Incomplete {{Cinderheart}}

Nightscar

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The clear night sky had called Nightscar out of the den long after the Gathering was over and the clan was back in the safety of the camp. The dark tom didn't know why, but out here in the marsh, he felt like he could open up. Here he had so many memories: leaving Thunderclan and his sister, finding Mysterypaw and making her a promise he would train her, and fighting eh fox with Cinderheart. Cinerheart. That name seemed to haunt his every thought. Everything he thought of was about her now.
It had been her that had become his friend when he first got to Shadowclan, she had talked to him when he was alone. On bad notes, it had been his fault that she had been hurt by the fox, and that she seemed to dislike him more since he told her his feelings about her. And the sad part was that wasn't it. The words he had told her earlier were only mere scratches on his real feelings.
As he slowly looked around at the marsh he couldn't help but wonder what was keeping him at the camp but he knew what it was. It was Cinderheart. He could never just forget her and leave her behind. She wouldn't haunt him more than she did now, even know he thought he could smell her sent coming toward him. Wait....was that her scent? He turns and slowly looked around.
"Cinderheart? Is that you?" [/center]

It’s tearin’ up my heart when I’m with you
But when we are apart I feel it too
And no matter what I do
I feel the pain
With or without you.

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“Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot,
who calls you back when you hang up on him,
who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat,
or will stay awake just to watch you sleep...

Cinderheart was so confused. It wasn't but a few sun rises ago that she had thought she had all the answers to her life. Now, she wasn't even sure who she was anymore. Nightscar was so different, and not that he was actually different; but that she saw him differently now. All night long she had been in a light sleep, tossing and turning as carefully as she could. She just couldn't sleep knowing that he was only a few fox lengths away. To know he was close by gave her comfort, but it also made her heart race.

The she-cat was unsure of when it happened, but just before sunrise she woke up from a deep dreamless sleep. Lifting her head to scan the den her thoughts where on the last thing she remembered before falling asleep. Well, it was about not being able to sleep and...Nightscar... at that moment her gaze fell onto his empty nest. She wondered if maybe he had also had trouble sleeping. Whatever it was he was out there in the camp, or out taking a walk in the marshes. Whichever one she didn't want to meet him. Every time she thought about him her heart fluttered and her stomach went into knots. The ShadowClan warrior didn't know why, but even though she wanted to see him so bad she just couldn't.

Sighing, Cinderheart lifted herself into a sitting position and started to clean her ruffled, dirty fur. She remembered when he had first came to the Clan. Everyone was suspicious of him, not talking to him. Cinderheart could think of only one story of when a ThunderClan cat had joined ShadowClan, and that was back before the time of the Clans journey. She began to wonder if that ThunderClan cat had felt the same way. But she couldn't have, her father was Tigerstar. She would have had it easy in the clan when it came to socialization.

Her thoughts returned to Nightscar's arrival. He was so distrusted and needing a friend. Despite the growls and warnings from other apprentices and warriors, she began to talk to him. He didn't talk much about his life in ThunderClan; but she knew from the way he talked he was serious about joining ShadowClan. And he did. Now here he was, that young apprentice she remembered, as a strong Warrior that was caring and kind for the ones he loved. He had a family in ThunderClan, and now he wanted family in the Clan he had come to call home. Cinderheart was suddenly crestfallen as she thought that she had dashed that hope. He loves me, bu how can I love him? He's my best friend! Oh I'm so confused Almost without thinking the she-cat got up and began to head out of the den; not caring if she ran into Nightscar or not.

Wait for the boy who kisses your forehead,
Who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats,
Who holds your hand in front of his friends,
Who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on.
One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky his is to have you...

She did run into the tom. He was sitting outside in the camp, looking up at the sky. He looked so hurt, so sad. It pained Cinderheart to think she was the cause for that sadness and pain. "Cinderheart? Is that you?" His voice seemed to echo through the camp. It was so deep and loud and it made the she-cat jump. Nodding she padded over to his side, subconsciously leaving a space between them. With Nightscar right beside her, Cinderheart found her heart racing and her stomach falling through her legs. She was unsure on what to say. This tom beside her was the only other who, to her knowledge, loved her like family. The other one had been her father, for Cinderheart knew he mother could have only ever loved StarClan.

As the silence went on, Cinderheart found she could no longer stand it. They had to talk; before it came so easily. Now, she couldn't even think of anything but him. Everything was so different, and she didn't exactly like that.

Looking through the corner of her eye, Cinderheart quietly spoke. "Couldn't sleep?"

