Stoatfur lay down in his nest. The wool lining was a little battered, but he could collect some more tomorrow. Beside him, Featherheart's legs churned in her sleep. Dreaming about chasing rabbits? Stoatfur thought, amused. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. Stoatfur didn't know how late it was when a paw tread on his tail. Stoatfur looked up just in time to see a cream-colored form slip out of the den. Sweetberry. But what was she doing? Going to use the dirtplace, I suppose, Stoatfur thought, yawning. It couldn't hurt to follow her. He slunk out of the den and saw Sweetberry exiting camp. For a moment, she turned around, her pale green eyes, so round and beautiful, surveying the camp, as if to make sure no cat noticed her. The shadows hid Stoatfur well enough, so Sweetberry hadn't noticed the brown warrior standing there. With one last glance at the camp, Sweetberry went on her way. Stoatfur crept after, being careful not to step on the frosty heather that would snap and crunch beneath his paws. Maybe she wants to do some night hunting, Stoatfur thought. The fresh-kill pile is almost empty, as leaf-bare had chased the rabbits deep into their burrows. If it wasn't for the tunnelers, WindClan would be on the brink of starvation. Stoatfur walked on. Sweetberry was nearing the RiverClan border. Why was she going their? "Ripplestrike," she whispered in her silky voice, just loud enough for Stoatfur to hear. "Ripplestrike." Ripplestrike? Ripplestrike was a RiverClan warrior. Stoatfur had barely registered this when a silver tabby tom stepped out of the bushes, muscles rippling. His dark blue eyes gleamed in the moonlight. "Sweetberry!" he called in a loud whisper. "I missed you." "I missed you to, Ripplestrike," Sweetberry meowed. Ripplestrike's eyes gleamed mischievously, and he suddenly cried: "Race you up this tree!" Sweetberry purred, and Stoatfur watched in horror as the cat he loved began scrambling up a tree with a RiverClan warrior. Stoatfur wanted to yowl his sorrow and fury to the stars. Sweetberry, whom he had loved his entire life, had chosen Ripplestrike, a RiverClan tom, over him. Grief twisted his heart. Of all the feelings he'd ever had for Sweetberry. . . . she had none for him.
My entry for cinderpeltTC's CC. To see what happens next in the story, check out my project 'All Stoatfur Ever Wanted'.
