[Fate Admin]

Glancing over his shoulder often, his fur prickling with fear and left over adrenaline, Maverick had quickly made his way to TreeClan territory. Now that he could think rationally again, without that thing hot on his tail, he was pretty sure he knew what it was. Some of the Clan cats had warned him upon multiple occasions not to wander too far north in the mountains or he might run into a huge cat, called a lynx. He called himself Demon, and wouldn't hesitate to kill a cat.

He had never really thought anything of it before. A huge cat? Couldn't be too bad, and maverick supposed he could call himself a lynx or a demon or whatever he wanted, the more power to him. But he had thought they just meant a big cat, not a MONSTER like that thing had been. He shook himself, trying to stop thinking about how close he must have been to death.... And Dawnpelt would have never known what had happened to him.

He padded on, still throwing glances over his shoulder, but a little less often now. He was regaining his confidence now that he hadn't seen any signs of Demon. Looking around, he scented the air. The place the two of them usually met was close by. He had promised her he would meet her sometime before the next half moon. He hoped she would be looking for him today. Climbing a tree to the lowest branch, one that was hidden well by leaves, he waited. Any cat that looked up wouldn't see him unless they were actually looking for him, like Dawnpelt. He sighed, yawned, and settled in to wait. He didn't understand why it was so wrong for him to be with her, and why Dawnpelt's Clan would be angry if they found out, but he respected her wishes and hid, careful not to let any of her Clanmates see or scent him.

[cherryrose]

The sky was scattered with dark clouds pushing in over the mountains, the clear sky that had been around earlier was long gone and they were threatened with rain. The small animals in the forest seemed to sense it too, the noise of the birds was less than usual and scents were not as clear.

The pelt of a long haired grey cat could be seen above the grass and leaves, she was walking slowly but seemed to know exactly where she was going. She kept throwing glances over her shoulders, apparently checking she was not being followed. Dawnpelt hoped that her brother, Tangleweed would not have picked up her scent and would not want to follow her out into the rain. What am I doing? she asked herself, this is so wrong! But I love him... and… she couldn’t bring herself to even think the last bit. The realisation that she was to have Mavericks kits scared her; there was no way that she could stop the clan from knowing and there was no telling what Silverstar would do to her, everyone in the clan knew that she sometimes had a temper. She gave a deep sigh and tried to think about the positive, no matter how hard she found it. She was going to see Maverick, that always made her smile, even in bad circumstances.

As Dawnpelt neared the spot they usually met at she paused, checking the air for scents of any of her clan, none of them were recent which made her relax a little and she turned to the matter at hand. She peered around, her yellow eyes alert for any signs of her mate. When she saw him in the lowest branch of one of the leafiest trees a smile crept onto her face and she began to purr softly, all her doubt seemed to disappear for now.

[Fate Admin]

Maverick saw her coming, but waited to make sure there were no other cats around. When she stopped close to the tree and spotted him he leapt from the branch and padded over to her, pressing against her and purring, rasping his tongue over her ear a couple times. He was exhausted from his flight from Demon, but seeing her, being with her, gave him a little extra energy. He wondered if he should tell her what he'd been through today, but turned his thoughts to her first.

"How are you, Dawnpelt? And how is your Clan? Is everything well?" he asked, sitting abruptly, his legs beginning to shake slightly from the exhaustion he was feeling. he shook himself slightly, trying to stop the trembling; he at least hoped she didn't notice. Green-leaf was usually a good season for the Clans, so he wasn't al lthat worried about how the Clan was faring, but he thought it would be nice to ask anyway, just in case. He was always ready to help her out in any way, and that meant heping her Clan as well. He knew it meant a great deal to her, her Clan, though he had never felt the same way about the Tribe.

[cherryrose]

Dawnpelt purred even louder as Maverick jumped down from his hiding place. Being with him took most of her worries away and she got butterflies in her stomach. She nuzzled into him tightly and licked his shoulder affectionately as he licked her ear. ’I’ve missed you so much!’ she purred dreamily to him, they had only seen each other a few days previous but everyday seemed like forever when you had a big a problem as she did.

