The two returned to camp. An uproar sounded by Sakura's family as they beheld her wounded state and the more wounded state of Mousewhisker. Lionblaze made to step towards the grey tom, claws out and fangs bore when Sakura intercepted him. "All is good," she told him. "I need to talk to you."

Lionblaze cut a glare at Mousewhisker before he nodded and walked towards the Medicine den. Sakura frowned at that but followed him, and as soon as she entered Jayfeather scolded her for her insolence and the waste of supplies. It was only then that she remembered Flameblood and Killerfang's warning and told the tom to pack early for Leaf-bare.

While he treated her Lionblaze sat across from her. "What is it you wish to talk about?" He asked.

Sakura licked her whiskers carefully, ears flicking nervously. "I made a deal with Mousewhisker...and I want to keep my word."

"What are you talking about?" The deputy asked. Sakura pressed forward.

"I have already wronged and hurt him enough, if I was to break this then I wouldn't be able to forgive myself, I wouldn't be able to live out my life as a proper warrior."

"Sakura-" Lionblaze mewed worriedly, but she kept on.

"It will mean nothing to me, but if it helps him then I must. This will have no effect on our current relationship-"

"What?!"

"-and know that I still want you as a mate..."

Jayfeather moved away smartly as Lionblaze leaned forward and pushed her head to the ground. Sakura squeaked in shock, the bottom of her chin pressed firmly to the earth floor. Lionblaze held her in that position even as she struggled, and when she stopped he still held her there. "Will you speak slowly now and calm down?" He asked cautiously. Sakura flicked both of her ears. When he stepped off of her she rose slowly and shook her head. Lionblaze sat back down and wrapped his tail around his paws. "Now skip the excuses and get to the point."

"I agreed to be Mousewhisker's mate..."

"WHAT?!" he yowled, jumping up with his fur bristled. Hurt engulfed his entire being. "You said you would be my mate! You told me right in front of the clan!"

"Lionblaze let me finish!" She snapped. The tom again sat back down, slowly as if him moving any faster would break him into millions of pieces. Sakura sat up as Jayfeather moved to rub light salve down her back. He stayed suspiciously quiet.

"You know as well as I that because of Foxe the plan sent south and everything turned worse for Mousewhisker, making him fall for me even more as I led him on. Our job wasn't to completely crush him; it was to make him feel pain like you did." Lionblaze didn't nod, staring at her with shimmering eyes. He blinked for her to continue and get to the point. Sakura sighed. "I became friends with Mousewhisker, more for myself and his help than for the plan, and as a friend I am supposed to help him. Everything that has happened as made him destructive, as you can see with what happened with the kit, and irrational. He was also angry at me." She rolled her shoulders. "And after all that happened I do want to help him get over me, not leave him in his state of distress. So, I agreed to be his mate until sunset."

Lionblaze narrowed his eyes. "So agreeing to be his mate will help him get over," Lionblaze hissed sarcastically. "You are MY mate!"

"I know, but until sunset I'm his," Sakura countered.

Lionblaze snarled. "No!"

"Lionblaze show some form of pity or reason! He will only have me until sunset, you will have me forever! It won't hurt to give him just this much! Besides we won't be doing anything but enjoy each other's company. It's not like I'm going to give him kit!" Sakura moved closer to him. "It's a sense of duty I have to fulfill."

"No! I won, he lost, you are mine!" Lionblaze yowled. The darkening look in Sakura's eyes made him pause, and only barely did he realize what he said.

"I will see if I had made the right decision in my choice of a mate in my time with Mousewhisker. At least he knows I am not some prize to be won." Sakura stood and walked out.

Jayfeather slapped his brother on his head. "Mousebrain. You might as well just give up and give her to Mousewhisker for all you care."

Lionblaze didn't react to the slap, though he did scowl at his brother. "Shut up, you don't have a mate."

"And neither will you if you keep on. If you want to keep your fur, because Whitethunder will surely snatch it off you, see it from her perspective. It was obvious she was guilty, both to you and him."

Lionblaze huffed and scratched his ear. "We only just became mates, I don't need to-"

A yowl rung in the clearing. Jayfeather blinked. "She told Whitethunder."

Lionblaze swore and stepped outside the den. Whitethunder, Cherry, Autumnspot and Raven were glaring at sitting Sakura. "This was not what I said when I said sever all loose ties," Raven growled.