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The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'”

Nightscar

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nightscar tensed slightly when the reply came slowly, not really feeling up to a fight. However, when Cinderheart did pad over he relaxed almost immediately. He fur in the falling moon light, seem to glow and her eyes held the moonlight keeping it there. He didn't understand how a cat so beautiful, so gentle, could cause him the pain that he had now. It was the pain he hadn't felt since he first left his sister, not knowing what was ahead or what was to become of him as he ventured into a world where he had no family, just sheer determination. Then he had loathed that feeling, and now, he feared it.
As Cinderheart sat down, Nightscar turned his gaze back toward the stars. When Cinderheart asked him about his sleep he nodded slightly. He mouth felt dry, but he had words he wanted to speak so badly. Words he had to get out, things he had to tell the one she-cat he loved more than anything else. But he held his tongue for the moment. He didn't want to scare off his company.
"I didn't mean to have you follow me. I know your side still hurts and all." he murmured finally looking at her, a hint of worry in his eyes. He couldn't help it. The she-cat was the closest companion he had and he didn't want it to be his fault if her injuries got worse. He didn't know why, but he hoped Cinderheart wouldn't leave him. He needed her here.[/center]

It’s tearin’ up my heart when I’m with you
But when we are apart I feel it too
And no matter what I do
I feel the pain
With or without you.

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The she-cat found her gaze trailing from the ground to the sky, and then to the tom beside her. He looked so rugged and worn in the moonlight that was slowly giving way to the sun. It was hard to believe that such a young tom could have so many scars, be in so much pain, and yet still be kind and sweet and protective of those he loved. Cinderheart began to wonder if he was as confused and in pain as her. But she dared not ask.

"Well, I couldn't really sleep anyways. My shoulder is feeling much better though..." it was the truth, she couldn't sleep. Although she might have lied a little bit about her shoulder. It was better, but certainly not much better.

Looking back up at the sky Cinderheart remembered a story her father had told her. She laughed inwardly. He was the one who got her into telling stories in the first place. Many of the stories she knew she had learned from him. It had been their little 'thing', especially after they had learn her mother's true feelings about them. "I remember a story my father had told me not long after my mother revealed that she didn't love us. He took me out of camp before sunrise to the lake and there we watched the sun find it's way through the trees as it rose. It was the first story I ever learned. It was about a she-cat and tom. The she-cat was called Sunray and the tom Moonbeam. They lived in separate clans, but when they met at a gathering they fell madly in love. It didn't take long for Sunray's best friend to find out, and she tried to convince Sunray that Moonbeam was not the tom for her. It didn't work and the two warriors ran off together.

"They soon found themselves far away from their Clans. They were chasing each other in the meadow and laughing with joy and love. Sunray always beat Moonbeam in the races they had. A few moon rises after they ran away, Sunray was expecting kits. The two were over joyed but when the time came something went wrong. Only one kit of the four survived. They named their little girl Starshine.

"When Starshine was three moons old, Moonbeam had a dream. The clans were in trouble, and if he and Sunray didn't go back the ones they loved would die. Although Sunray didn't want to return to the Clans, or the friend who had tried to tell her she wasn't in love with the tom before her, she did out of love for Moonbeam. They traveled slowly, since they had to bring Starshine with them. When they made it back to the Clans, they were shocked to see them all sick and dying. The medicine cats didn't know what was happening and nothing they did could help the suffering cats. Only when the pain got to much for the cats to bear did the medicine cats do the only thing they could do; give them death berries. Sunray was heart broken to see her old home in pain. Moonbeam searched throughout their homeland for a cure, but his efforts didn't pull through. The family watched as the cats they knew died in front of them slowly and painfully.

"Then one day, Starshine walked over to her mother and said 'Mommy, I had a dream last night. These cats made out of star's told me that you, me, and daddy had to go to a big cave when the moon was up high in the sky. They said when that happens Daddy has to touch a large stone and they would tell him the cure.'

"Sunray was stunned at her daughters words, and told Moonbeam what Starshine had said. That night the two warriors left their daughter with the Clans and traveled to the large cave. As they slowly made their way through it, Sunray began to see her mate's pelt shine and before she knew it they were in a large den. In the middle was a rock and above it an opening that allowed them to see the sky. 'This is it' Moonbeam told Sunray. 'We'll find the cure tonight.'

"When Moonbeam saw the moon in the opening above, he touched the stone and Sunray was blinded with light. When the light faded and she opened her eyes, she saw Moonbeam floating and in her ears, like a whisper in the wind, did she hear him say 'Mint and water, Sunray.' and then Moonbeam vanished.

