Stuck In The Middle (1 chapter and a sneak peak out now!)

Clan Leader-
Miststar-a silver she-cat with a lithe body structure and blue eyes

Deputy-
Cindersoot-a grey tom with yellow eyes and a muscular build

Medicine Cat-
Bubblebounce- a pale white she-cat with short, thin fur

Apprentice-
Mountainpaw- A grey she-cat with dull green eyes

Warriors-
Creekstone- a tom with thick, grey fur and light blue eyes

Lightningblaze- a pale yellow cream-furred tom with amber eyes

Rosebud- a she-cat with green eyes and tabby fur that appeared to be stained red unnaturally

Featherfloat- a yellow-eyed calico tom

Minnowsea- a silver she-cat with pale blue eyes

Thistlereed- a light brown tabby tom with a nick at the top of his right ear and amber eyes to go with his muscular build

Mintedfur- a she-cat with bright green eyes and a lithe build

Firefur- a flame-colored tom with blue-grey eyes

Thunderfire- a feisty she-cat with yellow eyes and an orange coat

Owltalon-a brown tom with amber eyes

Reedstream- a gray tabby tom with pale blue eyes and white speckles

Ripplerush- a gray tom with pale blue eyes

Troutswim- a silver tom with sleek muscles and blue eyes

Ashrose- a gray tabby she-cat with light green eyes

Silvermint- a silver she-cat with green eyes and a lithe build

Moonlight- a pale white she-cat with bright blue eyes

Queens-
Lilacblossom- a light brown she-cat with long wispy fur

Kits- Daffodilkit, Lilykit, Rosekit


Family Relations-

Creekstone, Lightningblaze, and Rosebud are littermates

Minnowsea and Thistlereed are littermates.

Ripplerush and Troutswim are littermates.

Lilacblossom's mate is Reedstream.

Firefur's mate is Rosebud. They had Moonlight and her stillborn littermate, Shimmerkit.

Minnowsea and Lightningblaze had kits. Silverkit and Goldenkit were born at the beginning of leafbare. Goldenkit died halfway through from starvation.

Coming soon!

Coming Soon!

Coming soon!

All those years, I never realized the most obvious. I was blind. It was just me and her.

Silvermint was my best friend. I grew up with her. My other littermate was stillborn. Hers died halfway through leaf bare. She was the littermate I never had.

My earliest memories were of me, Silverkit, and Rosebud. Oh, and Minnowsea.

...........................................................................................................................................

Wake up! Silverkit's paws lightly pummeled my cheek.

"Okay, okay, jeez!" I pushed her off and opened my eyes for the first time.

Whoa! The world had become bigger.

I stared up into Silverkit's beautiful green eyes. Her fur was a cool shade of silver.

I turned towards my mother. Rosebud also had green eyes. Her tabby fur was stained red unaturally. She looked at me, the drew back. "You've opened your eyes!"

Minnowsea, Silverkit's mother, peered over. "So much like her father's! Firefur must be proud."

I felt my ears grow hot with embarrassment as Rosebud nodded. Then she sighed. "Shimmerkit should be opening her eyes too."


Minnowsea had't heard. "I know Lightningblaze was proud."


Silverkit nudged me. "Come on, Mooonkit! They'll be talking like this forever." She headed toward the entrance.

I tumbled after her, ignoring my mother's mew to be careful. When I stood at the entrance to the nursery, I forgot how to breathe. My ears flattened against my head as I stretched my eyes wider.

---

Back then, I'd just begun to discover that I didn't know everything. Now I know this for sure that this is true..

I remembered the apprentice ceremony.

Silverpaw beamed at me "Moonpaw we're apprentices!"

I was shining ear to ear. "Silverpaw, we can see the territory now!"

Miststar had waited until I was six moons old to apprentice Silverpaw. She had wanted the both of us to always have each other. It felt like we were kin.

She and I exchanged a glance. She nodded, and I felt ready to burst with pride.

My mentor was Featherfloat. Silverpaw's was Reedstream. Featherfloat had taken me around the territory. We had camp near a waterfall, ad the territory was marshy and soft. Silverpaw's mentor had her do moss.

As soon as she'd seen me, she'd flicked her tail. This was our signal to say, meet me outside of camp. I hurried toward the holly bush. Somewhere behind me, Silverpaw called to her mentor. "Reedstream, I need to go make dirt." She was going through the dirtplace tunnel. 

I widened my strides, a competitive feeling coursing through my paws. I started to run, feeling water trickle dow my pelt. It's raining!

Silverpaw was already there. I gaped. "How did you get here before me?"

