𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐒, stars and moon 4

『 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟻 』

SPOTTEDSONG HAD BEEN told to go on patrol that morning. She had dragged herself out of her nest and now she was quickly grooming herself, listening to her busy Clanmates outside.

She stopped in the middle of her work when she heard two exceptionally loud voices outside of the den. Both sounded desperate. Spottedsong peeked outside of the den to see Cloudsky and Frozenfang standing muzzle-to-muzzle in an argument just outside of the warrior's den.

"Please, Frozenfang," Cloudsky begged.

"It doesn't make sense," Frozenfang countered, solemnness filling her frosty blue eyes. "This can't work. I've lived for many more seasons than you! I've seen many more things! I'm a MoonClan cat. Great StarClan, I was friends with your mother!"

Cloudsky looked thoughtful. "True. But that doesn't matter. Age doesn't matter. I might be a bit younger, but-"

"Age does matter. I'm old enough to be your mother. I knew Tawnyflight when she was a young apprentice, same with Shadowheart. Look, it's really, really sweet that you cared about me when no one else did, but you can care about me some other way. We can still be friends, stay side by side together, but not as mates or mother and father. Just as friends. I really want you to understand that," Frozenfang explained, sounding desperate for Cloudsky to understand.

Cloudsky held Frozenfang's gaze for a few moments longer, then he dropped it to his paws. Then he took a deep breath and met the dark gray she-cat's gaze. "Frozenfang, the moment you walked into this camp, I knew that you were different from the other she-cats. I knew that I would never find another cat quite like you, and I didn't want to miss my chance. But now . . ."

"I like you too, Cloudsky, but we can't go on like this. I'm practically old enough to be an elder now. And besides, if we were in that kind of relationship, do you know how much danger you would be putting yourself in? They-the MoonClan cats-are after me. If they knew that we were in love, you would be next. It's better that I keep you safe than risk your life."

"Is that all this is about?" Cloudsky was beginning to sound angry. "MoonClan? We can't let MoonClan determine our every choice! If we want to become mates and have kits, we should be allowed. Have you ever lived in freedom before? Do you even know what that's like? Because I'm starting to think you don't."

Frozenfang stiffened a bit, her neck and shoulder fur rising. "Maybe I don't! But you can't blame me. I was born and raised in MoonClan, the Clan where only the strongest survive. But being in FrostClan, I get my first dose of freedom, and it's the most wonderful thing ever. If fate allowed it, I would be your mate, and I would have your kits. But it doesn't, and I'm sorry."

Cloudsky's eyes darkened with sadness. "Fine. If that's what you really want, have it. There's plenty of other she-cats out there." He ducked his head, ears flat upon his head, then left. Spottedsong watched as her brother headed to the other side of camp to nowhere in particular, then she slid into the open to confront Frozenfang. The gray she-cat looked anguished as she watched Cloudsky leave.