Shining Night

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Moonshadow woke up the moonlight shining into the warrior's den. It light up her creamy silk white fur as the moon was only rising. Everyone else in the den was sound asleep with the sound of the wind blowing only. Moonshadow rolled over to block the moon out of her eyes but realized it was pointless knowing she couldn't fall asleep. She stood up and stealthily left the den without waking anyone. She stretched out her small body only stretching so far.

She wiggled her tail back and forth as she stretched out arching her back. She then pulled herself back into a standing position and shook her fur as a breeze blew through it. Her deep blue ocean colored eyes scanned the clearing for any other cats that would wander the night. As she realized no one else was awake she ventured out of the clearing and into the open. A breeze continued to blow ruffling her fur as she padded past a few flowers. The moonlight was still glimmering on her pelt.

Her cotton candy pink nose sniffed through them as she continued to walk the moonlight leading her way. As she walked through grass and flowers she saw in the distance another moon. As she got closer she realized it was a reflection. She smiled at herself and continued to walk towards the water. As she got closer the clouds disappeared revealing a bright collection of shining stars. Her pelt glowed brighter in the light and her reflection beamed back at her in the water.

Her paws shifted from side to side as she stood staring into the water. Her eyes softening as she looked up to the sky. Her eyes sparkled in the light with stars reflecting off her eyes. Each star had a different light to them some brighter than the other. Her tail swayed back and forth with the wind blowing into her side. Her ears twitched as the wind blew around her.

She plopped down on the ground as the water rushed up to her soaking her paws just barely. Her tail flicked back and forth on the ground her eyes still sparkling from the light. She looked as if she were in a trance. Her ears lowered than perked back up as she continued to stare. Ignoring all of her surroundings that seemed to be at peace as well.

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Oakleaf was dreaming, it wasn't a normal dream it was a nightmare. He stood there as Thunderclan warriors flooded into camp. Riverclan cats started running out of there dens with ruffled fur and wide eyes. Before they threw themselves into battle. He knew he had to attack but his feet were stuck on the ground he couldn't move at all. He tried to move but gave up after a while and watched. He was silent he had never watched a battle before. But that stopped when he felt a cat run into him. The hit was hard he fell over.

As his body hit the ground he woke up. He could feel his heart pounding in his body and he almost felt like he hit the ground in his dream. Looking around he noticed that other cats were asleep but one nest was open. Narrowing his eyes he slowly got up. Not trying to wake anyone. He slowly padded to the nest. Sniffing the reed bed he picked up the scent right away. Moonshadow. His mind instantly flashed a picture of the small cream she-cat.

Looking towards the entrance of the den he could see the moon light shining in and he looked back at his nest. He couldn't sleep not after that dream, and knowing that Moonshadow wasn't here made him also not want to sleep.

Oakleaf padded out of the den and the moonlight hit is rusty brown fur he looked at himself, his pelt was rustled with all of his turning in his sleep. Quickly knowing that he was going to be seeing a she-cat he must always look his best. After a few quick moments of grooming he slick thick rusty brown fur looked perfect, but he was good at grooming his pelt quickly.

Then Moonshadow's scent flooded his nose again and he closed his eyes then got up and followed her scent. It went out of camp and slowly around the territory. He went from a slow walk to a jog noticing that she was coming up to the beach. He took a deep breath and hide in the reeds, watching her.

Oakleaf stared at her gleaming cream pelt in the moonlight, she was beautiful. Though Oakleaf thought any she-cat was beautiful, but something about Moonshadow right there made her stand out to him. He watched as she sat down. He got up knowing if he was going to talk this would be the time.

He padded out of the reeds, and out of the shadows and into the moonlight, his green eyes were dark yet but they were never light in the moonlight. He silently padded up next to where she was sitting and said. "Can't sleep?"

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Her ears twitched as she stared up into the stars, her paws sinking every now and then as water rushed up. She turned her head slowly as Oakleaf padded up. It wasn't hard to recognize him. Her had deep green eyes and rusty brown pelt. Though it was normal for any Riverclan cat to have that color of pelt. She gave a small smile as he padded forward. Her ears perking up as he asked "Can't sleep?". She blew out a breath and nodded turning away from him and looking into the water.

"It's a little hard to sleep with the moon being so bright." she answered in a hush tone.

Her gaze scanning the water for nothing, but just the fact the the water looked beautiful at night. She tapped the water with her paw sending small ripples through it as her crystal ocean blue eyes looked around. Her tail swayed back and forth and her fur scattered every which way as the breeze blew from the water.

She looked back over at Oakleaf her ears twitching and her tail flicking back and forth. She gave another smile before looking back up to the sky.