She smirked. "That's for me to know and you to find out."

I sighed. "Why did you want us to meet here?"

She bounced around me. "Tell me everything!"

I mimicked Featherfloat's sweet, quiet voice. "And this is the border. Can you smell the scent marks of IvyClan?"

Silverpaw gave my ear a cuff. "At least you didn't have to be collecting moss for whiny elders."

"True."

---

All of that had been leading up to this moment.

"Silverpaw," Miststar meowed. "Please step forward."

Silverpaw, for once looking very serious, did what she said.

"Moonpaw," Miststar smiled. "Step forward."

I stepped forward, heart in my throat. This is it! Excitement built in my chest, but I forced it down.

"Today, I do complete one of the most important ceremonies of the Clan." I closed my eyes and attempted to savor the moment."The making of new warriors!"

Miststar continued. "Reedstream, has your apprentice been taught the way of the warrior?"

He nodded. "She has."

Featherfloat didn't wait for Miststar to ask. "Moonpaw has too." She was bursting with pride.

"I, Miststar of MistClan, call upon, my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Silverpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Silverpaw's voice trembled slightly. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Silverpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Silvermint. StarClan honors your playful curiosity and we welcome you as a full warrior of MistClan."

She did the same for me. 

"I, Miststar of MistClan, call upon, my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Moonpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

I felt the Clan stare at me and felt no fear. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Moonpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Moonlight. StarClan honors your faith and spirit and we welcome you as a full warrior of MistClan."

The Clan chants. "Silvermint, Moonlight, Silvermint, Moonlight!"

My gaze scans the crowd for Firefur and Rosebud. I locked gazes with them, and I felt their pride warm me.

Miststar jumped down from Starsun, the place where she addressed us. It had been purely by accident that she'd been named Mistkit. A moon after I was born, she had become leader. The leader had been Waterfallstar. He'd mentored Miststar when she'd been an apprentice and given her the warrior name of Mistdew. I felt her approach me now. "Moonlight, do you like the name I've given you?"

The crowd of cats started to split up as I nodded earnestly. "I love how you said that you honored my faith and spirit. The you named me Moonlight. It's the best name in the world." I only said it because it would've been rude not to. It's just a name, no biggie.

Miststar's smile grew as I talked. "I thought it was the right name for you. I named Silvermint after those green eyes of hers."

I didn't meet her gaze. I wasn't very social, so this just felt awkward. "Yeah. Speaking of Silvermint, I think she's calling me now. Bye!"

I walked away before she could comment. I hope she doesn't think that I'm rude now. I quickly ducked my head inside the apprentices den. Silvermint glanced up, startled. "Hey!"

"Hey." I didn't sound too enthusiastic.

A head poked into the apprentice's den. Cindersoot casually met my eyes. "Moonlight! You're moving out. I made a nest for you by mine." He loooked past me and tensed.

Silvermint was steaming. "What am I? Fox-dung?"

Cindersoot kept his cool. "Silvermint, chill. I assumed that you would sleep by Rosebud and Minnowsea."

Silvermint glared at him. "Well, you assumed wrong!" She stormed out of the den. I went after her.

Cindersoot pressed his pelt against mine. "What was that all about?" He didn't seem to be in any hurry to move it away.

I widened my stride so that his pelt wasn't up against mine. Cindersoot liked me. I knew it. I didn't move fast enough to avoid the flash of hurt in his eyes. I liked Cindersoot. I just didn't like all of the drama and mushy stuff. I don't know why he bothers.

Cindersoot is a gray tom. He is in the group of toms that are "cool". Everybody was always matching up him and Silvermint, or Ashrose. He was completely oblivious to the fact that Ashrose had a crush on him, even though, every other cat in camp knew.

Ashrose, she was named because of her "sweet" personality. She's in the "cool she-cats" group. She was also gray, so you could see why she was "perfect" for him.

Okay, okay. I like Cindersoot a bit more than I let on. It was just that I felt embarrassed when he showed public signs of affection. You could just feel all the eyes on you, storing up gossip for later.

Silvermint could totally be in the cool group. Her problem was that she hung out with me.

My popularity was not so great. I wasn't social, couldn't keep my cool. I was an outsider. I wouldn't talk to anyone, besides Silvermint and Cindersoot. Oh, and possibly Rosebud. Everyone had to talk to me first.

I held up my tail to stop Cindersoot. "Not here." I led him into the forest and sat down in a spot where no one would ever find us.

Purring, Cindersoot licked my ears. He pressed his pelt against mine. I leaned my head on his shoulder and he whispered, "I understand." We sat there for a moment until I got up. I met his gaze for a long moment. "Thanks for making a nest for me."

