Midnight's Past

Chapter Eight

Midnight watched as Stormclaw crossed the river. "Hi, Stormclaw!"

"Hey, Midnight. You ready?"

"Hm..." She pretended to forget. "Ready for what?"

"Oh, you know. Your surprise!"

"Of course, I'm ready! Let's go."

Stormclaw began walking and Midnight followed. They walked in silence for a while until they broke out of the forest and they were on a small hill. The hill overlooked a pond with trees surrounding it. Midnight gaped at the clear, starry sky above. "This is beautiful!"

"That's not all."

Stormclaw led her a few tail-legths to the left where Midnight could see an open field with tons of fireflies. "Wow! This is... amazing. Why haven't I been here before?"

Stormclaw shrugged. "You didn't know me."

"Well, I'm glad I do." Midnight sat down and looked over the feild.

Stormclaw sat beside her. "What are you thinking about?"

"How lucky I am to have met you. You've always been so kind to me."

"You know why I took you here?"

"Why? Because it's awesome?"

"Ha... well that and... At first glance it's just a normal pond by a hill. Like how at first you look like a normal cat. But you're special. Like how this view is special. There is nothing like this... there's nothing like you."

Midnight looked at Stormclaw. "That's very sweet..."

"Um... Midnight."

"Hm?"

"I was wondering... I don't wanna pressure you but it's killing me. Were you really just a rogue?"

Midnight took a deep breath. She couldn't lie to him. Stormclaw was special. She could trust him. "I'll tell you everything... But don't tell a single cat!"

"I swear I won't."

"I used to be a kittypet... And I was one until basically a few days before I joined Fire Clan. I was never really a rogue. So..." Midnight almost choked over her next words.

"M-my... father. He... he hated me. Because it was my fault that someone near to me died... Someone near to us."

"You don't have to do this."

Midnight shook her head and continued. "My... mother died giving birth to me!" Midnight couldn't help the sobs that escaped her.

Stormclaw leaned over to her and rested his tail over her shoulders. "Midnight... I'm so sorry."

"That's not all. I lived with my father for a year before I realized... I realized how much he hated me! He wanted me dead. He... he wants me dead. I ran away finally because one day... he snapped."

Stormclaw frowned.

"He said he would kill me if it's that last thing he does. He said he'd follow me and kill me even if I ran. The only reason he didn't kill me on the spot was because the huma- two legs were right there."

"Midnight..."

"Wait... Now, I'm afraid. I'm afraid that the cat you mentioned... Darkocean. Could he be my father?"

"If he is I swear on my life that I will protect you. He won't even touch your whisker so long as I'm alive."

"Thanks but no thanks. I couldn't forgive myself if he hurt you."

"I'm not giving you a choice. I'll watch Darkocean. I'll make sure you're safe."

"Stormclaw... this is also what I was afraid of. Now you're acting like my bodyguard rather than my friend."

"Midnight... I will keep you safe because... from the day I met you... I fell. I fell in love. I fell in love with the smartest, most perfect, and beautiful she-cat I've seen in my life. I love you, Midnight."

Midnight felt her heart stop. Did he just? No way! That's so... sweet. She smiled. "I love you, too Stormclaw."

He leaned over and licked her cheek. Midnight entwined her tail with Stormclaw's tail. They stood and walked to the field. Midnight held out her paw and a firefly landed ontop. "It's so beautiful here!" Midnight gasped.

"Not as beautiful as you."

She smiled and felt her face heat up. "Charming."

Midnight leaped up and caught a firefly from the air. She slapped it down to the ground and lifted up her paws. She was surprised to see it gone. Midnight looked back to Stormclaw. He saw smirking. "What?"

"Midnight... there is a firefly on your head." He burst out laughing.

Midnight shook her head and watched as a firefly flew away. Midnight glanced back at Stormclaw. He was covered in them! "Stormclaw, you look like the night sky!"

He observed himself and laughed. "I guess I do! But I kinda like my new look!"

They both laughed and spent the night together.

***

Midnight smiled as she dragged a large rabbit into camp. She couldn't forget last night. The best thing ever happened. She found her mate! Stormclaw, a Water Clan cat... was her mate. Huh... Could've sworn the warrior code mentioned that shouldn't happen. Oh well! Midnight placed the rabbit on the freshkill pile, grabbed a mouse, and went to the medacine cat den. She was surprised to see Maplepaw standing. "Hi, Maplepaw. How's your leg?"

"Much better! I can put weight on it! It only needs a little more time because it's still kinda sore. But I'm still almost fully recovered!"

"I'm glad to hear it. I brought you this." Midnight set down the mouse.

"Thanks! I'm starving!"

Midnight turned to Greenberry while Maplepaw hungrily gobbled down the mouse. "Thanks. I'm glad Maplepaw is doing good."

"Hey... it's what I do." He grinned.

"Of course it is. Where's Flowerpaw?"

"Gathering herbs with Lionstar. Could you go see if they need help? I kinda told them to get a lot! Because leaf bare is coming. I just want us to be prepared for anything."

"Yeah, I'll go help them. See you around, Maplepaw."

"Bye!" Maplepaw mumbled around the mouse she was chewing on.

Midnight exited the den and saw that Lionstar and Flowerpaw were just entering the camp. Both of them were carrying huge clumps of herbs in their jaws. Midnight approached them. "Hi!"

Lionstar attempted to say hello but couldn't around the mass of plants he was carrying. Flowerpaw rolled her eyes and smirked around the herbs. Both cats went into the medacine cat den and put down the herbs. Lionstar exited and walked to Midnight. "Sorry, about that. My mouth was full as you could see."

"Yeah, I could definitely tell! No need to point out the obvious." Midnight laughed.

"Ha, very funny." He meowed sarcastically. "Anyways, would you mind going on a border patrol with me?"

"I don't have anything better to do."

"Good. Then, let's go."