Blackpaw padded at night towards the Twoleg Place where Tom lived. about 4 moons had pasted since her apprenticeship had started. She had also continued to visit her kitty-pet friend, Tom, although she figured out that she needed to be more careful to not be spotted visiting tom when Ashclaw found out Oceanpaw had been sneaking off at night to explore outside of Whisperclan territory. She squirmed into the hole in the fence and found Tom running towards her, purring. "Blackpaw! I thought you wouldn't come today! I was so worried!" He rubbed his head against Blackpaw's.
"I'm ok, Tom." Blackpaw giggled. "I know I can only come once in a while but I couldn't help it." She nudged her friend's nose playfully. She knew that Tom probably considered her just a friend, but she couldn't help liking him more as a friend at the best of times.
"Did anything new happen?" Tom meowed, sitting next to her.
"Well, not really." Blackpaw admitted, although blushing.
"Why are your cheeks so pink?" Tom meowed, batting her playfully.
Gasping, Blackpaw leaped up. "O-oh, umm,... uh,... W-well it's Leaf-bare!" She was right, it was Leaf-Bare and she basicly froze her paws just to meet Tom. Without warning, Tom tackled her, making her fall onto her side. He placed himself on top of her belly while he curled his tail onto Blackpaw's.
"Better?" He asked, giving Blackpaw a lick between her eyes. She just gaped at him, her heart beating rapidly. She had the urge to cuddle closer to him, but instead tore away from him.
"I-i'm sorry, Tom, but no."
"No what?" Tom padded towards her, confused.
Blackpaw finally figured out that Tom did not consider her a friend. He wanted more than that. She looked up at him. She had forgotten to tell Tom about the code.
"We can't be like this, Tom."
"Why not?"
"Because..... Because............ Because it is against the rules of my clan and code. Clan-Cats cannot be mates with other cats outside their clan. In fact, I shouldn't be even meeting you." Blackpaw looked up to see Tom turned away from her, his head bowed down. Her heart fell. As much as she wanted to be with him, loyalty to her clan came first.
"I see..........."
"Please, Tom, we can sti-"
"No, we can't. Because I could never see you as a friend. And now I know I can't ever see you my mate either...."
"Tom!" Blackpaw meowed, outraged. "You thought of me as a mate?! I'm only an apprentice!!!"
When Tom simply flicked his tail, Blackpaw grew even more mad. "You think I only come over here so you could try to do things with me? I came over here to met you when I shouldn't! I froze my butt off just see you because your my friend!" She yowled then ran towards the fence. She could hear Toms pawsteps as he ran after her, but she ignored him and continued towards camp, tears finally pouring down her cheeks.