I padded off, only for Silvermint to stop me in my tracks. (You're probably thinking, where did she come from?) "You like Cindersoot?" Her eyes were wild as they searched mine. 

She was my best friend that I trusted. "Maybe. Yeah." I confessed, shrinking back in embarrassment.

Silvermint glanced back at me with a mix of sadness, anger, confusion, and love. I didn't understand. "What about me?"

I was puzzled. "you'll still be my sister and best friend." I soothed her. "Nothing will ever change that."

Her eyes locked with mine. Her anger was starting to scare me now. I took a few pawsteps back. "That's how you view me?" Her voice was less than a whisper. She whipped around and ran, leaving me to sort out my feelings. 

A tail flicked in front of my nose. Cindersoot. "I'm sorry I've caused so much trouble."

I glanced at Cindersoot. "Did you see the entire thing?"

He nodded.

I bolted after her. Once I was inside camp, her scent swirled and mixed with everyone else's. My ears swiveled as Cindersoot's scent announced his arrival. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one who had noticed.

Ashrose left her group of friends. "Oh, Cindersoot, there you are!" She brushed her tail over his flank as Cindersoot threw me an uncomfortable glance. Ashrose followed hi gaze to me. She rolled her eyes with obvious distaste and meowed super loudly, "What are you looking at her for?"

The entire camp swiveled to look at me as I pretended I hadn't heard her.

Cindersoot pretended to be shocked. "Ashrose, you think I'm looking at her? Is it such a big deal that I like looking at those lilacs?"

Even though I knew he was pretending, a wince flew across my face. I stared at the lilacs behind me.

Everyone had gone back to what they were doing.

Ashrose twined her tail around Cindersoot's. "Oh," she giggled, "it's so cute that you like lilacs!"

Cindersoot untwined his tail. "Uh, yeah."

Ashrose blinked at him. "Wanna go on a patrol together?"

Cindersoot's friends; Owlflight, Thistlereed, and Ripplerush rescued him from answering. "Hey, Cindersoot, Creekstone assigned you to patrol with us."

Cindersoot flicked some fur out of his eyes. "Yeah, you got it." He stalked off, leaving Ashrose gaping.

I hid my smug smirk. Just like a cool guy.

Mintedfur and Thunderfire came over to comfort her. "Ashrose, he probably is so nervous that he isn't good enough for you."

Ashrose regained her snooty composure. "Totally."

I turned away in disgust, just in time to see Silvermint. I made a beeline towards her. "Silv, can we talk?"

Silvermint cam over. She flicked her tail. "Look, I'm sorry about how I reacted earlier. I'm....struggling with something."

I watched Silvermint's flank rise and fall. Cindersoot was on guard duty tonight. I crept out of my nest. No one was awake.

My paws hardly brushing the ground, I pressed my flank against Cindersoot's. He jumped, startled. His eyes softened when he saw me. "Moonlight, is something wrong?"

I took a breath. "Silvermint's upset and I don't have the faintest idea why. I-I heard her telling Ashrose that she would be hanging out with her from now on." I let that sink in. "Instead of me. I don't have any friends now." He opened his mouth, and I silenced him by brushing my tail across his mouth. "You would be an outcast, Cindersoot, besides you and I are not friends."

Cindersoot smiled. "That's because we're more than friends."

My heart skipped a bit. My eyes bored into him, my voice no more than a breath. "What are we then?"

He entwined his tail with mine. "You decide that when you become my mate."

I gasped. I knew exactly what he was asking. "I already said yes." Cindersoot was offering to give me another friend. Even if he was secretly my mate, I would still have a friend.

Cindersoot's warm yellow eyes gazed at me, his tail entwined with mine. "You will always have a friend in me."


The next morning I overslept. Ironically, Ashrose woke me up. She cuffed my ears. "You overslept, stupid." She kicked me.

"Hey! What was that for?" A whiny mew of pretest flew out of my mouth.

Ashrose towered over me. "You ruined everything!" I was going to be Cindersoot's mate. ME!"

"Huh?!" I couldn't believe that Cindersoot had told everyone that we were mates.

Silvermint came in. Not even a glance in my direction. She was ignoring me. "Ashrose, I'm so sorry about Cindersoot! I just heard the news." She glimpsed me. "Oh, how sweet of you, waking up Moonlight up after what she did to you."

Her words hit me like a slap in the face. I flinched. "Hardly in a sweet way!" Silvermint had said Moonlght as if I was no longer her best friend. More like an enemy. Silvermint's eyes taunted me.

Ashrose laid her fur down. "I know. It took so much willpower..."

