Post by Lightningstar on Jul 29, 2010 17:24:06 GMT -5
Title: Only Once
Author: Lightningstar
Pairing: LionxHeather
Summary: Five times Lionblaze wanted to tell Heathertail he loved her, and one time he did. (looking back, so they're referred to by their apprentice names)
Editor: N/A
Cover: N/A
Author's Notes: !!Spoilers for Power of Three and slight spoilers for Omen of the Stars!!
1.
The very first time Lionblaze saw Heathertail, he knew he was in love.
"My name is Heatherpaw," the tabby she-cat had introduced herself. Her eyes were a smoky blue (the color of heather, Lionpaw noted), and had a deep intensity to them. The ThunderClan tom couldn't help but stare into them. Much to his chagrin, Heatherpaw seemed to only want to talk about Jaypaw. What did his brother have that he didn't have?
It had all been going so well until Breezepaw had interrupted. It seemed that at that moment, their rivalry had started. Heatherpaw had explained what a pain Breezepaw was, and Lionpaw was glad that she found the black tom as exasperating as he did.
Before Lionpaw could get another word in edgewise, though, Onestar called the Clans together for the Gathering to start. Heatherpaw shot an apologetic look his way before turning away.
"Wait!" Lionpaw had said, but the word did not reach Heatherpaw's ears. The golden tom sighed. Wait, I forgot to tell you--your eyes are beautiful.
2.
The next time was in the heat of battle.
Dogs had invaded WindClan, and ThunderClan had rushed to their aid. Lionpaw was chasing a snarling, ruthless dog across the moorlands, behind Crowfeather and Heatherpaw. Even with her pelt rain-soaked, Lionpaw thought the WindClan she-cat was graceful. He called out to her, but she stumbled before she could answer him.
Lionpaw let out a screech of rage as the dog targeted Heatherpaw. He leaped onto the dog's back, tearing at its flank with his sharp claws. It lurched around at snapped at him, and Lionpaw hoped that Heatherpaw had run away, so that she could be safe.
When he saw her brown tabby pelt flashing through the air, he yowled in alarm. What was she doing? Surely she would get killed! She fought bravely, though, and after some well-placed blows and slashes, the dog turned tail and ran away as fast as it could manage.
Later, as the ThunderClan patrol stood in the WindClan camp, Heatherpaw spoke up. "Lionpaw saved me from one of them," she told Onestar. Lionpaw felt his chest swell with pride. Though Crowfeather and Breezepaw tried to belittle him, he stood his ground, proud of the way he had saved the pretty she-cat.
"Do you need some herbs? Heatherpaw asked him. Lionpaw refused. He thought that even after fighting off a dog, Heatherpaw looked as glorious as ever.
If only he had mustered the courage to say it.
3.
The third time, she was fighting his sister.
The Clans had gathered for the contests, and Hollypaw and Heatherpaw had been chosen to spar. Lionpaw was very impressed at the WindClan apprentice's fighting skills. A purple fire burned behind her eyes, and her muscles rippled under her smooth tabby pelt.
Lionpaw was proud of his sister for winning the fight, but that did not stop the tinge of sadness in his heart. After congratulating Hollypaw, Lionpaw trotted up to Heatherpaw, who was surrounded by WindClan apprentices. "Good job!" he mewed, touching noses with her quickly.
Heatherpaw looked surprised. "Thank you, Lionpaw," she purred. "Your sister fought very valiantly. I'd feel sorry for any cat who'd have to face her in a real battle!"
"Yeah," Lionpaw agreed. "Anyway, good work. I'll see you at the next Gathering?"
Smoky blue eyes sparkled happily. "Yes."
Lionpaw smiled. "Okay. See you then." He was pulled away by Hollypaw before he could tell Heatherpaw that he even loved her in battle.
4.
The fourth time was in secret.
It was nighttime, and Lionpaw had again used the excuse that he had to make dirt. In reality, he was sitting near the river, listening to Heatherpaw's stories about WindClan and telling her about his training in ThunderClan. After a while, he had found a ball of moss and had batted it around. Heatherpaw giggled, and pushed it back towards him.
They quickly made a game out of it. First, it was 'Keep the Moss off the Ground', then it was 'King of the Moss'... the ideas kept coming to them. Lionpaw silently hoped that they could meet like this every night.
After a bought of tussling on the ground, Lionpaw had Heatherpaw pinned beneath him. "Hah! Pinned you again!" he purred triumphantly. Heatherpaw giggled at him, trying to push him off. "Let me go, you brute!" she joked.
Lionpaw thought she had never looked more beautiful. He was about to open up his mouth and say so when he heard his name. Only Heatherpaw hadn't called it out.