At his question she lifted her head and looked into his eyes with her own misty grey orbs. I need to tell him… but I don’t know how. ’I’m… much better after seeing you again,’ she purred with a slight pause as she thought what to say, and gave him a gentle lick on the nose, ’The clan is doing great! There doesn’t seem to be anything to worry about at the minute,’ she mewed desperately trying to hide her lie. The only thing to worry about was herself, when her motherhood started to show the clan might believe her to be a threat.

She felt him tremble a little and found this the perfect opportunity to change the subject. Looking at him once again, this time with concern she asked ’Are you alright? Do you want to lie down?’ She had never known Maverick to be like this and knew there must be a reason.

[Fate Admin]

"I've missed you too," he purred, listening as she told him the Clan was doing great, That's good news. Almost before she suggested it, he settled onto the forest floor, "I'm fine, just tired.... I haven't gotten any rest for two days now." His ears twitched humorously, "I had to come and see you though. I told you I would."

He rolled over onto his side, trying not to show exactly how tired he was. Now that he was laying down, the trembling has stopped, "You said doing much better... what's that suppose to mean, exactly?" he asked, one eye closed, one glowing amber eye trained on her.

Sometimes he wished she would just come with him. The only thing about being a loner that he didn't really like was being ALONE. It wouldn't be so bad if he had a companion. There were times when he spoke aloud to himself for lack of anyone to talk to. If she came with him, it would solve everything. He'd take care of her and they coud be together every day and every night. Though, now that he'd met Demon, he wasn't so sure that would be such a good idea.... She was safer with her Clan than she ever would be with him, wandering around in the mountains where he could run into that monster again.

[cherryrose]

Dawnpelt smiled as he lay down, almost before she mentioned it. She lay infront of him, her grey paws stretched in front of him touching his pelt. ’Aww, I should have come to find you, so you didn’t have to walk this way,’ she mewed kindly, ’I’ll come to you next time.’

As he rolled onto his side she licked his paw, gentle purrs erupting from her throat the whole while. Her heart skipped a beat as he mentioned what she had said earlier, he must have noticed her pause, or read my mind, she thought. ’Nothing, I was just feeling a little… lonely earlier,’ she mewed untruthfully, she could not bring herself to tell him the real truth, although she was sure he would understand. She looked him directly in the eye, her own grey eyes shaky; she had to blink away as she was afraid her eyes would betray her head.

She licked his paws again trying to calm herself a little, I need to tell him, now is the perfect time, but what do I say? What if he doesn’t want kits? all these questions whizzed around in her head, confusing her completely, What about the clan? she knew this last one was not relevant to Maverick but it was still part of the equation before her.

[Fate Admin]

He shook his head, "No... it would take you forever to find me, you never know exactly where I might be. I don't want you to have to run all over trying to find me... it could be dangerous...." He just laid there for a little while, closing both eyes and listening to her purr for a while, until she spoke again.

Eyes of molten gold opened to face her, and their gazes met for a while, until she looked away. He rolled onto his stomach once more and pressed himself against her, "What's wrong? You seem... troubled." He licked her cheek a few times, trying to be comforting.

He wondered what could be bothering her. Did she maybe find a mate within her Clan and not want to see him any more? His heart skipped a beat at the thought, but he pushed it away. She wouldn't be so happy to see him if that was the reason. At least, he didn't think so. And she wouldn't have said she'd find him next time... she wouldn't be planning for there to be a next time. Reassured, he did his best to think positively, and prompted her, "You can tell me anything, Dawnpelt... I love you."

[cherryrose]

Dawnpelt tilted her head to the side, he was so thoughtful! Not wanting her to run into trouble or get harmed in anyway. ’If your sure? I mean, it’s a long way for you to come everytime you see me!’ she purred caringly.