I curled my lip in disgust. Ashrose was such a fraud!

"Come, Ash, we'd better get going before we catch the traitor disease." Silvermint was determined to be just as mean.

After they'd gone, I groomed my fur and marched out of the den. "Cindersoot, we need to talk."

Warm yellow eyes stared back at me. "Whatever you say." Cindersoot was the deputy, and one of the coolest cats in the Clan. He was the most popular tom. Being his mate meant that I was now the most popular she-cat. This was attention that I was uncomfortable with.

I led him into the woods and checked that no one was following us. That no one was eavesdropping. I felt my eyes water. "Why did you tell everyone?"

Cindersoot's eyes widened. "Ashrose asked if she could be my mate. I turned her down. She demanded that I tell her why." He searched my eyes with his, trying to make me understand. "Moonlight, all of the cats in camp had been watching our conversation. They were all staring at me."

Tears streaked my cheeks.

"I told everyone then, how could I not, I was about to become an outcast."

"So popularity matters more than me?"

He hesitated. "Part of me wanted to tell. I-I was proud." He said this as if it would make it all right.

"What's done is done." I put it all behind me. "You're forgiven."

Cindersoot flicked his fur out of his eyes. "So, since no one else is around, will you go to the Gathering with me?"

Every cat, whether they liked it or not, went to the Gathering. To go to the Gathering, if you wanted to fit in, you had to take another cat with you. Popularity was everything. If you didn't do this, you were automatically considered an outcast.

With the rules, I felt trapped. "Yes."

Cindersoot grinned. "Ripplerush is going with Silvermint. Creekstone got Miststar. Owlflight's going with Thunderfire. Mintedfur isn't coming. Neither is Ashrose. Rosebud and Firefur are going."

I felt my head spin. "Oookay." What a bunch of useless information! With Cindersoot being deputy, he knew everyone who was going.

He licked my cheek. "Let's head back to camp."

Halfway back to camp, I paused. "Cindersoot, now that I'm more popular than everyone else, can I boss anyone I want?"

His yellow eyes glimmered with amusement. "Yep."

I smirked. "This is going to be a good day.

The Gathering was tonight. Cindersoot and I took turns grooming each other's fur. Soon, the both of us shined.

What's best? Ashrose was watching us do it the entire time. I couldn't get the smirk off my face.

As I walked with Cindersoot, thoughts about Silvermint floated around my head.

She'd started treating me like fox dung. Thinking back, her last words to me before she'd become a brat...I'm struggling with something. The words echoed in my head. What is something?

I tripped over a stone. I'd been so deep in thought that I'd forgotten to pay attention to where I was going!

Fortunatley, Cindersoot, who was walking beside me at the head of the Clan with Miststar, was able to shove his shoulder under me before I made a fool of myself by falling flat on my muzzle.

I ducked my head, embarassed. "Thanks."

He nodded casually. "No problem."

We walked the rest of the way in tense silence.

At the Gathering, Cindersoot introduced me to a ton of cats. When I finally asked if I could introduce him to someone, he agreed. I took him over to Sagelily, from ThornClan.

"Oh, hey, Moonpaw, how've you been? And who's this?" Sagelily's eyes rounded in shock. "Is that Cindersoot?"

Cindersoot cleared his throat. "Yes."

"I've been doing well. I got my warrior name. It's Moonlight!" Pride scorched my fur.

Sagelily's happy laugh overcame how stunned she was. "That's wonderful!"

"Cindersoot is my mate."

Sagemint turned to him. "You better be good to Moonlight! She is a great cat."

I felt Cindersoot's tail entwine with mine. "I will."

Sagelily sighed dutifully. "I came here with Toadfoot."

"Ow!" Someone kicked me. I glanced around the den. Everyone surrounding me was fast asleep. "That's--oof!" It happened again. No one around me had moved. What's wrong with me?

"Ow!" On the way to the medicine cat den, I'd stepped on someone's tail. AShrose was staring at me, cross.

"Sorry!" I hissed, then continued on my journey.

Once I was at the entrance of the medicine cat den, I hissed quietly. "Bubblebounce?"

Her head popped up. "Whah?"

"I feel like I've been kicked in the stomach when no one around me has moved." Irritation crept into my meow.

Bubblebounce sat up and felt my belly with her paws. "Moonlight, you're expecting kits!"

I felt my face go pale. "What?" I'd never wanted kits!

She waved her tail. "Go back to sleep, Moonlight!"

Reluctantly, I walked out. Deciding that I would try to go to sleep, I went into the warrior's den and curled up in my nest. Soon I felt my eyelids droop, then shut close. I slipped into dreams once more.