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He noticed her grin as he padded up and then after he asked her his question he sat down. Well next to her but not super close just there. He heard a breath come out of her and she nodded, before turning back to the water. He just sat there perfectly still waiting for her to answer, he knew that she had something to say but he just needed to wait for her to say it.

"It's a little hard to sleep with the moon being so bright." He flicked his ear trying to catch fully what she had said. Narrowing his eyes he watched as her eyes scanned the water. There was something about this water that he really didn't understand. It was pretty but thats not really his thing he could say any she-cat was pretty but the water in the moonlight did shine but not as much as a cats eyes or fur does.

He looked at the water and saw out of the corner of his eye that a cream paw was moving towards the water. Moonshadow touched the water gently so small ripples grew into big ones. The stars and moon were being distorted and he turn back to her trying to catch her eyes.

Grinning he watched as she turned towards him and then looked up at the sky. Turning his head and eyes to look up at the stars, was hard but he didn't want to make the young warrior uncomfortable. Sighing he simply said, "It's different seeing the world so peaceful during the night but during the day we seem to be fighting all the time."

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She perked her ears up as Oakleaf said "It's different seeing the world so peaceful during the night but during the day we seem to be fighting all the time.". She gave him a confused look before smiling and turning back to the sky. Her tail flicking back and forth sending up small dust clouds every now and then.

"There hasn't been much fighting. The clans have grown stronger, yes, but not as much fighting has been going on. At least the kits would stay safe.". She gave a small smile as she finished her sentence. Her eyes sparkling as the moonlight hit them. She lowered one ear and slowly lifted it back up.

Her gaze softened as she continued to stare as a cloud moved across the moon blocking the only source of natural light. Her eyes started to lightly glow in the dark like any other cats eyes. She looked back down to the water and stuck her paw in it. As she pulled her paw out she turned to the right and put her paw print in the ground then turned back to the water.

She looked back over at Oakleaf and gave another smile her eyes sparkling once more as the moon came out from behind the cloud.

"So what is a warrior like you doing up?" she said with a smile still plastered on her face.

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Oakleaf didn't say anything or look for a reaction from Moonshadow he just simply said what he thought was true. Though the clans were at peace they seemed to be all fighting for the same thing. Food, territory, and peace. They were fighting for peace all the time. He heard Moonshadow's tail flick back and forth and he looked back at her seeing if she would say anything.

"There hasn't been much fighting. The clans have grown stronger, yes, but not as much fighting has been going on. At least the kits would stay safe." Moonshadow, replied. She had a good point. He didn't want to argue with her at all so he just shrugged and looked back at the water still wondering why she was so intrigued with it.

Then there was darkness on the water and he looked back up to the sky and saw that the cloud was covering up to brightly lit moon. His eyes widen and grew darker thought they still glow the green color, but just a really dark green. Looking at Moonshadow he just watched as she stuck her paw in the water and then left a paw print in the dirt. It was a small paw print, well compared to his paws it was small but he was a larger cat than her and he just looked back into her slightly glowing blue eyes.

She smiled at him and he smiled back and the moon came out of the cloud and once again her eyes were now sparkling and his just grew a shade lighter. "So what is a warrior like you doing up?"

Oakleaf grinned and laughed a bit. Shaking his head he simply said. "I had a bad dreamed and noticed that an another young warrior was not in there nest anymore." His whiskers twitched with amusement.

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Her jaw dropped and she turned away from him with her nose held high. Though she was small she could be very threatening. She flicked her tail back and forth making it look like she was annoyed. But she couldn't help but grin and say "Yeah well I'm not an apprentice anymore, I think I'm obligated to leave the den at night".

She turned back around lifted up her paw gently swatting his cheek. She gave a cheeky grin before turning back to the water. Her ears twitched up and down as she stared into it. Her eyes shining in the water and her own reflection showing off of it. She had a small body but she was fairly strong.

Another breeze blew moving her fur to the right just a bit, but it ended as soon as it came. She tilted her head a bit then shot it back up.

"Do you know where we are?" she asked already knowing the answer herself.

She stared at him intently waiting for his answer her eyes a lighter shade than usual from the light.

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He saw her reaction and he laughed. She was quite smaller than him but he knew that she wasn't afraid of his size, and he knew that she would get back for saying that eventually. Hopefully sooner than later. He heard her tail flick back and forth, shaking his head he just smiled and waited to see what she would say now.

He couldn't help but laugh under his breath when he saw her grin and say "Yeah well I'm not an apprentice anymore, I think I'm obligated to leave the den at night." He nodded and replied. "I never said that you were an apprentice." Smiling he turn away from her.