Sakura blinked slowly. "You should've been more accurate," she intoned.

Whitethunder looked livid. "I won't approve of it!"

"I don't need your approval," she countered. "I'm doing it because I feel that it's right. I don't need your help, it's my problem."

"Sakura," Cherry began, but Sakura had already risen. Cherry whimpered. "But he will be just another pawn for Ashfur!"

"He won't if I get enough sense in him."

Lionblaze walked out to them. "Sakura," he called. She turned and glared at him.

"What?"

"I will, allow, this to happen," he told her grudgingly, not looking her in her narrowed eyes. "Do what you must," he said after a beat, "but afterwards I won't let this happen again. If he still hasn't gotten over you it's his loss." Sakura sneered at him and hastily he added, "And...then we can work more towards knowing each other. I know I offended you earlier, I'm sorry." Sakura relaxed only slightly and nodded, then she made her way to Mousewhisker, a scowl apparent on her face.

"Why didn't you let Jayfeather see you?!" She snapped at the tom who was beaming openly at her. Lionblaze turned away in fury as Mousewhisker rubbed his face against hers and looked towards the sky. He wondered idly how he was going to last until sunset.

"You let her do this?" Whitethunder snarled at him. Lionblaze shook his head. "She told me what she was going to do, and I already have her doubting me after what I said earlier. She's feeling guilty, so it's best to let her work this out now. Going into a warrior's ceremony with this kind of burden on her head will only make her more upset."

Whitethunder let a loud rumble fill his throat and looked around. No cat intervened throughout the whole thing, like they have gotten use to their attitudes and spontaneous behaviors now. They did look annoyed though. Whitethunder sighed and went back to the apprentice den with the others. Lionblaze carried out his duties, thinking about Sakura and how angry she still looked.

~ooo~

Sakura sighed in comfort as she laid still, letting Mousewhisker clean her fur. She could feel Lionblaze glaring over at them but ignored him. This was for Mousewhisker; Lionblaze would just have to be jealous for a day. 'And maybe a few nights,' she thought in annoyance as she thought back to their conversation back in the medicine den and in front of her parents. She defined let wasn't some prize to be won over. He may have placated her after accepting what she was doing but she was still angry with him, and she was going to let him know about that immediately. He wasn't allowing her to do anything! The audacity!

"Sakura, are you alright?" Mousewhisker asked worriedly. He felt her tense and instantly wondered if he was pushing his boundaries too far.

Sakura sat up and rubbed her muzzle against his, surprising him. "I'm fine," she answered. She wasn't looking at him though. Then who... His eyes followed hers and... Oh. Ooooh.

"Did you two get in a fight?" He asked. Then again, if his mate was going to play mate with another cat he would be angry as well.

"He believes I'm some prize to be won," she growled absently. She realized that maybe she wasn't supposed to tell him about their problem then figured who cares.

Mousewhisker's ears flattened. "And so in return you are trying to make him jealous," Mousewhisker muttered tersely. Sakura looked at him a bit apologetically. Mousewhisker huffed and backed away a bit. "Sakura-"

"I know I'm sorry!" She said quickly.

Mousewhisker huffed again. "Apology accepted, but you aren't doing it right."

Sakura blinked in confusion. "What?"

"If you want to make him jealous," Mousewhisker started with a smirk, eyes gleaming, "you have to make it look real."

He pressed his nose to her and she squeaked in shock. After a moment she chuckled. "Oh," she hummed and slid her nose down his cheek. Mousewhisker kept going and wrapped his body around her, purring heavily. Sakura did the same thing.

They heard a growl and both turned to see Lionblaze stalking out of the camp. Luna walked over to them, disapproval in her eyes. "You know, that's not nice what you do," she snapped.

Sakura stuck her nose in the air. "Well I don't really care. Can't I cuddle with my mate?"

"Lionblaze is your mate," Luna growled.

Sakura narrowed her eyes as she slowly turned her head to look her square in the eyes. "Why should you care?"

"I care because you and Lionblaze are actually mates. That what you did there is supposed to be reserved for him."

"It's just until sunset," Mousewhisker reasoned.

Luna glared at him. "And you think this is going to make you get over her? Are you truly that desperate Mouse?"

Sakura growled and stepped between them. "If he feels that way then yes it will help him."

