Chapter 14

"Lonepath? Lonepath, are you there?"

Moonbeam's head drooped. He's not here.

She was about to leave FourTrees when a pair of eyes emerged from the inky blackness.

"Lonepath!"

The tom purred and bounded over to her. "I came here every night since you ran, waiting for you," he whispered. "I love you, Moonbeam."

Moonbeam didn't know what to say.

Lonepath started. "Um… That came out wrong…"

She laughed softly to hide the churning guilt and anxiety in her stomach.

The tom sat down. "I have news!"

Moonbeam began to groom herself as she listened.

"RiverClan was attacked by ThunderClan 3 sunrises ago."

Moonbeam stopped in mid-lick. "What?"

Lonepath nodded. "Streamstar lost a life."

"How do you know?"

"Redblaze, one of the RiverClan warriors, ran to our camp. He was bleeding terribly and told us the story. We rushed to RiverClan's aid, and managed to drive off ThunderClan, but casualties were high. Firestar had recruited rogues."

Moonbeam's eyes were wide. "That's barbaric!"

Lonepath nodded. "Well, I have to get back. I'm on dawn patrol with Tallbrow."

Moonbeam stepped back. "Alright," she mewed.

"One more thing." Lonepath said. "I was telling the truth when I said I loved you."

With that he was gone.

/

"Moonbeam! Wake up!"

Sighing, Moonbeam got out of her nest to see Badgerfang grinning at her, sopping wet.

"Oh no, is it raining?" she said despairingly.

Badgerfang nodded, spraying her with water.

"Cut it out," she muttered with a smile. "Let's go get some prey."

"Um… there is no prey." Badgerfang said, letting her step out of the den, which Moonbeam immediately regretted.

"What's the hunting patrol doing?"

A voice behind her said "You are the hunting patrol."

Moonbeam turned around to see Amberstar standing with Thornblaze and Beastfur. "Hurry, the elders are hungry and Swallowflight needs some prey too."

Splashing across the camp, Moonbeam grumpily led the three other cats into the marshy forest.

"Split up, Thornblaze and Beastfur, you hunt closer to the direction of the Thunderpath and Badgerfang and I will hunt near the marsh."

Nodding, Thornblaze and Beastfur set out and Moonbeam turned to Badgerfang.

"Hopefully the frogs will come out at the marsh," he mewed unexcitedly.

Moonbeam nodded.

"RiverClan's bound to have lots of prey," the tom added "Fish like to come out when it is raining."

Moonbeam glanced back at him. "How do you know that?" she asked suspiciously.

Badgerfang saw her look and stopped. "I talked to some cats at the Gathering, ok? I don't just stay talking with one cat, Moonbeam."

Moonbeam felt the sting of his words. That was true, every Gathering she went to she looked for Lonepath and talked to him if he was there. If not, well, she sat with Badgerfang or Archstorm or Wolfheart.

"Well, Badgerfang, I didn't know you cared so much as who I sit with." she snapped.

Muttering under his breath, Badgerfang stalked towards the marsh.

Moonbeam watched him go, instantly regretting her words. Clearly, she wasn't the only one with stuff going on.

Suddenly, she missed Lonepath. They were meeting every two nightfalls, at FourTrees.

Moonbeam shook her head, water flying everywhere. The Clan needed food. She must hunt.