Missing You

Chapter One: The Tunnels

I lay down in the apprentices den. Breezepaw took the nest beside me, and I rolled my eyes. But I couldn't complain; it was a cold night, and if I said anything, Breezepaw was sure to tell my mentor and his father, Crowfeather, and I would get an earful the next day. So I did what I normally do when Breezepelt snuggled up against me; I went to sleep.

Not long after, however, I found that I was awake. The half-moon was high in the sky, surrounded by stars that sparkled like ice; the medicine cats would be at the Moonpool tonight. I slowly rose, making sure that I didn't stir Breezepaw, and hurried out of the camp, heading for the stream that marked the border between WindClan and ThunderClan. The smell of the medicine cats was slightly stale; it had been awhile since they had passed. I gingerly dabbed a paw in the water; it made me shiver it was so cold. I quickly took a few laps of the water before jumping over the stream and landing on the ThunderClan side. I followed a trail my paws knew off by heart, towards the ThunderClan entrance to the tunnels. I had decided a change of pace tonight; instead of using the WindClan entrance, I would join Lionpaw at the ThunderClan one.

Lionpaw. His name, like the cold water from the stream, send shivers down my spine. He was special, he really was. I had never met a more interesting cat in all my life, which I know doesn't say much. But he was my closest friend, and I knew there was nothing that could ever tear us apart. Not even snooty Breezepaw could get between our friendship...if it was still that.

I squeezed through the opening to the tunnels quietly, and let my whiskers on stone guide me to the centre of the cave, where the ledge of DarkClan was. Lionpaw still wasn't there. I shrugged and leaped atop the ledge, my eyes flashing in the dark. I could see the imaginary Clanmates pacing below me, waiting for their deputy to arrive. It was very cold in the tunnels, colder than it was in the WindClan camp. I curled up on the ledge and waited for my deputy to come.

Lionpaw's Perspective

I held my breath as I passed through the dirt-place tunnel; it stunk more than usual. Maybe it was because of Cloudtail's sore belly lately, I thought as I raced towards the tunnel entrance, ferns whipping back my whiskers. I pushed the thought aside as a cold wind blew over me. I shivered. If Heatherpaw was already in the tunnel's, she would be freezing. The discouraging thought pushed me onward, and I picked up speed, the half-moon shining through the leaf-stripped branches.

I neared the tunnel and slowed to a brisk walk. I pushed past the dying ferns and breathed the night in deeply. I caught a familiar scent; Heatherpaw! Had she gone in this tunnel instead of her own? I hurried into the tunnel's, blundering along blindly, as usual. Now I know how Jaypaw feels! I thought as I burst out of the tunnel. The scent lead in here but... I looked around. The cave was empty! Heatherpaw hadn't yet arrived. Sighing, I took the deputy's place under the ledge, flopping down onto the cold, smooth stone.

"So you finally made it, hm?" an even more familiar voice purred, amused.

I looked up to see Heatherpaw peering over the edge, her eyes flashing in the dark. I purred.

"Sorrry, Heatherpaw," I began. "I-"

"That's Heatherstar, Lionclaw," she mock growled. "And you're late for the meeting of the Clan."

I blinked, confused for a moment, then nodded, realizing my mistake. "Of course, Heatherstar," I meowed, bowing my head. "Forgive me."

Heatherstar leaped off the ledge and landed gracefully before me in a way that took my breath away. She turned around to face me, a twinkle in her eyes.

And suddenly we were no longer Lionpaw of ThunderClan and Heatherpaw of WindClan: we had become Heatherstar and Lionclaw of DarkClan. And I wished as I reported to Heatherstar about what the patrols had found in the territory, that this was actually how we lived. Together.