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♣Storm♣ [Forest, TC]

The gray she-cat crept through the dense undergrowth, her ears pricked and stormy green eyes narrowed as she watched the mouse in front of her. She bunched her muscles and leaped, landing a few mouse-lengths from the creature. It gave a shriek and sprinted away, ducking into a small hole. Storm gave a quiet hiss. There goes her meal for today. She sat down, wincing as her fresh scratches stung. They were the consequence of failing to cover up her tracks. A ThunderClan patrol had spotted her earlier today. She had just returned to their territory today, under the protection of the cold and dark leafbare night.

Storm got up and shook out her pelt. It was ruffled and matted, but she didn't care. She doubted any cat would find her. She wouldn't make the same mistake again. A memory began to form in the edge of her mind. Her mother, Whiterose, comforting her as a ShadowClan patrol stormed past, in pursuit of a RiverClan cat. Her father. Next thing she knew, her mother had screamed and leaped into the open, nosing her dead mate's lifeless fur.

She had died that night as well.

Storm blinked away tears. Although the events had occured in her kithood, she remembered them like yesterday. She was Stormkit then, a ShadowClan cat. Or so they thought.

She pricked her ears as voices began to sound through the air. Storm crouched low in the thicket, her green eyes the only things visible. What? Why was a ThunderClan patrol out at this time?

Two toms were chatting as they made their way through the clearing. Judging by how similar they looked, they seemed to be brothers. One was a black tom with yellow eyes. The other was a gray tom with black patches and piercing blue eyes that seemed to stare into her soul and-

Oh no. He had spotted her.

Storm felt her heart begin to race and watched as the two Clan cats began to surround the thicket, their claws unsheated and eyes glowing in the darkness. It was a dark night. Clouds from the thunder storm in the day lingered, blocking any light the moon or stars could offer. Maybe she could use that to her advantage.

A voice sounded through the air. "Come out! We know you're in there!"

Storm blinked, fur bristling with terror. She quickly scurried into the clearing, trying to hide her fear.

The gray tom stared at her, but the black tom's eyes widened. "Hey- you're the rogue we chased out today! "

Storm's whiskers twitched. Amateur.

The gray tom flicked his tail in warning. "What are you doing here?" He meowed crisply. "This is ThunderClan territory."

Storm dug her claws into the forest floor, mind flying in a hundred different directions. Run? Fight? Negotiate?

The gray tom seemed to notice hee fear, and his eyes softened. "You can't be here. Leave."

The black tom narrowed his eyes and sank into a crouch.

Storm gathered her courage and swallowed. "No."

The black tom leaped. Storm had predicted his move, and she side stepped. Her claws caught his belly, though he moved too fast for them to go deep.

She turned to the gray tom, ready to fight. Was he...sitting? She blinked in confusion, but he was still there. He licked a paw calmly.

"What are you doing?" She blurted. Her eyes widened, and she slapped a long tail aross her mouth.

The tom gave a laugh. "You're rude. You could at least introduce yourself."

Storm narrowed her eyed and glanced at his claws. Unsheated. She raised her tail. "I don't associate with Clan cats," she growled. Who did this idiot think he was?

"Alright then," the tom rumbled, "I'll introduce myself first. I'm Cedarclaw."

Storm suppressed a growl. "I don't care what your stupid name is. Get our of my way."

Cedarclaw's eyes shone with satisfacfion. "Oh well. You might want to duck."

Storm gave a yelp and turned around, just to be greeted with the black tom pushing her to the ground. He dug sharp claws into her.

"Leave," he commanded.

"No. I don't take orders from idiots like you." Storm growled, masking her fear with hostility. Were these two slow?

She sighed and exploded forward, throwing the tom off her. Didn't he ever learn? She felt herself be pushed to the ground yet another time. She looked up to see blue eyes blinking down at her. Her breath caught in her throat.

Cedarclaw's muzzle was mere claw-lengths from hers. Time seemed to stop.

His words stirred her fur. "Are you done? Because you need to leave. This is Clan territory. I don't want you getting hurt." He whispered.

Storm felt her eyes widen. He didn't want her getting hurt? Why did he care? Did he care? She pushed the thought from her mind. The gray she-cat swallowed and nodded.

"I'll be seeing you again." Cedarclaw said, his mew soft.

Storm narrowed her eyes and watched as he got off her. She rose to her paws and gave him a final glance. "Tomorrow, here, at moonhigh." She didn't know why, but she wanted to see him again. Whenever she stared into those blue eyes, she felt her heart race.

Cedarclaw looked reluctant, as if he wanted to protest, but sighed. "Alright then. Tomorrow."

Storm sheated her claws and padded away, staring at the black tom who had attacked her. He was out cold, his eyes glazed over. She felt something bump into her and turned around, ears growing hot when she relaized it was Cedarclaw. His blue eyes glowed in the darkness, and his mew was muffled by the rose he was holding in his jaws. He set it down in front of her, and their gazes locked.

"A pretty flower for a pretty she-cat."

Storm flicked her tail and flushed. "T-thank you," she stammered, too shocked to think straight.

Cedarclaw dipped his head and slowly moved his tail. It entwined with Storm's.

Storm purred. He was charming. And nice. And magnificent. And-

Her thoughts were interrupted by Cedarclaw lifting his Clanmate by the scruff. Her fur felt oddly colder without him next to her.

"S-sorry," she meowed shakily.

"For what?" He asked, tone curious.

"For doing that." She motioned towards the heap of fur in his jaws with her tail, eyes shining with guilt.

"He'll heal. But you need to get out of here." His deep voice urged her on, and she snapped out of her daze.

"Oh. O-oh, right." She squeezed into the bramble thicket and closed her eyes.

For the first time, her heart felt warmer than before.

[A/N: So, this is another story. Not really Clan life, though both povs will be included. I feel like this chapter length is too short. Tell me what you think!

._. I'm taking a small break from Colorful Doom, at least until I can figure out a decent plot plan. I'm sorry, I suck at writing XD.

Soooo, I don't write romance really well. What do you think?

Thanks for reading! Also: if anybody wants to rp, I'm TOTALLY open to that. I love rp. A lot. So go ahead! :3

~ ♣ Feather ]

Unedited