Warriors #2 - Attack of the Clones

Nightmares

"And when I got to them, we went into aggressive negotiations." Skypaw mewed to Heathersun during dinner.

"Aggressive negotiations?" Heathersun raised her eyebrows.

"Uh, well, negotiations with Kyberclaws unsheathed?" Skypaw grinned. "I swear, Hazeldusk was not pleased."

"I could imagine his scowl right now." Heathersun laughed, then dropped her mew to a lower-pitched sound, imitating the auburn knight.

"Skypaw, you just had to decapitate those Nemodians, didn't you?"

"Oh, I'm so sowwey, Master, but they were such ignorant little mousebrains!" Skypaw made a pathetic face, then broke off, laughing.

He raised his paw, letting a juicy blackberry hover in mid-air, then making it land on top of Heathersun's soft paws.

She looked up at him, faintly astonished, and smiled.

"If Master Hazeldusk caught me doing this, he'd be very grumpy." Skypaw purred at her.

Night had fallen on the woods of Mossflower, the sky dotted with countless stars that shone like jewels on black velvet.

Skypaw and Heathersun lay on the soft, sweet grass, gazing up at the beautiful sight that stretched before them.

"From the moment I met you... all those years ago... not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of you." Skypaw murmured to Heathersun, who lay close to him, purring softly.

She was flawless, beautiful and strong.

The conflict in his heart had started again.

He was breaking every rule in the knight code by being with her like this.

His heart felt like it was being torn into two.

"And, now that I'm with you again, I'm in agony," he whispered.

"The closer I get to you, the worse it gets."

"The thought of not being with you, Heathersun... I can't breathe."

"I..."

"I don't know what to do..."

"You are in my very soul, tormenting me."

"Skypaw." Heathersun rested her muzzle on his shoulder, wishing there was some way to comfort him, hating herself for not being able to utter a word.

The truth was, she too, was conflicted.

Was she being selfish?

Her actions might ruin his life as a Dawnclan Knight.

And could she, could he, face the consequences?

"I will do anything you ask." Skypaw's eyes brimmed with pain.

"I can't, Sky," Heathersun smiled sadly. "I mean, being a knight is who you are, and if you are with me, you'll be ruined."

"We'll be ruined."

"I will not let you give up your future for me." a million thorns seemed to stab her heart as the words dropped from her jaws like stones.

"Anything is possible, Heathersun!" Skypaw's mew rose to a pleading wail.

"You are asking me to be rational."

"That is something I know I cannot do."

He covered his face with his paws, trying to keep himself from yowling out loud.