A.N.: Wouldn't it be tragic if I just left you guys right here with nothing but an author's note? Oh well, I'm not going to do that. Thanks for the reviews! Here's a Two-shot.
Owlwhisker led the dawn patrol with Harespring and Whitetail right behind him. It was a cool foggy morning as they padded along the ThunderClan border. Stretching his jaws to scent the air, he paused.
"ThunderClan! Close!"
The patrol watched as Hollyleaf crawled out from a clump of grass on her side of the border.
"What is ThunderClan doing so close to the border?" he snarled.
"Shut up, you flea-bag!"
There was so much venom in the she-cat's voice that Owlwhisker halted where he was. He eyed Hollyleaf closely.
"What do you want?" He mewed.
"You and your patrol stay here, keep yourselves hidden. Something will happen here that you'll want to see."
The look in Hollyleaf's eyes startled the patrol. She had the look of a murderer in her gaze.
Simply bowing his head, Owlwhisker led the patrol into a nearby ditch. Hollyleaf made her way back to camp so she could spring her trap at the right moment.
Lionblaze padded out of camp as quickly as he could without arousing suspicion. It had been a quarter-moon since his "encounter" with Heathertail and he was dying to see her.
Hollyleaf seemed to be keeping her distance from him, which surprised him. The tom pushed it out of his mind as he moved through ThunderClan territory.
He carefully crossed the stream and sat down on the WindClan side, kneading his forepaws on the grass and scenting the air at the same time.
WindClan scent was particularly fresh; the dawn patrol must have just passed this way.
Lionblaze thanked StarClan they had not seen him, it would have provoked some awkward questions he didn't want to answer. He had an uneasy feeling as he sat there. Should he leave?
No. I've always kept my promise when I've said when to meet Heathertail, and I don't plan to start now.
He continued to watch the moors, and his heart soared as a brown tabby shape appeared over the crest of the hill. Heathertail moved closer and closer, breaking into an awkward run as she got close.
Lionblaze noticed that her belly was swollen. Heathertail whispered quietly in his ear, confirming his suspicion. The she-cat was pregnant. Gently lifting his paw, he placed in on Heathertail's bulging stomach.
His heart fluttered as he felt a small kick. Heathertail pressed against his side, burying her nose in the tom's golden fur. A purr arose from her chest as she spoke.
"I'm going to have your kits! Lionblaze, I'm so excited but a little frightened. What are we going to do?"
Lionblaze gave his love a comforting lick across the ears.
"We'll be fine, Heathertail. We just need to..."
"Now!"
Lionblaze stopped in mid-sentence as a ThunderClan patrol emerged from the bushes, his sister at the head. The rest of the patrol contained Brambleclaw, Jayfeather, Firestar, and a good pawful of ThunderClan's warriors.
The cats behind Hollyleaf looked very confused. Apparently, Hollyleaf had not given any details on what she knew and they were just piecing together the conversation he shared with Heathertail.
Remaining glued to Heathertail's side, he turned his head as he felt her fur bristle. The WindClan dawn patrol had come out of the ditch, accompanied by Onestar, Ashfoot, and most of the WindClan warriors.
They seemed to have been expecting an attack. No cat moved for a heartbeat. The silence was broken as Hollyleaf stomped over and screeched in Lionblaze's face.
"How dare you! Falling in love with a cat from another Clan! Mating with her and getting her pregnant! Treating the warrior code like filth! What have you got to say for yourself?"
Lionblaze let out a sad sigh as his sister took a few steps back, waiting for a response. He knew Hollyleaf was a big supporter of the warrior code, but he had wished for her support on this.
"I love her." He mewed simply.
Hollyleaf didn't get a chance to respond, as Breezepelt beat her to it.
"Heathertail! What are you doing with that ThunderClan scum? Come back to us! Can't you see I love you? Don't throw your life away!"
Heathertail chocked back a sob as she answered.
"I'm sorry, Breezepelt. I love Lionblaze and I'm going to have his kits."
Breezepelt glared at Lionblaze with pure fury in his eyes as Onestar spoke.
"Heathertail, I'm incredibly disappointed in you; lying to your Clan and keeping secrets. You have a choice, come back to WindClan or stay with that tom."
Heathertail pressed more firmly against Lionblaze, as if her life depended on it.
"I'm sorry, Onestar. I can't leave Lionblaze. I love him."
Onestar's gaze became cold.
"So be it. Your no longer a WindClan cat. I hope you don't regret this decision."
Firestar stepped forward, breaking in on the conversation.
"Onestar, wait a minute. Maybe we shouldn't criticize them so harshly. Let's..."
"Silence, kittypet!" Onestar snarled. "I'll punish her as I see fit! Your Clan of kittypets and half-breeds will not interfere!"
Yowls of protest sounded form the ThunderClan patrol at the insult. Suddenly, Breezepelt yowled his anger and sprang at the forbidden couple with his claws unsheathed.
Lionblaze moved like lightning, head butting Breezepelt backwards before moving protectively in front of Heathertail.
