Bearheart's Shame

Chapter 9

Bearheart awoke with a start.

"I have to meet Riverscar at sundown!" Bearheart whispered.

She looked around, and found herself in the warriors den.

Her breath quickened, and she felt her fur grow hot.

"Calm down." Doefang sat up next to her, and pushed a chamomile flower towards her.

"I ate this earlier, did I not?" Bearheart asked, picking up the flower.

"You did. I'm glad you're feeling better." Doefang responded.

Bearheart nodded.

She began to stretch, when Dustberry came up behind her.

"I heard Pineclaw's feeling better." He meowed.

"That's great!" Bearheart exclaimed. "I've got to go see him!"

She groomed herself hurriedly, and ran out of the den.

As she made her way to the medicine den, Irisfall confronted her.

"What do you want? Huh?" Bearheart challenged her.

Irisfall laughed. "I want you to stop following my brother like a hungry dog."

Bearheart just shook her head.

"Stay here." Irisfall hissed suddenly.

She ran over to Brackenflame, and they began speaking in hushed voices.

"Okay! Thanks, Brackenflame!" Irisfall said sweetly.

The white she-cat came over and muttered, "We're going on a hunting patrol. Alone. The two of us."

Bearheart hissed, but had to go.

She followed Irisfall through the forest until they reached a small clearing not far from the camp.

Irisfall unsheathed her claws and began creeping forward, her lips drawn back in a snarl.

For the first time, Bearheart did the same.

"What do you think you're doing, pipsqueak?" Irisfall growled.

"Leaving."

Bearheart sheathed her claws and walked out of the clearing, leaving Irisfall dumbfounded in the middle.

Bearheart hunted for while before going back to camp, jaws laden with prey.

"Where's Irisfall?" Brackenflame asked as Bearheart returned.

"She and I split up, so I decided to come back with what I caught." Bearheart thought quickly.

"Hmm. Okay." Brackenflame turned away.

Bearheart went to drop her prey on the fresh kill pile, and Pineclaw came up behind her.

As she turned away from the prey, she came nose to nose with him.

"I see you're feeling better." Bearheart laughed nervously.

"Yeah. I wanted to talk to you." Pineclaw licked his chest fur in embarrassment.

"Okay. Let's talk. Maybe the forest?" Bearheart suggested.

Pineclaw nodded and led her out of the camp.

Once they were far from the camp, Pineclaw stopped and sat down.

Bearheart did the same.

"I'll get straight to the point. I've been wondering, will you be my mate?" Pineclaw asked his voice shaking.