HOME | DD

Description
  Leafpool longed to bound after Crowfeather, longing to destroy that heavy heartache she always felt when she was away from him. But she couldn’t, not at a gathering like this. Instead she padded forward, paw steps slow and deliberate. The young medicine cat’s dreams were no longer plagued by that tabby shadow, those piercing amber eyes, but Leafpool often felt his presence, as though he were stalking her to the deepest corners of her dreams. But for now, she felt safe from his cold gaze. High above her the moon still glowed eerily, casting a sickly shadow across the departed cats of LionClan and TigerClan. Leafpool followed LionClan, and together the Clan bounded across the tree-bridge.
  Leafpool was padding along towards camp with the other cats, when a soft hiss cut through the air. Leafpool jerked her head up, glancing around in alarm. But she saw nothing, and no other cat seemed to have heard the sound. Narrowing her eyes, the she-cat continued forward. But again she heard a low hiss. Leafpool turned her head to gaze off into the shadows of the forest. A jolt hit her when she met icy blue eyes in the shadows of the gnarled roots of an old elm.
  “Leafpool!” Crowfeather’s voice cut through the night air like a claw. “Meet me here when the other warriors go to sleep.” Leafpool’s eyes widened, filled with excitement. She nodded quickly. Crowfeather’s blue eyes vanished. Leafpool knew he would head back to camp too. The tabby she-cat’s paws moved a bit quicker as the Clan made their way back to camp. It seemed like moons before the other cats made their way to sleep. A flash of ginger fur caught Leafpool’s eye and she glanced up from where she crouched at the mouth of her den to see Squirrelflight padding beside Bramblestar. Together the ginger and tabby warrior padded into Bramblestar’s den, vanishing into the shadows of it. Leafpool’s eyes hardened as she glared after her sister and her leader.
  “What happened to my sister?” she murmured softly.
  “What was that?” a rusty voice called, Leafpool turned to see Barkface padding toward her. The older cat looked a bit stiff and obviously tired.
  “Nothing, nothing.” Leafpool muttered, eyes moving to the warriors den.
  “Well? Do you plan on just sitting their all night, or do you enjoy blocking the way to my den?” Barkface growled irritably, tail tip twitching with annoyance.
  “What? Oh, yes. Sorry, Barkface.” Leafpool said quickly, turning to enter the medicine den, curling up in her nest, though her eyes wee still wide open. She was far too excited to sleep just yet. Barkface muttered something, but Leafpool didn’t catch it.
  “Leafpool, is everything all right?” Barkface asked, curling up in his nest.
  “Of course, everything’s perfect?” Leafpool lied. So many things weren’t perfect, but Leafpool wasn’t going to complain.
  “All right….Its just that you seem a bit….Distracted.” the short-tailed brown tom said.
  “I’m just a little overexcited from the gathering.” Leafpool insisted. “Maybe Ill go out for a quick walk.” She mewed suddenly, scrambling to her paws. Barkface nodded, eyes already fluttering shut. Leafpool smiled. An easy escape. Trying to contain her happiness at sneaking out to meet Crowfeather once again, Leafpool slid out of the camp, heading straight for the place Crowfeather had told her to meet him at.
  “Crowfeather?” she called softly, searching through the night for him. But she saw no sign of the lithe warrior. A sudden whoosh of air brushed over her as a gray shadow flew at her. Leafpool jerked her head up in time to see a flash of blue eyes. Crowfeather curled his paws around Leafpool, softening her fall.
  “Crowfeather, you great lump!” Leafpool laughed rolling over as the toms gentle laughter filled the air. “Get off of me!” she growled playfully.
  “Fine, fine!” The smoky tom mewed, rolling away. “Come on then. I want to show you something!” He said, suddenly excited.
  “What is it?” Leafpool asked, cocking her head to one side.
  “You’ll see!” he replied, eyes filled with excitement. Leafpool blinked, following as Crowfeather led the way through LionClan’s territory. The tomcat led the way to what used to be WindClan’s old territory. Leafpool could almost feel the resentment burning in Crowfeather, and could easily see it in his eyes. She knew that he still wanted to be of WindClan, just like she wanted to be part of ThunderClan. But here, together in one Clan, they could be together. Not to the public eye, but still…..it was easier for them.
  “Where are we going?” Leafpool finally asked; her paws were beginning to ache, unaccustomed to walking across the flat moorland.
  “Here!” Crowfeather mewed, bounding forward just behind a sage bush. “Follow me!” he called. Leafpool did, peering around the thorn bush to see Crowfeather sliding into an old fox den. It was easily large enough for him to go in.
