Sharptalon woke up to a quiet talking. The voices sounded low. Another long day had passed after catching those scents. Maybe other cats in the Clan were worried. 

Sharptalon got to his paws and stretched, his jaws gaping wide in a yawn. He stepped over his sleeping Clanmates, hearing birds chirping outside. The sun shone dimly outside, hiding behind a gray cloud. 

"Sharptalon! You're up!" Stormgaze was laying on a smoothed patch of grass, her storm-gray pelt dappled with sunlight. "Come over here!"

Sharptalon eagerly padded towards his mate, his thoughts mixed. "Yes, love?" He mewed.

Stormgaze's swollen flanks stuck out and swayed as she heaved herself to her paws with a grunt. "I'm soaking up the last bits of sunshine before leaf-bare actually comes," Stormgaze meowed. 

"Oh Stormgaze, you know it'll be a few more moons before leaf-bare is here," Sharptalon soothed, sitting down beside her. He could feel a slight warmth on his pelt as the cloud finally passed over the sun.

Wingpaw and Blazepaw were walking together, talking eagerly. They padded towards the fresh-kill pile, grabbing mice.

Stormgaze purred. "Looks like Wingpaw's already got a crush on someone," she teased.

Sharptalon stared after them, remembering when he was an apprentice with Stormgaze. Those were the great days. He remembered Fluffypelt always being there for him, and Ambertuft training him. Why did I have to lose everyone I loved? He then shook his head. No, I've still got Stormgaze and my unborn kits, and my brother.

Stormgaze lay down, pressing her muzzle to Sharptalon's cheek, purring. 

Sharptalon rested his tail over her tail, his purr faded. 

"Is something wrong?" Stormgaze asked, pulling away. Her eyes were rounded with concern.

"Nothing. I was just thinking about my mother. I miss her deeply," Sharptalon sighed, closing his eyes. Wind stirred his fur.

"I know you do. She was a very nice cat," Stormgaze murmured. "But remember that she gave her life for yours. She loved you."

"If only my father and sister were the same," Sharptalon sighed. He could feel his claws sinking into the grass. "They abused me during kithood and even when I'd became an apprentice. Then they left me, joining the rogues."

"Sometimes life is hard," Stormgaze murmured. "But we have to keep going for our ancestors' sake."

Sharptalon then thought back on when he was in the Dark Forest. He remembered how Silk had talked about how the Clans wouldn't allow you to live your own way. And I do agree, the warrior code is a bit unfair.

Stormgaze looked at Sharptalon. "Your brother is calling you, you know." 

Sharptalon snapped out of his thoughts. "Oh, sorry," he mewed as his brother came up to him. "I was wrapped up in my thoughts."

"That's ok," Lighttail meowed, flashing him a sympathetic look. "I wanted to go take a walk."

"Take a walk?" Sharptalon echoed, getting to his paws.

"We're brothers. I want to bond more," Lighttail admitted, his gaze shimmering with grief. "I feel like we should maybe... talk to eachother to calm ourselves. You know, like...."

Sharptalon gazed at him sympathetically. "Good idea. We can share our thoughts," he meowed. My brother has always been a bit soft.

"Yeah, that's what I meant. So, do you want to do it now?" Lighttail asked, his whiskers twitching. 

"Sure. Let's go," Sharptalon purred, flicking his tail. He watched as his brother's eyes brightened, then turned to Stormgaze. "Do you mind if I go?" He asked.

"I don't mind at all. You two are kin," Stormgaze mewed softly. She lay back down on her side, her legs sprawled out. 

Sharptalon padded with his brother to the camp entrance, his thoughts running all over his head. What would happen if I tell Lighttail I'm training in the Dark Forest? He felt guilty lying to his brother. No, don't feel guilty. He might would lie about some things too, right? 

As soon as they'd left the camp entrance, Lighttail began to quicken his pace. "Sharptalon," he murmured. 

Sharptalon quickened his pace. "Yes?" He prompted.

"I-I have feelings for Nightsky," Lighttail murmured, his voice shaky. Before Sharptalon could respond, Lighttail went on. "Hey, I know she's RiverClan, I know, but I can't help but like her."

Sharptalon bristled. "Lighttail!" He hissed. "That's breaking the warrior code! You know what happens when these feelings build into a relationship, right?" He growled.

Lighttail bristled, lashing his tail. "I know that!" He spat. "I just want some cat to love in my life! Give me a chance, please, Sharptalon! My mate died having my kits, and I want a new mate, some cat that loves me, I want to have more kits," Lighttail mewed, guilt in his mew.

"And? You think that just because your mate died, that's ok?" Sharptalon snapped. "And what would happen if this new mate died, huh? Would you fall in love with another Clan cat?" 

Lighttail's eyes rounded. "I know it's against the code, but I don't care, I should be able to live my own life!" He growled, turning on his brother.

Sharptalon then remembered how Silk had mentioned how the warrior code trapped them. What am I doing? Silk was right, the warrior code is trapping us. He blinked at his brother. "You know what? You're right. The warrior code is trapping us. You should be able to have any mate you want," he mewed. "And I'm not saying this to be nice, I'm saying this because this is how I feel."

Lighttail blinked at him. "What? You don't believe in the warrior code...?"

"Basically," Sharptalon sighed. "Sorry I screamed at you." He gazed at his brother. "I just figured it was maybe the right reaction." 

Lighttail looked guilty. "I saw her in the gathering place with her sister. They were hunting for herbs or something. And I was hunting for prey. But I heard them through the reeds and I decided to see what they were doing. But, looks like I fell in love with Nightsky."

Sharptalon blinked at him. The warrior code traps us all... The phrase kept repeating in his head.

"We've been meeting up in the gathering place. But please don't tell anyone," Lighttail mewed, his eyes shimmering with slight fear.

"I won't tell anyone." Sharptalon then had an idea. "Well, I have to tell you something too," he mewed, flicking his tail.

"What is it?" Lighttail asked. "That you don't believe in the warrior code?" He asked jokingly.

"I'm training with the Dark Forest," Sharptalon explained, avoiding his brother's gaze.

"What?" Lighttail gasped. His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "You do realize that they murdered an innocent StarClan apprentice, right?" He hissed.

"Yes," Sharptalon meowed. He couldn't help but admit to his brother. "I  killed her."

Lighttail's eyes widened. "You? You? Why, Sharptalon?" He cried. "Killing is against the warrior code, and it's especially bad if it's a young StarClan cat!"

Sharptalon bristled. "The Dark Forest is good. They give me more attention than my sister or father ever did!" He hissed, lashing his tail. He felt his claws sink into the dirt and imagined sinking them into Snowbreeze's throat.

"That doesn't matter. I have to tell Flamedawn this!" Lighttail mewed. 

Sharptalon's heart pounded. No! What's wrong with him? "What's wrong with you?"he spat. "Do you want me exiled?" He asked.

"I-if you're a threat!" Lighttail mewed. He shoved past Sharptalon, lashing his tail. "I have to tell everyone. This is a serious matter," he mewed, no guilt in his mew.

Sharptalon felt anger surge through him. "Then I guess it means I'll tell everyone about your new little crush!" 

"It wouldn't matter. They wouldn't listen to a murderer's word," Lighttail growled. 

Sharptalon's heart pounded in his throat. A strange fire burned in his claws. "I knew I shouldn't of trusted you!" He hissed, leaping on his brother. He couldn't control it. He dug his claws into his brother's shoulders and clamped his jaws around his neck, sinking in his teeth hard.