Blue skies

A silver shape slid from the RiverClan camp, placing her paws lighter than feathers to insure no one heard her sneaking away. As soon as she had bounded over the river, she broke into a run, paws pounding the earth as the sky faded to milky blue from the light of dawn.

The shape slipped into a blackberry bush, and pressed herself to the ground as she crept forward. She saw a black figure in front of her, tall, lean, crow-black fur rippling in the twilight breeze.

The silver cat bunched her muscles, bushy tail brushing the dust, and pounced.

"Caught you!" Feathertail squealed happily.

Crowfeather stuck out his tongue playfully and batted at Feathertail's cheeks with sheathed paws. "I'll get you back!" He promised mischievously. "Nice pounce, by the way!" He added, getting to his paws and giving himself a shake.

"Thanks," Feathertail purred. "Not so bad reaction yourself,"

Crowfeather nuzzled her affectionatly. "Got away fine today?"

"Yes. No problem at all. You?"

"Not a soul saw me leave. We're safe. We're free."

"What should we do tonight?"

"Oh, here!" Crowfeather bounded forward, and scopped a drop of lichen into a ball. "Pretend this is a mouse. You have to catch it, because I'm a poor, starving elder who needs it survive." Crowfeather rubbed a paw across his face, so his fur looked untidy, matching that of a WindClan elder.

"Oh, that'll be easy then," Feathertail reasured him. "I'd do anything for you,"

"Same here. But catch the mouse before my heart melts with our sappiness."

Feathertail dropped into the hunter's crouch, and bounced forward. But as she did so, Crowfeather yanked the ball away, but was to slow to get out of the way, and Feathertail crashed into him.

"Well," she said in an optimistic voice. "At least I've caught you! A huge crow!" She wrestled him to earth, but Crowfeather fought back. The two soon collapsed against a tree, fighting for breath.

"We should be getting back," Crowfeather said sadly, glancing at the sky, which was now bright blue from the risen sun.

Feathertail suddenly felt empty and hollow. The presance of Crowfeather made her so joyus...the thought of leaving him filled her with the opposite feeling. She wished they could be together somehow.

"Same time tomorrow?" Feathertail asked him, trying to sound cheery.

"I'm sorry, I can't come tomorrow. Onestar wants his warriors to gather for some kind of secret meeting."

"Oh...the Gathering then?"

"Perfect," Crowfeather pressed his nose to Feathertail's.

"See you then! Let's hurry to get home before the dawn patrol starts,"

Feathertail twined her tail with Crowfeather's briefly before bounding away, back home.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

"Morning sleepy head!" Mothwing purred.

Feathertail opened her eyes, and blinked a few times. She yawned. "Good morning Mothwing. What time is it?"

"Nearly sunhigh,"

Feathertail swallowed. It must have been because she had been getting up so early for the past ten moons to meet with Crowfeather. But why did it show up now, when it never did before?

Feathertail got to her paws, and swayed. Alarmed, she plopped back down.

"Are you okay?" Mothwing asked.

"I think so," Feathertail said, trying to get up again. Her paws felt sore and swollen. She felt really full, even though she only shared a minnow with Mothwing last night. She stood firm on her paws. "I'm fine. Let's go."

Yesterday, Mothwing had convinced Feathertail to accompany her today while she collected herbs. Feathertail agreed, of course. Mothwing had always been like a daughter to her, and anyways, she always had a passion for herbs after helping heal Tawnypelt's rat injury on the journey to the sun-drown place.

*The sun-drown place...The magical, wonderful joureny....* Feathertail remember when she first met with Crowfeather. How kind and eager he was, under the burrden of shyness and anger he carried on his shoulders. She remembered teaching him to fish, and when he saved her from that dog...and she remembered how comforting and sympathetic he had been when Stormfur had died in the mountains, sacrificing himself for Squirrelpaw when Sharptooth had forced her into a corner of the cave.

"Exuse me," Feathertail said to Mothwing. She gently plucked a beautiful blue blossom from a fluffy bush. Blue had always been Stormfur's favorite color.

