Heathertail sprinted through the forest, she tried to keep quiet but it was hard when there was crunchy bracken and brittle twigs littering the forest floor. How on earth does Lionblaze hunt in these woods? She didn't relax until she felt the familiar grass under her paws. Breezepelt thought she was out hunting, it would be suspicious if she came back with nothing. Heathertail parted her jaws and closed her eyes. She basked in the familiar smells that encased her. Grass, trees, fish, WindClan cats, rabbit. For a long moment, she pictured how life would have been different if Lionblaze had been born into WindClan. They might have been hunting rabbits together, maybe even have kits together by now. Heathertail shook away the thought. She sat down and listened for a rabbit, her jaws parted to taste for one. Smelling rabbit, she opened her eyes and looked for it. There was a small one about 10 tail lengths away, nibbling on some grass. She guessed it hadn't spotted her. Heathertail dropped into the hunter's crouch and began hunting the rabbit. Rabbits were fast but mouse brained. Heathertail had little trouble in chasing the rabbit and bringing it down with a swift, clean bite to the back of its neck. She dragged it back to the WindClan camp, exhausted from her run to and from Lionblaze plus the strain of bringing down large prey. To make matters worse, the first thing Heathertail saw when she stepped into camp was Breezepelt. The dark warrior was strutting around the camp like he had just been made deputy. He padded up to her and brushed his pelt against hers, purring. Heathertail rolled her eyes and dropped her rabbit on the fresh kill pile. She chose a shrew for herself and sat beside Sunstrike. Her friend was eating a mouse.
"Hi Sunstrike," Heathertail said.
"Heathertail! Hi! I have something to tell you!" Sunstrike said excitedly. Heathertail's ears perked, good news was just what she wanted to hear.
"Fire away," Heathertail said.
"I'm having Antpelt's kits," Sunstrike blurted out. Heathertail nearly choked on her shrew. Already? Heathertail was once again painfully reminded of Lionblaze. She searched the tortoiseshell's face for any signs of bragging and relaxed when she found none. She swallowed her worries – and shrew – before answering.
"That's great!" She purred. Heathertail rested her tail tip on Sunstrike's shoulder blades. Sunstrike nodded happily.
"Oi! Heathertail!" Breezepelt yowled. Heathertail looked around to face him. Everyone's eyes were resting on her. She went hot with embarrassment and resentment. Heathertail reluctantly walked up to Breezepelt and tapped his nose with her tail.
"Want to go hunting?" He purred, "Just the two of us?"
Heathertail glanced at Sunstrike, she was nodding in approval. Heathertail sighed.
"Okay…" She replied. Her mother, Whitetail, was watching her. If anyone thinks that I'm mates with Breezepelt then I'll claw their ears off! Heathertail trotted after Breezepelt as they walked across the open moorland. Breezepelt suddenly stopped and looked around anxiously. What's bugging him? He suddenly turned around.
"Heathertail, I have something to tell you," He said. Heathertail knew what it was before it left his jaws.
"I love you Heathertail, I want you to be my mate," He exclaimed. Heathertail knew it was coming but somehow found herself totally off guard. She wanted to leap at him, sink her claws into his night colored pelt!
"I'm sorry Breezepelt, I already know who I want as my mate," Heathertail replied anxiously. Breezepelt narrowed his eyes.
"Who? Its Harespring isn't it! You've been getting WAY too friendly with that mouse brain!" Breezepelt spat. Heathertail wanted to attack him. She flattened her ears back.
"You'll hate me if I tell you," She hissed, not disguising her hate for Breezepelt in her tone. Breezepelt unsheathed his claws and jumped at her, knocking her onto her back.
"Who!" He yowled angrily. Heathertail knew Breezepelt would despise Lionblaze all the more if she told him. Heathertail closed her eyes
"Lionblaze," She whispered.
"What?" Breezepelt spat. Heathertail opened her eyes, anger flashing through them.
"Lionblaze!" She yowled. She unsheathed her claws and raked one of them across Breezepelt's nose, leaving a gash. Breezepelt hissed in pain but staggered off of her. Heathertail pinned down the stunned Breezepelt and put her paw on his throat.
"If you dare tell any cat then I'll leave you more marks to remember, understand?" She spat. Breezepelt nodded anxiously. Was that fear in his eyes? She got off of him and started walking towards the ThunderClan border furiously. It felt good to be rid of Breezepelt at last.
To Heathertail's delight, Lionblaze was lapping up water from the stream. She meowed in greeting. The golden tom looked up and Heathertail detected happiness in his eyes. She bounded happily towards him and waded through the stream. Lionblaze met her halfway and the pair shared tongues, not caring about the freezing water that lapped their paws.
"Let's play!" Heathertail purred. Lionblaze blinked at her affectionately and shoved her backwards into the stream. Heathertail yowled in glee as she splashed Lionblaze and clambered to her feet. How could something that felt so good be so wrong? Lionblaze flicked water at her with his tail and rolled around, drenching his pelt. Heathertail laughed and suddenly realized how cold she was. Her fur was dripping and fluffed out with chill. The cool water felt good on her tired paws. She pushed Lionblaze onto the shore and licked him affectionately. He purred and licked her in the vain attempt to dry her off. Heathertail didn't care who saw them, she was with the only one she loved, the only one she could ever love. She lay down next to Lionblaze and curled up next to him, Lionblaze brushed his pelt against hers.
"Let's go somewhere more private," Lionblaze whispered, running his tail along her back. Heathertail nodded and clambered to her feet, she shook herself to expel the rest of the water from her fur. Lionblaze crawled into a hollow in a tree trunk, Heathertail followed him and purred as he settled down beside her, the sun was falling behind the hills. She pressed herself closer to Lionblaze and licked his neck, she never wanted to be separated from him again.
"I love you," She breathed.
"I love you too Heathertail," Lionblaze replied, entwining his tail with hers. The pair shared tongues until they gradually fell asleep.