"I'll slay any cat that moves!" he snarled.
Lionblaze could feel energy coursing through his body, desire to protect Heathertail and fury at her attackers.
"Kill them!" Onestar yowled before throwing himself at lionblaze.
Firestar had jumped the WindClan leader before Lionblaze could move.
"Onestar, stop! I won't force these cats to stay if they'll be unhappy here." Keeping the leader held down, he turned to Lionblaze and Heathertail. "You two are free to go if that's what you wish, and good luck to you."
Onestar spat at Firestar. "Attack! Kill them!"
The WindClan patrol surged forward, only to be met by the ThunderClan warriors. Lionblaze shoved Heathertail out of the fray before they both made a run for it.
Hollyleaf clawed at the WindClan cat until he released her, yowling in pain.
Disengaging from the battle, she looked up to see Breezepelt walk calmly up to her. With unspoken agreement, Hollyleaf stretched her jaws to taste the air.
"They're heading south through the trees! Follow me and we'll cut them off!"
Lionblaze came to a halt as Heathertail nearly lost her balance, gasping for air.
The two had run almost to the far side of ShadowClan territory, and even Lionblaze was getting tired. Slowing to a trot, they continued until Horseplace was visible in the distance.
"We can rest there for a while." Lionblaze mewed, allowing Heathertail to lean on him for support. A black streak shot form the bushes before they could move. Hollyleaf tackled Lionblaze and clawed at his ears.
The two rolled down the shore and into the lake. Pushing down on his chest, Hollyleaf forced the breath out Lionblaze and held his head underwater.
Lionblaze started to panic as he ran out of air. Flailing his paws weakly, he began to fade out.
No! What about Heathertail? She needs you!
Lionblaze suddenly found energy even he didn't know he possessed. With a mighty shove, he sprang up and landed on top of his sister, pinning her underwater. Lionblaze refused to let go, even as Hollyleaf became weaker and weaker.
He was willing to do anything, even kill his own sister, to protect the one he loved. Hollyleaf became still for the last time, and Lionblaze let her body float out into deeper water where it sank and disappeard.
Wading back to the shore, he saw Heathertail step away from the body of Breezepelt, his throat cut.
Her body trembled with exhaustion. Lionblaze ran over to her and she promptly collapsed against his side. Gently giving her some encouraging licks, he started toward Horseplace.
Lionblaze poked his head into the barn, calling for help as he did so. He saw Smokey get up from where he sat next to Floss, who was nursing a small kit.
The tom wordlessly helped Heathertail onto a soft patch of hay as Lionblaze explained his story. Suddenly, Heathertail let out a gasp of pain and began to writhe in agony.
"What's wrong?" Lionblaze cried in horror.
"Kits...coming..." Heathertail gasped.
Fear gripped Lionblaze. The kits were coming so soon? What had happened?
His mind spun as he gently coaxed Heathertail. Something was very wrong.
Two squirming bundles lay beside her, but she kept losing a lot of blood. Licking the pair of kits to get them breathing, he turned his attention to Heathertail.
Her struggles were becoming weaker by the second. Her body was going limp.
"No! Heathertail! Don't go! I need you!" Lionblaze pleaded.
Heathertail gave Lionblaze a weak smile before facing the kits. The first was a she-cat with her coat and Lionblaze's amber eyes.
"This one shall be Lightkit..." She panted.
The second kit was a tom with a mixture of both his parents's pelts and blue eyes.
"This one shall be Airkit..."
Heathertail gave Lionblaze a final lick on the shoulder.
Goodbye Lionblaze, I love you. I'll always watch over you..."
Heathertail let out a sigh and went limp. Lionblaze sobbed and buried his face in her pelt. Smokey nudged him lightly.
"Floss can feed your kits...she has plenty of milk."
Lionblaze nodded his thanks and picked up his kits to set them in the curve of Floss's belly.
"Will you take care of these kits for me?" He mewed.
"Of course." Floss replied.
Thankful, Lionblaze picked up the body of Heathertail and walked out the door.
Jayfeather moved as fast as his paws could carry him. He had followed the trail and found Breezepelt's body on the beach. He could smell Hollyleaf's blood in the water.
He ran until he came to Horseplace, and stuck his head through the door. He could smell blood as well as milk and newborn kits.
Smokey told him what had happened, and Jayfeather continued to follow Lionblaze's scent. Suddenly, his paw brushed a heap of golden fur on the ground.
"No...Lionblaze..." Jayfeather sobbed, his blind eyes clouded with sadness.
He didn't have to imagine the scene before him.
There lay his brother, curled up with his love, the remains of the deathberries he had eaten still clinging to his muzzle.
Strangely enough, Lionblaze wore a peaceful smile even in death. He had gone to be with Heathertail, and he would never be apart from her again.
A.N.: Please review! No flames! Tell me what you think! I know it takes a while for cats to show noticeable sign of pregnancy and all that, but I had to cut it short. The kits are normal size, so bear with me.