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

Thanks for reading my story...

Now here is the next chapter. Enjoy and please review.

Chapter 11

Falconstar was confused. She had always trusted Hawkfeather's opinion on all matters of life. Since they were kits, her sister had a better judgment of their Clanmates' feeling. And Hawkfeather thought that she and Bouldertail were mates?! Falconstar couldn't deny that the big gray tom's amber eyes were sparkling whenever he looked at her. There was a sense of closeness between the two cats. The black-and-ginger she-cat felt very much at ease when she was with Bouldertail. She liked it when his pelt brushed hers and when his breath stirred the fur in her ear. But Falconstar was certain that nothing would ever happen between her and Bouldertail. They were from different Clans for StarClan's sake.

Two days later, Falconstar left the camp again before moonhigh to meet with the HedgeClan warrior. Hawkfeather's words still rang in her ear. Was she really on the way of becoming mates with Bouldertail? Falconstar shook her head. Hawkfeather must be wrong.

"Hello Falconstar, it's good to see you again."

Bouldertail greeted the MeadowClan leader. His amber eyes were sparkling again. Falconstar bounded over to the border and sat down opposite the dark gray tom.

"It's good to see you, too, Bouldertail."

The two cats sat next to each other on top of the scent markers with their pelts brushing against each other. Falconstar noticed a wound on Bouldertail's flank that wasn't there the last time they met.

"You are injured, Bouldertail. Perhaps you should rest in your nest?"

"Oh, this is nothing. Hardly worth mentioning. We had a clash with ForestClan."

"I know we agreed not to talk about Clan issues, but I am worried about you."

Falconstar saw a sparkle in Bouldertail's eyes. Did she say something that he liked?

"Yes, I remember that. You didn't want us to break the warrior code. I'll tell you if you like. It's nothing big, really."

"I don't know." Falconstar tensed a little, unsure whether she should let Bouldertail tell her what happened between his Clan and ForestClan. Talonwing had told Hawkfeather that ForestClan and HedgeClan were having some kind of problem.

"Leafstar thought it would be good if we had more territory." Bouldertail began. Clearly he didn't have any concerns about revealing a Clan secret. "So he decided to attack ForestClan. They have the best and most prey-rich territory of all the Clans. He led the attack himself. However, Talonwing stopped us."

"So, you got your wounds from battling ForestClan?" Falconstar asked.

"Yes. Leafstar is mouse-brained if he thinks he can beat Talonwing. Hawkstar picked the best warrior as her deputy."

"What do you mean about Talonwing?" Falconstar asked confused. She had always thought that Hawkstar's choice of her deputy was odd.

"I was there when Talonwing was born." The gray warrior began.

"What?" How could Bouldertail be present at Talonwing's birth? Falconstar wondered.

"I was an apprentice. While patrolling the border with my mentor, we met Hawkstar. She was heavy with her unborn kits. Any other queen would have stayed in the nursery. But she was a Clan leader and I guess she wanted to show her Clanmates that she could run her Clan even as an expectant queen. Anyways, suddenly she started her kitting. Firefoot, he was my mentor, sent me back to camp to fetch Twigbreak our medicine cat. By the time we were back at the border, Willowstem was with Hawkstar. He helped her and she had her kits right there; two kits."

"She had two kits? What happened then?" Talonwing had a littermate? Falconstar was even more confused. No-one ever mentioned that Hawkstar had more kits than Talonwing.

"Willowstem said that one kit was born dead and the other kit would live. And then he had a vision from StarClan. I was a young apprentice and this was the first time I witnessed a medicine cat receive a message from our warrior ancestors. Willowstem said that although almost all of Hawkstar's kits were born dead, the one who lived would be as powerful as all her kits put together."

"Talonwing is so powerful?" Falconstar couldn't suppress her surprise.

"Yes, apparently. He doesn't show it often, but he is a powerful warrior, very skillful at battling. Hawkstar named him Talonkit because the talons of a hawk are what make it so deadly."

"Do you know if Hawkstar had kits before Talonwing? I never heard of any of this; you know that I was born later."

"Firefoot told me that Hawkstar had expected kits once before. But none of her first litter survived. Rabbitstar said that Hawkstar became Clan leader as a young cat, much like you, Falconstar. And she and Hazelclaw had been mates for as long as she was leader. Why don't find a mate, Falconstar?"

"What?" Falconstar had been thinking about what Bouldertail just told her. No one in her Clan had ever mentioned Hawkstar's kits. Or the fact that most of them didn't survive.

"I was wondering why don't have a mate, Falconstar?" the gray tom repeated.

"When did we change to this topic?" she stammered.

"Well, I was talking about Hawkstar and her mate. Don't you want to have a mate? You are an amazing cat."

Falconstar looked at Bouldertail with her jaws open in shock. Was Hawkfeather right after all? Did Bouldertail see more than a friend in her?

"You haven't answered me." he pressed.

"I don't know." She mewed at last. "I guess I would like to have a mate. Someone to talk to and share ideas. Perhaps one day I have kits." Falconstar felt herself bubble out some of her best kept desires. She felt lonely at time and longed to be a normal cat. And somehow, being with Bouldertail let her feel like a normal cat.

"I am sure you would be a great mother, Falconstar." He purred and pressed closer to her pelt.

"Bouldertail, why did you want to meet with me?" Falconstar questioned. If Hawkfeather was right about Bouldertail's intentions, she wanted the gray tom to admit it.

"So we can talk. I told you this before." He looked confused.

"And why did you really want to meet with me?" she knew it wasn't all he intended to do and she wanted him to admit it.

"To spend time with you." He paused. "Because I love you, Falconstar. I told you before that you are the most wonderful cat I have ever met."

Falconstar couldn't believe what she heard. Bouldertail loved her. No one has ever told her that. She could feel the gray tom stiffen beside her. Did he regret revealing his feelings to her?

"Do you really think that I am such a great cat?" she asked and felt Bouldertail relax a little.

"You are to me." He bent down and gently licked the black-and-ginger she-cat's ear.

Falconstar purred. She saw the sparkle in his amber eyes again. His presence felt so good; the warmth of his pelt and his deep voice. Falconstar suddenly felt mouse-brained that she hadn't notice before. She had come so used to Bouldertail's company that she doubted she could live without it again.

continues soon...