  “What in StarClan’s name are you doing Crowfeather?” She growled, staring down at him.
  “Wait till you see what I found!” he growled happily. “Just follow me!”
  “Why would I want to go into a foxes den?” Leafpool asked, casting Crowfeather a doubtful glance. Crowfeather sighed.
  “Leafpool, don’t you trust me?” Crowfeather whispered softly. Leafpool couldn’t resist. The tabby let out a sigh, then nodded quickly bounding down the fox den, paws sliding across the sand. Crowfeather grinned (Can cats grin?) gesturing for Leafpool to follow. Together the warrior and medicine cat traveled a little ways down the fox den. It led to a tunnel only a few feet from the opening. But all Leafpool could see was a pitch black. Crowfeather plunged without hesitation into the dark tunnel.
  “Crowfeather?” Leafpool called fearfully, pausing at the tunnel entrance.  Crowfeather appeared again.
  “What if we get lost?” she asked.
  “We wont. I know this  tunnel like the color of my fur.” He promised, resting his tail across Leafpool’s shoulder. “Come, I’ll lead.” He mewed. Leafpool stared nervously ahead, but she nodded, following Crowfeather into the dark.
  It was easier to walk in the black tunnel than Leafpool had thought. Crowfeather guided her with his tail and gentle words. And within several minuets, Leafpool could see dim light ahead. Crowfeather quickened his paw steps.
  “Come on, were almost there!” he growled excitedly. Together the two bounded forward into an wide and open cave. The gentle lapping of water filled her ears and the young medicine cat could see a small river flowing from a hole in the rock wall. Up above was a hole in the roof. Moonlight flooded in through it, splashing across the stones.  It reminded Leafpool of the Moonstone back at the forest.
  “Its beautiful, Crowfeather!” Leafpool breathed.
  “It is, isn’t it? He replied, and Leafpool turned to catch him staring at her. Her skin burned hot beneath her fur. “Were finally alone!” he mewed.
  “We will have to go back!” Leafpool laughed.
  “Yeah, but for now…” he murmured, curling his tail around. Leafpool leaned onto his shoulder. Their purrs blended together like one.
  “Oh Leafpool, I’ve missed you so much!” he muttered, pressing his nose into her fur.
  “And I you.” she whispered. They curled up together, just beneath the hole in the roof, letting the light flood down onto them. Leafpool found herself dozing off, and when she work, she found Crowfeather staring up at the night sky. Leafpool hadn’t been asleep for very long.
  “She’s up there. Feathertail.” He whispered. Leafpool could hear the pain in his voice, the anguish.
  “She will always be with you.” Leafpool promised, and like an answer from the sky, a single star glittered brighter than the rest for a moment. Crowfeather’s eyes blazed, lifting his head up as if he could reach that single glowing spirit.
  “I loved her, Leafpool.” he mewed, turning his head to face her. “But when I’m with you…..Its like I don’t feel that pain anymore. You have healed my heart.” he whispered.
  “I love you.” she murmured.
  “You still walk in my dreams.”
  Leafpool could only purr in reply, letting her eyes close as she fell off to sleep.
  “And you always will.” was the last words she heard before she fell into a blanket of sleep.
And when she fell asleep, she dreamed. Of beautiful blue eyes and soft gray pelts that belonged to her one true love. Of an endless sea of stars with gentle waves lapping at her paws, carrying her to places hidden even in her dreams. But something changed. Not in a bad way, but in a way to make Leafpool’s head jerk up in shock. A breeze had struck the air, and riding on it was the beloved scent of Cinderpelt.
  “Cinderpelt! Oh, Cinderpelt!” Leafpool cried, and suddenly she found herself in ThunderClan’s old camp, beneath the ravine, before the twolegs had destroyed everything. All around her warriors were working in their usual duties. The apprentices were complaining to the elders. To Leafpool’s delight, she heard Frostfur’s cranky voice. Shrewpaw crouched in front of the apprentices den, eating a small mouse. They were all alive! Leafpool even caught a whiff of Graystripe on the breeze. But she couldn’t stop her paws to investigate as she bounded towards the medicine cat den. And there she was. Fluffy gray fur just as Leafpool remembered, blue eyes wide, gentle and caring as ever.
  “Cinderpelt!” she breathed, staggering forward. “You haven’t abandoned me!” Leafpool pressed her muzzle against Cinderpelt’s, drinking in the sweet scent of the star stained fur.