"You two are disgusting," Luna hissed.

Mousewhisker quickly moved between them when Sakura pulled out her claws. "Sakura, let's go to the nursery and visit the kits," Mousewhisker suggested quickly.

Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Yea, let's go. Besides, the other point to this is so you can right your wrongs." They turned away, Mousewhisker shivering under his fur. Right his wrongs, he had to face Foxe and the kits!

"I didn't know why you are doing this. Even now she doesn't love you!" Luna yowled.

Mousewhisker glared at her coldly. "I know the deal we made; I'M the one who suggested it."

"If I didn't know anything Luna, I'd say you're jealous," Sakura called back nastily. Luna's growl made the red she cat laugh.

When they entered the nursery Flamekit, Sunkit and Gingerkit greeted them eagerly. Sakura chuckled and nosed each other of them. Squirrelflight walked over to them. "Hello," she glanced at Mousewhisker, then turned to Sakura. "So what are you doing here?"

"Well, we never got to see the new kits. Mousewhisker suggested we come and see them."

"Oh?" Squirrelflight asked in surprise. She turned a wary glare to Mousewhisker. "Why?"

"I'm not going to hurt them," Mousewhisker promised quickly. "I just, I want to see them properly."

Squirrelflight settled with a light scowl. "Foxe isn't going to like this, but then again I don't rightfully care." She turned and walked towards the queen, who was currently snoozing with her kits.

Foxe heard paws coming her way and woke up instantly, eyes widening in fear at the sight of the grey and white tom and coiled around her kits, who woke with squeals of shock. "G-get away! Leave them alone!"

"Foxe," Mousewhisker murmured softly with a bit of disappointment.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Let us see the kits."

"Never!" Foxe hissed. "Get away from my kits!"

"Foxe," Mousewhisker growled lowly. Foxe froze and whimpered, frame trembling. The kits started mewling in distress. Squirrelflight looked highly uncomfortable and looked around. Mousewhisker stepped closer. "I'm not going to hurt them, they are kits. Let me see them." It was more of a demand than an assurance, but Foxe slowly, excruciatingly slowly uncurled herself from her kits. Mousewhisker towered over the kits, who looked at him with large amber eyes. A pang of anger coursed through him but he quickly squashed it.

Sakura cooed at them. "They are so adorable when you get past the fact that their father was a lunatic," Sakura purred with a light squeal. She stepped towards the kits and nosed them all lightly. Giggling when Deathkit took to sniffing at her wandering nose and giving it three quick rasps. She backed away with an amused purr. "I like that one."

"Ok, you've seen them now go away!" Foxe hissed, hackles raised.

Squirrelflight's kits came up to the three kits. "Hiya Deathkit!" Flamekit boomed.

Deathkit perked up at her greeting and blinked slowly. "Hi," he greeted, shocking them all with his unusually deep voice.

Flamekit flinched, then her eyes brightened. "Whoa! Your voice is so deep!"

"It's creepy," Sunkit huffed. Flamekit snapped at him.

Squirrelflight for between all of them. "That's enough, leave her be."

"But mama!" The three whined.

Squirrelflight growled. "Go on, shoo!" The three kits ran off while pouting.

Mousewhisker hummed and turned to Foxe. "Thanks for letting me see them." Foxe didn't answer; her were eyes wary and fearful. Mousewhisker looked down at the kits and addressed each one. "Deathkit, Hawkkit, Tigerkit, I am sorry."

"Why?" Hawkkit asked shyly.

Mousewhisker crouched down to her level. "Because when you were born I was really mean to you."

"Mama said you are a po'esset cat an' that you are dang'us," Tigerkit recited innocently.

Mousewhisker chuckled sadly and stood. "I am dangerous, that part is true." He turned to Foxe and looked her square in the eyes. At that moment he fought to reign in his anger and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I am truly sorry." Then he turned and with Sakura he left the Nursery.

Squirrelflight turned to the other queen, who was scoffing. "I don't trust him. I hate him."

"At least he came and apologized to both you and your kits. While it might not be enough for what he did you can at least apologize back. You aren't exactly innocent."

"No!"

Squirrelflight shook her head and left the nursery.

Foxe turned back to curl around her kits. "I will never forgive him," she muttered to herself. Tigerkit tilted his head, then he pawed at her belly and mewed. Foxe sighed and turned on her side, letting the kits feed.