He hated Hollypaw for interrupting; that much he knew.
5.
The fifth time, he was a warrior of DarkClan.
Heatherpaw had named him Lionclaw, and he was eager to live up to his potential. He caught Heatherpaw by surprise, teasing that a Clan leader had to be ready for anything. She bit his tail, causing him to flail his paws as he tried to shake her off. At last, she let go, purring in amusement.
"You looked so funny!" she chuckled, imitating Lionpaw. "Flapping your paws around like this!"
Lionpaw cuffed her around the ear. His chest welled up with happiness. Just the thought of Heatherpaw's soft fur and entrancing eyes set his heart racing, but as he stared right at her it felt as if his heart was about to leap from his chest. "I wish you were in ThunderClan," he blurted. I can't believe how beautiful you are; I wish I could see you everyday. I wish I could tell you now much I love you.
He wished that their world of DarkClan was reality. There would be no Clan boundaries between them.
6.
When Lionblaze finally told Heathertail he loved her, they were both being carried away by the underground river.
Hollypaw, Heatherpaw, and Lionpaw were making sure that the kits could not drown. Their heads barely bobbed above the water, and in the darkness no one could tell what direction they were going. Towards ThunderClan territory? Towards the moors? What if they drowned in the lake?
Heatherpaw's eyes were wide with fright. "Lionpaw!" she yelled. "Lionpaw, save me! I'm going to die!"
"No you're not!" Lionpaw called back. "Keep fighting, Heatherpaw. You can do this!"
The lithe she-cat tried her hardest to stay afloat. "Oh StarClan, help us!" she called out.
"Heatherpaw!" Lionpaw blurted in desperation. "Heatherpaw, we're going to survive this! I love you! I won't let you drown, do you hear me?"
Heatherpaw looked shocked, but she nodded.
Then they splashed onto the lake shore, all of them alive. As the kits were returned to their mothers, Lionpaw was flooded with sadness. If he and Heatherpaw hadn't met in the tunnels, then these kits would never have been in danger. Inter-Clan relationships only brought destruction. No matter how much he loved Heatherpaw, there was only so much they could accomplish while in different Clans.
Lionpaw had said "I love you" only once before he forced himself to let Heatherpaw go. Now he might never say it again. That thought pierced his heart like a thorn nobody could pluck out.
There will be no boundaries between us in StarClan.
Author: Lightningstar
Pairing: LionxHeather
Summary: Five times Lionblaze wanted to tell Heathertail he loved her, and one time he did. (looking back, so they're referred to by their apprentice names)
Editor: N/A
Cover: N/A
Author's Notes: !!Spoilers for Power of Three and slight spoilers for Omen of the Stars!!
1.
The very first time Lionblaze saw Heathertail, he knew he was in love.
"My name is Heatherpaw," the tabby she-cat had introduced herself. Her eyes were a smoky blue (the color of heather, Lionpaw noted), and had a deep intensity to them. The ThunderClan tom couldn't help but stare into them. Much to his chagrin, Heatherpaw seemed to only want to talk about Jaypaw. What did his brother have that he didn't have?
It had all been going so well until Breezepaw had interrupted. It seemed that at that moment, their rivalry had started. Heatherpaw had explained what a pain Breezepaw was, and Lionpaw was glad that she found the black tom as exasperating as he did.
Before Lionpaw could get another word in edgewise, though, Onestar called the Clans together for the Gathering to start. Heatherpaw shot an apologetic look his way before turning away.
"Wait!" Lionpaw had said, but the word did not reach Heatherpaw's ears. The golden tom sighed. Wait, I forgot to tell you--your eyes are beautiful.
2.
The next time was in the heat of battle.
Dogs had invaded WindClan, and ThunderClan had rushed to their aid. Lionpaw was chasing a snarling, ruthless dog across the moorlands, behind Crowfeather and Heatherpaw. Even with her pelt rain-soaked, Lionpaw thought the WindClan she-cat was graceful. He called out to her, but she stumbled before she could answer him.
Lionpaw let out a screech of rage as the dog targeted Heatherpaw. He leaped onto the dog's back, tearing at its flank with his sharp claws. It lurched around at snapped at him, and Lionpaw hoped that Heatherpaw had run away, so that she could be safe.
When he saw her brown tabby pelt flashing through the air, he yowled in alarm. What was she doing? Surely she would get killed! She fought bravely, though, and after some well-placed blows and slashes, the dog turned tail and ran away as fast as it could manage.
