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.

Thornclaw's worried eyes then softened. My head felt light as he then smiled at me gently and laid his muzzle on my head. "Me too," he whispered back.

I sniffed and meowed with laughter in my voice, "You're the only cat you'll ever love, huh?"

Thornclaw had snorted as he pulled his muzzle away from my head. He nudged me as he purred, "You know what I meant, mouse-brain!" My mate then had nodded his head towards the camp entrance. "Now go, before I decide to come with you and throw that tom into the lake!"

I purred once again and touched my nose to Thornclaw's in farewell. "I'll do it for you," I teased before I had joined Dustystorm and Nightwing at the entrance. The two of them had stormed through the entrance as soon as I had approached them. Before I followed them, I turned my head back around to see Thornclaw watching me go. My heart melted as I saw him mouth a clear "I love you" and "be safe" to me.

I had smiled at the ground before looking back up at my mate and mouthing back an "I love you too" and "I will".

Now, here I was, leading Nightwing and Dustystorm to the Twoleg nest. We had just barely made it out of ThunderClan territory when I heard Nightwing exclaim from behind me, "There it is!"

Surely enough, looking ahead I could see the very familiar greenleaf Twoleg nest just foxlengths ahead. I purred with amusement as Nightwing and Dustystorm pelted up the trail and towards the fence that I knew very well.

The very same fence that I stood on top of, trying to decide if I wanted to leap off of it and onto the other side.

More slowly and hesitantly, I followed the two cats. When I arrived next to them, I saw that they were already trying to call for Smudge and Jerry.

They better not lure any Twolegs out here, I thought nervously.

Luckily, just moments later, I heard the light pawsteps of only cats come from the other side of the fence, and immediately after that, the black and white pelt of Smudge appeared at the top of the fence.

"Lilypetal? Pippy? Dusty?" He exclaimed. "What are you all doing back?" His eyes then widened as an idea seemed to pop into his head. "Did you all decide that you all had made a mistake and that the kittypet life is simply the best?"

Dustystorm sniffed and answered, "Quite the opposite, actually." He and Nightwing exchanged an excited glance. "We're Dustystorm and Nightwing now!"

Smudge's eyes widened even more as he jumped down from the fence to join us. "You all are warriors now?" He asked, shocked. "Wow! Well, congratulations!"

"And Lilypetal is just here to escort us," Nightwing explained as her gaze saddened. "We're here to say goodbye..."

Before Smudge, or any cat, could say anything else, my heart sank as another familiar voice carried through the other side of the fence. "Did you say Lilypetal?"

I rolled my eyes as Jerry's dark ginger pelt appeared at the top of the fence. "Is she here?" He asked again.

Smudge gave me a sympathetic glance before looking up at Jerry. "Yes, she's here, Jerry," he answered. "But-"

I took a step back as Jerry then leaped down to our side of the fence. I let out a huff as the familiar narrowed eyes and smirk appeared on his face. "I see you thought about my proposal," he murmured.

I narrowed my eyes back at him. "Not even a little bit," I hissed. "I was chosen to bring these two back to say goodbye."

I was shocked to then see a small flash of hurt and disappointment in Jerry's blue eyes. Wow... he actually was hoping I'd eventually come back and stay with him.

Deciding I should let him down a little more easily, I took a deep breath, pulled Jerry a further away from the other cats, and put the tip of my tail on his shoulder.

"Listen, Jerry," I began, "I'm sorry, but my heart is with my Clan, and with someone else that I love with all of my heart. I, and other cats too, have tried to tell you that."

I was surprised to see Jerry nod slowly after a few heartbeats. "I know, I know," he meowed in a new tone I had never heard him speak in before. Usually he just sounded annoyingly smug. "It's just... you're a special cat, Lilypetal, and... nice to look at."

I rolled my eyes as he had said that last part.

Jerry continued, "I have been known to try a little too hard to get the things I want, and I ignore anything that might possibly get in my way."

"Hm. Like the fact that I already had a mate?" I inquired, narrowing my eyes again.

"Apparently so," the dark ginger tom answered before meowing begrudgingly, "I guess I need to learn some respect..."

"You guess?" I repeated, lashing my tail up in the air. "You better!"

"Heh, whatever," Jerry purred. He let out a long breath before continuing, "And listen, I know that your heart belongs with your Clan. I always have."

"Really?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Definitely," Jerry answered. "It may have looked like everything you said went in one ear and out the other-"

"You've got that right," I put in.

"-but I could see by the way that you talked about Clan life when I escorted you, and how you stood up for your place in the Clan when I came to your camp, that there is where you truly belong. I would say I was wasting my time if I didn't think you were so awesome."