  “Of course not, my young medicine cat. Do you think I would abandon you, even in death?” Cinderpelt purred softly, her words muffled by something. Confused, Leafpool looked up to see that in the StarClan cats mouth, was a tiny fluffy gray kit. Its eyes were clamped shut, though its mouth was agape as it let out a pitiful mew.
  “What in StarClan’s name……” Leafpool started, brushing her tail gently across the kits ears soothingly, quieting its cries. “Who is this?” Leafpool asked, glancing up at Cinderpelt. Cinderpelt’s eyes were glowing with a happiness Leafpool had never seen before. But the medicine cat gave no reply. Instead she placed the young kit at  Leafpool’s paws.
  “The choice is yours Leafpool. The fate of the Clans hangs at the heart of your decision. So make it wisely.” the star pricked she-cat whispered, and as Leafpool gazed into those pools of sky blue, she saw a flare of hope. The light of battle. And the ferocity of love.
  “What?” Leafpool asked, confusion biting at her paws. “What am I supposed to with a kit?” She added with a soft growl. But Cinderpelt had already bounded out of the medicine den, no longer slowed down with the burden of her ruined leg now that she was with StarClan. Leafpool longed to follow her beloved mentor, but could not bring herself to leave the little kit, who still huddled beneath Leafpool’s shadow.
  “What is your name, little one?” Leafpool asked softly, but she knew the kit was too young to speak. Then the kit did something that surprised her. It lifted its head up and gazed at Leafpool with clamped eyes.  Then, slowly, its eyes opened, exposing a gorgeous icy blue, the color of a star bathed sky. Leafpool jerked her head back. The eyes were so startlingly familiar. But where had she seen them?
  “What are you trying to tell me, StarClan?” she whispered softly, narrowing her eyes as she gazed closely at the kit.
  “Leafpool, Leafpool! Wake up, we need to go!” A voice disrupted her dreams.
  “What?” Leafpool mewed sleepily, wrenching her eyes open, flinching when she gazed up into the bright light of the sun. “Oh no!” she cried.
  “We fell asleep! Come on, lets hope the Clan hasn’t noticed our absence yet!” Crowfeather mewed. Leafpool shoved the thoughts of her dream to the back of her head and with Crowfeather right next to her, darted out of the old fox den.

Description
  Leafpool longed to bound after Crowfeather, longing to destroy that heavy heartache she always felt when she was away from him. But she couldn’t, not at a gathering like this. Instead she padded forward, paw steps slow and deliberate. The young medicine cat’s dreams were no longer plagued by that tabby shadow, those piercing amber eyes, but Leafpool often felt his presence, as though he were stalking her to the deepest corners of her dreams. But for now, she felt safe from his cold gaze. High above her the moon still glowed eerily, casting a sickly shadow across the departed cats of LionClan and TigerClan. Leafpool followed LionClan, and together the Clan bounded across the tree-bridge.
  Leafpool was padding along towards camp with the other cats, when a soft hiss cut through the air. Leafpool jerked her head up, glancing around in alarm. But she saw nothing, and no other cat seemed to have heard the sound. Narrowing her eyes, the she-cat continued forward. But again she heard a low hiss. Leafpool turned her head to gaze off into the shadows of the forest. A jolt hit her when she met icy blue eyes in the shadows of the gnarled roots of an old elm.
  “Leafpool!” Crowfeather’s voice cut through the night air like a claw. “Meet me here when the other warriors go to sleep.” Leafpool’s eyes widened, filled with excitement. She nodded quickly. Crowfeather’s blue eyes vanished. Leafpool knew he would head back to camp too. The tabby she-cat’s paws moved a bit quicker as the Clan made their way back to camp. It seemed like moons before the other cats made their way to sleep. A flash of ginger fur caught Leafpool’s eye and she glanced up from where she crouched at the mouth of her den to see Squirrelflight padding beside Bramblestar. Together the ginger and tabby warrior padded into Bramblestar’s den, vanishing into the shadows of it. Leafpool’s eyes hardened as she glared after her sister and her leader.
  “What happened to my sister?” she murmured softly.
  “What was that?” a rusty voice called, Leafpool turned to see Barkface padding toward her. The older cat looked a bit stiff and obviously tired.
  “Nothing, nothing.” Leafpool muttered, eyes moving to the warriors den.
  “Well? Do you plan on just sitting their all night, or do you enjoy blocking the way to my den?” Barkface growled irritably, tail tip twitching with annoyance.