My second day oversleeping. Cindersoot woke me up. "Moonlight..."

I groaned. "I overslept again?"

"Yeah." Cindersoot's eyes bored into mine. "Why are you so tired?"

I stretched, not wanting to answer that question quite yet. "Could we go on a patrol together?"

Cindersoot smiled. "I already set it up. We're going hunting."

"Okay." I padded over to the fresh-kill pile. He helped me lug a squirrel off of it. Cindersoot took a small mouse for himself and I looked at him in surprise. "You can share with me."

Cindersoot dropped the mouse. "Oh, okay." He put it back on the pile.

Finding a shady spot, I sat down and sank my teeth into the prey. Cindersoot soon joined me, and we finished it in a few minutes. I glanced at him. "Still hungry?" I was actually a bit hungry myself, even after that.

"Nope."

"That's what I thought."

"Up for that hunting patrol?" Cindersoot bared his fangs in a grin.

I followed Cindersoot out of camp. "You know that question you asked me earlier?"

He looked puzzled. "What question?"

I nudged him. "You asked why I was so tired, remember?"

"Oh!" A look of understanding dawned on his face. "That one. Why?"

I cut to the chase. "I'm expecting kits."

My mate was ecstatic. "That's great! They'll be the best kits ever! We can be the best parents to them!" He licked my ears happily.

I, on the other hand, was less than excited. It appalled me to think of our kits growing up in this life. The social structure was terrible. I chewed my lip nervously. I wanted their lives to be absolutely perfect. Cindersoot didn't understand. I didn't want their lives to be like mine.

"Cindersoot," I began, "I don't want our kits growing up with this social structure. You have to be popular to have friends and a mate. You have to be popular to have a life!"

He looked at me. "But our kits will be popular!"

"Oh, really? They'd only be popular because of you, Cindersoot. They'd never step out of your shadow." My voice grew louder with each word. I was thoroughly exasperated! "And if you died? They'd be left in the dust!" The retort spouted angrily.

Cindersoot's gaze met mine. "Moonlight, what if that doesn't happen?"

"What if it does?" I fired back. "They'll be outcasts!"

He nodded.

"Cindersoot, I don't want their lives to be like mine. I was an outcast, I lost my littermates, my best friend abandoned me to be popular! Right now, I'm only popular because you are. This is my life now!

"Look, I see your point, but what can we possibly do about it? It's not like we can just create a Clan!" My mate lashed his tail in frustration.

"I know that!" My eyes bored into his.

"Moonlight," His eyes were frantically searching mine. "What are you suggesting?"

I took a breath. I'd never had so many strong feelings about anything before. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the pain in my heart. "We run away."

"What?" Cindersoot's yellow eyes rounded in shock of what I was suggesting.

I managed a weak smile. "Will you come with me? Once I have the kits, I want to be able to safely look after them."

Cindersoot took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

"Would you do this for me, Cindersoot? For the kits?" I had so many questions, all of which he could awnswer in a minute.

My mate nodded. "For you and our kits." He met my gaze. "In a heartbeat."

I leaned forward to touch noses with him. "Thank you."

Cindersoot held back with a smile. "I have one condition."

I huffed. "What is it?"

"We tell Miststar that we are leaving and let her announce it to the Clan."

A protest rose in my throat. "But that defeats the whole purpose of a runaway!"

He let out a mrrow of amusement. "Then it isn't a runaway."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. We might as well do some hunting."



We both hunted well. I brought back squirrels. Cindersoot brought back a vole and a shrew.

After I dropped my fresh-kill on the pile, Cindersoot nudged me. "It looks like someone is in her den..."

I knew what this meant. Managing a halfhearted smile, I led the way. We leaped from rock to rock. You had to do this to reach the den, pausing outside. I cleared my voice. "Miststar, may we enter?"

Light blue eyes peered back at us. "Yes, you may."

I felt other eyes storing up gossip for later. Never in my life, had I been so nervous. I had two choices, both equally bad. I could move out of the view from hungry eyes and state my business, or I could back out while I still could. But then, it turned out that I didn't have to make the choice. Cindersoot and his confidence walked in, leaving me to follow.

As soon as I had settled, Cindersoot began. "Miststar, I can no longer be deputy. Moonlight is expecting my kits."

"Kits! Congratualations! So you want to stop being deputy to spend time with them?" Miststar looked at them imploringly.

My mate shuffled his paws. "Uh, not exactly..."

I jumped in to save him form answering. "What he means is, we're leaving the Clan."

