Nightfeather watched in dismay as Mistflower was pushed to the ground by Addertooth.

"Why did you retreat!?" He snarled, unsheating his claws.

Pebblepelt pulled Addertooth off thw stunned she-cat, gaze grim. "Relax. Fighting isn't going to improve the situation."

"My kits! How will they live!?" Lily cried, curling her tail around their hunched forms.

Mistflower cleared her throat. "We need to keep moving. Let's try to at least get farther into the territory.  Shadestar should be close."

Nightfeather closed her eyes, trying to bite back a screech of frustration. The camp. Their camp. The camp she had grown up in. Where would they live? Would Rosestar continue to attack them? And what if a cat got injured? Foxfang had carried a few herbs for her, but they were hardly enough for a whole Clan. She opened her eyes as she felt a tail trace over her back. Sparrowwing was standing next to her, gaze glazed over from exhaustion.

"The spy." Was all he said.

Nightfeather nodded in acknowledgement. There was no way Rosestar could have known that Shadestar and Blazefur would have been absent from camp. Someone told her. The black she-cat's eyes widened as she realized during all this, one cat was absent from the mix.

"Thistle," she murmured to Sparrowwing. His eyes widened in understanding.

The bushes in front of the ShadowClan cats rustled, and Mistflower raised her tail. The warriors immediately formed a tight circle around Lily, Birdsong, Marshfur, and Leaftail. Mistflower stood in front of the protective circle, eyes narrowed and muscles bunched.

Rosestar padded into the clearing, eyes flashing with something Nightfeather couldn't quite place. Behind her stood Thistle.

"As Thistle has informed me, you have his mate in your midst. Give us her, and we will leave your territory." Rosestar meowed, tone lazy. "Your territory is small and lacking of prey. You can keep it."

Gasps ran through the cats. Nightfeather trained her eyes on the rogue she had called her friend. She glanced back at Lily, who was shaking. "N-no, p-p-please! Don't l-let m-m-me go with him!"

Mistflower turned to the frightened she-cat. "What do you mean, Lily?" She asked gently, using her tail to stroke her.

"T-t-these aren't his k-k-kits! He always hurts me! He scarred me, and said if I didn't act like his m-m-mate, than h-he would k-k-k-kill me!" She whimpered, letting out a heaving gasp.

Nightfeather blinked and turned back to Thistle, who had a smug look on his face. "You monster," she hissed.

Mistflower turned back to Rosestar, gaze cool. "You will not take Lily."

Yowls of encouragement rose from the ShadowClan cats. Nightfeather felt her heart rise a bit. Her Clan was caring.  They wouldn't let this happen.

Thitsle cocked his head to one side. "Oh, but don't you want to come back to your mate?" He bared thorn-sharp fangs. "We can play."

Lily let out a screech and pulled her kits closer. Nightfeather could smell her fear, and her heart wilted for the young queen.

Pebblepelt stepped forward. "You will not allow you to harm Lily any longer." He growled.

Rosestar yawned dramatically.  "Very well, you fools. Have fun living like a pack of rogues. If you are found on our territory again, you will be murdered in the most brutal way possible." She turned around and padded away, Thitsle following close behind.

Now that the russet she-cat was gone, Nightfeather turned to Lily, heart thumping in her chest. The gray she-cat was gasping for breath as she sobbed. Mistflower traced her tail down her back. "It's okay," she murmured.

"No it's not!" Lily cried. "You're suffering because of me!"

Addertooth rounded on her, eyes blazing. "Never say that," he hissed, "We're doing what's right. If we were to hand you over, we would be no better than Rosestar herself."

Lily gave a wordless nod as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

Nightfeather lifed her tail and tried desperately to lift the mood. "So, tell us about your kits."

Lily gave her a tight, grateful smile, and used her tail to point to each one in turn. "This white tom is Robinkit." She paused and flicked her tail, anxiety evident in her actions. "I gave them Clan names. I hope that's okay."

Foxfang nodded encouragingly. "Of course it is."

She smiled and carried on. "This white and ginger she-kit is Sagekit. And this small gray she-kit is Willowkit."

"Beautiful," breathed Rainheart, and Nightfeather couldn't help but agree. The tiny lumps of fur pawed at their mother as they searched for milk, their tiny mews filling the clearing.

