Morningdew
"What did you say?" I gasped, surprised I was actually able to find the words. Realization dawned in Nightfangs eyes, "I-Im sorry, I-I uh" he stuttered, his body began to shake and he pulled his face away from mine, the air around me suddenly grew cold.
I couldn't believe it, I was speechless and when I didn't respond he turned to leave. The sight made me find my paws and I dashed forward to block him, "Wait, Im sorry I was just so surprised. I didn't think you felt the same way I did." I tried to play it off but my stomach was doing back flips and my head was swimming, Nightfang's amber eyes grew large at my words, "You mean you love me too?" I nodded and my eyes began to well with tears,
"I know I shouldn't and that it is against the warrior code and it breaks almost every rule we have but I do Nightfang, Starclan I do." The burden I had been carrying for so many moons finally left my shoulders and suddenly I felt light and happy, I laughed at the wave of feeling I felt and to my amazement he started to laugh with me. Oh and what a nice sound it was too, deep and mature with a tinge of hysteria that mirrored my own.
We touched noses again and I rubbed my head over every inch of him I could touch, I wanted to drown in his scent as he covered me with nuzzles and licks. "I have dreamed of doing this for moons Morningdew, I have only dreamed of you ever since we first met." He breathed into neck and my heart began to beat faster than a humming birds wings. "Really? I cant seem to keep you out of my head, it doesn't matter if I am asleep or awake." I smiled into his chest.
"I know it will be hard, making this work but I think we can do it." He said after a while, I was too happy to respond with words so I just purred into his fur. "What do we do now?" I whispered suddenly flooded with questions, "What if we are caught? What if our clans end up fighting? What if-" he brushed my cheek with his soft tail, "Don't worry about all that now, we can be together even though the warrior code says we cant." I chuckled a bit at his confidence, it shown deep in eyes and for a heartbeat I was willing to believe that it would be so simple.
I pulled away and walked to the mouth of the small cave, the moon was high in the sky now and I knew we didn't have much time, "Im scared Nightfang." I felt him curl his tail around my haunches and I leaned into his touch, "I know. I am too."
We stood at the border in silence, unable to break our gazes. Nightfang was strong enough to pull away, "I know you said you cant meet tomorrow but I have to see you again." I thought a moment, "Tomorrow night no, but the morning after I can move a few things around." I joked and his eyes glowed with such a warmth I though I would catch fire, "Ok, morning then. Lets meet in the cave." He whispered. With a final glance he disappeared into the night as I stood at my border wishing more than anything it was morning already.
I did everything I could to avoid Scorchflame the next day, I pleaded for more sleep when he asked me to do dawn patrol and when he wanted to go hunting I pretended to have already eaten. I felt bad avoiding him but my thoughts were so mixed up I couldn't even look at him without feeling like a piece of crow food. I climbed up high in my magnolia tree to get some fresh air and quite.
The trees were turning color and the wind was blowing a rainbow of leaves through the air. I was so lost in the beauty that I almost forgot my problem, I had two mates and one of them was forbidden. I couldn't bear the thought of loosing Nightfang, not after he confessed his feelings. Scorchflame was strong and popular, certainly he would find another mate.
Making up my mind I decided to go look for Scorchflame the second I got back to camp. "Have you seen Scorchflame?" I asked Squirrelflight, "He is doing the last border patrol on Shadowclan, he wont be back until moon high." My shoulders shrunk, I didn't want to put this off but I cant drop the news on him during patrol. I thanked our deputy and left her to eat with Bramblestar. "Are you alright Morningdew?" I looked up and found that my paws had led me to the medicine cats den,
"Oh, sorry Leafpool, I wasn't looking at where I was going I guess." I said sullenly, "I would have thought you would have been happier. I mean your engagement was only yesterday and now you are acting like Scorchflame is seeing someone else." She joked pawing my side playfully and I tried to smile back but couldn't. "Im happy, really I am." I lied and padded away before she could read between the lines. I found Skypaw and Snowpaw helping with the elders and decided to see if they needed help.
"Wow, you want to help us with apprentice duties? You don't have to do that." Skypaw said through mouthfuls of moss. Snowpaw was checking for ticks on Millie and Graystripe. Sandstorm was outside dozing in the dusky sunlight and Purdy was humming a little tune, they all seemed so relaxed and happy. I envied them, still with nothing to do I decided to do a bit of night hunting.
That didn't prove fruitful as I only managed to catch a mouse. The sun was beginning to set and my heavy heart fell into my paws as I decided to head to my nest early tonight. Tomorrow I would tell Scorchflame that I didn't want to be his mate and then I would feel better…with the tiny exception that the love of my life was a Windclan warrior.
Nightfang
"How was that Nightfang?" Graypaw gasped, completing another go through the rocks during out agility practice. "That's was much better, your getting really good." I said with a smile and she bounced up and down at my praise. "What do you want to practice next?" she said jumping up next to me on the rock I sat on, "Oh, doesn't Emberfoot need you back for patrol?" I asked scooting away slightly, she closed the distance and pressed her side against mine,
"I told you would take me." She smiled, "Actually, I have a few duties to catch up one." I said jumping away from her, she frowned and I felt bad considering I was the one who offered to spend time with her, "You know I bet Hawkfang would love to see what you learned, I hear him talk about you all the time." I added hoping she would take the bait, "Really!? He does?" she sparked back to life and I nodded vigorously,
"Ok, ill go ask him, thanks Nightfang." She sprung from the rock and ran in the direction back to camp. I let out a large sigh of relief, Hawkpaw did talk about her a lot but I wasn't sure if he had deeper feelings for her, oh well maybe if she shows interest he will too. I didn't have to do much to push Featherfur away, in fact when I came to find her for our walk yesterday she had already gone hunting with Emberfoot, normally I would have been a bit offended but after what happened last night it wasn't possible for me to think about another she-cat other than Morningdew.