~ooo~

The rest of the day passed my eventfully. Every time Lionblaze was around Sakura and Mousewhisker did something to tick him off and then later laughed about it, ignoring Luna's glares. What bothered Lionblaze was how well he was treating her. His stomach coiled uncomfortably at the thought that maybe she was going to choose Mousewhisker over him like she threatened to.

Towards sunhigh he settled for watching them, no matter how angry it made him, to figure out what he could do to stop Sakura from being angry with him and not to choose Mousewhisker. Eventually he ended up going to Whitethunder because he felt the horrible but oh so tempting need to simply rake off Mousewhisker's fur. The white tom was cleaning a black paw when he saw Lionblaze stumble into the medicine den. Cherry was cleaning his fur. Lionblaze's irritation and fear soared, he saw Mousewhisker doing the same to Sakura earlier that day.

"You are upset and worried that Sakura will choose Mousewhisker over you?" Whitethunder spoke, not looking up from his cleaning. Lionblaze flinched in shock before nodding.

Cherry chuckled. "You should've apologized."

"I did apologize!"

"Obviously not the way you should have," Autumnspot mewed casually. He and Mudfur were cleaning each other's fur. That puzzled him.

"Um...?"

"Bonding Under the Stars," Mudfur purred lazily, focusing on the spot between Autumnspot's ears. "When the sun begins to set we clan mates groom each other thoroughly, but since we are not with our clan we have to groom each other."

"Obviously Mousewhisker picked up on that, he was grooming Sakura all day," Cherry added. Lionblaze winced and Whitethunder smirked.

"You have already asked her the Moonclan way to be your mate, now you just have to settle on keeping her. And unsatisfied mate is a dangerous one." Whitethunder and Cherry shared a look.

Lionblaze whimpered. "What do I have to do?"

"We can't tell you that," Cherry muttered. "But if you really want some advice then take this, think like a Moonclan cat."

Lionblaze narrowed his eyes. "How is that supposed to help?!"

"You know of our tendencies and how we act. We are teaching you after all," Autumnspot huffed.

Mudfur gave him an amused look. "You just called yourself a Moonclan cat."

"I can do that, it's in my blood!" The spotted tom defended.

Whitethunder chuckled. "Anyway, that's all. Leave us." Whitethunder and Cherry switched duties.

Lionblaze dejectedly left the den. What was he supposed to do?

He walked around with his tail dragging, ears drooping. Then he walked out of the camp.

What was he supposed to do?

His mind turned frantically, trying to remember this and that, to think of what a she cat would want as an apology, or what they would expect for an apology. A piece of prey from the fresh kill pile, the juiciest one maybe. To cuddle for reassurance? Flowers?

"Think like a Moonclan cat," a voice whispered. After a while a chuckle followed. "An angry Moonclan she cat will more likely claw you than want to cuddle."

He froze and looked around frantically. Who said that? Sure that he was alone he continued walking. Sakura did have Moonclan blood in her and she didn't operate like their clan cats would. Lionblaze stopped and sat down slowly. Every time she was angry she fought to let out her steam, like Cherry and Whitethunder.

'Can Moonclan cats hold grudges?' He wondered worriedly. If fighting was a way to take out their anger, then how did they act when holding grudges? 'By killing each other,' he thought grudgingly. What was he supposed to do?

'Maybe...'

He shook his head sharply, that wouldn't work. There hasn't been one of those spotted around in ages anyway. 'It's worth a shot,' he thought. Now all he had to do was figure out where he could find one.

ionblaze trotted back inside and went to the apprentice den. Growling in annoyance, Whitethunder glared at him. "What?"

"Do Moonclan cats eat adders?"

Four pairs of eyes blinked at him in confusion. "Adder?"

"You know, long scaly worm with long fangs, hiss a lot?"

"Oh, you mean a Longfang?" Mudfur asked.

Lionblaze rolled his eyes. "Yes."

"Well, occasionally we do, but hunting one is really dangerous. Even numbers won't affect those monstrosities."

"Whitethunder is also afraid of them," Cherry commented off handedly.

Whitethunder yowled. "CHERRYBLOSSOM!"

"Oh hush," she scolded. "Anyway why do you- Lionblaze?"

Lionblaze wasn't there. He had walked over to the warriors den, planning.