Sorry I took so long, I actually rushed to post this! Enjoy!

Sunkit and his siblings slept in Bramblestar's den last night. They were forced out of the nursery when Foxe was having her kits. The trio was excited, whispering to themselves.

"We have new playmates!" Gingerkit squealed. Sunkit and Flamekit nodded eagerly. They couldn't wait to meet them.

Flamekit pounced on Bramblestar's sleeping back. "Papa, wake up! We wanna see the new kits!"

"No, Flamekit," Bramblestar rumbled. "Leave Foxe alone with her kits." The tom rose, making Flamekit slide off his back. He then stretched and yawned. The kits sat there and watched him, their tails twitching in anticipation. Bramblestar glanced at them, then pounced with a playful growl. The kits squealed in delight and ran round.

~ooo~

Lionblaze's ears twitched at the sound of squealing kits. 'Bramblestar's awake,' he thought in amusement. He looked around and surveyed the clan. Everyone, sans Foxe and a cranky Leafpool (Lionblaze snickers, silently congratulating the dead Moonclan warriors), looked perfectly normal, like the events of yesterday never happened. Even Mousewhisker looked to be better, if not for the troubled look in his eyes. They looked distant, cold. 'The ultimate betrayal,' he thought sadly.

After the events of yesterday he met up with Leafpool and the others and they all came to an agreement, what Foxe had done did more than enough damage, they didn't need to interfere anymore. They all would've agreed to drop their plan, except for one thing, Mousewhisker had really become smitten with Sakura.

While that trouble the others, it angered him. He diverted that anger towards Foxe. 'If she hasn't been such a traitor everything would be fine!' The ginger tom closed his eyes and shook his head. He had to end it himself. The others were already clueless of what to do, so he took it upon himself.

"Ivypool, take Brackenfur, Mousewhisker and Blossomfall hunting. Bumblestripe, you Molepelt, Cherrytail and-"

"Lionblaze, may I go on this patrol?" Sandstorm asked as she limped over to them.

Lionblaze frowned. "Um...I...why?"

"I need to get fresh air. I'm not that old, not yet."

Lionblaze sighed and nodded. "Ok. Sandstorm you can lead the patrol." Sandstorm nodded and led the others out. Lionblaze looked around. No one needed anything, everyone was busy, Mousewhisker was away from Sakura, perfect.

He trotted to the apprentice den anxiously. What would Whitethunder say? Upon entering he found the deputy and his mate grooming each other and speaking silently. Autumnspot was conversing with Mudfur and Longclaw was lying in a corner, staring at nothing. Something about that cat just rubbed Lionblaze the wrong way, but he shook it off. He approached Whitethunder and Cherry silently. Whitethunder paused his grooming to look at him and man were those amber orbs piercing.

"Whitethunder, I need to speak with you," he told him; thanking Starclan he kept the nervousness out of his voice. Every cat in the den turned to look at him.

"What for?" The white tom asked.

Lionblaze's tail flicked as a nervous shiver racked his spine. "I-its important and private."

Whitethunder blinked owlishly, lost in thought. Then he nodded. "Of course, come with me." Whitethunder gave Cherry a lick on the cheek and left, leading Lionblaze out of the den. Lionblaze looked around, caught Squirrelflight's eyes and blinked his thanks when she nodded. She would watch everything until he got back.

~ooo~

Whitethunder and Lionblaze walked quietly through the forest, side by side. Lionblaze glanced sideways at him and wondered if Whitethunder was always so huge. 'Be calm, stay collected,' he chided himself.

After a while longer in silence Whitethunder finally spoke. "What is it you want to talk about?" He asked.

Ah, straight to the point. Great.

Lionblaze took a deep breath and slowed into a stop. Whitethunder followed. "It's about Sakura," the ginger began and chanced a look at the tom in front of him. His eyes were glowing. 'Mouse-dung!' He cursed, his eyes widening. The fur in the back of his neck rose.

"What about my daughter?" The deputy asked. Lionblaze quickly observed him: long fangs, large paws, sharp claws and not to mention a bloodthirsty deputy.

Starclan help him.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Then he released it and opened them. "I want to be her mate." At that moment Lionblaze wanted to run. Whitethunder swelled, lighting flashing in his eyes.

"You want to mate my daughter?" The other asked, a growl in his voice that made him live well up to his name. Lionblaze nodded, holding his ground. Whitethunder stood and paced in a slow, continuous circle around him. "And why would you want that?" He asked.