Feathertail walked through a thin opening in between two boulders, near a tiny creek trickling through the mulch. *Oof! Did this crack get smaller?*

Inside the cave was a small stone, half buried into the earth. Feathertail had made this grave for her brother once they had gotten to their new terriroty. Stormfur was resting in the mountains, behind the waterfall, but Feathertail wanted to make him a home in RiverClan too. She set the blossom on the grave, and dipped her head. *Stormfur...I miss you so much.* A slight breeze ruffled her fur.

*I....I need to ask you something. I know you disaprove of my relationship with Crowfeather...but I love him. I love him so much. I...I don't know what to do. Crowfeather's tired from getting up so early to meet me. We can hardly be together. I want to do something...but the only option is...*

The breeze whizzed around her. A sleek, glossy crow feather landed at her paws. Feathertail touched it gently.

"Thank you, Stormfur," She picked up the feather in her mouth and slid it in her thick, white chest fur. "I'll think about it. I'll speak with him too. We'll see what happens."

Feathertail squeezed out of the crack, and caught up to Mothwing.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

It had been many dawns since Feathertail had last seen Crowfeather.

And for some reason, she felt really ill, like that day she had been gathering herbs with Mothwing.

When Feathertail thought of Crowfeather, the pain in her back and paws and the full, bloated feeling in her belly seemed to ease. The thought of him filled her with warmth, like she always did, and that never failed to soothe her, even in her most alarmed moment.

This morning, however, Feathertail felt especially sick, so tired and sore she could barely lift her paws.

*Mothwing.* She decided. *I'll go see Mothwing. I'm probably dying, but at least now I'll now for sure.*

"Hi," Feathertail said to Mothwing.

"'Morning!" Mothwing said cheerily. "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing much. I just feel like I'm dying. Not much at all," Feathertail answered, giving her paws a quick, annoyed lick, willing its pain to stop.

"I'd appreciate if you listed your symtons," Mothwing said, whiskers twitching good humorly.

"Sure. I feel so tired I can barely get up, my paws and back are really painful, and I feel so...full and...huge. Even though my belly looks normal."

"Ha! I'm surprised you couldn't tell yet! You're pregnant!"

"W...what?" Feathertail froze.

"Pregnant! Congratulations! The father's Reedwhisker, right?"

Feathertail did a quick mental calculation in her head. "No," Feathertail said at last. "Can I talk to Leopardstar?"

"Sure," Mothwing said, turning back to her herbs.

Feathertail slipped into her leader's den. "Good morning, Leopardstar. I wanted to ask if I could go to the Gathering tonight?"

Leopardstar looked surprised. "Of course,"

"Great! And..." Feathertail took a deep breath. "I'd like to move to the nursery."

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

"Crowfeather!" Feathertail hissed from the shadows of a bush. Crowfeather's ears pricked. He slid into the bush, silently, swiftly.

"Feathertail!" He purred warmly, touching his nose to hers. "What's up?"

"I have to tell you something. Something important."

"Okay, let's go a bit father away,"

The two cats bounded down the island, and settled down on the sandy shore. Moon light bathed their fur. Cool water lapped gently at their paws.

"I'm...expecting. Our kits."

"....Really?" Crowfeather's voice was the squeak of an excited kit.

"Yes! You're going to be a father!" Feathertail purred warmly. "They'll be brave and fast and enthusiastic just like you,"

"And playful and smart like you," Crowfeather burried his muzzle into Feathertail's fur.

Feathertail took a deep breath. "Can...I ask you something?"

"Of course!"

"Would...would you leave the Clans with me? So we can be together?" She added hurridly.

Crowfeather's gaze lit up, and Feathertail felt sweet, blissful relief wash over her like diving into a cold pool on a warm new-leaf's day.

"Of course! Obviously! But we'll be able to come back a visit sometimes, right?"

"Yes! Visit Greystripe and Ashfoot," Fethertail purred. "We'll just have to be sneaky about it."

"Let's bet Tallstar would have named me Crowsneaky if I hadn't requested a suffix,"

Feathertail laughed. "When should we leave?"

"Tomorrow, at dawn?"

"Perfect. See you then, my love,"

Feathertail went home, head full of stars.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Feathertail and Crowfeather padded through the forest, away from the Clans. Crowfeather was resting his tail on Feathertail's flank, guiding her forward, while Feathertail tried to catch her breath.

