Disclaimer: I based the Clan structure on the Warriors books by Erin Hunter.

Thanks to everyone for supporting my story and writing reviews.

And now, without further ado, the next chapter. Enjoy and please review.

Chapter 9

When Bouldertail and Falconstar arrived at the MeadowClan camp, most of her Clanmates came into the clearing to see what had happened. The gray HedgeClan warrior walked Falconstar to the medicine cat's den where she could lay down. Grasswhisker had thanked Bouldertail for bringing their Clan leader home and for putting comfrey on her injured paw.

"That was quick thinking, Bouldertail. And you were lucky you didn't break your paw, Falconstar. You have to be more careful." The old medicine cat lectured his Clan leader.

Hawkfeather poked her head into Grasswhisker's den to see how her sister was doing.

"Oh, good that you are here. Hawkfeather, please see to it that Bouldertail is escorted back to the border." The black-and-ginger she-cat mewed. The deputy nodded and waited for the tom to follow her out of the den.

"Thank you again, Bouldertail." Falconstar mewed to her rescuer.

"You are welcome, Falconstar." the gray tom answered curtly.

xxx

Two days later, Grasswhisker discharged his patient from the medicine cat's den. Falconstar's paw still hurt a bit and she had to promise the black-and-white tom to take it easy for a few more days. Hawkfeather had looked after the Clan for her.

"I am glad you're better, Falconstar. Leading the Clan isn't easy." The black she-cat mewed.

"Does that mean you now appreciate my job a bit more?" Falconstar teased her sister.

"I have always appreciated what you do."

Falconstar walked slowly to her den; Hawkfeather followed her.

"When I can walk properly again, we hold the naming ceremony for Pebblekit and Stonekit."

"Good, Lilyheart had asked when her kits would be apprenticed. I'll let her know." Hawkfeather replied.

"Thanks. I still feel embarrassed to have tripped in that hole. That was so mouse-brained." They had reached Falconstar's den and the black-and-ginger she-cat settled down in her nest of moss and bracken.

"You know, when I walked Bouldertail back to the border, he seemed a bit different. I'd say he looked moony. What else happened between you?"

"What do mean, what else happened between us? There was nothing. We chatted a little on the way here."

"Is that all?" Hawkfeather questioned.

"Of course. Why would there have been something else?"

"I bring you some fresh-kill, Falconstar." Hawkfeather changed the topic.

She left the den and returned with a fat mouse moments later.

xxx

Falconstar hadn't slept well for days. Yesterday, Lilyheart's kits were apprenticed. Falconstar had decided to have Pebblepaw be mentored by Mudheart, and to let Mousepelt train Stonepaw. Hawkfeather had agreed with her sister that it was a good choice, and so did Lilyheart and her mate Featherstorm. After having to stay in camp for so many days, Falconstar felt restless and went to patrol her territory. When she passed the edge of the woods where she had tripped the last time, she was extra careful about any rabbit holes. Her Clanmates would think she wasn't fit to lead them, if she tripped in the same hole twice.

"I see you can walk on four legs again, Falconstar."

Falconstar turned around and saw Bouldertail walking toward her on his side of the border. Why was it that she never noticed his presence before?

"Hello Bouldertail. I am all better again."

"How come that I always see you patrol alone? Don't your Clanmates want to join you?"

"Sometimes it's nice to be by myself. It helps me to concentrate on the things that are important." She replied.

"I would think there were a lot of toms keeping a beautiful she-cat, such as yourself, company. MeadowClan's warriors must be mouse-brained to stay away from you."

Falconstar blinked. Is he flirting with me?

"Well, Bouldertail, you are here alone, too."

"No, I am not. The rest of my hunting patrol went that way." He pointed with his tail to an area further into the woods. "I have to go. I enjoyed talking with you, Falconstar. Perhaps we could continue at some other time?"

Falconstar blinked again. He IS flirting with me.

"Sure, I'd like that." She didn't know what made her answer. She saw his amber eyes sparkle at her reply.

"How about tonight at moonhigh?"

"Okay."

Something seemed to have distracted Bouldertail. He jumped back into the direction he had pointed to earlier. Maybe his Clanmates were waiting for him. Falconstar watched him leave. She couldn't move. Had she just agreed to meet him tonight? Why did she do this? This was mouse-brained! She couldn't meet secretly with someone from another Clan. She was a Clan leader for StarClan's sake. She couldn't break the warrior code. Not like Hawkfeather. Her heart skipped a beat at that thought. Would she and Bouldertail end up like Hawkfeather and Talonwing? No, she wouldn't allow that. All she had to do was to not meet Bouldertail tonight. As simple as that.

xxx

Falconstar didn't go to meet Bouldertail. For some unknown reason she felt miserable for days. A quarter moon had passed since she had talked to Bouldertail and she was in a very unpleasant mood ever since. Hawkfeather had complained about her sister's rude behavior and tried to find out why she was acting so strange. The deputy went to her sister's den. There was much time to talk before leaving for the Chestnut Hollow to meet with the other Clans at the Gathering.

"You do know that you can talk to me, right Falconstar?"

"Yes, I know. But everything is fine."

"It's not fine if you yell at your warriors for no reason." The deputy mewed sternly. "What is wrong with you?"

"I don't know what's going on. I don't understand it myself." Falconstar mewed miserable and Hawkfeather crouched next to her to comfort her.

"We have to leave for the Gathering." The deputy mewed abruptly after a few moments.

"You're right. Maybe some fresh air will do me some good." The Clan leader mewed.

They had reached the Chestnut Hollow right after ForestClan got there and Falconstar went to the boulder to greet Hawkstar.

"HedgeClan are coming." The brown-and-black ForestClan she-cat mewed.

"Where is Rabbitstar?" Falconstar wondered.

Leafstorm and Bouldertail walked up to the two she-cats. "Rabbitstar died. I am Clan leader." Leafstorm told them. "Let's begin." The pale gray tom jumped on the boulder and started the Gathering.

"HedgeClan have a new Clan leader: me. I am Leafstar now and Bouldertail is my duly appointed deputy." The dark gray tom was bigger than Hawkfeather and Talonwing beside him. Falconstar wondered whether this was Leafstar's intention.

"This is all I have to report." The new Clan leader stepped back.

Hawkstar and Falconstar didn't have much to report. Falconstar introduced Pebblepaw and Stonepaw who had both joined them here as new apprentices. The Gathering was kept very short. Leafstar seemed keen to get back his camp.

"Falconstar, in here." The black-and-ginger she-cat heard her name being hissed and moments later she was being dragged into a bramble thicket. Thorns pulled at her fur.

"Bouldertail, what are you doing?" she tried to keep her voice low.

"Why didn't you meet me that day? I was waiting for you."

"Are you mouse-brained? We cannot meet in the middle of the night. We'd be breaking the warrior code."

"This isn't about the warrior code. I wanted to talk with you! There are so many mouse-brained cats in my Clan. I was only looking for someone decent to talk to."

Falconstar shifted her paws. I guess there is nothing wrong with talking, she thought.

"Okay, let's meet in two days at moonhigh."

"Promise you will be there." Bouldertail pressed.

"I'll be there."

Continues soon...