"Sunray returned to the clans devastated, but with the cure. The sick cats only ate mint and water and they were heal. All of them felt the loss of the brave warrior. But Sunray felt in the hardest. She remembered the time they had spent chasing each other. Now Moonbeam was gone and that would never be.

"A couple of moon's later, when Starshine was six moons old, Sunray sick with sadness took her back to the cave. When the moon rose above the cave and lit up the stone, the two she-cats touched and then they vanished. When the Clans saw they were missing they went looking for them, and as the moon began to lower and the sun rise, they saw an amazing sight. The sun and moon sat opposite each other in the sky, and between them was a bright star, bigger that any of the others. The medicine cats were sent a message, that they now had the sun and moon looking after them, and a star to guide their path."
Cinderheart bowed her head as she ended her story. Taking a deep breath she mewed quietly. "After my father told me that story, he said that if I ever got lost and confused all I needed to do was go out to that spot and watch the sun and moon and the brightest star and then I would find my way..." she paused as she looked over to Nightscar "Maybe we should do that..."

Cinderheart knew that after all they had been through in the past days, nothing would ever be the same. But she did know that nothing would get better unless the found their way, and so she was sure that if they hurried up and watched the sunrise they woudl find their way.

“Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends.”

Nightscar

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nightscar listened in silence to the silver she-cat locked in on her story. The tom had always loved listening to Cinderheart's stories. He didn't know why she did them really minus the fact that it helped her with some family issues. But the way she told them, he could picture himself there, walking beside the cats and being there when the cats went up in the moonlight. As cinderheart finished he looked back at the sky to where the sun was slowly starting to show some light in the sky. What caught him off guard was Cinderheart's question.
"The closest place that we could see th full sky...is well..." he hesitated thinking. "The lake might be our best shot." he ventured getting up and walking closer to the she-cat, but not much at all.
Sometimes Cinderheart's stories made him think about life in general and think bout himself. But this story, it made him wonder what was going through her head. in the story the two cats had left together and left the clan they loved. At moments he had thought about doing the same, but surely Cinderheart wouldn't just leave. not on split second liek this. Would she?[/center]

It’s tearin’ up my heart when I’m with you
But when we are apart I feel it too
And no matter what I do
I feel the pain
With or without you.

[/size][/b][/i][/right]

As Cinderheart padded beside the tom, her mind and heart raced. She was confused, tossed in with a ton of feelings she couldn't understand-or accept. Her heart wanted to run off like the pair in her story, to be together without fear or danger. Yet her mind kept telling her that it was a hopeless fantasy. A dream that would never be lived. She knew that Nightscar loved her, he had told her himself. But she had to wonder if her refusal had changed his mind; although by his behavior she knew he still felt something for her.

The walk through the woods went by quick. No words were spoken, nothing was exchanged through those invisible feelings one is sometimes able to feel. It was almost magical to pad out from under the pine trees and onto the soft sand to see the sun streaming through the trees. Cinderheart felt like she was a kit again, with her father near-by, telling stories and looking at life with joy. But she couldn't dwell on the thoughts. She was a warrior now, and beside her was Nightscar, not her father. She wasn't here to spend time with her father before she began a knew path in life, she was here to try and make sense of what path she was to take.

The she-cat was confused, and hurting deeply inside. Climbing onto a small boulder, Cinderheart realized this was the exact spot her father and her had sat all those seasons ago. It was almost magical to be back in that spot; with a tom who was not her father but someone she just might be in love with.

Her gaze was stuck on the rising sun. The reds, gold, orange, pink all mingled together in harmony making a beautiful site that was reflected on the lake in front of them. It seemed like StarClan was speaking to her. If she said yes to the life that was laid before her, it would be beautiful. But when she looked up and saw the night that laid behind them, if she said no and went back her life would be full of hurt, pain, darkness, and anger. The question was, which life would she choose?

She closed her eyes, letting her mind unwind to see if she could make sense of her thoughts. "Nightscar..." she began "These past days have been so confusing. I feel like I'm stuck in a hole and I can either yell for help, or try to dig it out. I'm yelling for help right now, but I wonder if someone will answer...?" the she-cat wondered if the tom would answer her cry for help, would she accept it?