  “What? Oh, yes. Sorry, Barkface.” Leafpool said quickly, turning to enter the medicine den, curling up in her nest, though her eyes wee still wide open. She was far too excited to sleep just yet. Barkface muttered something, but Leafpool didn’t catch it.
  “Leafpool, is everything all right?” Barkface asked, curling up in his nest.
  “Of course, everything’s perfect?” Leafpool lied. So many things weren’t perfect, but Leafpool wasn’t going to complain.
  “All right….Its just that you seem a bit….Distracted.” the short-tailed brown tom said.
  “I’m just a little overexcited from the gathering.” Leafpool insisted. “Maybe Ill go out for a quick walk.” She mewed suddenly, scrambling to her paws. Barkface nodded, eyes already fluttering shut. Leafpool smiled. An easy escape. Trying to contain her happiness at sneaking out to meet Crowfeather once again, Leafpool slid out of the camp, heading straight for the place Crowfeather had told her to meet him at.
  “Crowfeather?” she called softly, searching through the night for him. But she saw no sign of the lithe warrior. A sudden whoosh of air brushed over her as a gray shadow flew at her. Leafpool jerked her head up in time to see a flash of blue eyes. Crowfeather curled his paws around Leafpool, softening her fall.
  “Crowfeather, you great lump!” Leafpool laughed rolling over as the toms gentle laughter filled the air. “Get off of me!” she growled playfully.
  “Fine, fine!” The smoky tom mewed, rolling away. “Come on then. I want to show you something!” He said, suddenly excited.
  “What is it?” Leafpool asked, cocking her head to one side.
  “You’ll see!” he replied, eyes filled with excitement. Leafpool blinked, following as Crowfeather led the way through LionClan’s territory. The tomcat led the way to what used to be WindClan’s old territory. Leafpool could almost feel the resentment burning in Crowfeather, and could easily see it in his eyes. She knew that he still wanted to be of WindClan, just like she wanted to be part of ThunderClan. But here, together in one Clan, they could be together. Not to the public eye, but still…..it was easier for them.
  “Where are we going?” Leafpool finally asked; her paws were beginning to ache, unaccustomed to walking across the flat moorland.
  “Here!” Crowfeather mewed, bounding forward just behind a sage bush. “Follow me!” he called. Leafpool did, peering around the thorn bush to see Crowfeather sliding into an old fox den. It was easily large enough for him to go in.
  “What in StarClan’s name are you doing Crowfeather?” She growled, staring down at him.
  “Wait till you see what I found!” he growled happily. “Just follow me!”
  “Why would I want to go into a foxes den?” Leafpool asked, casting Crowfeather a doubtful glance. Crowfeather sighed.
  “Leafpool, don’t you trust me?” Crowfeather whispered softly. Leafpool couldn’t resist. The tabby let out a sigh, then nodded quickly bounding down the fox den, paws sliding across the sand. Crowfeather grinned (Can cats grin?) gesturing for Leafpool to follow. Together the warrior and medicine cat traveled a little ways down the fox den. It led to a tunnel only a few feet from the opening. But all Leafpool could see was a pitch black. Crowfeather plunged without hesitation into the dark tunnel.
  “Crowfeather?” Leafpool called fearfully, pausing at the tunnel entrance.  Crowfeather appeared again.
  “What if we get lost?” she asked.
  “We wont. I know this  tunnel like the color of my fur.” He promised, resting his tail across Leafpool’s shoulder. “Come, I’ll lead.” He mewed. Leafpool stared nervously ahead, but she nodded, following Crowfeather into the dark.
  It was easier to walk in the black tunnel than Leafpool had thought. Crowfeather guided her with his tail and gentle words. And within several minuets, Leafpool could see dim light ahead. Crowfeather quickened his paw steps.
  “Come on, were almost there!” he growled excitedly. Together the two bounded forward into an wide and open cave. The gentle lapping of water filled her ears and the young medicine cat could see a small river flowing from a hole in the rock wall. Up above was a hole in the roof. Moonlight flooded in through it, splashing across the stones.  It reminded Leafpool of the Moonstone back at the forest.
  “Its beautiful, Crowfeather!” Leafpool breathed.
  “It is, isn’t it? He replied, and Leafpool turned to catch him staring at her. Her skin burned hot beneath her fur. “Were finally alone!” he mewed.
  “We will have to go back!” Leafpool laughed.
  “Yeah, but for now…” he murmured, curling his tail around. Leafpool leaned onto his shoulder. Their purrs blended together like one.
  “Oh Leafpool, I’ve missed you so much!” he muttered, pressing his nose into her fur.
