This Is Wrong But It Feels So Right (Stormwind)

(I’m guessing you read it wrong, but she’s taking him to her den, not the nursery)

She led him into her den and settled herself in the slightly musty nest. The medicine cat had forced her to move into the nursery as soon as her due date drew close.

Blackstar’s eyes widened as he realized that he was being taken not to Mallowstar’s den as he had expected, but instead the nursery. Turning to the medicine cat, the tom fixed his heterochromatic eyes on the other male and mewed evenly “I’ll fetch you if Mallowstar needs your help. I know what it looks like when a she-cat is ready.” The tom smiled over at the Meadowclan healer, recalling when he had announced Swallowflight’s kitting at the most recent gathering.

Mallowstar eventually padded to her den, feeling that leading him to the nursery would imply a level of trust and intimacy that her warriors didn’t know she held for him. Cats from other Clans never got to see inside their nursery.

Blackstar watched as various cats greeted Mallowstar on their way into the camp, and replied to the few that took time to greet him as well. The black-furred tom took a step back, letting Mallowstar lead to wherever she felt would be appropriate for them to be together.

Mallowstar eventually entered the camp, trying to hide how tired she was. She hated how easily she tired and how hard everything was while she was pregnant. It made her feel weak.

Blackstar soon realized the territory around him becoming more familiar, and smiled softly to himself as he realized that meant they were approaching the camp. He could hardly wait to spend some time with Mallowstar.

“Thank you,” Mallowstar said, a soft smile forming on her muzzle as she thought about her kits.

“Congratulations to you, by the way.” Blackstar mewed, allowing his eyes to soften as he glanced at the female’s huge belly. Then he turned back to face the direction they were walking in. He opened his mouth to say I’m sure they will be valuable additions to Lakeclan. then he stopped as he thought over what that meant. my kin in another clan... it’s hard enough with Mallowstar living over here instead.

“Well enough, from the look of the fresh-kill pile,” Mallowstar answered. “I haven’t been allowed to hunt in nearly two moons.” She sent the medicine cat a glare, who was distinctly unapologetic.

Blackstar padded alongside Mallowstar and the medicine cat of Meadowclan. Trying to keep up his act as a diplomatic visitor, the tom casually mewed “How does the prey run in Meadowclan?”

Mallowstar huffed softly at the mention of returning to camp but jerked her head in agreement, turning around to start heading back to camp.

Blackstar nodded in reply. “Perhaps we could go back to your camp and discuss matters in the nursery, or in your den. I understand that he doesn’t want to leave you alone so close to kitting, but I must speak to you in private.” The tom was clearly having a hard time hiding his true affections for Mallowstar, but knew he needed to under the gaze of the other cat.

“No. My medicine cat is with me,” Mallowstar jerked her head towards said tom, Who was looking an interesting mixture of resigned and wary.

Blackstar felt his heart flutter a little when he spotted a pair of ears rising over the small hill between him and he rest of the territory, followed by the rest of Mallowstar. As much as the tom wanted to charge across the border and tackle her down, he had to keep his face straight and voice level for now, mewing to the other leader “Are you alone?”

Mallowstar perked up and looked at the medicine cat, who sighed exasperatedly but didn’t stop her from getting up and heading towards the border.

Blackstar sat silently for a moment before trying again. “It is Blackstar, leader of Lakeclan. I would like to be escorted to Mallowstar.” Blackstar had made several such visits in the moons since he became the leader of his fractured clan, and they had all been amicable. Thankfully, relations between the clans had been that way in general.

Mallowstar blinked and looked in the direction of the border. She thought she heard Blackstar.

Not hearing the voice again, Blackstar raised his own, mewing out a loud “Hello?” He perked his ears, gazing across the border to see if someone would heed his call.

Mallowstar eventually gave in to the medicine cat’s pleads for her to rest, and settled herself next to a small Stream, giving him a, ‘happy now?’ look.

Blackstar’s ears flicked when he though he heard a mew across the border, standing up eagerly to see if it was someone who could take him to his mate.

Mallowstar paused to catch her breath, glaring at the medicine cat when he suggested that they go back to the camp. She’d been going mad cooped up in the camp for the past moon!

Blackstar was just about to step over the border into Meadowclan territory when his mind screamed at him to halt. With her kits due so soon it's unlikely she'll be alone, and I know I won't be able to get into their camp unnoticed in the middle of the day like this. I should just wait for a patrol. Sighing quietly, the tom sat down and settled in just on his clan's side of the border, curling his tail around his paws as he prepared for what he hoped would be a short wait.

Mallowstar was stubbornly taking a walk in the territory of MeadowClan despite the fact that her kits were due any day now. The medicine cat was with her, though, just in case.

Carefully standing up, Blackstar planted a quick lick between his mate's ears before he stood up and padded outside. The tom gave some orders to his deputy for planning patrols, and then mewed "Don't expect me back until later." The other male nodded and Blackstar trod out of camp, heading for the border when he was out of sight.

Swallowflight was still sleeping peacefully, breaths deep and even.