Morningdew
Starclan forgive me but I was undeniably in love with Nightfang of Windclan. I loved how his pelt shinned in the sunlight, how fast and agile he was, his voice surrounded me in a pelt of comfort and made me hang on his every word. What I loved most was his eyes, those bright, magnetic, amber eyes they dug deep to my very soul and filled it with dreams.
Ones that I knew couldn't come true, because I belonged in Thunderclan. I was born to climb these trees and hide within the thick brush, I was born to hunt as silent as an owl and to serve my clan like no warrior has before me. I could never be happy anywhere else, this was my home and Thunderclan was my family, but Nightfang was my mate and despite our differences and boundaries we managed to make our love flourish for many moons.
Now a seasoned warrior of four, I am redefining what it was to be a Thunderclan warrior. I was the fastest runner, the quickest hunter and the leading voice when it came to training for anything from battles to hunting techniques. There wasn't a cat in the clan that was my equal, except my only rival Scorchfang, who just so happens to be my mate as well.
Though I feel only friendship for him, I have yet to build up the courage to end it. Despite his cunning and observation he has yet to understand my true feelings. Not that I am surprised, I am his mate in only title. He has spent so much time grooming himself for command that we have rarely spent anytime together out side of warrior duties. The few times we have been alone he would apologize for his callousness and ill attentions but always assuring that he just needs to do a little bit more to ensure we would become deputy if anything were to happen to Squirrelflight or Bramblestar.
Only that never seems to happen. He always needs to do one more patrol or one more battle presentation with Bramblestar, I guess since he hasn't asked for kits yet I didn't see much harm in pretending to be his mate. While Nightfang and I didn't see each other everyday we both had ways of communicating.
He loved to leave various types of wild flowers for me under a bush or pile of leaves near the border where we met each night, making sure to leave rocks around his gifts so that I know they are from him. I liked to bring him feathers or mosses for his nest and clan. I was even able to catch him the occasional fish that I would bring on our evening meetings.
When we spoke I could tell he was rising in the ranks of his clan as well. I would share battle knowledge and techniques I had been working on to get his input, we had even created a few news ones. Ever since our run in with Shadowclan a steady truce has kept boundary fights at a minimum. Based off of his rock sign, he wanted to meet tonight. My heart did a back flip at the thought, it had been almost a week since we ad seen each other last.
"Hey, how about a late hunting trip?" Scorchflame asked when we returned from border patrol, Berrynose and Spiderleg quickly leaving to give us our space. "Um, actually Scorchflame I was hoping to get to bed early tonight, I have a bit of a stomach ache." It wasn't a total lie, my stomach has been bothering me lately, it must have been that old squirrel I caught a few days ago.
He looked at me with slight concern but there was something else in his golden gaze I couldn't quite place. "I see, is there anything I can get you?" he asked giving me a loving lick. I returned the nudge, "I think I will go to Leafpool and see if she has something, I think I just need a good nights sleep." I shrugged and awkwardly moved around him, my head spinning a bit. "Let me walk you back." He said calmly and I let him guide me back to camp.
Leafpool gave me some poppy seeds for sleep but based off my symptoms she said no medicine can cure it, only time. I didn't to eat the poppy seeds, I may sleep right threw the night and then miss Nightfang, "Thanks anyway Leafpool, I think ill just go without them." Scorchflame began to protest but I gave him a stern look and walked over to the warriors den.
As usual he tucked me in and stuffed every feather and moss in place as if one being askew would mess give me a nightmare. "Sleep well, my love." He said with a deep purr that was almost a growl, then he turn and left me alone. That was weird, what was his problem? Is it because I didn't want the poppy seeds? Or because I turned down his invitation? Whatever, I would do something for him tomorrow to make it up to him.
I walked a little slower that evening, the air was thick with humidity and I began to worry it would storm and cut our meeting short. None the less my heart did the same twists and turns when I laid eyes on my mates dark form, his eyes the only thing I could see and like always they shone when they spotted me.
