NOES! The last chapter! D: Yeah, so, I know this is late, but, how have I been doing so far? :) Good, mehopes. Oh well, if not, then this is the last chapter and you won't have to put up with this horrible writing anymore! xD (until my next story at least...*evil laughter*)

Missing You

Chapter Four: The End

I saw Lionblaze after Darkkit underwent his apprentice ceremony. He sat beside his Clanmates, looking anxious.

Darkpaw pressed against me. "Mother, I'm scared. There's so many cats here..."

I winced slightly at the words of endearment I did not deserve. "Don't worry, Darkpaw. It won't be too bad. The cats are all usually very friendly."

He didn't seem to be listening. I glanced over at him; his amber eyes, so much like his father's, followed my gaze. He, too, was staring at Lionblaze. He looked at me quizzically. "Who's that?"

I wasn't prepared, and it showed; "Oh! Uh... that's Lionblaze of ThunderClan. He's a... friend of mine."

"Dad says we're not supposed to be friends with the other Clan cats." His eyes were narrowed.

"When we're at Gatherings we can," I explained, glancing icily at Breezepelt, who sat with his mother.

"Oh, okay," Darkpaw mewed cheerily. "Can I meet him?"

My heart thudded against my chest, screaming to get out. "Of course!" I replied, perhaps too quickly, and too happily. I beckoned with my tail, sniffing the clearing; it would be awhile until RiverClan arrived. Darkpaw was sure to have time with his father.

We approached Lionblaze. I quietly mewed, "Lionblaze."

He jumped when he saw who spoke. His eyes began to shine. "Oh, Heathertail!" He looked at Darkpaw. "And this is?"

"This... is Darkpaw," I mewed, excitement creeping into my voice. Our son.

He purred. "Ah, so this is Darkpaw."

Darkpaw glanced at me nervously. "Uh, hullo, Lionblaze."

"So, how are you doing with your training?" Lionblaze asked.

Glad to be done with the awkward introductions, Darkpaw meowed, "Oh. Well, I got Weaselfur... he's pretty good..." Darkpaw shuffled his paws. "...But he pushes me a bit hard..."

"That's okay," Lionblaze meowed, cuffing him over the ears. "It's the only way you'll find your strengths."

Darkpaw burst into a purr. "Alright."

I padded away quietly as the two toms continued their discussion. I sat down beside Breezepelt absently, watching Lionblaze and Darkpaw. Darkpaw unwound so perfectly, as if he and Lionblaze were meant to speak to one another.

And maybe they were.

Lionblaze's perspective

As I suggested some new methods of attack to Darkpaw, the RiverClan cats finally arrived. Mistystar, the new leader, yowled for attention, jumping atop the Great Oak and the Gathering began. I felt Darkpaw stiffen next to me, and I glanced down at him; his eyes were wide with fright at the sight of more cats entering the clearing.

I explained to him quietly as Blackstar complained about ThunderClan scent on the ShadowClan side of the border, "That's Mistystar, RiverClan's leader." I pointed with my tail to the other leaders. "The one with the black paws is Blackstar, leader of ShadowClan; of course you recognize your own leader; and Firestar, the bright ginger tom, is my leader."

Darkpaw looked at them all in awe. "Do they really have nine lives?" he asked, as his leader began to speak.

"Yes. They receive them from StarClan when they take the burden of leadership," I mewed.

After a while, we stopped paying attention to the leader's reports and just talked about the different Clan ways of life. I even asked him about his life; I wanted to know everything I could about my son. Everything.

When it was time for the Gathering to end, Darkpaw, to my joy, was sad to say goodbye.

I flicked his ear playfully. "Don't worry. Just wait a moon. I'll see you then." I looked up to see Breezepelt staring at me and Darkpaw in horror. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.

"Aww," he moaned. "But Lionblaze, you're so cool!" He added in a grumble, "Nothing like Breezepelt..."

"Hm?"

"He's just not always friendly to me. Sometimes I wonder if he's actually my father..."

He's not! I wanted to yowl, but luckily (or unluckily) Breezepelt hurried over, the look of horror replaced by one of fury.

"Darkpaw," he growled. "Go see your mother. She was asking for you."

Darkpaw looked unconvinced, but mewed a goodbye to me quietly before hurrying up to Heathertail.

Breezepelt turned his scorching glaze onto me. "I told you to stay away from my son!" he hissed angrily.

I shrugged. "I didn't approach him, Breezepelt," I meowed coolly. "He came over to me."

"Likely story," he growled, unsheathing his claws.

I struggled to keep my fur flat and my claws sheathed. "Ask Heathertail."

He sniffed. "Like she'll tell me the truth. She'll take your side." He leaned in close to my face. "If I catch you talking to my son again, I swear to StarClan, your little secret with Heathertail is going to become public." He curled his lip and whipped around, stalking over to his parents.

My tail drooped. Never speak to my son again! That's a horrible thing to ask! I just can't do that!

But in order to protect Heathertail and Darkpaw, I vowed never to speak to my son...Breezepelt's son... ever again.

(And, a never before seen perspective...) Darkpaw's perspective

I followed Heathertail out of the clearing and onto the tree bridge. I glanced over my shoulder to see Breezepelt exchanging hostile looking words with Lionblaze. Nightcloud stood a distance away, looking concerned as she said goodbye to a RiverClan she-cat. I turned away as a bramble thicket obscured my view.

Heathertail looked down at me as we raced along with the rest of the Clan, heading back to camp. "So, how was your time with your f...friend Lionblaze?"

I found it odd how she assumed that we were friends; after all, we had only just met. "Fine," I panted, as we slowed to a trot, nearing the thorn barrier. "I learned some new combat skills."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, like how to unbalance a foe." I added with a purr, "Weaselfur will be so impressed when he sees that I can do things that he hasn't even taught me!"

Heathertail purred. "I'm sure he will."

"Oh, and he also told me all about the Clan leaders and their responsibility, and how a good Clan leader runs their Clan, and-"

"Alright, alright," she interrupted. Her eyes looked sad. "Its time you headed to your nest."

I nodded and butted her shoulder. "Okay," I agreed, yawning. "See you in the morning, mother!"

She licked the top of my head. "See you in the morning."

I padded to the apprentice nests. Settling down into mine, I thought with longing, I wish Lionblaze was my father. We connect a whole lot easier, and he's fun to be around! Unlike Breezepelt... I closed my eyes, pushing the mutinous thoughts against my father away. No matter what, Breezepelt was my father. And there was nothing that I could do, not even pray to StarClan, to make Lionblaze my father instead.