Fawnfur smiled. "They're wonderful, but we have to get moving. Rosestar won't hesitate to attack if she finds us here."

A hiss emitted from Echowing. "This doesn't make any sense! How can she control  RiverClan territory and ShadowClan territory at once!? And did you see the number of cats she had? Most of them weren't even Clan cats!"

Wolffur nodded, gaze grim. "But there's nothing we can do about it."

Mistflower's jaws opened as she tasted the air. "Shadestar," she suddenly said.

The ShadowClan leader padded into the clearing, shock evident on his face. Blazefur appeared next to him.

"What happened?" He whispered.

》》》》》》》》》》

Nightfeather trudged after the circle of cats, her tail drooping with exhasution. It was moonrise, and the Clan had just left ShadowClan territory. Every warrior was tired out.

They hadn't stopped yet. Shadestar had quickly been informed of what had happened, and took charge. The plan was to travel to the gathering island and rest there. Nightfeather doubted that would hold as shelter for long.

Shadestar stopped and turned to his Clan. "This is the log leading to the gathering island. Queens and elders, pair up with a warrior. Kits will be carried across. One after another, and be careful."

Nightfeather watched as Birdsong headed for Addertooth, Leaftail for Fawnfur, and Marshfur for Mistflower. She flicked her tail in surprise as Lily headed for her.

"I-I w-w-was wondering if y-you could h-h-help me a-across," she stammered, still trembling. Nightfeather nodded, pitying the queen.

Nightfeather dipped her head to gently pick up Robinkit and Willowkit, while Lily got Sagekit. She leaned against her as they made their way across the log.

Willowkit mewed weakly when she was dropped and pawed at her mother. Lily nosed her forward.

Nightfeather closed her eyes and breathed in the cool night air, long fur ruffled from the journey. Her belly rumbled with hunger, and she padded towards the edge of the clearing, pushing through the bushes bordering it. The long-furred she-cat opened her jaws to taste the air. The scent of mouse filled her nostrils, ans she sank into a crouch.

The tiny gray creature scampered around the cliff-side, its tail twitching. Nightfeather narrowed her eyes and bunched her muscles, ready to leap. However, as she tore off the ground, the mouse gave a shriek and sprinted away.

"Foxdung!" Nightfeather muttered and leaped after it, paw slamming down on it's frail build.

It was a messy catch, but a catch nonetheless. Nightfeather couldn't help feeling a little proud as she carried the mouse back to the main clearing of the island and set it down in the make-shift "fresh-kill pile". Snowstripe and Echowing were trying to hollow out a dip in the ground for a den. Nightfeather trotted over to then, hope blossoming in her chest. Maybe this could work out after all. At least until the gathering.

Echowing's eyes brightened when she spotted the black she-cat. "Nightfeather! Great. Can you get that brush from over there? We're trying to make it as warm as possible for the queens and Marshfur."

Nightfeather nodded. "Sure." She used her paws to grab the clump of branches and leaves and placed it on her back. Snowstripe heaved it off her and began to use mud to stick it into an arch shape.

She finally finished and smiled. "Done. Can you get Birdsong, Lily, and Leaftail for me? I'll get Marshfur."

Nightfeather trotted over to the queens, who were all sharing a vole. She inwardly winced at the sight. The small piece of prey was barely fitting for them, especially since Sunkit, Thornkit, Runningkit and Cloudkit were added into the mix.

Willowkit, Robinkit, and Sagekit were being fed by a tired-looking Lily. Her eues brightened at the sight of the long-furred warrior.

"Echowing and Snowstripe have prepared somewhere for you to sleep." Nightfeather meowed softly.

Thornkit flicked her tail happily. "Yay! I'm tired."

Leaftail glanced fondly at her brown kit. "That's a shocker. You're usually begging me to stay up."

Birdsong got up with a throaty sigh and made her way to the den. Lily followed, Robinkit and Willowkit in her jaws. Leaftail carried Sagekit.

Nightfeather nosed Sunkit towards the den. The ginger kit was clearly trying to 'explore' the island.

Once the queens and elder were nestled comfortably in the dip, Nightfeather glanced at the fresh-kill pile. Still almost empty. She could tell by the way some warriors glanced at it longingly that they wished they could eat, but the queens and elders always came first.

