For generations, four clans have shared the forest. But ThunderClan is in severe peril, and the other three Clans grow stronger every day. In the midst of this turmoil, appears two house-cat's named Rusty and Star... who both may turn out to be the...
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⊰᯽⊱┈──╌❊❊╌──┈⊰᯽⊱
THE DAYS LEADING up to the next full moon were one's that filled Whiterose with a sense of shining happiness. It already seemed like time passed quickly since the last Gathering. The thick dark clouds kept the moon covered last time, and the Clans had stayed away from Fourtrees since then.
Meanwhile, patrol after patrol, they always scented RiverClan warriors at Sunningrocks, and ShadowClan scent had been discovered continuously by the Owl Tree and Twolegplace border.
When Whiterose wasn't hunting and patrolling, she spent her time with the kits or the apprentices or Tigerclaw. Lately, Graystripe's even resumed his tole as Brackenpaw's mentor more than usual. Fireheart told her about how he's noticed the young apprentice seemed at loose ends from time to time, his mentor nowhere in sight.
"Hunting" was all Brackenpaw would say when Whiterose or Fireheart asked where Graystripe had gone while coming to collect either Cinderpaw or Shinypaw. Whiterose had just begun resuming her role as Shinypaw's mentor.
"Why didn't you go with him?" meowed Fireheart.
"He said I could go tomorrow."
Whiterose felt angry at Graystripe's stubbornness, but she shrugged it away. She and Fireheart had both given up trying to make Graystripe see sense – they'd hardly spoken since their fight – but Whiterose knew Fireheart made an effort to take Brackenpaw with Cinderpaw whenever Graystripe went missing. But Whiterose knew it was just to keep the apprentices out of sight. Tigerclaw wouldn't accept Brackenpaw's answers easily.
Especially since Graystripe's attack on Fireheart and Whiterose, the deputy seemed to hold a unneeded grudge on the grey warrior. And with that thought of Tigerclaw, the Clan seemed to know of their new status as mates.
Cinderpaw, Shinypaw and Brindleface made sure of that.
Shinypaw was the first one to notice, being Whiterose's apprentice, she spent most of her time around the both of them. When the tabby caught wind of it, she instantly told her sister, who then told the other apprentices. Brindleface, who the apprentices gave new bedding to, heard, and then told the other queens in the nursery.
The nursery was the heart of gossip.
Most cats weren't very surprised, it was like they knew it would happen eventually. But Darkstripe, Longtail and Dustpaw were astonished to know their idol was with a former kittypet.
When Whiterose's brother found out, he seemed unsure about it because of what Ravenpaw had said to them, but supported his sister, anyway.
The full moon appeared in the cloudless sky. Whiterose came back from hunting alone and dropped her catch on the fresh-kill pile before going towards the medicine where Redstream and Midnightclaw were sharing tongues.