Oakleaf then out of no where felt a swat at his cheek. Turning at back toward Moonshadow, he saw that there was a huge smile on her face and he couldn't help but smile back. Laughing a bit he cuffed her ear and then then shrugged. There was a breeze that caught him off guard but it was gone quickly. But it did send a small chill up his spine that made him shiver.

"Do you know where we are?" Oakleaf heard her ask and he just looked at her and tilted his head knowing the answer easily but for some reason he felt like it was a trick question.

"Well we are on the secret beach, but I feel like that's not the answer you want."

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She giggled as Oakleaf cuffed her ear. She didn't mind talking to other warriors after a long day. At night it was peaceful and no one could bother you when you talk. She was glad that Oakleaf had come when he did. She was only getting bored about then. Though the water kept her in a trance every now and then. She flicked her ears and her eyes brightened as she smiled. She stared at Oakleaf waiting for his answer. She could've known better, and she knew fare well that the warrior knew where they were. She just needed something to keep her busy.

Her smile faded as she turned away from him her eyes locked on the water in the distance. Her ears were perked up as she heard Oakleaf say "Well we are on the secret beach, but I feel like that's not the answer you want.". she gave a small smile and gave Oakleaf an approving glance.

"No that's fine. I just wanted to make sure you knew. It's surprising though how Riverclan was able to find this. Though no other clans have actually gotten far enough in clan territory to see this beach. At night its the most beautiful sight. In the morning its just another hunting ground." she gave a smile and flicked her ears one more time before looking back at Oakleaf.

Her tail flicked back and forth on the ground before she finally curled it around her small frame. Her eyes lit up as the stars came out from behind some clouds making her eyes sparkle again. She could never be put in a bad mood at times like this. Being around someone made it feel safe and comforting. Though around Oakleaf she felt safer and she knew she could talk to him about anything.

Oakleaf was quite larger than her but she didn't mind. She was a lot smaller than she should be for a warrior but that never stopped her from doing her best. She gave a small giggle as she though about herself compared to the other warriors. She was as small as a newly made apprentice yet she was as strong as any other warrior. She hoped she would grow but if she didn't she could still use her small size to an advantage.

She snuck a glance at Oakleaf to see his expression then quickly looked back to the water, her paw still damp from earlier. She looked over to the paw print to see it still there. She gave another smile and looked back at the water her reflection smiling back at her. She dabbed the water again sending some more ripples through the water and changing the picture of herself and the sky.

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"No that's fine. I just wanted to make sure you knew. It's surprising though how Riverclan was able to find this. Though no other clans have actually gotten far enough in clan territory to see this beach. At night its the most beautiful sight. In the morning its just another hunting ground." He listened to what she had said almost getting lost in her words and he looked at her and just nodded. He wanted to say something but he had to think for a while on how to answer that in words because in his mind he had many ways of answering.

Replying to her comment, "Well all clans have secrets, but every clan does know a lot more about each other than we realize. We know who there leaders, warriors, and medicine cats are. We know how to fight them in and out of there territory. But each clan has there own secrets and this is just one of Riverclan's. Personally we should keep it our secret because any clan would die to have this beautiful place in their boundaries."

He looked back at Moonshadow and sighed. He watched as she curled her tail around her small body and then he looked back up at the stars hoping that Starclan was watching over them right now, and their clan mates that are sleeping in the nest at camp.

He stared up at the stars until he heard Moonshadow move again and he watched her. Seeing her smile at him he couldn't help but to smile back and looking at his reflection in the water, he looked almost dark next to Moonshadow who's pelt shined in the moonlight. But then everything started moving and he saw that Moonshadow had touched the water again.

quietly he said "This is the best secret that Riverclan could ever have"

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He ear twitched and she gave a smile after Oakleaf had said "This is the best secret that Riverclan could ever have". She nodded in agreement and flicked her tail wrapping it around the other side of her. She shook her head as her fur puffed out just a bit. She stared into the water her head tilted just a bit as she looked closely into it. She started to lose focus on her surrounding getting lost in the water.

She moon shone off as a reflection along with a few stars. Her pelt was just as white has the moon in the sunlight but at night she had a darker shade. Her eyes scanned the water before she stuck her paw in and pulled out a fish. She dropped it in between her and Oakleaf before looking back into the water with her eye fixated intently on something that was shining under the water.

She would have to swim down to it but the cool breeze that already made her shiver made her think otherwise. She lifted her head away from the water as her nose touched the surface of it. She turned towards the fish and pushed it towards Oakleaf, not feeling hungry at the moment.

"Do you want this? I'm not very hungry right now" she mewed with a smile on her face.

She stared at his eyes waiting for his answer. her tail switching side every now and then. Before she finally relaxed and laid down her paws just barely above the water. Her tail swayed to one side and stopped and her eyes were once again fixated on the reflection in front of her.

