Chapter 14
Crisp leaves had begun to fall over the gorge during the past few days. They crunched underpaw and felt strange to those who were used to newleaf and greenleaf. The scents that carried in the air told Willowcloud that leaffall had arrived early.
Her ears flattened as she tried to understand why this happened. She recalled the storm that had arrived over a moon ago. That was when she had met Silverleaf from StarClan. Silverleaf had told her that she would need strength to get through leafbare. Perhaps that had been a warning to what weather was coming. Now she didn't have time to think about it. Her relationship with Leopard had blossomed between the past few days as they talked about their lives.
I can't stop thinking about him, even when I'm hunting, she thought angrily. She wasn't used to this feeling. Her stomach clenched every time they met gazes. The two of them had spent more time hunting at night and sleeping during the day. She tried to ignore the feeling, though most of the time it ended in disaster. She couldn't last a day without knowing where Leopard was. She knew she was acting selfish - Leopard was used to living on his own, and probably preferred that kind of life - but she couldn't help it.
Willowcloud blinked when she felt a pelt rub against her own. She felt a purr rising in her throat when she recognized Leopard's scent. His green eyes were bright with happiness as their tails twined together. This was their moment - a time where they could spend without getting in trouble with predators or curious Twolegs.
"There's something I wanted to show you," he murmured. "Come with me." He waved his tail once he rose to his paws. Willowcloud followed, a frown on her muzzle. She was curious to see what he had to show her. By now she trusted him, but there were times when she thought he could turn on her. He was like any other loner, willing to risk everything for their own lives.
Soon they reached a ditch in the land. Willowcloud found herself gazing upon what looked like a slope that led into the river's bank. She glanced at Leopard cautiously. He only nodded in approval, his gaze growing brighter with each heartbeat that passed. She padded forward, climbing down the slope towards the river. Her heartbeat quickened when she saw what Leopard had done to the slope. Mud was turned from the ground, providing enough shelter for them if they wanted to spend the night here. The river itself was glistening from the sunlight's reflection. Light bounced from rock to rock as white water churned furiously. The river had changed from silvery blue to pale orange.
She turned to face Leopard, eyes wide in disbelief. Never before had she seen the river look like this. Most cats knew to avoid the river because of it's terrible currents. She'd even avoided it while she was on her own at the time. Leopard gazed at her warmly before approaching. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" he asked. When Willowcloud could only nod, he purred. "I was at a loss for words when I saw the river change into this color. I always feared it, but now. . .I envy it."
"Why does it change into this color?" Willowcloud asked.
Leopard shrugged in reply. "No one knows. Some believe it is the sun's way of showing what the river can truly look like. I think it just depends on the sun's angle." He looked up at the sky as if to prove his point. Willowcloud was shocked to see the it was well-past sunhigh already. She'd forgotten how much the time changed during leaffall and leafbare. "You're welcome to spend the night here," he added when she gazed at the river.
"I'd rather not spend the night alone," she meowed. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she remembered spending the previous night on her own. That night had been cold, far colder than she'd expected. Leopard stared at her in surprise. She rarely offered him to sleep with her. She felt a bit insecure about it, and often pushed him away. Tonight however, she was in a different kind of a mood. "I mean. . .you can spend the night with me. We'll both get cold if we're alone."
StarClan, am I really about to give up everything for this? she wondered as he gave her a conflicted look. He too seemed to be fighting what they both craved. Love was something that Willowcloud had only felt when Mistybird was around to give her comfort. Leopard was the first cat she'd ever expressed her feelings towards. He finally nodded in understanding. Willowcloud felt a sense of relief when he rubbed his pelt against hers. "For you, I would do anything," he whispered.
A/N: Yet another short chapter, but I made it this way. After chapter twenty they will get longer and better. I might change the amount of chapters that were posted on my profile to random, 'cause I'm not sure where this will end. Thanks ImXDragon for reviewing, it's nice to know someone is :)