Nightscar

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Nightscar was quiet as he lead the way, letting his emotions build as he took occasional glances at the she-cat that padded beside him. Occasionally her soft fur would brush his scarred up ragged one. These scar reminded him of why he was still alive. to protect the ones he loved. Many of these he had gotten as an apprentice here, fighting the other toms for respect in Shadowclan, and rouges to protect his clan mates.
'I got these to prove to myself that i could protect cinderheart. no matter what.' he thought to himself as he slowly padded out onto the sand of the beach and watches the sun slowly slide over the horizon. As cinderheart climbed up on the rock he looked up at her. The sun threw a radiant glow over her pelt and her eyes seemed to be holding a memory, one he didn't want to interrupt.
As he looked at the rising sun he remembered his time when he left Thunderclan. The sun was just rising as he started across the territory. The new life gave him hope of a new start while his old life was behind him. Again, this feeling of hope filled him as his feeling for Cinderheart as she started talking softly. He looked at her and could hear the worry in her voice. he had also felt like he was in that hole. cinderheart had helped him. Now he was going to return the favor.
He climbed up beside her on the rock and gently brushed his head against hers, her soft fur feeling like feathers over his face.
"You don't have to worry about someone not answering. Because I'll always be here to help pull you out." he murmured, "Cinderheart, i love you. I always will, no matter what happens. I want to be here for you like you were for me. I want to protect you anyway i have to and it hurts me to see you worried or in pain."
He paused and looked into her eyes, his own filling with adoration and undevoted love. He knew this may push her away forever, but he had to let her know. He couldn't lose her, not now. "I will always stay by your side, and nothing will ever pull me away. i want to be with you. I don't know what i would do if i lost you."
He fell quiet looking into her blue eyes. Now she knew and he would have to wait. [/center]

It’s tearin’ up my heart when I’m with you
But when we are apart I feel it too
And no matter what I do
I feel the pain
With or without you.

[/size][/b][/i][/right]

His words, his touch, his kindness. Cinderheart fell into them, and climbed out of her hole with his help. She remembered the first time she had met him, when had had come to the clan. Her acceptance of him before the rest. He was right, she had been there for him; and now he was here for her. She had thought she was alone, but she wasn't. The she-cat could have kicked herself since she didn't see it sooner. She loved Nightscar with all of her being, and she didn't want to loose him. She didn't know what would happen if she did loose him.

"Oh, Nightscar. I can't believe I was so stupid; that I didn't see it before. I love you too." it felt like a dream, and she was afraid that at any moment she would wake up and be the same she-cat. Trying to hide her confusion and go on like life had no problems.

I did it, dad. I came here and my problems were solved. Thank you for showing the way... looking up at the sky she smiled Sunray and Moonbeam, and you too-Starshine. Snuggling closer to Nightscar she looked up into his face. "Although it seems to be going so fast. I don't want this moment to end."

[/b]

Nightscar

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Nightscar felt a purr rumble in his chest as Cinderheart told him she loved him as well. His words hadn't had been in vain. Now he had a reason to stay, a reason to keep moving forward. He kept purring as he gently licked her head between her ears.
"I don't want it to end either." he murmured in her ear, and rubbed his face against hers. She was his now and nothing would change that.
'thank you...that you Moonbeam, Sunray....and thank you Starshine. you've helped me understand.' he thought as he watched the rising sun come completely into view as Cinderheart purred beside him. Now he could be himself again.[/center]

When you look me in the eyes
And tell me that you love me, everything’s alright.
When your right here by my side.
When you look me in the eyes I catch a glimpse of heaven
I find my paradise when you look me in the eyes.

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This moment was magical. Nothing could ruin it, nothing could erase it from her memory. This would forever be etched into her mind. Watching the sunset with the love of her life, Nightscar. It was what she had been waiting for all of her life. It was beautiful, unforgettable. It was perfect.

With the gentle rasps of his tongue on her head, Cinderheart watched the sun rise above the trees. It was the most beautiful sunset she had ever seen. Nothing could ruin this moment. Nothing. Or so she thought. Suddenly Cinderheart heard a loud screech. She jumped in fright and gasped in pain as the sound hurt her ears. "What in the name of StarClan!" Turning around in mid jump, the breath was sucked from her chest.

Towlegs were coming out of monsters, a lot of them. "Nightscar, we should go. Now." a sense of foreboding rested in the pit of her stomach. She just wanted to get as far away from them as she could. Some of the Twolegs headed into the woods while others went to the back of some very large monsters. Behind them were monsters Cinderheart had never seen before, large and orange with very long necks. She wanted to run and hide.

But she couldn't move with out Nightscar right beside her, padding in step with her. She just couldn't move at all. She wanted him by her side right now, and she hope he wouldn't do anything reckless. They needed to go back to camp right now.