Their fur brushed.

Feathertail felt energized again. Sadness in leaving her home was gone. This was her home. With Crowfeather.

That night, they shared a rabbit, then curled up together on a stretch of meadow. Feathertail leaned against his chest, breathed his his scent, and listened to his heart pump steadily.

*Ta-thump.*

*Ta-thump.*

*Ta-Thump.*

It lulled her into sleep, a deep, peaceful sleep full of stars and moons and joy. The next morning, Feathertail felt her babies squirm in belly for the first time.

Over the forest.

Over the meadow.

Over the moor.

Over the mountains.

At long last, they arrived,

The stretch of moor beyond the old WindClan territories. Beside the horses and sheep that also called this home, right after mothermouth. Feathertail and Crowfeather felt fit to burst, drinking in the sight and scent of their old home so close by. This land would be perfect for them; no poisened rabbits, and though very small, too small for four Clans to live in, it was big enough to hold sanctuary for the two of them.

They spent the next moon building nests and establishing marks, making the land comfortable home.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Feathertail and Crowfeather were sharing a plump rabbit. They were enthusiastically discussing names for their kits between bites, planning the future with shinning eyes and hearts.

Feathertail swallowed her rabbit. Then she yelped.

"What's wrong?" Crowfeather sprang to his paws, fur bristling.

"The kits are coming!" Feathertail purred once she had regained herself.

Crowfeather yelped even louder than Feathertail. "Oh no! What should I do? Can we do this? What should I-"

"Don't worry, it'll be fine!" Feathertail purred. "Just bring me a stick to bite down on,"

Feathertail curled up in their nest, as another contraction rippled through her belly. The pain was nearly unbearable, and Feathertail tried to concentrate on her excitment of meeting her babies instead of the agony.

Crowfeather rushed back with the stick. Feathertail drew it close and bit down, groaning. Crowfeather stroked her heaving flank with the tip of his tail. The motion was soothing. Feathertail yowled as her mucles bunched and stretched again, working to bring her kits into the world. She scrabbled the earth with unsheathed paws.

Crowfeather squeaked. "Oh, Feathertail! It's coming! You're doing great! Everything will be fine!"

Feathertail let out a hiss and heaved. Crowfeather let out a triumphent mew, and pushed a sack streaked with blood to her nose. Feathertail opened it, and starting licking the kit fiercly. It was a little dark grey she-kit. Feathertail purred, and nosed her to her belly.

The pain was back. Feathertail crunched down on the stick, and pushed. Crowfeather gave another excited yelp. "Oh, Feathertail, you're awesome! Second kit's here!" This baby was a she-kit too, a little black one, like Crowfeather. Feathertail had just finished cleaning her when she felt a stab again, and bit the stick, heaving, till the pain ebbed away, and the last little kit was in her paws.

A silver-and-white she-kit, just like Feathertail. Feathertail cuddled her babies close to her belly fur, and purred. Crowfeather copied her, Feathertail's love and joy mirrored in his own gaze.

"What should we call them, then?" He asked at last.

Feathertail thought. "Clan names?"

"You bet!" Crowfeather meowed.

"Can we name the little grey she-kit Stormkit, after my brother?"

"Beautiful! And I'd love to name the silver one Swankit. After you,"

"Only if the black one gets Ravenkit as a name after you,"

"Perfect. Oh, Feathertail, I love you so much! And our babies!"

"Me too, Crowfeather me too."

They nuzzled each other under the clear blue sky as a meadow lark sang a happy mealody, that the breeze carried through the whole moor.

**The End**

**Mountainpaw note:** Okay, let's explain a few things :) Feathertail and Crowfeather *did* visit the Clans later on when their kits got bigger! Crowfeather visited mothermouth and was granted nine lives, because they saw his fierce loyalty to the onces he loves. He also had the power to make his kits apprentices, and later, warriors. They became Stormbadger, Swanwing, and Ravensoar. In the ten moons when Feathertail and Crowfeather met, they fought twice over Nightcloud, but made up. Annnnnnnnd I just realized I could have simply had Crowfeather join RiverClan, or Feathertail WindClan, that probably would have been better but never mind 😛 Also the explanation here is a bit odd but never mind that either 😛