The bushes parted and Wolffur stepped through. Much to her dismay, Nightfeather relaized that one of the best hunters in the Clan had only brought back a mouse and a vole.

A yowl filled the air. "Let all ShadowClan cats gather!"

Shadestar was perched on one of the branches of the tree, his ears pricked and eyes narrowed. Nightfeather trotted over to the small crowd that had begun to form and sat down, tail curled around her paws.

"Although we have been forced to leave our territory, we must still stay strong. Warriors will sleep without nests today. Prey is to be distributed first to queens and elders. If you feel fit enough, hunt." He began. "The gathering is in about half a moon. We will figure out what to do. However, today, I would like to allow somone to join our Clan. Lily, step forward."

The gray she-cat looked shocked to say the least, but obeyed nonetheless. Nightfeather felt her heart flutter for the loner. She deserved this.

"Lily, is it your wish to join ShadowClan?"

Lily nodded firmly. "It is."

"Than by the power of the stars, I gove you a warrior name. You are too old to take that of an apprentice, but you will have a mentor. Lily, from now on, you will be known as Lilyheart. Your mentor will be Pebblepelt."

"Lilyheart! Lilyheart! Lilyheart!" The yowls rang through the clearing.  Nightfeather stood on her paws and joined in.

Shadestar dipped his head to his Clan. "Before I dismiss this meeting, I would just like all of you to know how proud I am of this Clan. No matter what happens, know that ShadowClan has always done its best."

The meeting came to a close and the crowd began to disperse.  Nightfeather smiled to herself and turned around, watching as Lilyheart padded towards the den.

Nightfeather felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around, smiling when she relaized it was Sparrowwing. The brown tabby tom grinned at her.

"I knew we had a spy."

Nightfeather rolled her eyes teasingly. "Look where that got us. No territory, no camp. Wow."

Sparrowwing frowned. "Look on the bright side." He closed his jaws and didn't continue.

Nightfeather flicked her ear, puzzled. "What bright side?"

Sparrowwing leaned in to whisper something in her ear. "Exactly."

Nightfeather laughed as he shook his head to himself. "Oh, shut up, you." She joked and smacked him with a fluffy tail.

The brown tabby tom got up, suddenly looking quite nervous. "I was wondering if you... um... maybe wanted to... go on a walk?"

Nightfeather shrugged. "Sure." By the way Rainheart and Echowing kept glancing at the two, this wasn't just about a walk.

Sparrowwing turned around and began to pad towards the west side of the clearing. The line of bushes there led to the shoreline of the island. Nightfeather recalled going once when she was an apprentice. She had loved the way the cool water lapped at her paws and the scent of the lake breeze.

Sparrowwing was glancing at her, amused. His whiskers twitched as he stopped and started out at the water. "Fawnfur told me you liked this place."

Nightfeather nodded as she gazed at the lake. In the day, it was wonderful, but she had never seen it at this time. The clouds didn't cover the moon because of the breeze, and the waves stirred beautifully because of the wind coming from the east. The surface of the water sparkled under the light of the stars, and the night sky gave it an eerie feel to it.

Nightfeather moved her tail around until she found Sparrowwing's. In one fluid motion, their tails entwined. Her breath hitched in her throat as she gazed into his yellow eyes that sparkled with an emotion. Love.

"Nightfeather," he rumbled. "Wil you be my mate and stand by my side until the end?"

Nightfeather smiled and leaned in to nuzzle his neck fur.

"Yes." She said, her tone sincere as ever. "I do."

Sparrowwing's yellow eyes brightened. She leaned into him, her small size allowing her to reach only to his neck. His pelt vibrated as he purred, joy radiating off him.

Nightfeather closed her eyes as she felt him nuzzle her ear.

"I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too."

[ for all you SparrowXNight shippers out there! :D I really enjoyed writing their relationship, and I hope to continue to develop it.  Also: the Thistle and Lily twist!  :0 I actually teared up while writing about her crying, etc. Da feelz tho;-;

~ feather

This chapter is unedited, meaning spelling and grammar mistakes are to be expected. Please bear with me. The next chapter will be updated Allegiances.

If you read this far, comment something about the story and include the word 'Lilyheart' in it. :P