The tense silence only lasted a heatbeat, but it felt like moons. When Miststar finally opened her jaws, I didn't know what to expect. "What-what make you want to do that?"

"Moonlight," Cindersoot caught my eye. "Moonlight and I don't approve of the social structure in MistClan."

"It's for the future of our kits. This whole 'popularity' thing is a problem." I explained.

Miststar glanced helplessly back and forth between our faces. "I won't be able to change your mind, will I?"

Cindersoot looked like he could argue, but I stopped him. "Nope." I paused. "Cindersoot insists that you make an announcement before we leave tomorrow morning."

The Clan leader's silver pelt gleamed. "I don't have a choice, do I?"

My mate shook his head. "Not unless you want us spreading the news."




"Let all cats gather here for a Clan meeting!" I heard confused murmers as my heart pounded against my chest. This is it. I knew exactly what this meetin was about. My eyes shut in pain.

I'd treasured every last moment with my Clan. No--MistClan. It was not my Clan anymore. That afternoon after we'd asked for the announcement, I'd gone on a hunting patrol. Then I'd insisted on going on a border patrol--Cindersoot came along. I enjoyed my friendships. I'd even been nice to Ashrose, the stuck up.

---

Ashrose had confronted me. "Hey, Moonlight mate-stealer! What were you doing in Miststar's den?" Her sneer didn't faze me.


I'd looked at my paws. I nearly choked on the words, but I forced them out. "I'll miss you, Ashrose." I watched her jaw drop, then walked out of the den.

---

The worst part was saying goodbbye to my parents. They didn't understand.

---

Rosebud had cornered my with my father's help. It saved me the trouble. "Moonlight, darling, what's going on?"Green eyes were curious and worried. Blue ones needed to put out a fire.

My own blue eyes closed. "I-I'm sorry. Too terrified of what I would see, I turned and feld towards camp.

---

Silvermint. I really didn't care if she treated me like fox dung. She was my best friend.

---

Seeing Silvermint, Ashrose, Thunderfire, and Mintedfur together, I padded over. "Silvermint, could I speak to you?"

To my surprise, there was not a touch of anger in her eyes. Instead, her expression turned to fear and something else lighted in her eyes.Hope? Silvermint suddenly seemed facinated with her paws. I was convinced that she would refuse until Ashrose nudged her. "Silvermint! Go find out why she's acting weird! Earlier she said that she missed me!"

Knowing that if she didn't come with me, she would be teased for being a coward, my best friend duitfully came over

I sighed, then took her into the forest where we could talk alone. "Silv, I just want you to know..."

Her green eyes flashed impatiently. "What?"

(Sorry, the SPOILER is being super weird so I had to put it here.)

Cindersoot snapped me out of memories with his yellow eyes. "We have to be strong." Sorrow lingered in a deep pool of yellow. He licked my ear before leading me out of the shadow.

I took pawsteps out of that den, some of my last inside camp. A crowd of cats had gathered, we were the last to sit. Several cats waved us over, but Cindersoot and I chose to sit alone.

Miststar locked gazes with me. "Moonlight is expecting some new arrivals." Her stormy gaze clouded, cats gasping. Firefur grinned at me, Rosebud's gaze warm. I pressed my shoulder to Cindersoot's, needing support.

"But," Miststar's blue eyes pooled with regret. Cats quieted down, curious. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the Clan's reaction to her words. "because of this, Moonlight and Cindersoot feel that they can no longer remain in our Clan." Ears suddenly pricked with interest.

Rosebud's green eyes rounded with shock, Silvermint looking absolutely horrified. Firefur's were flattened against his head. I was startig to wish that I'd closed my eyes like Miststar. Or better, buried my face in Cindersoot's fur.

Ashrose meowed, "Who will be the next deputy?" Her eyes shone as she inquired.

Miststar's eyelids remained shut. "Creekstone--do you accept deputyship?"

I suddenly found that it was better to have my eyes open. Creekstone fell on his rump, he was so surprised. Worth every minute. Despite how rude it was, I let out a laugh. I didn't care that everyone else was watching. I lost it. I doubled over, laugh after laugh. I hadn't laughed so hard in days. I let it all go.

Cats were staring at me like I had gone psycho. Great. I was offically the leaving lunatic.

Rosebud finally broke the silence. "So, when are the both of you leaving?" Her tone sounded ominous and sad.

My voice had abandoned me, so Cindersoot spoke for me. "Now."

Silvermint pushed her way through the crowd to my side. "I don't care what you say, but I am your best friend. I'm coming with you."

A shriek sounded behind her as Minnowsea emerged. "You will do no such thing!" Her high pitch was full of horror.