I thought about how beautiful she was, he coat soft and sweet, her eyes glowing in the moonlight. I stood in the sunlight, letting it warm my fur and I day dreamed it was her curling up to me like she did last night. "Nightfang, what are doing standing around, don't you have duties to perform." I herd Breezepelt snap and I turned around to see him with Windypaw. Her mentor was sick today so Breezepelt offered to train her, much to Windypaws dismay as she was scared of the bristly tom.
"Oh, sorry father, I was just-" "Being lazy? If you are so bored maybe you should go check on the nursery and clean out Daisyferns nest? Her litter is getting big and the nest is a mess." I could tell he was trying to get under my fur but today I was in no mood to argue, "That's a great idea father, I would be honored to help care for the kits." I said over sweetly and he glared at me, with a sympathetic smile to Windypaw I bounded off to help Daisyfern.
"Oh Nightfang! How nice of you to stop by, Look my loves, its our newest warrior" she said to her kits who were scuttling around the nursery chasing feathers. Three sets of kitten blue eyes turned on me and then followed the squeals, "Wow, a warrior!", "Whats it like?", "Do you get to sleep in your own nest?" they all said running around me in a dizzying circle.
"Um its busy and yes I get my own nest." I said turning my head to around with them and soon I was beginning to see stars. "Darlings please, stop bothering him, he is here on warrior business." Daisyfern said scooping them up with her tail. The three little fluff ball whined but let their mother pull them aside so I could straighten up the nest. "Weaselfur must be proud, they will be fine warriors." I said pulling out the ruined bedding. "Oh yes, he is such a great father, he plays with them everyday." She said purring. "What were their names again?" I asked feeling embarrassed I didn't know, "Lightningkit she said pointing to a ginger tom, Heatherkit pointing to the brown tabby she kit , and Thrushkit, pointing to the smallest white and yellow kit." They were born a week ago and they were already so big, I wonder what it must be like to be father.
"Would Morningdew expect kits?" I thought in between separating the soiled feathers and grass. I didn't know much about kits and if since we where from different clans, who would raise them? What if she did want them, how would we explain it to our clans? Would I even be able to meet them? The unease in my stomach made my head swim, calm down Nightfang, we only just became mates I am sure Morningdew would have a plan. Besides we only just became warriors, neither of us needed to think about kits yet.
I brought in the new bedding and started to press and mold it into a tight oval. The nights were beginning to chill and we didn't want the new kits to get sick. I smiled as they practiced pouncing on my tail, much to Daisyferns embarrassment, "Don't worry, I don't mind." I said flicking it back and forth to continue the game. "Daisyfern, I brought you a vole, your favorite." Weaslefur called bounding into the nursery, "Oh sorry Nightfang, I didn't know you were here." He said apologetically, "I was just on my way out" I said stepping aside so he could have more room with his family.
I took the soiled bedding outside and smiled at my clan, it was so healthy and happy. This summer brought us new warriors and kits, Harespring is even making plans to expand the warriors den. My thoughts went back to Shadowclan and I began to sympathize with their worries, it must be scary having a bad summer with little hunting and no kits. "Nightfang, you look tense, is something wrong?" I jumped a bit at the strong voice and turned to see Onestar returning from a mid day walk.
"Oh Onestar, I didn't hear you coming." I bowed and he waved it away, "No need for such formalities Nightfang, you were my student remember?" "Yes, of course. But it was only for a few days." He shrugged in response, "None the less, you deserved your title. Now what has you in such a deep thought?" I pawed at the messed up bedding, "I was just wondering, has any clan ever gone a summer without kits before?" he sat down and thought for a moment,
"Well it is very rare but it has happened before during times of hardship. I do remember something about Thunderclan not having any during Bluestars early years. It was sad really, they had a bad winter of famine that took five warriors lives and then to have a summer with no kits had them down to some of their lowest numbers ever since they were founded." He said and I grew uneasy, "Did the clan think she was the cause, that she angered Starclan?"
"Not that remember, Thunderclan has always been loyal to their leader despite any hardships. All clans have been, even when Tigerstar was in charge of Shadowclan they didn't judge him for his actions. Why do you ask?" I shrugged it off, trying not to give anything away, "No reason, just curious is all. I guess the thought just struck me that what if a clan died out because of bad hunting and no births."
"That's a very improbable happening, a clan has never just died out. While it is frowned upon some clans have taken in kittypets and rogues in times of low numbers. I am sure you know how they are viewed." He said knowingly, I thought about Firestar and how he was harassed about his origins. I nodded wondering if Windclan had any such cats but Onestar couldn't think of any either.
"Well if that's all you are worried about then I hope I was able to ease your mind." He said shaking off his pelt and walked into camp, a small chorus of greetings and yips followed him and my heart melted for my leader. Onestar was such a noble and be loved leader, I am glad I was born to serve him.
I decided to go to sleep a little early this evening, I wanted make sure I was wide awake to see Morningdew in the morning, I could wait to see the early sunlight in her fur, I bet it makes it shine brighter than the sun. I curled up and quickly fell asleep dreaming of my mate. A ear splitting cry dragged me from my slumber and all I could hear was the frantic cries of Weaselfur, "Daisyfern is dead! Shadowclan has stolen my kits!"