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Oakleaf looked at Moonshadow and smiled as she nodded her head in agreement. Another chill ran down his spine but he ignored trying to fluff out his pelt because he wasn't that cold but it was still chilly even though it was greenleaf. He watch Moonshadow and really didn't care what she thought because at this point he couldn't stop looking at her anyway. So what difference did it make.

He felt very comfortable around Moonshadow but then again he felt comfortable around any cat but he now knew Moonshadow a little better that other clan mates that he just hunts or patrols with. For some reason he like that.

He watched her get more focused on the water. Narrowing his eyes he looked at the water just as Moonshadow flung her paw into the water and he saw the silver of a fish land on shore where they were sitting. He just smiled and when it landed on the ground he could feel his mouth water.

She pushed it towards him and he felt a cramp in his belly that made him hungry, and then remember that he hadn't eaten since the earlier morning. He was starving but he want to be rude. "Do you want this? I'm not very hungry right now" She said and he looked at her and smiled. "Thanks" he simply said and leaned down and took a bite of the fish.

The taste flooded in his mouth and he he took another bite starving. After a few bites he looked back up realizing he should of asked for sure if she didn't want any. Heat rose up in his pelt and he sat up and said. "Are you sure you don't want any," slowly pausing before teasing her "Because I don't need an apprentice to catch my food for me." His green eyes shone with amusement.

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She flicked him with his tail as he called her an apprentice making sure she hit him directly in the face. She looked at him with her eyes glimmering with amusement.

"I'm fine, I actually ate twice like a normal cat today." she pointed out with a smile.

After she finished her sentence she turned back towards the water her pelt fluffing out just a bit as she continued to stare into the water. Another cold breeze came up from the water as she laid there her tail now curled around her small figure. She stared at him for a few minutes watching his every move.

Now that she actually thought about it most toms talked to her because of her beauty, but Oakleaf was different. He had a different point of view on her and she respected that. She laid her head on her paws staring out into the distance once more. She finally mustered up enough confidence to ask Oakleaf "What do you think of me? Besides my beauty like most toms.".

Her eyes looked distant but she listened intently waiting for his answer. She was hoping he wasn't like any other tom as she sat patiently her tail flicking back and forth slowly once again.

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Oakleaf laughed and then got hit in the face with Moonshadow's tail which he was expecting anyway. He growled saying "You better be careful." Then smiled at her.

"I'm fine, I actually ate twice like a normal cat today." She did have a good point. He just shrugged and leaned back down and ate the fish. It was a little cold from leaving it there for a bit but he was so hungry it didn't matter. He stuffed the rest of the fish down.

Oakleaf felt her watching him but he didn't mind. He was actually used to it, he like to be in the center of attention and he did that by being a flirt and nice and connecting with cats all the time. He always seemed to be talking to anyone but when he was alone with someone there was a different mind set that he took with cats. To challenge them almost or to get them to think out side of the box, and Moonshadow was pretty good at stumping him on what to say and he liked that. Also she understood his jokes which made him feel a little better because he insulted most cats without realizing it.

He sat up and licked the fish off his jaws and his whiskers. Then he started to clean off his paws which were full of fish. Then Moonshadow's voice flooded in his ears and he looked up at her. "What do you think of me? Besides my beauty like most toms."

He just narrowed his eyes. He paused and looked at her thinking on how to answer it. "Moonshadow well you do have beauty, but there's a difference on having beauty and being beautiful. Having beauty is just your looks, but being beautiful is having a great personality that shines through your beauty and that other cats can see." He pause then said "andI think your Beautiful."

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She rolled her shoulders back as her tail brushed up a cloud of dust she pushed up on her paws and back into a sitting position. She watched as Oakleaf finished his fish, quietly her ears twitched as her finished. She watched him carefully as he answered her with "Moonshadow well you do have beauty, but there's a difference on having beauty and being beautiful. Having beauty is just your looks, but being beautiful is having a great personality that shines through your beauty and that other cats can see.". She sat there patiently knowing he had something else to say. She didn't push him she just waited. Only a few seconds had passed before he finished with "and I think your Beautiful.".

She gave a small smile as her ears perked up at his answer. "I'm glad to know you think of my differently than others. It means a lot that you said that. Thank you.". She had on a bright smile that could wipe away and bad mood and sparkling eyes that showed she was happy with Oakleaf's answer. She curled her tail back around here and stared at Oakleaf her eyes still shining.

"You want to know what I think of you Oakleaf?" she asked.

She sat there patiently waiting for him to say something. As the moon reached it's highest point it shone on Moonshadow's pelt making it the creamy white fur she had during the day.