As there gaze met; molten gold to clear grey she looked away. As Maverick rolled onto his stomach she looked up, but did not meet his gaze again. As he asked what was wrong, her heart skipped a beat once again, I have to tell him… she told herself, trying to be confident in herself. But she did not say anything, just purred louder as he licked her cheeks.

She stared at the dark handsome cat unblinkingly. She did not understand why she was so worried to tell him, he came to see her whenever he could so he obviously cared for her. It had been both of there actions that had caused the problem so he had to take some responsibility. As he spoke and tried to reassure her she blinked out of her thoughts and looked back into his golden eyes, ’Maverick..’ she began, swallowing deeply her heart pounding. She closed her eyes for a second to gather her words. ’There is something bothering me… but I’m not sure how to tell you, it means a lot to us…’ she emphasised the ‘us’ and paused to see him react.

[Fate Admin]

Maverick listened carefully, his ears pricked, his eyes unblinking as she spoke. When she trailed off, he reached his paw over so it was touching hers, "Whatever it is... it doesn't matter. I'll still love you and... nothing will ever change that." He looked up at the sky, dark clouds covered it and he could hear the distant rumble of thunder, meaning that it wasn't just going to rain, but soon enough it would storm.

He didn't think they could be together very long today, because of the rain. He didn't want her staying out in it and catching a chill. They were fairly sheltered for the time being, and if it began to rain they wouldn't get too wet, but still.... He sighed, wishing they could be together more, but he knew she wouldn't leave her Clan and there was no way he could join it. He had left the Tribe to live his own way, governed by only himself, and he wasn't about to go back to a life where some other cat told him what to do and how to live his life.

"What is it, Dawncloud?" he asked, looking back at her, his amber eyes soft with worry, "I just want you to be happy...."

[cherryrose]

A rumble or thunder in the distance disturbed the grey she cat for a moment. She looked to the sky, the realisation that it was going to pore it down with rain only just sinking in. She would need to get back to camp soon, she was sure that Tangleweed would be worried about her, and she did not want him to come looking for her and find Maverick. Although she longed to be able to tell him the truth.

As Maverick placed his paw on her she licked it gently and looked back into his golden eyes, her own grey ones shaky now. ’It is going to change our lives!’ she mewed, her voice shaky with emotion now to match her eyes. ’Maverick, I’m expecting kits…’ she mewed blurting it out at last. A tear streamed down her face, she was scared more than anything, scared of what her clan would do to her, or even to Maverick. As a senior warrior she is respected more than most, but after this the clan would hate her.

As he spoke the last words she licked him a few times on the cheek and stared into his eyes once more, looking from one orb to the other, tears staining her cheeks. ’I love you so much…’ she mewed almost at a whisper as she nuzzled into his chest.

[Fate Admin]

He waited patiently for her to work up her courage, though what she had to tell him wasn't anything he had expected, "Kits...?" It took a moment for him to process the word, then she was nuzzling into his chest. He rained licks upon her head, and started purring so loud he thought the whole forest might hear, though he didn't care at all. He didn't really grasp why she was so worried about it, and had quite forgotten in his happiness, "That's so great! Kits!" He felt wide awake with the news she had given him. He had never imagined becoming a father.

He pressed his nose into her fur and breathed in her beautiful scent, still purring loudly, "I love you...." He rubbed his cheek along hers a couple times before realizing that she didn't seem near as happy as he did, "Dawnpelt... what's wrong? Don't you want kits...?" His gaze searched over her worriedly. His free lifestyle had him completely oblivious at the moment as to the problems this would cause for her.

[cherryrose]

As he seemed to be a little confused by her words she kept her head where it was, did he think she was silly for making such a big fuss about it. Did he even understand what this could mean for them? A rumble of thunder boomed over head making her shiver slightly, she did not care as much as she usually would however as she was with the one she loved.

