Leafpool stalked her prey, making sure she stayed far downwind. The scent of WindClan was in her nostrils. When she was sure her prey hadn't detected her, she leaped. The squirrel, sensing something was up, started to make a break for it. But Leafpool was too fast for it. She snapped its neck before it made it to the safety of a tree. Then she scraped earth over her fresh-kill.

"Good catch!" a voice called. Leafpool froze. She knew that voice! The former ThunderClan medicine cat tensed, ready to make a dash for the trees. While she stood frozen, she heard the splash of water as the cat splashed his way over to her. She inhaled his warm, familiar scent as it wreathed around her, then jerked back. We can't do this!

"What are you doing here, Crowfeather? I thought you didn't care about me anymore."

She saw the dark gray tom wince, and saw. . . What was it she saw in his blue eyes? Regret? Grief? Pain? It was hard for Leafpool to be sure.

"Leafpool, I had to see you." Crowfeather sounded pleading.

"Why? At the Gathering you said our kits and I meant nothing to you." She turned away, intending to return to the rest of the hunting patrol.

"Leafpool, please, listen to me." The desperate tone in her former mate's voice caused the light brown tabby she-cat to stop and turn. "Don't you see? I had to say that. There was no way I could tell the four Clans about my feelings for you at a Gathering. Nightcloud, Breezepelt, and Onestar, not to mention Firestar, would have me for fresh-kill."

I knew it! Leafpool was ecstatic. She had never stopped loving him, and now she knew that he felt the same way. The light brown tabby she-cat started purring and twined her tail with his, winding her slender body around his lithe frame. She drew in his warm scent, feeling warm all over. Leafpool felt Crowfeather tense, then relax. He started drawing his tongue over her ear with soft, gentle licks. Leafpool let out a sigh of contentment. She didn't care what the rest of their Clans did if they saw them together. She had Crowfeather back, and that was all that mattered.

Suddenly, she heard the rest of the ThunderClan patrol: Brambleclaw. Berrynose, Cloudtail, and Firestar. They were hunting closer to where they were. A few more heartbeats and they would be spotted!

"Crowfeather, run!" she hissed.

"No. I'm not leaving you," he mewed stubbornly. "I don't care what they'll say or do. I love you, Leafpool."

Mousebrain! We'll be caught.

Just at that moment, a mouse headed straight for them, followed by Leafpool's father, and the ThunderClan leader, Firestar. The mouse disappeared at a hole near Leafpool's paws. Firestar looked up with frustration in his green eyes, then they flew open wide with shock as the dark ginger tom took in the scene before him.

"Just what do you think you're doing here?" he snarled at Crowfeather. "And with my daughter." He glanced at Leafpool, anger brimming in his green eyes.

The rest of the patrol padded up, having heard their leader's voice.

"Well, well. What do we have here?" Berrynose meowed scathingly. Leafpool and Crowfeather cringed. Brambleclaw and Cloudtail stood there in shock, Brambleclaw's dark brown tabby fur bristling and his amber eyes wide open.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed at Crowfeather. The dark gray WindClan tom bristled.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" he retorted, pressing his pelt against Leafpool's.

"It looks like you're trespassing on ThunderClan territory," Berrynose meowed.

"And trying to steal my daughter," Firestar growled. Crowfeather bristled. Leafpool was afraid the aggressive dark gray tom would launch himself into battle, but after a few heartbeats Crowfeather let his fur lie flat.

"Look, this is between me and Leafpool. She's not betraying her Clan, if that's what you think."

Firestar's flame-colored fur bristled. "It sure looks that way to me!" he spat. Behind him, Brambleclaw, Berrynose, and Cloudtail bristled and unsheathed their claws. The ThunderClan leader flicked his tail. "Get him."

Leafpool watched, terrified, as they launched themselves at Crowfeather. "NO!" she wailed. Without a second thought, she leaped into the fray-but she wasn't aiming for Crowfeather. She landed on Berrynose's back, digging her claws in the cream warrior's fur. Berrynose yowled in pain and surprise. With a thrust, he threw the light brown tabby warrior off of him and spun around to face her.

"Leafpool, what are you doing?" Crowfeather yowled as he dodged a blow from Brambleclaw and kicked Cloudtail in the side.

"Helping you!" she called back, planting a solid blow to Berrynose's belly and dashing over to his side to take care of Cloudtail.

Firestar stared in dismay. "Stop!" he yowled. "ThunderClan, retreat!" Cloudtail and Brambleclaw tore themselves free from Crowfeather and Leafpool's claws and teeth and fell back to their leader. Firestar glared back at them. "Leafpool, you and I are going to have a serious talk when you get back."

Leafpool didn't say anything. Instead, she pressed her muzzle into Crowfeather's fur, waiting until her father had vanished.

"I'm going to be in so much trouble," she muttered. Crowfeather pressed reassuringly against her and drew his tongue over her face. "Don't worry about that," he murmured. "Let's just enjoy this time we heve together."

Leafpool fell silent, enjoying his warm scent and strength. Finally she mewed, "Crowfeather?"

"Yes?"

"Will you meet me here tomorrow night?"

Crowfeather purred. "Of course. Unless we can meet sooner."

"I'll get a message to you." Reluncantly, Leafpool pulled away. "I'd better go."

"Leafpool." She paused and looked back at the dark gray warrior. "Good luck. You'll need it." Before Leafpool could say anything, he leaped the stream and headed into his own territory. With a sigh, tail drooping, Leafpool headed to the camp, pausing to dig up the squirrel she had caught.

StarClan help me!