Lightningblaze emerged from the crowd, his gaze gentle as he nudged his mate. "It's not our choice to make." His eyes blazed menacingly. "If Silvermint's going, then so am I."

Minnowsea snorted. "This is ridiculous, but I will not abandon my kit."

Troutswim had been one of the cats watching from the outer rim of the circle. Now he jumped to Silvermint's side. "I'm coming with Silvermint!"

My best friend rolled her eyes. She had always found Troutswim annoying. And her mother was being a pain right now.

I felt my eyes scan our small group. "If you're sure...then let's go."

"Hold on!" Rosebud drew my attention before I could turn my back. Firefur was right behind her. "We're coming with you."

Behind her, a small paw emerged, followed by a lithe body. "Could you all use a medicine cat?" Mountainpeak had joined.

"Of course." I dipped my head to the young cat before turning. "We should really go now." With that, I started up the path to our territory. Suddenly having a strange urge, I broke into a run. Green leaves and brown forest blurred at my speed. My nose drank in the last scents before we hit the strongest scent: the border. I took one more look at out beautiful forest--MistClan's territory wasn't mine anymore.

Cindersoot glanced around our small group as footsteps subsided. Everyone came to a halt. "If anyone wants to turn back, do it now."

Minnowsea looked as though she wanted to, but her gaze wandered to her kit and the moment of doubt was gone.

I gave a gulp and a longing gaze it the forest behind my group. Then I set my jaw, squared my shoulders, and took my first step into the unknown.

The days were long and tiring. Also, annoying. Mostly because Mountainpeak, Rosebud, Silvermint , and Cindersoot kept insisting that I should stop and rest every ten minutes. Soooooo annoying.

When the sun finally set, I was just relieved to go to sleep. Cindersoot had found us an abandoned fox den to sleep in. Firefur had insisted we needed a guard, positioning himself outside of the den. I was exhausted from the day and enjoyed soaking my paws in the small stream nearby before drifting off.

My dreams were nothing. Just darkness. I should've been quite relieved, but it really gave me a sense of unease. Strange. I normally had nightmares haunting me.

I snapped my head up to avoid the streaks of light arriving from the sun, yawning. My eyes widened, as I found myself looking straight into my mate's eyes. Startled, I backed away. "Whoa!"

Cindersoot sighed. "Moonlight, you really shouldn't sleep this late all the time."

At this, I peered over his shoulder, seeing that the sun was already high in the sky. Interrupting me--my belly growled. I looked up at him. "Have you gone hunting yet?"

He smirked. "I hear someone's hungry." He went around to my other flank and nudged me to my paws.

I got up, bounded over to the small prey-pile hungrily. Looking at my mate--who was following me--I said, "Have you eaten yet?"

Cindersoot nodded. "Everyone's ready to go except for you. Oh, and Firefur. Your father decided to sleep in as soon as the first cat was up. He snores really loudly, ya know?"

It was true. The snoring could be heard from the prey-pile, to the back to the back of the den.

I nodded, then took a huge crow off the pile. I spotted Cindersoot gawking. "Whaaaaaaaat? A she-cat's gotta eat!" I dug in, tearing at the flesh. In a few minutes it was just skin and bones. I burped. "Let's get going!" Getting to my paws once again, I headed over to my best friend.

Silvermint was zoning out when I came by, so when I 'accidentally' flicked my tail into her face, she was a bit startled. "Oh! Moonlight! Hi!"

I smiled. "Want to walk with me?" I said.

She got a distracted look in her eyes. "Actually, I was thinking of walking with Troutswim." Her looks turned dreamy.

"Troutswim?" I asked, surprised. Silvermint had never liked Troutswim. She always referred to him as an 'annoying suitor'. "W-wait. What about..." I watched as she winked, then stalked over to him and flirtatiously giggled.

Whoa. Silvermint likes Troutswim. The thought hit me like a slap in the face. I didn't even know why. Silvermint had just...always been obivious to any toms in like with her. Pushing away the waeird envy/jealousness I'd been feeling, I decided to just be happy for her.

I watched as Troutswim spun around, a grin spreading across his face when he saw her. "Hey!" He immeadiately draped his tail across her shoulders. "How are you?"

Silvermint let out a purr, not shrugging off his tail like she used to. "Pretty good. You?" Her gaze sparkled teasingly, as if challenging him to answer.

The tom shrugged. "Good, I guess."

My best friend smiled. "Cool!" She searched his eyes before blurting, "Do you want to walk with me?"

Troutswim flashed a smile, somehow not bitter after all these years where she's done nothing but roll her eyes at him. "How could I turn down an offer like that?"