As her head was showered in licks and Maverick nuzzled her affectionately she lifted her head, her cheeks stained with tears of fear. ’I love you too..’ she mewed as he rubber her cheek with his own and she did the same back. ’I’m not bothered about having kits, infact its great that I can have your kits… but,’ she paused and looked him straight in the eye once again, ’What are my clan going to say! What will they do to me!?’ she asked, more to herself than the loner, but she knew she was answering his questions. He didn’t seem to understand, maybe he had forgotten that she wasn’t free to do whatever she wanted like he was.

[Fate Admin]

His pelt bristled slightly as she questioned about what her Clan might do to her, "They won't do anything to you, I won't them." He licked the top of her head once more. he didn't know what he could really do against a whole Clan, but by the Tribe of Endless Hunting, he'd sure try! No, that wasn't quite right... the Tribe's ancestors didn't walk these skies. It was StarClan here, and even though he was born in the Tribe, he knew he could still claim them as his. His grandfather had been Stormfur, a Clan cat. He had Clan blood in him and somewhere in these skies, Stormfur's ancestors looked down on him.

"I'll always take care of you... and our kits." Thunder sounded once more, closer this time, and he pressed his ears against his head against the first few drops of rain that began to fall. He gave her a couple more licks, "How much longer do you plan to stay with me? I don't want you getting too wet, you might catch a chill. I don't want you getting sick, especially when you're carrying kits." he wanted to stay with her longer, but now that he knew she was expecting their kits, he knew it wouldn't be good for her to stay out much longer than she had to.... "You should go back to your Clan before it starts to really rain. I'll come see you again soon, I promise."

[cherryrose]

The grey she cat had to smile at his words, he was so kind to her. But deep down she knew that there was nothing he could do against a whole clan, they would tear him to shreds, but she wouldn’t let that happen. It was only at this time that she had fully realised what she would do if Maverick was ever found by a patrol, she would not stand back and let numerous cats fight him, she would fight on his side. She knew that would give away her total betrayal, but when it came down to it the kits were going to do that anyway.

’Thank you,’ she purred gently and looked into his eyes again, her grey eyes shaky still, with worry. As a rumble of thunder came again so to did the rain, cold drops penetrating through her think pelt. ’I don’t want to leave you yet…’ she purred licking him gently on the tip of his nose. ’But I suppose your right, and your going to get wet too!’ she mewed thinking of him as well as herself.

She stood up preparing to go back to camp, her grey pelt flowing still although sticking to her in places as the rain began to fall. She moved over to Maverick and cuddled close to him, there pelts together in a mass of fur. She rubbed her head under his chin and purred deeply. ’I always miss you…’ she purred, ’But now I’m going to miss you even more!’ she added quietly, carrying his kits was increasing the love she had for him more than she had ever imagined it could be.

[Fate Admin]

He purred loudly in respose, "I miss you too... but it just makes seeing you again even better. Be careful...," he definitely wasn't going to tell her about his run in with Demon now, but he sure hoped the monster cat was long gone. He didn't want to leave her to walk back to her Clan alone knowing he might be lurking somewhere....

Sighing, he gave her ear one final lick, "You should go...," his voice trailed off as a huge rumble of thunder shook the forest, gusts of wind making the trees wave ominously as it howled through their branches. It would be a bad storm, but he could already see blue sky in the distance. Luckily it wouldn't last very long. He had to find cover, quickly, Fox-dung! How will I get back into the mountains and find cover fast enough? I'll be soaked to the bone! his ears twitched slightly at this thought, but there was little to do about it now, and he didn't want to worry Dawnpelt with his problem.

"I have to go too," he meowed, stepping away from her and glancing around, "Got to find a good place to shelter for the storm. I'll see you soon... I can't wait until I can see our kits!" He let lose a quiet purr at the thought, then backed away some more, reluctant to leave her, "Keep alert for Demon!" he called as he turned and began padding away, "A LightningClan patrol told me they spotted him recently," he lied, not wanting to make her worry too much about him.