I actually managed to let out a smile. "Well, thank you," I mewed. "I'm glad you understand."

"And don't worry, I'll stay out of your fur now," Jerry assured me, rolling his eyes. "But... tell that Thornclaw for me - he's incredibly lucky to be with a she-cat as dedicated, pretty and brave as you are."

I lashed my tail again with a mrrow of amusement. "If he ever forgets, I'll bring him to you!" I teased, before beginning to walk back to the other three cats, but before I could, Jerry started speaking again.

"And I hope you know how lucky you are, too," Jerry commented as I turned back to face him. "To find a mate that loves you as much as Thornclaw does. Back in your camp, I didn't show it, but I was scared he was going to kill me!"

I snorted. "He probably would have if he'd gotten the chance!" I purred. "And, I know I am," I meowed, responding to Jerry's earlier words. I couldn't be happier with anyone else.

Finally, Jerry and I turned to face Smudge, Nightwing and Dustystorm, who were giving their final goodbyes. After Smudge pulled away from touching noses with Dustystorm, he turned to face me. "So, Lilypetal," he began. "You sure that you wouldn't rather just stay here? There would be some warm food and a cozy bed inside waiting for you!"

I didn't hesitate with my answer. "As much as I appreciate the offer, Smudge, I have to say no," I meowed definitively. "I could never leave my friends, my family, and my mate. And I could never give up my duties to fight for and feed my Clan. And I'd miss the thrill of catching my own food or fighting in battle." A rush of triumph and thrill rushed through me as I thought about the border battle, and how I was able to fight with my Clan to result in a tough, but needed win.

Just as I had been about to say something else, I stopped as a strange spasm suddenly ran through my belly, along with a moment of intense nausea. I let out a hiss of pain, the nausea going away.

"Lilypetal, are you okay?" Nightwing asked, concern glowing in her green eyes, along with everyone else.

Shaking out my fur, I nodded and answered, "Yes, don't worry. I'm probably just hungry!" Yeah, that's probably all that was, I thought to myself. I haven't eaten since before their warriors ceremony at sunhigh!

"If you're sure," Smudge then said, "Then I should probably let you all return to ThunderClan now."

"Bye, Smudge!" Nightwing exclaimed, touching her nose to Smudge's once again. She then turned to Jerry and meowed, "Bye!" As she touched her nose to his. Dustystorm gave curt nods to the both of them.

I then proceeded to dip my head to the both of them as well. "I wish you all well," I meowed kindly before following Nightwing and Dustystorm down the path.

"Remember to tell Thornclaw what I said!" I heard Jerry call out.

I slowed down and gave the ginger tom another nod with a smile. When Jerry isn't making me want to claw his muzzle off, he's not too bad of a cat! I wish him well.

As I continued to travel, I let the two new warriors run ahead of me as I enjoyed the sights of the forest. Leaf-fall was pretty much here, and the leaves were beginning to fall from many of the trees.

What cat could ever life under a Twoleg roof when they could enjoy this?

As I stared up at the sky that was beginning to be filled with StarClan warriors, I let out another hiss as a second spasm hit my stomach, harder than the first one. What in the name of StarClan is going on? This never happens to me when I'm hungry, I realized.

Although a little nervous, I continued to pad through the forest. As I thought about these spasms, I began to realize something.

The spasms weren't necessarily painful, but they simply felt like pressure. It's... a pressure I felt like I've experienced before, but where? I wondered. Wait... My ears flicked as an actualization popped into my head and a purr began to rumble in my throat. Am I...?

Before I could come to any conclusions, I found myself stopping in my place.

I suddenly felt an overwhelming feeling of being watched.

Dustystorm and Nightwing were far ahead of me, and I could still hear their ecstatic meows coming from up ahead. I gaped my mouth open to try and catch any scents, but there were none, not from any Clan. I hope Jerry didn't follow me back or something, I realized.

But I already knew that wasn't the case, because the chilling gaze that I almost felt on me felt all too familiar.

Before I could do some searching, trying to see if my premonitions were wrong, I heard a very clear voice. At first, I looked around to see where it could've possibly come from, but it didn't take me long to realize that the voice was inside my head. I knew I wasn't crazy, I'll say that already.

Things may be looking up right now, Lilypetal, the familiar voice hissed, but I have plans...

"Go away, Ashfur," I muttered out loud, shaking my head quickly to try and "get rid of him".

I have plans, he repeated. Not just plans for you, but for your kin... for the Clan... for the whole forest.

"Not on my watch," I hissed, trying my hardest to ignore Ashfur and his ominous voice. As I arrived to the camp entrance, I paused, looked up at the Silverpelt sky and whispered to him.

"I'm ready to take on whatever you throw at me."