What If? (A Leafpool&Crowfeather Story)

The hot sun rose high and fast in the first of the leaf-fall mornings, brightening up the increasingly darkening sky that followed the cold, hungry times. Crowfeather and Scar were teaching Rose and Willow battle moves. Leafpool was teaching Patches about herbs. Icecut was lying in the nursery. Crowfeather, although elated about the lifestyle he living in- was worried about one question: Who should be FireClan's leader? Whenever he thought of it, his mind would start to go into a frenzy. Like when you are trying to figure a very hard puzzle out and you are getting frustrated. Adrenaline rushed through Crowfeather's blood as he irately shook his head several times to clear it of the confusion. "Alright, Willow!" He mewed briskly. Willow met eyes with him almost immediately, and Crowfeather was surprised that she had such good instinct and reflexes. "We are going to mark the borders today. Scar, please do some hunting with Rose, but, only for fun. She can hunt well on her own. We all might as well lie down and rest when it comes to hunting with her!" The black tom joked. Scar nodded, agreeably. Crowfeather and Leafpool had decided to set their border at the edge of the forest to a third of the pond. The sides of the forest's marks enden abruptly at the dirt road- the other side at one, humungous boulder, surrounded by (remainders of a goat habitat) broken fences, wire and goat droppings. (Brought down from the glaciers. I'm being scientifically historic, here, guys! My teacher would be... You know what, scratch that. She's too mean to be proud...) As Crowfeather and Willow were marking the borders, a shiny metal Twoleg contraption whizzed down the dirt path. It had two large wheel, and a metal bar at the front and in the middle. The Twoleg wore an object on its head, and its back paws were moving quickly on the two plastic squares on either side of the contraption. Willow gazed at it in fear, and Crowfeather stared in shock. ''What was that?'' Hissed Willow after it was out of sight. '' I don't know...'' He mewed. ''It is like a Twoleg monster. We saw some back at the Clans. They were bigger and fouler smelling, though.'' He concluded thoughtfully. Willow nodded respectfully, though she was having a hard time imagining something so big and terrible. As they entered the camp, Crowfeather noticed that everything he had done that day was... Just like 'the old ways'! Crowfeather purred as he dpotted his mate step out of the Medicine Den with Patches. ''Remember to pull them gently!'' Reminded Leafpool loudly. ''I will!'' He promised happily. ''Leafpool?'' Crowfeather meowed. Leafpool started. ''I love you.'' He said quietly. ''I love you too...'' Purred the she-cat, twining her tail with his. "Have you thought about who could be FireClan's Clan leader?" Crowfeather said. "Yes. Rose. She's everything you'd want in a leader!" Murmered Leafpool softly. "she's brave and already loyal to FireClan, friendly and smart. And it's just her luck that she's a perfect hunter!" Added the tabby. Her voice was muffled. Her head was pressed into Crowfeather's warm shoulder. He felt a blanket of joy and warmth- protection- around him. And it all came from her. Leafpool. His mate. The love of his life. No. She was his life. And he loved her more than anything, and would give his life for her.