Touching noses and exchanging little nips and licks we both became whole in each others presence. This evening he had brought a large vole for us to share and even though my stomach churned a bit at the thought of food, I agreed to eat a bite or two.
"Harespring is not well." He said while we shared the vole.
"Nothing serious I hope?"
"He came down with greencough last winter and his lungs have never been the same. He wheezes and coughs terribly in new leaf, he is considering retiring his position and taking on minimal warrior duties."
I placed a paw on his, "Im sorry to hear that. Harespring was a fine warrior." He leaned his head into mine, "He was a fine deputy."
"Who is Onestar considering as his replacement?" I asked finishing the last bite of vole. "Well most of the clan thinks it should be Crowfeather, I know my father is hoping for the position as well." He said licking the last of the meal from his paws,
"What about you?" I asked thoughtfully, "You are calmer and more honorable then them." he raised his eyebrow at me, "Honorable? That funny considering the circumstances." I chuckled at that, "Not that you fur ball, I meant between relations with other clans. Remember when we were dealing with Shadowclan? It was your idea to work together, only a true leader would think that way."
He smiled at me but then his expression grew sad, he seemed to do that often these days. "What is it?" I sighed a little annoyed; he turned away from me as if he was ashamed about what he was going to say. "I have been thinking about the position to be honest but how can I consider being a leader of Windclan when I lie to them everyday? When I am breaking the very code I am meant to represent and defend?"
I wasn't sure how to answer that, what was he saying? "Well, if Starclan didn't agree with what we were doing wouldn't they have sent us a sign by now?" I pondered hoping to cheer him up, but he remained sullen. "Well I have a little news that might cheer you up." I said with a knowing voice, he looked at me intrigued and for a moment my old Nightfang was back.
"Morningdew, my dear have you been keeping secrets?" he said and I leaned in close to tell him,
"Yes Morningdew, have you been keeping secrets?" a angry growl came from behind us and we both jumped around to meet the intruder with a his.
My heart dropped as the orange flecked muzzle of Scorchflame stepped out of the shadows.
Nightfang
With a small shimmer of lightning I saw Morningdew's clan mate Scorchflame was illuminated, his posture stiff, his gaze full of rage. "Morningdew, what is he doing here?" I asked, the fur on my back rising as I locked gazes with the rival male. Morningdew was speechless, her mouth wide open in shock.
"S-Schorchflame, what are you? How did you?" she stuttered
"I followed you my love" he spit out the last endearment like it was poison, Morningdew flinched, "Berrynose has seen you sneaking out before and he woke me up thinking that he was helping me by letting us be alone on a moonlit walk." He said in a mocking tone, a low growl began to fill my throat as I listened to his intentions, "But little did I know that you wernt just a restless sleeper but a traitorous liar!" he hissed,
"Watch it Scorchflame, don't talk to my mate like that." I hissed back standing beside Morningdew who began to shake, another flash of lightning filled the sky followed by a crack of thunder. "Mate? Is that what she calls you? That term must mean something different in our clan then because that's what I thought I was!" he was beginning to shake as well but not with fear but with anger,
I looked at Morningdew utterly confused, "What is he talking about Morningdew?"
Her eyes filled with tears, "I was going to break up with him the day after you asked me to be your mate. It just was never the right time." She cried, looking at me with a pleading look, her blue eyes glowed from the emotion.
I was stunned, my toes froze my head swam but that was quickly replaced with anger.
"You mean after all this time, you have been with him?" me and Scorchflame spit in unison which caused us to lock gazes, my anger now mirrored his own as the realization of our loves betrayal stung and all we could think of was the male responsible for taking her away.
A large rain drop fell between us, as quick as the lightning that followed we dove at each other, clashing in a ball of claws and teeth and fur. Morningdew gasped but her cries were lost in the noise of the rain and the rage of the fight. Instinct to fight for our mate controlled us now and not even Starclan could stop it.
