"Oakheart?" A tremble of a voice, made so by secret tears cast onto the muddy river bank seconds before, broke the silence.

"Yes Bluefur?" A handsome rusty coloured tom stepped out of the foliage, and the moon left the clouds, casting a dramatic silver light over both of them. The gurgling river was nearly silent, reduced to little more then a brook by the green-leaf drought.

The blue furred she-cat's voice choked, realizing her mate had seen her earlier tears. "This... I can not..."

"Do you love me?" Came the reply, a voice who already knew the answer.

"Oakheart- You know I-" She gazed at him with blue eyes, full of pain and misery.

"Then let this go on... For just a little longer." He begged, his own heart torn in two. His Clan, or the she-cat he loved, both caused him great pain. He knew what Orcherstar, his father, or Crookedjaw, his older brother, would say. It was not befitting of him, a leader's son. Shame and love burned his heart.

"I fear a little longer will be too late." She murmured, stepping forward to press her muzzle against his side in a comforting gesture.

"I want... to take that risk, for love."

"For love."