Strength Of A Leopard (BOOK THREE) [ON HOLD]

Chapter Ten

"Stormpaw, Stormpaw!" Leopardpaw called. He'd just woken up from his dream, and was eager to tell his best friend about it. Forbidden love. Forbidden love. Forbidden love.

He bust into the moon cats den, to find only Rainstorm inside. Disappointed, he flopped down. "Where's Stormpaw?"

"Out hunting with Foxpaw. Why?" Rainstorm responded.

"I've had a dream from StarClan." He panted. Rainstorm was on his paw at once.

"They sent you a dream and not me?!" He snarled.

"No, wait. They told me that they couldn't reach you-"

"Why? I have never broken the moon cat code!" He spat.

"Stormpaw has.." Leopardpaw shifted uncomfortably.

"She has?"

"Yes. A... Forbidden love." Leopardpaw sighed. "Who does she love, Rainstorm?"

"Do you have bees in your brain?" Rainstorm sounded oddly calm all of a sudden. "Fool.."

"What?"

"She loves you, mousebrain!" He hissed. Before Leopardpaw could reply, Spidereye pushed her way into the den.

"Hey, Leopardpaw. Want to go train now? You're awake." She asked.

"Yeah.. Sure." Leopardpaw glanced at Rainstorm before following Spidereye out of the den.

***

"Can we take a break now?" Spidereye panted.

"Again? It's normally the apprentice who wants a break, not the mentor!" Leopardpaw laughed.

"You're a good fighter." Spidereye growled. Sitting up, she licked her paw clean of sand. They were training in the training circle at the beach.

"Spidereye, can I talk to you about something?" Leopardpaw asked. He'd grown very close to Spidereye in the short time that they had trained together.

"What is it?"

"This morning, Rainstorm told me that the reason StarClan hasn't been sending him dreams is because of Stormpaw's love... For me. What should I do?"

"A moon cat can't have a mate, Leopardpaw. Do you love her?"

"No!" Leopardpaw lashed his tail. I don't love her, do I?

"Then tell her the truth." Spidereye shrugged. "There's no harm in that."

"But that would break her heart.." Leopardpaw realised, his heart sinking. There was no way that Leopardpaw and Stormpaw could possibly be together, though he still felt bad for his friend. "I have to, don't I, Spidereye?"

The warrior nodded sadly. "I'm afraid you do, Leopardpaw. I am sorry.." She nudged his shoulder. "We should get back to camp now, before it starts to get dark. The dog pack might find us."
Leopardpaw shuddered at the thought. He followed Spidereye back to the old twoleg nest. Their pelts brushed as they slipped inside, sending shivers down his spine. He didn't say a thing as he rushed past her, going right to the moon cat den.

Inside, Stormpaw was rearranging her nest of moss. Leopardpaw sat at the entrance, watching her. "Um, Stormpaw.."

"Yes?" She looked up, her eyes gleaming. "Hello, Leopardpaw. Have you come to talk about that dream you had?"

"W-What dream?" Did she know that Feather had visited him and told him why they couldn't reach her?

"The one about the falling rocks, mouse-brain." She laughed, "Has it stopped now, since the rockfall? It was probably warning you of that."

"No, it hasn't stopped. That's not what I wanted to talk about.." Leopardpaw sighed, wrapping his tail around his forepaws. How was he going to say this..? "Stormpaw, the other day StarClan visited me in a dream." He started.

"Really?" She jumped up, "That's great!"

"No, it isn't. They told me that the reason they haven't spoken to you and Rainstorm is because your... Thoughts... Are distracted."

"My thoughts?" Her voice was shaking with fear. "What.. What thoughts?"

"Of forbidden love, they said. You.. You love me, Stormpaw?"

She shook her grey head quickly. "I'm sorry, Leopardpaw, I-"

"I just want to say that you need to stop. Stormpaw.. I don't feel the same way, you know that?" His paws ached as he spoke. He knew then that he was lying, but he could never admit it.

"I think it's best if we stopped being friends. You know, so I could focus on my work.." She dipped her head sadly. "I'm sorry, Leopardpaw."

"I'm sorry too." He stood to leave, feeling his heart aching every step out of the den. "Goodbye, Stormpaw."

"Goodbye, Leopardpaw."