Warriors: Hollyleaf's kits

Chapter 1

--Hollyleaf's POV--

Hollyleaf woke up to the sound of something thumping on the ground beside her. She blinked open her eyes, seeing a dead fish by the side of her nest. 

Fallen Leaves's face was peering over the edge of Hollyleaf's nest, his green eyes shimmering. "Good morning."

Hollyleaf blinked sleep from her eyes, beginning to purr. She pulled the fish closer, taking a bite from it. "Do you want some?" She asked.

"No," Fallen Leaves answered. "I ate a fish while you were still sleeping," he admitted, his green eyes shining with amusement.

Hollyleaf got to her paws after eating the last bit of fish. She remembered when she thought about going to ThunderClan, but she was too scared. And plus she didn't want to leave Fallen Leaves.

"So what will we be doing today?" Fallen Leaves asked, his tail lifting as he watched Hollyleaf climb from her nest.

"I'm not sure," Hollyleaf sighed. She padded across the stony ground. Sunlight poked from a hole in the roof of the cave. She could see dust floating in the air as sunlight reflected from it. The stream was running fast in the cave. Fish swam in the clear water, sunlight reflecting off their scales.

"Do you think you should practice catching fish or swimming?" Fallen Leaves asked, coming up beside her. He sat down, curling his tail neatly around his paws. 

Hollyleaf avoided his gaze. "I'm not feeling up to it," she sighed, closing her eyes. A memory of her training with her mentor, Brackenfur, flashed into her mind. She kind of missed ThunderClan. No, I can't go back. Not after what I did.

He parted his jaws, tasting the air. For a second it seemed as if fear flashed across his gaze. "Rain is coming, I can smell it."

Hollyleaf sat down at the stream's edge, watching the fish go by. I guess I could practice hunting fish. She crouched down, lapping at the water. She then felt a tail on her shoulders.

"I can tell you miss ThunderClan," Fallen Leaves meowed. "You know, I-... I don't mind you going back," his voice sounded regretful almost.

"N-no! I don't want to go back!" Hollyleaf heard her mew crack. She curled her bushy tail around her paws. "I'm staying here. With you." 

Fallen Leaves's eyes rounded with slight surprise. He leaned forward, licking Hollyleaf's cheek. "Right. We're mates." 

Hollyleaf gazed back at him, her heart pounding. She felt soothed by him. Right, we are. "But.... H-how can this work? You're a spirit," she sighed, hating to say it to him.

"It can still work. We'll make it work," Fallen Leaves meowed, sounding determined. His whiskers twitched, his green gaze fixing on the stream. His reflection wasn't visible.

Hollyleaf scooted closer to him. She began to purr. StarClan didn't give me a power, but this is much better. Her fur felt cold, leaning against Fallen Leaves. Did this feel wrong?

Fallen Leaves took in a deep breath, then looked up from the water, his green eyes fixing on her. They stared into each others' eyes for a moment.

"You know, I'm so glad I met you. I... I was so lonely wondering around in these tunnels for moons and moons." Fallen Leaves's gaze shimmered, the stars in his fur sparkling brighter. He stretched out a paw, putting it on Hollyleaf's paw. "At least StarClan gave me a chance."

Hollyleaf felt soothed by his quiet voice. She purred. "I'm glad I met you too. Without meeting you after the rock fall, I don't think I'd be alive right now," she admitted. But we'd meet in StarClan....

Fallen Leaves's gaze flashed with fear for a moment. "I don't want you to think that. You're tough; I know you would've survived somehow."

"You taught me how to survive, how to catch fish down here," Hollyleaf purred. She looked up as the sunlight disappeared, instead being replaced by darkness. A cloud must've passed over the sun.

Fallen Leaves looked up too, his ears pricking forward. He looked sad, almost as if remembering a bad memory.

Then, a rain drop splattered down from the hole, then another. More rain drops continued to spatter the stream's surface. 

Hollyleaf got to her paws, turning away. Fallen Leaves stood up, padding up beside her. 

"I should get sleep," Hollyleaf murmured. She climbed into her nest, curling her tail over her nose. Fallen Leaves curled up beside her, his paws stretching over to hers. 

"Sleep well."