Warriors #4: Darkness Awakens

Chapter 31

Lilypetal's POV

I was prickling with apprehension as I led Nightwing and Dustystorm through the forest as the sun slowly disappeared into the pink sky.

As reluctant as I was to go back to the Twoleg nest, Firestar had asked me to be the one to escort the two former-kittypets there to let them say goodbye to Smudge for the last time, and to tell him that they had finally become warriors.

As much as I wanted to think Firestar had just picked me because I was a little more familiar with the area, I couldn't help but wonder if he wanted to test my loyalties a little bit after the stupid Jerry encounter in ThunderClan camp. I suppose I can't blame him for that, I realized. That stupid Jerry caused my dedication to ThunderClan to be questioned when, originally, I had no reason for it to be questioned at all!

That is another reason why I was reluctant to return to my Twoleg nest. It would be nice to see Smudge again, but I could already tell that seeing Jerry again wouldn't do anything good for me.

I took a deep breath, trying to get that annoying, selfish tom out of my head as the three of us got further and further away from ThunderClan territory. Behind me, I could hear Dustystorm and Nightwing whispering about their warriors ceremony that had happened just earlier that day. And, my stomach twisted as I had heard them begin to talk about something else.

I had figured out something was going on when I had seen Goldenshine and Dustystorm talking earlier, but his and Nightwing's conversation now just confirmed it for me.

I couldn't help but smile at the realization. It's about time, I thought to myself. Every cat has seen how Dustystorm's been padding after my daughter for moons now!

I was genuinely happy for them. But, of course, a mother will always get nervous when their kit pursues a new relationship. But Dustystorm is an amazing tom. Goldenshine chose very well, I thought proudly.

To my surprise, Thornclaw had been quite pleased as well. I had thought that he would at least be a little iffy, considering Dustystorm had been a kittypet for seasons before. But, I suppose Thornclaw liked Dustystorm and his personality as much as I did, as he had actually walked up to the two new mates and given them his blessing.

When he had arrived back to me, he even purred, "He's going to make her happy, don't you think?"

I had let out a mrrow of laughter and touched my mate's ear with my nose. "I don't doubt it," I answered happily.

But, something he hadn't been as fond of was the fact that I was going to be the one escorting Dustystorm and Nightwing to the Twoleg nest to say goodbye to Smudge and, well, Jerry.

"I trust you wholeheartedly, Lilypetal," he had meowed, "But... what if he tries to hold you captive? Or what if he follows you back here? What if-"

I had cut him off, pressing my muzzle against his. "How about none of the above?" I meowed teasingly, having echoed the words he had said to me after he had come out of a quarter moon of unconsciousness. I then pulled away from his muzzle so I could stare into his pale blue eyes. "Don't worry, Thornclaw. Whatever Jerry-"

Thornclaw let out a snort as I had been speaking. "You could do without saying his name," he muttered, rolling his eyes.

I purred with amusement and then continued. "Fine. Whatever that tom tries to do, it doesn't matter at all!"

"Why not? Lilypetal-"

Before Thornclaw could say any more, I had twinned my tail with his. "Because, you're the only cat I'll ever love," I whispered, my hazel gaze burning into his.