"Because I like her, a lot," Lionblaze admitted.

Whitethunder chuckled lowly, never tearing his gaze from him. Boy did the Thunderclan warrior feel like prey. "Are you sure it's just like? Are you sure it isn't just lust, or is just because you thought it a better way to end your little plan?"

Lionblaze winced. "That was a part of the idea, to end the plan that is, but I do genuinely like her."

"You didn't like her before," Whitethunder pressed, his tail swaying to and fro like a cat about to pounce.

"I didn't, in fact I thought she was the most annoying cat on earth when I first met her," he admitted. He didn't miss the glint of Whitethunder's claws. "But, as time wore on I began warming up to her. She cunning, intelligent and a very good cat in my eyes, even though she likes to make the creepiest insults."

Yes, Lionblaze would never forget that. She threatened to rip open his stomach and let the forest animals eat his entrails for insulting her dead siblings. Never again.

"She also has nice fur," and it shouldn't have embarrassed him to say that, but he felt his fur heat up. He had spent the past few days talking with Sakura and wrestling when in the mood, she really did have soft fur.

Whitethunder snorted. "There is another reason," he growled.

"Well, I don't want Mousewhisker to have her," Lionblaze mewed with a hint of a growl.

Whitethunder looked amused at this. "I thought it was agreed that Sakura would turn Mousewhisker down?"

"It is," Lionblaze hissed, "but I don't...I don't want the plan anymore. I don't want him near her, so close to her."

"It drives you insane, doesn't it?" Whitethunder purred. The glare in Lionblaze's eyes was enough of an answer. Whitethunder shook his head. "That's still isn't enough. Why should I let you do this? What would you have to offer her, hmm? Will you protect her? Listen to her? Stand up for her?" Lionblaze nodded, Whitethunder sneered. "Would you kill for her?"

Lionblaze frowned at that. "That depends on who it is and what they've done."

Whitethunder hummed, satisfied with the answer. "Alright then Lionblaze, answer me this."

Lionblaze wanted to yowl. He was tired of the question. If he didn't give his approval soon then he would ask Sakura without his consent.

"Sakura is my only surviving daughter, the one that Skyclan left me in hope that I repent and make up for the damage I've caused." Whitethunder stopped in front of him and looked him dead in the eyes. Lionblaze was shocked to find he couldn't look away. It was like someone was holding his head in place. "Now what if I left her in your paws, and she dies. What and how would you feel?"

Lionblaze froze, his eyes widening. A familiar emptiness and lost seized his entire being. Dead? Not again! He had already thought she was dead the first time; he didn't need a second time, especially if it was real. What would he do then?

The instant despair and void like look in Lionblaze's eyes told the Moonclan deputy all he needed to know. While Lionblaze sat there and drowned in the dark part of his mind Whitethunder waited. When Lionblaze suddenly blinked back to reality and opened his mouth he looked away. Lionblaze faltered, confused.

Whitethunder walked until he was behind the tom. "If you hurt my daughter in any way possible, I will kill you, slowly." Lionblaze couldn't suppress the violent shiver that shook him. After thinking rather deeply about Sakura's death the thought of Whitethunder killing him did come to mind, after he was done drowning in despair that is. Now that the tom voiced it openly it legitimately scared him.

Then something clicked.

"Wait, was that a yes?" He asked suddenly, turning to look at Whitethunder. The tom was already walking back to the camp. Lionblaze hastily followed him. "Whitethunder! Did that mean yes? Do I have permission?"

"Would you have given up if I said no?" Whitethunder asked flatly. Lionblaze scowled. Whitethunder nodded. "Then there is your answer. I only ask that you do this the Moonclan way."

"The Moonclan way," Lionblaze murmured. "What is that?"

Whitethunder stopped just before the entrance. "Get rid of any competition. If they don't see that you are the one going to win Sakura then you will fight them until they submit. If you don't do this then you do not have my blessing." Lionblaze nodded quickly. Whitethunder hummed and entered the camp.

Lionblaze was humming. He did it, he got Whitethunder's approval! 'And all I have to do is do it the Moonclan way,' he thought happily. Then he froze. Doing it the Moonclan way meant that he had to fight Mousewhisker. He didn't want to fight Mousewhisker. Lionblaze looked around. Mousewhisker wasn't back yet, good. He instantly headed towards Sakura. She greeted him warmly.

