Rushing water startled Adderfern. She woke up and looked around. She had forgotten she slept on sunning rocks. She stretched her legs and sat up to groom herself. After a thorough washing she set off towards camp. "And where have you been?" Stonetail asked her leading a patrol her way. Hawktail was there talking to Silverstripe. The silver shecat's pelt glittered in the sunlight. Her dark blue eyes had golden flecks in them. Adderfern fluttered with jealousy towards the shecat. She was purrfect, no wonder Hawktail wasn't spending time with her but with Silverstripe.
Adderfern growled quietly. "Adderfern." Stonetail's deep voice snapped her back to reality. Hawktail was looking at her, his tail was twined with Silverstripe's. He looked at Adderfern, then Silverstripe, their tails, at Adderfern again and moved closer to the silver she cat. Adderfern felt he heart break. She glared at her so called "mate" and then turned around, tail drooping and left camp. She ran as fast as she could, not even knowing where she was headed. She skidded to a halt at a small cliff. The wind blew her fur gently. She stared at the rising sun, it was turning the clouds pink and orange. Adderfern growled and sunk her claws into the ground. A pelt brushed against hers.
She turned her head to see Stonetail. He looked into her eyes and twined tails with her. He didn't say anything but opened his mouth was opened a little. She sat down and so did Stonetail. The deputy got up after a few minutes and flicked his tail over her ears and licked her head. "Let's get back to camp. Hawktail doesn't mean anything in your life now. He chose Silverstripe."
Adderfern clenched her teeth, "Hawktail is the father of these kits I'm going to have!" She hissed flicking her tailtip at her stomach. She lowered her voice. "I don't want their father to be a horrible cat. I need to find a cat willing to replace him." She looked at her former mentor. He nodded, knowing was she was thinking. "Thank you." She mewed and licked his cheek before padding back to camp.
~*~
At camp Hawktail was whispering with Silverstripe in the middle of the clearing. She passed them and bumped into Hawktail's shoulder on purpose. He looked back at her and she glared at him flicking her tail at Stonetail. She mouthed "he's my mate now, traitor." And went into her fathers den. "Ravenstar? May I come in?" She called. He called a yes back and she padded into the den. She dipped her head and sat down. "Ravenstar. I have something important to tell you." She swallowed hard. "Well, er, I'm expecting...." She looked at her paws. "I'm expecting H-" An abrupt meow interrupted her.
"She's expecting our kits." Stonetail padded into the den. "Sorry to barge in Ravenstar." He dipped his head and sat down, twinning tails with Adderfern. Adderfern was shocked. He just told her father she was expecting their kits when she was expecting Hawktail's kits. He lied to his leader! But only she knew her leader was lying to them...
"Congratulations! I can tell they will be great Warriors one day." The leader said curling his tail with delight. "You should get something to eat. And maybe go to the nursery. Just incase." He added. The two cats walked out of his den.
"Thanks." Adderfern mewed when they left the den. "Want to share some freshkill, 'mate?'" She asked Stonetail. He shrugged and they got a rabbit and settled next to the highrock. Dapplepaw bounded over to them.
"Can we train tom-" She stopped and stared at Adderfern's swelling stomach. She looked at the two cats. "Oooooooooooh!" She gasped. "I'm gonna tell Hawktail!" Adderfern rolled her eyes.
"Hawktail's a no good fleabag!" She snorted.
