're together.
--Rainey/