"Hey Lionblaze! Why were you with Whitethunder just now?"

"Uh, he was telling me how Moonclan cats found mates," he answered hesitantly. Whitethunder said to get rid of competition, but he didn't tell him how to woo. Great. "Um, Sakura? Wanna share prey?"

"Sure!" She piped. They both went to the fresh kill pile.

Lionblaze was racking his brain, what to do what to do? Ah! The Thunderclan deputy shot forward and snatched up a squirrel. Sakura liked squirrels, perfect! "Here, your favorite," he purred and sat the prey down in front of her.

Sakura blinked in surprise and smiled. "Uh, thank you, but squirrels aren't my favorite prey. That's Cherry." Lionblaze's eyes widened. Already he had mad an idiotic move! Sakura chuckled and shook her head. "It's OK, I don't really have a favorite."

"Ok," Lionblaze mumbled glumly. The two sat and ate together. Lionblaze's ear flicked as he felt them brush furs. The action made him purr lowly. Sakura reciprocated.

The entrance to the camp quivered. Lionblaze and Sakura were positioned so that they were facing it. Mousewhisker was the first to come through holding a dove and a mouse. Lionblaze smirked briefly before he leaned over to Sakura, whispering in her ear.

"I heard that Flameblood and Killerfang stuffed Leafpool's food full of moss last night," he told her.

Sakura froze with wide shocked eyes. "Seriously? Is that why she was so cranky this morning?" Lionblaze nodded. Sakura giggled.

While she giggled Lionblaze glanced at Mousewhisker. He was standing there, frozen to the spot and staring at them with wide eyes. Lionblaze narrowed his eyes and smirked at him. The shocked look on the grey and white tom's face turned into one of pure hatred. Lionblaze looked away from him and turned his attention back to Sakura.

Mousewhisker walked by and "accidentally" stepped on Lionblaze's tail. The ginger tom yowled in pain and glared at him. Mousewhisker feigned looking sheepish. "I'm sorry Lionblaze, I'm tired and all, with yesterday, yanno?" Lionblaze narrowed dangerous eyes at him.

Sakura frowned. "Are you sure you are OK Mousewhisker?" She asked as she stood and walked over to him. Lionblaze silently fumed, he took her attention!

"I'm fine," Mousewhisker assured with a sigh and looked away. He really was tired and still upset, but the competition between him and Lionblaze gave him an initiative. He would make Sakura his mate. Lionblaze could go suck on bark.

Sakura looked him over worriedly, indeed the agreed she had to keep going with the plan since it was already in motion, and plus they were too deep in, but that didn't mean she had to stop worrying about Mousewhisker. What Foxe did was foul. Mousewhisker had just asked her if he wanted to walk with her, great. She didn't want to walk with him.

Just when she was about to think that Lionblaze was supposed to object said tom was beside her and obviously really close. "You just came from hunting, and plus you said you were tired. Shouldn't you rest?" Lionblaze hissed between his teeth. Mousewhisker didn't look so tired now. In fact, he looked enraged.

"No, I actually feel a little energized," Mousewhisker hissed.

Lionblaze growled lowly. "Then ask Icecloud to take you."

"I prefer Sakura."

"Well that's too bad, she's busy."

Sakura watched them both with shock. It wasn't a part of the plan; Lionblaze wasn't supposed to go so far. He actually looked like he really about to fight Mousewhisker.

"What is going on here?" Bramblestar demanded. Lionblaze kept his eyes on Mousewhisker's.

"I'm telling Mousewhisker to take a rest because he's been through so much and he looked like he was going to drop dead any moment now," the deputy growled. Sakura's heart leapt in her throat. Lionblaze didn't just threaten Mousewhisker, did he? She glanced down at his paws. His claws were just barely sheathed.

Bramblestar nodded. "I agree with him Mousewhisker, sound rest can do you good."

Mousewhisker stood there and glared, but after a moment he relented, turned around and stomped into the warriors den. Bramblestar left and Sakura turned to Lionblaze.

"What's your problem? You took it too far, you made it too serious!" She hissed.

"Maybe because it is serious, Sakura." Lionblaze turned to her. "This isn't about the plan anymore, there are no roles being played. This is real." And then he walked away.

Sakura was stuck standing there, horribly confused. Cherry quietly walked to her daughter side.

"I don't get it," she whispered.

Cherry hummed. "Come dear, its time I teach about the way a Moonclan warrior mate finds her mate."