Chapter 34

OK so I'm going to leave, but I got to say a few things first! I'm writing in Lightningfall's POV so we can see the pain he caused through his eyes. Also, this chapter might be short, just so next chapter can be long! Sorry loves! Kaly, sorry I messed up Fluffytail's eye color. Second of all, guys please tell me who should die next chapter! Please! Third of all, I'm going to do another contest! I'll figure it out later! Have a lovely day Ashes! Love y'all, and don't forget to tell me who dies! Via comment or PM! Also…HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMY! LOVE YOU GIRLY! –Majesty

Lightningfall watched as Fluffytail ran. His heart dropped, but he couldn't, wouldn't show it. He was a warrior, not a whiney love-struck tom. The golden tom's heart could have plummeted as the white she-cat's pelt disappeared. Don't follow her, don't follow her. Don't… he suddenly took off, desperate to catch up to her. "Fluffytail? Fluffytail?!" He cried.

Struggling to run through the roots and mud, Lightningfall snapped his head back when he saw her. Unconscious, bleeding, and pelt drenched in rain and mud, he padded over to her, fear wiggling in his belly. "F-Fluffytail?" He whimpered, praying that she wasn't badly hurt. As he neared the white she-cat, his fear grew.

Fluffytail wasn't moving, and a thin line of blood trickled out of her left ear. Lightningfall started to nose her body. "Wake up," he pleaded. Nothing. "Please? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it! Fluffytail, you're so beautiful and smart, and I-I can't live without you," he whimpered.

She stirred slightly. Opening her eyes, she smiled. "If you love me…" she stopped, falling into sleep again. Her heartbeat wavered, scaring Lightningfall out of his fur.

"Not today" he vowed, grabbing her in his jaws. He hauled her onto his shoulders, and carried her back to the bank. "Whiskershadow! Vitapool! Fluffytail is hurt!" He yowled loudly. Both medicine cats stumbled out of the reeds where they were sleeping, and hurried over to Fluffytail, who was lying on a dry spot of dead grass.

"What happened?" Vitapool asked, examining Fluffytail.

"I-I don't know. I found her like this, after I…" he stopped talking, earing a sickening glare from Whiskershadow.

Vitapool trying to help the young she-cat, Whiskershadow narrowed his eyes at the golden warrior. "Did you hurt her?" He hissed. Shaking his head frantically, Lightningfall shuffled his paws. How do I say that she's hurt because of me?!

"I-I told her I never said I love you, because she's a kitty-pet," he mumbled. Whiskershadow bristled.

"So stupid, naïve, and selfish," the black tom spat, hackles raised. Vitapool shot him the death stare, but the tom only snorted, directing his attention to Fluffytail. "If she goes to Starclan, it's your fault," he hissed under his breath.

Guilt overwhelming him, Lightningfall ran to the other side of camp. What have I done? One of the medicine cats thinks I'm horrible, and the she-cat I possibly love could die any moment now! Suddenly Reedfur woke him from his trance. The dark ginger tom smiled sadly.

"What? Come to mock me? I'm sure the rest of the group will…"

"Wait, what? No. I just came to find you," he said surprised.

"Why?" Lightningfall grumbled. Reedfur's fur started to rise on his spine, but he forced it down.

"Listen: you're a young warrior. Stupid and not ready for responsibility." Lightningfall scowled, ready to object, but the ginger tom lashed his tail. "I'm not done," he growled. "I was once in love. Her name was Rosefall. I met her at a gathering, and at the time she wasn't in love with her mate, Wolfleap. I smiled at her and we laughed. We would meet at the border…until she fell pregnant with her mate's kits. It broke my heart. Once the kit was born, she met me for the last time at the border, and told me it was over. She loved her mate and new family, and who was I to take that away from her? I said ok, but it broke me inside."

Reedfur's eyes glistened, and he whispered a silent prayer to Starclan. "A few seasons later, Riverclan and Thunderclan were at battle. Rosefall's son was there. I tried to save my clan0mate from him, but I knew I couldn't hurt the kit of the she-cat I loved so dearly. I lost a clan-mate that day, my own sister. That same battle, Rosefall had been killed by my leader. I felt even more utterly broken than I had ever felt. A few miserable seasons later, I got green cough and went to Starclan. Rosefall led me to my hunting grounds, and all the love I had ever felt for her came rushing back. Of course she stayed with her mate, but still. I still love her," Reedfur whispered.

Lightningfall sat back, stunned. This poor tom had felt so much unimaginable pain and grief. "I-I'm sorry Reedfur, here I am whining when the she-cat I may or may not love could die any moment."

"May or may not love? Listen, you either love or you don't. Simple. Besides, you're too young to know what love is," Reedfur snorted. Lightningfall's hackles raised, but he forced his fur to lay flat.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I just…don't know. She great. Beautiful and smart, but she used to be a kitty-pet!"

"And your mother was born a loner," he added slyly.

"How did you- "

"See the gray on my muzzle," he snickered. "I may be old, but I'm not blind." Lightningfall sighed, exasperated.

"Touché elder," the golden tom added. Reedfur smiled.

"This is the begging of a great friendship!" Suddenly Vitapool almost collided into them as she ran to both toms.

"She's awake," the medicine cat breathed. Lightningfall's heart hammered in his chest.

Reedfur signaled for him to go see her. The golden warrior ran as fast as he could to Fluffytail. When he neared the injured she-cat, her cuts had strange plants on them, and she was drowsily lapping at some water Her right shoulder was covered in juice, and inflamed. "H-Hey Fluffytail," he said awkwardly. She smiled at him.

"I um, Vitapool told me that when I fell, something tore in my shoulder, and that I won't be able to walk well for a while. I guess you do stupid things when you think you're in love," she murmured.

Feeling a spark of courage in his heart, he pressed his pink nose to hers, and whispered," Yes. You do stupid thing when you're in love."