Change of plans. I decided to do NightCrow instead of Shrewpaw. I know this pairing isn’t rare at all, but I had to write it cause I ship NightCrow.

Crying Inside

Every day was a workout, a long, hard workout. I was exhausted by the end. Sleep was a sweet relief, a kind break, but it was fleeting and left to soon, leaving me waking up with a pit of dread in my stomach. As I paced into camp it tightened. Crowfeather was across camp, eating alone. Nightcloud wasn’t with him.

My head spun with dizzy exhaustion. They weren't close. They didn’t want each other. Everybody knew about them together. They were the most known pairing of the camp. I was the object to prove it: their bratty son.

“Breezepaw, son,” Crowfeather called to me, “Why don’t you find your mentor?”

“Yes,” I said. I turned around but Ashfoot interrupted then.

“Actually, I want Breezepaw to go hunt with you, Nightcloud and Owlwhisker. Ok?”

“Yes, Ashfoot.” Crowfeather said. Nightcloud must have heard, because she came padding over. She brushed past me fondly, and her body was hot, her pelt bristly. The fact that she wasn’t smiling didn’t help either.

“Why don’t we try the ThunderClan border for prey?” Crowfeather asked once we were out of the WindClan camp.

“We should go more into our territory,” Nightcloud said loudly, snappishly, “More rabbits.”

“I agree with Crowfeather,” Owlwhisker argued, “I’ve been getting a bit tired of rabbits.”

Nightcloud hissed as if she disagreed with this. “Just hope we don’t meet any cats. Especially medicine cats. They can be so annoying.” Her gaze flashed to Crowfeather.

My heart spiraled slowly down. They were thinking about her. Leafpool. My anger at the medicine cat flared. Why did she have to be such a problem? It was all my parents ever fought about. Leafpool, Leafpool, Leafpool. Everyone knew Crowfeather loved her more then Nightcloud. Nightcloud fought with her mate because of this.

And I hated Leafpool. She wasn’t helping at all, always hinting at her love for Crowfeather and making tiny, hidden comments that were negative of Nightcloud’s part. It was as if the tabby liked the two fighting.

We hunted hard at the border, searching for all kinds of prey. I watched Crowfeather. He glanced periodically over the border to the trees. Even though he tried to hide it, I could still see.

“Hey there!” I looked up as a cry sounded. A light tabby cat was bounding through the trees toward us. She stopped at the border. “Hi, Crowfeather.”

My heart sunk lower. Why did she always have to show up? Why did she have to come now? Why did she exist? Crowfeather visibly perked up. I could feel Nightcloud’s stiff, angry fur pressing against mine.

“You’re a mouse-length over the border, Leafpool,” Nightcloud pointed out loudly. Very loudly.

“You might want to quiet down a bit, Nightcloud,” Leafpool said as she didn’t move back over the border, “You’ll scare away all the prey.” She lowered her voice, now to only Nightcloud but I heard it all the same: “Or an possible toms you’re trying to attract, seeing as you really need a mate.”

I was mad too. Leafpool had insulted both me and my mother. I hated having to deal with this. And still I had to, every day. I wished my parents could be happy together.

“It looks like there’s a rabbit over there, Crowfeather,” Leafpool said, stressing his name, “Why don’t you get it? The rest of you really should be getting back to camp.”

“Don’t boss us around-,” Owlfeather began, but Nightcloud interrupted.

“Come on Crowfeather, forget that rabbit. Let’s take a patrol together. You know, mates and everything.” She smiled promisingly, doing a good job of making it look real. “I want to ask you some stuff.”

Crowfeather looked confused, and he glanced at Leafpool again and again as he turned back. “Oh--ok.”

“Come back for the rabbit. I have to pick some herbs around here,” Leafpool said.

He didn’t say anything, just tripped as he turned around.

“I’ll take these rabbits back to camp,” Owlfeather said, lifting the rabbits that only he had caught.

“Alright,” Nightcloud said dismissively as she and her mate disappeared over the ridge.

I was left with Leafpool. She was smiling after Crowfeather.

“Why can’t you just cut it out and leave us alone?” I hissed at her, not even meaning it. I was so mad at all the trouble she was making us go through I couldn’t help myself.

She snapped to me. “Who are you telling me what to do?”

“I’m Nightcloud and Crowfeather’s son,” I said, “And I’m the one who has to take the problems you create. It’s all thrust at me.”

“Just so you know, son who has a demented mother,” Leafpool hissed, narrowing her eyes as she insulted my mother again. “I’m not creating any problems. I’m just putting a cat in check who’s to snotty for her own good.”

“Nightcloud is fine,” I yelled, my voice rising, “You just have to keep reminding her that her mate loves you and not her.”

Leafpool paused for a moment, glaring at me. “Yes,” She said prissily, turning around, “I do.” She disappeared, off into the underbrush.

I walked slowly, slowly back to camp. My exhaustion pressed in on my eyes. I wanted to collapse and never wake up. I wanted to die.

I was eager for bed as usual, when evening came. I lay down in my nest, settling into a soft bit of moss. I rested for a while, thinking.

I watched as Nightcloud, looking strained, padded into the warriors den across camp. An instant later I heard loud snoring.

Curious, I got to my feet and padded over, slipping inside the warm, large den. Nightcloud was the only one in there, and she was stretched out on her side, looking as if she had collapsed, sleeping loudly.

She was exhausted too. More exhausted then me, if as soon as she entered the den she collapsed into sleep.

“Nightcloud?” I whispered and she awoke instantly, raising her head.

“What?” She asked, sounding confused, trying to locate me.

“Why are you so tired?” I asked, nervously.

“I- I’m not-,” Her voice broke and it wavered as she went on. “It’s because of Crowfeather...YOU don’t know how exhausting it is to...to always make sure that Crowfeather knows I’m his mate and to keep him away from Leafpool...I’m so, so tired. I wish we could just love each other in that relaxed way but NO, it has to be about Leafpool...”

“I do know,” I said, “I understand. I feel it to. I wish you and Crowfeather could get along. I wish Leafpool would back off and get out of our lives.”

“I know,” Nightcloud said, “But I think it’s too late now...Breezepaw...I’ve been thinking all day that I...I don’t think I can go on with Crowfeather. He doesn't like me, and he wants me away...he wants to be with Leafpool...”

“No Nightcloud!” I scrambled foreword, forcing her to focus on me, “No, please. Don’t leave Crowfeather...try...try again...”

“I’ve tried time and time again,” She said, “And it won’t work. Breezepaw, I’m really, really sorry about this. I wish it could work out with Crowfeather too. But it won’t. I’ve got to leave him. I’m sorry...so sorry.”

“I...understand,” I croaked. I backed from the den and ran all the way back to my nest. I was so shocked, so mad. So afraid. I closed my eyes and cried myself to a restless, uneven sleep.

So very sad, eh? I kinda like NightcloudCrowfeather because it’s so realistic and I was thinking about how much Nightcloud and Breezepaw have to go through and endure everyday, knowing that Crowfeather doesn't love Nightcloud. And I know Leafpool isn’t that mean, I just had to make her bad in some way because the Erins make her SOOOOO perfect.