A Spark in the Night, part one: The Spark Ignites

Chapter fourteen

Softcloud arrived back at camp, and ran towards Featherleap. "We won!" she mewed.

"Hey, Softcloud? May I speak to you? In private?"

She turned around, pleased to see Strikestone. "I'd love to. Where?"

Strikestone smiled. "How about by the lake?"

Softcloud nodded. "Let's go!"

She glanced apologetically at Featherleap. "Be back soon."

They headed off towards the lake, and Softcloud could tell Strikestone was preparing himself for whatever he was going to say. Why is he worried? He's usually so confident. I admire that. Well, everyone gets worried sometimes. Softcloud ran her tail across his back, and he was visibly comforted.

"Okay," mewed Softcloud. "We've been looking at the lake for a while. What do you want to tell me?"

Strikestone glanced at her. "So, uh, Softcloud. I've been thinking for a while, and your help in the battle- well, I've finally decided to ask, uh."

Softcloud looked at him. He's acting so sweet. I like that. "Yes?"

"Well, I was wondering..." Strikestone stammered. "Well, we're really good friends, but, well, I wanted to know if..." He'd never been this nervous before, not even in the battle, facing three cats. "If you'd like to be my mate?"

Softcloud felt her jaw drop. It wasn't until this moment that she realized that she, too, had feelings for him. I didn't know because I tried to hide my feelings from myself, I never thought he'd ever feel this was about me. But here we are, right now. Strikestone looked at his paws, disappointed. Softcloud realized that she hadn't responded. Strikesone turned to pad away. "Wait! Strikestone!" He turned around. "Strikestone, yes!"

Strikestone ran towards her, and they smiled at each other for what felt like forever.

After chatting for a while, Softcloud and Strikestone returned to camp with pelts brushing, and tails twined. "Hey, Strikestone! Hunting patrol is back. Let's go pick something out." It was Swirltail, his sister.

Strikestone smiled. "I'm going to share something with Softcloud today."

Swirltail gasped, seeing the two's expressions. "I'm going to tell Birdpool that she'll have company in the nursery soon!"

Softcloud stiffened. I'm not ready for kits yet. "Wait, Swirltail" called Softcloud. "We're not ready yet-"

But she was gone. "It's okay." Strikestone meowed. "She always overreacts. It'll blow over."

Softcloud looked at him. "I don't know if I'm ready for kits..." she admitted apologetically.

Strikestone met her gaze. "We don't have to figure that out yet."

She nodded, and walked up to the fresh-kill pile. She beckoned him with her tail. "How about that rabbit?" She meowed.

Strikestone looked at it. "Sure."

They pulled it out of the pile and began eating. Out of nowhere, Bloompaw charged towards them. "I caught that rabbit! I fed two clanmates!!"

She turned around and rushed back into the apprentices' den. "Hey, Blossompaw! My prey fed two cats! I win!"

Strikestone glanced at Softcloud. "Apprentices."