Scorchflame was large but I was quick, he lifted a large paw to slash me but I ducked in enough time to head butt him in his exposed stomach flipping him over. He righted himself quicker than I thought and before I could land a hit on his nose he pulled away and my paw went right into his open mouth, his fangs dug into my paw pads and I let out a painful yowl.
He pulled me, wrenching my shoulder and crashing my head into his shoulder at the same time and I fell hard to the ground. Morningdew screamed for us to stop but neither of us listened. Scorchflame had a winning look in his eye, he thought he had me but out here in the moors I was the real hunter. Before he could lunge again I rolled and he landed where I used to lie, I rushed into the tall grass and quickly blended with the shadows.
He came after me of course but his sight blurred by the rain made him loose me quickly. "Come out here you leech! Morningdew is mine, she has always been mine!" he hissed and my anger bubbled further at his claim, just the though of him looking at her made me burn. I lunched from my cover and slashed his nose, he screamed more in surprise then pain and before he could counter I disappeared again.
Frustrated he began beating at anything thing he could touch, I shot out again while he stood on his back paws and sliced his right leg. He screamed again but didn't fall like I expected, but he was slower now. I paced around him as he search for me frantically in the downpour. Mud was starting to form under my paws and I knew that I would need to end this quick if I wanted to keep my edge.
Scorchflame stopped his search and turned to the rocky slope were Morningdew and my cave was and made a beeline for it. He was trying to get a better view but his large bulk and the rain made him slide around on the rocks. Morningdew called our names but her voice was muffled by the rain crashing against the stone, I crept up on Scorchflame and right before I was about to pounce he managed to hook a claw on a rock and pulled himself up onto the sloping stone.
I hissed in frustration and jumped up after him, maybe I could catch him from behind. A large bolt of lightning lit of the area around us and he spotted me, with a lung he crashed into me and we rolled dangerously close to the edge. We clawed and hissed and bit each other as fiercely as the storm around us.
"Nightfang, Scorchflame please stop!" Morningdew screamed, pulling herself up the slope, her pelt soaked with rain making her look small and scared. Another flash of lighting split the sky, striking a nearby tree, making Morningdew jump in fear, her foot caught the edge and she began to slip over the side. I turned my gaze away from Scorchflame to her, which was a mistake. Scorchflame howled as he bit on my tail and pulled me hard, swinging me over the side of the slope.
I yowled and I scraped my claws against the stone and hung tight, the unexpected force caused Scorchflame to stumble, a giant crash of thunder covered his screams as he lost his balance and fell and when he landed, there was nothing but the sound of the rain.
I pulled myself up, my claws feeling like they were going to fall out, I dared a quick look over the edge and I saw Scorchflame lying at a odd angle his neck twisted. My stomach lurched and I looked to Morningdew who had gotten herself up the slope and now clung so close to the stone I thought she was going to melt into it. Looking at her now all I could feel is confusion and anger, I wanted to run to her and comfort her and shield her from her clan mates death but then I remembered that she was supposedly his mate as well. I remembered that the last four years had been a lie, and all I felt now was the cold of the rain as it chilled me to my bones.
"Come on, lets move to the cave and get out of the rain." I had to yell over the storm and when she didn't move I thought she didn't hear me, but finally she pulled away from the stone and crept cautiously along the narrow edge and we moved in silence until we reached our cave which now had a small waterfall of water pouring down it.
I burst through it and shook my pelt inside the warm enclosure. I looked back expecting Morningdew to follow but instead of jumping through like I had she draped over the edge and crept in like she could barley move.
"Why are you moving like that? Your not the one who was almost killed." I said bitterly trying to lick myself dry. She looked at me hurt at my tone but I didn't care, "Nightfang, I have something to tell you." she said sadly.
I snorted at that, "Oh really? It's a little late now don't you think?"
She let out another little cry, "Not that you idiot!" she began to sob lightly,
"What then? Are you going to tell me you have a mate in Shadowclan too?" I hissed.
"I am going to have your kits!"