West Woods: Sliverstone's Destiny

20 -- Secrets of Love

Breezestar lay in her lonely den, the scent of Firestar still strong in the dry air. Her moss was quite prickly and every once in a while, she would pick out a tiny stick that had made its way into the bunch, but she didn't mind that at all. She had more than she ever had in BrambleClan.

Her clanmates were obviously happier without their former tyrannical leader, and she was respected and loved for who she was even though she was born and raised in BrambleClan. But there was something inside her that hurt. It all started with the BrambleClan rumor.

She couldn't remember who was talking to who, but they were talking about BrambleClan and their leader Sliverstar. Breezestar had smiled much larger than she believed she should, but she was happy and she was proud and most of all, she was so in love.

"Are you alright in here, Breezestar?" The cream she-cat looked up. The brown head of Littlebird was peeking through the den walls, staring at her with worried umber eyes.

"Yeah, I'm alright," Breezestar muttered, regret in her mew.

"Are you sure?" Breezestar glanced at the elder queen and read her expression. The cream she-cat was born a single kit, a bad omen. She always saw the look of grief and fear in her mother's eyes. But Littlebird had suffered through something worse. She had a good litter and she loved them with all her heart, she could tell. There was also something else she didn't know and never expected to know. The elder was pure hearted, an angel even through the reign of Firestar.

Breezestar breathed. "Come in." Littlebird seemed pleased. She settled next to her leader, in awe over the forbidden den no one but Firestar and his mate had seen (though it was nothing different from the other dens). "Could I tell you a secret? A vent really."

Littlebird nodded, a loving tone in her mew, "Of course. I'm always here to listen, Breezestar."

Breezestar relaxed. Now was the time to let it go. "I loved a cat, not to say I don't still."

Littlebird nodded. "I loved a cat, too. My mate Lightningtail. And my daughter Deerspring. Even though they're both gone now, I still love them with all my heart. I suppose you feel the same?"

Breezestar shrugged. "She's not... in the Place of Cold Waters, but she's gone. She was a BrambleClan cat." Littlebird mouthed Of course before the leader continued. "Is it true Sliverstar has... disappeared?"

"She hasn't been seen for days. We saw a search patrol on the other side of the river. There's no word on whether they found her," the brown elder explained.

The leader's ears flattened in mourning. "She was my best friend. I grew up with her. I supported her through her every decision no matter how awful it was." She chuckled remembering the young Sliverstone demanding warrior names from the serious-faced Bramblestar. "She became an amazing warrior, her and Nightwhisper. They became mates like I'd always believed they would."

"And you weren't jealous?" Littlebird intervened.

The cream leader shook her head. "I always thought of them. I didn't care for my wants. As long as they were happy, I was happy. But it all changed when Nightwhisper died."

"How did this happen?"

Breezestar swallowed, her throat tightening. "Suicide."

Littlebird flinched. "Oh, I see."

"I tried to comfort her, and I did at times. I helped her ignore the pain. She came to me in comfort, slept by my side. In a way, I felt like I was replacing her dead mate. As a friend, I wanted all the best for her, but there was something else in my belly. I wanted to comfort her and have her comfort me. Chase her around the forest and tangle ourselves in a purring, cuddling mess not caring what the world gave us...."

Littlebird studied the cream she-cat, the leader's amber eyes seeing something in the dusty ground that she herself could not see. She lowered her eyes and flicked her tail over her leader. "Do you think you're in love with this cat, Breezestar?"

It took a moment for the leader to gather her thoughts, but she did not hesitate to say: "I think I do."