Nightscar

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Nightscar smiles at the sunset. Everything was perfect. Nothing was going to change- At that moment a loud screech filled the air that made Night scar jump nd stand up completely and make the fur on his back rise. His head snapped and his eyes soon found what was making the noise. a large yellow creature was stopped a ways from them and two-legs were climbing out and looking around.
From beside him Cinderheart said they needed to go. curiosity filled Nightscar but he could cinderheart was scared. He knew he didn't need to leave her alone and the did need to get out of here.
"Come on...I'll protect you..." he murmured. "And if i say run....don't look back oaky?"
He really hoped nothing would happen, but he would stay behind if something did. He carefully slipped off the boulder and waited for cinderheart before leading the way toward the shadows and back toward the camp. He glanced over his shoulder, praying to Starclan they would make it away safely. [/center]

When you look me in the eyes
And tell me that you love me, everything’s alright.
When your right here by my side.
When you look me in the eyes I catch a glimpse of heaven
I find my paradise when you look me in the eyes.

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Cinderheart nodded as she slowly made her way down the rock. Her back was prickling with the knowledge of the twolegs behind her. She had never in her life seen something so odd like that. What are those twolegs doing? she had to wonder. She had never seen them act that way.

"What do you think the are doing?" she asked Nightscar as she fell in step with him. It was such a curious sight. Would the Twolegs be causing a problem?

Nightscar

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nightscar kept in step with cinderheart, he pelt always touching hers. He didn't feel safe with his back toward the two-legs, but he wanted to get out of here quick. Not much scared the big tom, but this was starting to.
"I don't know, Cinderheart." he murmured softly and glanced behind his back. The two-legs were around a tree just seeming to be looking at it, then one went to the large beast and pulls something out of it. "But i don't think i want to stay around to find out."
He sped up a little and kept his eyes ahead, looking out in case there were more two-legs around that they hadn't seen. They had to warn the camp.
"Great Starclan, what are you trying to tell us?" he thought glancing at the sky.
[/center]

When you look me in the eyes
And tell me that you love me, everything’s alright.
When your right here by my side.
When you look me in the eyes I catch a glimpse of heaven
I find my paradise when you look me in the eyes.

[/size][/b][/i][/right]

With Nightscar by her side, Cinderheart felt untouchable. Like she could fly and touch the sky. His pelt never left her side and racing beside him sent her heart soaring. Thoughts of Twolegs almost left her mind. Almost. In the back of her mind she couldn't get them out. It was unusual to see so many Twolegs this early in New-Leaf.

Slowly the thoughts crept into other areas of her mind until Cinderheart was thinking only about what those Twolegs were doing. And she had to agree with Nightscar, she didn't really want to stay and find out. The strange monsters they had brought had un-nerved her. Even worse was that she wanted to go up to them and yell at them for ruining her moment with Nightscar. Great StarClan! Is this what it should feel like being in love? Where you actually want to yell at a Twoleg for ruining your moment?

Cinderheart wanted to kick herself for thinking like that. It was really mouse-brained to even consider doing. But she didn't have to worry about kicking herself. Instead she tripped over a root. A very large root. Cinderheart felt herself soaring head over heels and she gasped as the air came out of her as she landed very hard on her paw. And the paw was going in the completely opposite direction it should have been going.

Cinderheart just laid there as she attempted to comprehend what had just happened. And then the pain came rushing to her and she let out a screech. She had been so stupid! Concentrating more on yelling at Twolegs then watching where she was going! Now look at her! Probably like a fool to Nightscar. It now seemed that anything she did wrong was foolish and would make Nightscar embarrassed. She didn't want to think about what he was thinking of her right now! Oh what was he going to do!

Nightscar

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Nightscar had been walking with determination. They had to get back to the camp and warn Thievingstar that there were two-legs in the territory. He also wanted to keep Cinderheart out of danger. As he glanced over at her he noticed that she was deep in thought. However, what he didn't expect was for her to go flying through the air to land awkwardly on her paw.
"Cinderheart!" he yowled startled and ran over to her side immediately. He was no medicine cat but he could defiantly tell her paw was broken. When the she-cat screeched he laid back his ear and then quickly licked her head trying to calm her down.
"It's oaky Cinder...It's okay." he mewed gently sniffing her leg slightly. Why was it that she was around him she was always in danger or hurt? First the Fox, then the Two-legs, now this! nightscar held back a small aggravated growl and gently pushed his head against Cinderheart's.
"Do you think you can stand up? I'll support you until we get back to camp. Then we can have crystalmoon look at it." he murmured gently. He couldn't be mad at Cinderheart. It wasn't her fault. He would wait to see if she would get up. He wasn't going to leave her behind.[/center]

When you look me in the eyes
And tell me that you love me, everything’s alright.
When your right here by my side.
When you look me in the eyes I catch a glimpse of heaven
I find my paradise when you look me in the eyes.

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