  “And I you.” she whispered. They curled up together, just beneath the hole in the roof, letting the light flood down onto them. Leafpool found herself dozing off, and when she work, she found Crowfeather staring up at the night sky. Leafpool hadn’t been asleep for very long.
  “She’s up there. Feathertail.” He whispered. Leafpool could hear the pain in his voice, the anguish.
  “She will always be with you.” Leafpool promised, and like an answer from the sky, a single star glittered brighter than the rest for a moment. Crowfeather’s eyes blazed, lifting his head up as if he could reach that single glowing spirit.
  “I loved her, Leafpool.” he mewed, turning his head to face her. “But when I’m with you…..Its like I don’t feel that pain anymore. You have healed my heart.” he whispered.
  “I love you.” she murmured.
  “You still walk in my dreams.”
  Leafpool could only purr in reply, letting her eyes close as she fell off to sleep.
  “And you always will.” was the last words she heard before she fell into a blanket of sleep.
And when she fell asleep, she dreamed. Of beautiful blue eyes and soft gray pelts that belonged to her one true love. Of an endless sea of stars with gentle waves lapping at her paws, carrying her to places hidden even in her dreams. But something changed. Not in a bad way, but in a way to make Leafpool’s head jerk up in shock. A breeze had struck the air, and riding on it was the beloved scent of Cinderpelt.
  “Cinderpelt! Oh, Cinderpelt!” Leafpool cried, and suddenly she found herself in ThunderClan’s old camp, beneath the ravine, before the twolegs had destroyed everything. All around her warriors were working in their usual duties. The apprentices were complaining to the elders. To Leafpool’s delight, she heard Frostfur’s cranky voice. Shrewpaw crouched in front of the apprentices den, eating a small mouse. They were all alive! Leafpool even caught a whiff of Graystripe on the breeze. But she couldn’t stop her paws to investigate as she bounded towards the medicine cat den. And there she was. Fluffy gray fur just as Leafpool remembered, blue eyes wide, gentle and caring as ever.
  “Cinderpelt!” she breathed, staggering forward. “You haven’t abandoned me!” Leafpool pressed her muzzle against Cinderpelt’s, drinking in the sweet scent of the star stained fur.
  “Of course not, my young medicine cat. Do you think I would abandon you, even in death?” Cinderpelt purred softly, her words muffled by something. Confused, Leafpool looked up to see that in the StarClan cats mouth, was a tiny fluffy gray kit. Its eyes were clamped shut, though its mouth was agape as it let out a pitiful mew.
  “What in StarClan’s name……” Leafpool started, brushing her tail gently across the kits ears soothingly, quieting its cries. “Who is this?” Leafpool asked, glancing up at Cinderpelt. Cinderpelt’s eyes were glowing with a happiness Leafpool had never seen before. But the medicine cat gave no reply. Instead she placed the young kit at  Leafpool’s paws.
  “The choice is yours Leafpool. The fate of the Clans hangs at the heart of your decision. So make it wisely.” the star pricked she-cat whispered, and as Leafpool gazed into those pools of sky blue, she saw a flare of hope. The light of battle. And the ferocity of love.
  “What?” Leafpool asked, confusion biting at her paws. “What am I supposed to with a kit?” She added with a soft growl. But Cinderpelt had already bounded out of the medicine den, no longer slowed down with the burden of her ruined leg now that she was with StarClan. Leafpool longed to follow her beloved mentor, but could not bring herself to leave the little kit, who still huddled beneath Leafpool’s shadow.
  “What is your name, little one?” Leafpool asked softly, but she knew the kit was too young to speak. Then the kit did something that surprised her. It lifted its head up and gazed at Leafpool with clamped eyes.  Then, slowly, its eyes opened, exposing a gorgeous icy blue, the color of a star bathed sky. Leafpool jerked her head back. The eyes were so startlingly familiar. But where had she seen them?
  “What are you trying to tell me, StarClan?” she whispered softly, narrowing her eyes as she gazed closely at the kit.
  “Leafpool, Leafpool! Wake up, we need to go!” A voice disrupted her dreams.
  “What?” Leafpool mewed sleepily, wrenching her eyes open, flinching when she gazed up into the bright light of the sun. “Oh no!” she cried.
  “We fell asleep! Come on, lets hope the Clan hasn’t noticed our absence yet!” Crowfeather mewed. Leafpool shoved the thoughts of her dream to the back of her head and with Crowfeather right next to her, darted out of the old fox den.