Silvermint giggled that girly giggle again, before licking his ear. "I'm looking forwards to it."

"Whatcha doin'?" A voice said from behind me. My mate had snuck up on me.

I casually turned to him, sassily planting my claws in the ground. "Just watching my best friend finally fall in looooooove."

Cindersoot's gaze sharpened with interest as he shuffled his paws, pretending that he didn't care. "Yeah, cool." It looked like he was determined to play cool guy for a while yet.

I twitched my whiskers, brushing them up against his face. "You're not even the slightest bit curious?" I was tempting him to admit it. Such a fun game.

He gave an exaggerated sigh. "Fiiiiiiiiiiiine. Who is it?" His ears pricked.

I smirked at him. "Troutswim."

"Whoaaaaaaaaaaa. Did not see that coming." Cindersoot blinked, proccessing what I just told him. He looked around our temporary camp. "Ready to get going?"

We stopped for prey around noon. Or, everyone else did. Mountainpeak insisted that I stop for another break. I'd been avoiding this all day, so when Cindersoot overheard us, he announced, "Time to hunt!"

Now I'm sitting here with Mountainpeak fussing. The growing prey pile in front of me is tempting, but Mountainpeak will assume that I'm close to kitting and that I am having pregnancy cravings. I swear to StarClan--I'm not. I just have a huge--and I mean huge--appetite. The former medicine cat is out to make my life miserable. (Truthfully, I know she's just trying to help, but it sure feels like it.)

When it was time to eat, I made sure to dig in when Mountainpeak was fussing over someone else. It was such a relief to have Mountainpeak fussing over another cat. That's rude? Well, sorry. (Not sorry.)

. . .

I spent most of the walk behind Silvermint and Troutswim. What does this mean? Oh, let's see. Giggling, flirting, tail-twining, romance, and more yuck. Naturally, this putt me in a bad mood. (If I wasn't in one already.)

Ahead of me, Silvermint giggled, drawing my attention from my thoughts. "Oh, Troutswim, you're too much!"

Grinning, he responded. "Who, me?"

Behind their backs, I rolled my eyes and sighed. This is what my life had come to. But, since there wasn't much else to do, I settled for cat watching.

Troutswim sidled up to my best friend. They were so close that they're pelts were brushing. Lifting his muzzle, he nuzzled her cheek.

Cat watching is sooo overrated. If anyone ever does this, that is.

I knew it! The look on Silvermint's confirmed it. She was in like with Troutswim!

In front of me, my best friend leaned against him, a dreamy look on her face.

"Those two will have really cute kits!"

I turned around. Cindersoot had snuck up on me once again. Giving him a knowing look, I mewed, "Yeah." Being around him made my insides turn inside out.

"But, of course,"--Cindersoot ran his tail over my belly--"our kits will be cuter." His smile turned to smirk. "You're adorable when you're flustered."

Blushing, I opened my jaws to say something--anything--that would get me out of this, but couldn't seem to think of anything. Quickly closing them, I settled for a glare.

"So," Cindersoot continued, as if nothing had happened. "Do you have anything you'd like to talk about?"

I shook my head no. Finding my voice, I set my jaw. "Do you have something in mind?" I was hoping he did, being bored and all.

My mate pretended to think. "Then he walked in front of me, teasing me with that waving tail of his. "You betcha," he told me, flashing a cocky grin. Then his gaze drifted to the love birds in front of us, his smile vanishing. "You know, whenever Silvermint saw you and I together, she'd always be more irritable, more..."
He looked at me for help.

"Well," I meowed, "I did...always suspect that she liked you." A spark of the old jealousy lit up somewhere inside of me. I pushed it away, into the very back of my mind.

"Huh." Cindersoot's soft gaze was far was away. "Huh."

"Yeah," I said, for the second time today. To him. Luckily, he was lost in thought, so I dropped back, easing the awkward tension between us. Soon, the group was just a bunch of black silhouettes in the sunlight.

Smiling, I let myself slowly run to catch up.

Three moons later...

Today could be the day. Every morning I woke up with the thought. Mountainpeak's fussing had only increased. According to her, my kits were due any day now. In fact, they were way overdue.

A mother is supposed to care and love her kits. I'm not sure I really want kits. I didn't ask for this. At all. I mean, I love Cindersoot and all, but I'm only around 20 moons. I'm not sure I am ready for this just yet. I want the kits to just stay in my belly for now. Forget about the rest of the world. I don't think I'm ready for this. Both my mate and I are really young cats. It's not like I was ever in a rush for this--or taking a mate--in the first place.

Coming soon~