Later, as the ThunderClan patrol stood in the WindClan camp, Heatherpaw spoke up. "Lionpaw saved me from one of them," she told Onestar. Lionpaw felt his chest swell with pride. Though Crowfeather and Breezepaw tried to belittle him, he stood his ground, proud of the way he had saved the pretty she-cat.
"Do you need some herbs? Heatherpaw asked him. Lionpaw refused. He thought that even after fighting off a dog, Heatherpaw looked as glorious as ever.
If only he had mustered the courage to say it.
3.
The third time, she was fighting his sister.
The Clans had gathered for the contests, and Hollypaw and Heatherpaw had been chosen to spar. Lionpaw was very impressed at the WindClan apprentice's fighting skills. A purple fire burned behind her eyes, and her muscles rippled under her smooth tabby pelt.
Lionpaw was proud of his sister for winning the fight, but that did not stop the tinge of sadness in his heart. After congratulating Hollypaw, Lionpaw trotted up to Heatherpaw, who was surrounded by WindClan apprentices. "Good job!" he mewed, touching noses with her quickly.
Heatherpaw looked surprised. "Thank you, Lionpaw," she purred. "Your sister fought very valiantly. I'd feel sorry for any cat who'd have to face her in a real battle!"
"Yeah," Lionpaw agreed. "Anyway, good work. I'll see you at the next Gathering?"
Smoky blue eyes sparkled happily. "Yes."
Lionpaw smiled. "Okay. See you then." He was pulled away by Hollypaw before he could tell Heatherpaw that he even loved her in battle.
4.
The fourth time was in secret.
It was nighttime, and Lionpaw had again used the excuse that he had to make dirt. In reality, he was sitting near the river, listening to Heatherpaw's stories about WindClan and telling her about his training in ThunderClan. After a while, he had found a ball of moss and had batted it around. Heatherpaw giggled, and pushed it back towards him.
They quickly made a game out of it. First, it was 'Keep the Moss off the Ground', then it was 'King of the Moss'... the ideas kept coming to them. Lionpaw silently hoped that they could meet like this every night.
After a bought of tussling on the ground, Lionpaw had Heatherpaw pinned beneath him. "Hah! Pinned you again!" he purred triumphantly. Heatherpaw giggled at him, trying to push him off. "Let me go, you brute!" she joked.
Lionpaw thought she had never looked more beautiful. He was about to open up his mouth and say so when he heard his name. Only Heatherpaw hadn't called it out.
He hated Hollypaw for interrupting; that much he knew.
5.
The fifth time, he was a warrior of DarkClan.
Heatherpaw had named him Lionclaw, and he was eager to live up to his potential. He caught Heatherpaw by surprise, teasing that a Clan leader had to be ready for anything. She bit his tail, causing him to flail his paws as he tried to shake her off. At last, she let go, purring in amusement.
"You looked so funny!" she chuckled, imitating Lionpaw. "Flapping your paws around like this!"
Lionpaw cuffed her around the ear. His chest welled up with happiness. Just the thought of Heatherpaw's soft fur and entrancing eyes set his heart racing, but as he stared right at her it felt as if his heart was about to leap from his chest. "I wish you were in ThunderClan," he blurted. I can't believe how beautiful you are; I wish I could see you everyday. I wish I could tell you now much I love you.
He wished that their world of DarkClan was reality. There would be no Clan boundaries between them.
6.
When Lionblaze finally told Heathertail he loved her, they were both being carried away by the underground river.
Hollypaw, Heatherpaw, and Lionpaw were making sure that the kits could not drown. Their heads barely bobbed above the water, and in the darkness no one could tell what direction they were going. Towards ThunderClan territory? Towards the moors? What if they drowned in the lake?
Heatherpaw's eyes were wide with fright. "Lionpaw!" she yelled. "Lionpaw, save me! I'm going to die!"
"No you're not!" Lionpaw called back. "Keep fighting, Heatherpaw. You can do this!"
The lithe she-cat tried her hardest to stay afloat. "Oh StarClan, help us!" she called out.
"Heatherpaw!" Lionpaw blurted in desperation. "Heatherpaw, we're going to survive this! I love you! I won't let you drown, do you hear me?"
Heatherpaw looked shocked, but she nodded.
Then they splashed onto the lake shore, all of them alive. As the kits were returned to their mothers, Lionpaw was flooded with sadness. If he and Heatherpaw hadn't met in the tunnels, then these kits would never have been in danger. Inter-Clan relationships only brought destruction. No matter how much he loved Heatherpaw, there was only so much they could accomplish while in different Clans.
Lionpaw had said "I love you" only once before he forced himself to let Heatherpaw go. Now he might never say it again. That thought pierced his heart like a thorn nobody could pluck out.
There will be no boundaries between us in StarClan.
