This is the story of LionXViper, the couple I write most about. Other couples I write about are RockXVenom, IceXWolf, and ShadowXViper. Here is the story behind this picture of them together: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Viperclaw raced out of camp. It had only been three moons since her former mate, Shadow, had died, and she had taken a liking to Lionpaw, a ThunderClan apprentice. How could she fall in love with anybody-let alone a ThunderClan cat-let alone a ThunderClan APPRENTICE?! Pushing the thoughts away, she padded even quicker towards the forest clearing where she and Lionpaw liked to meet. As soon as she entered the grassy land, she noticed a ginger tom with strong green eyes in front of her. Viperclaw's heart leaped. "Lionpaw! Hello!" she mewed out loud as Lionpaw nodded. "Greetings, Viperclaw," he meowed. "I'm Lionstep now." He tipped his head to one side. "Good to see you tonight. You're my favorite cat, besting even Frostpaw-I mean Frostcloud." Frostcloud used to be Lionstep's mate. Viperclaw purred. "That's wonderful, Lionstep, but I wanted to tell you something." Her glowing red gaze darted away from him, watching the ground, her belly, and eventually Lionstep again. Was she okay? Flecks of light purple, orange, and dark red appeared in the sky, standing proud and strong against the black night sky dotted with gleaming stars. Viperclaw leaned over to Lionstep. "I'm expecting kits. Your kits." The news seemed to hit Lionstep like the strongest belly rake in the world. "What?!" he yowled. Viperclaw expected him to get angry with her, but instead he walked up to her, pressed his pelt against hers, and twined his tail with hers. "When are they coming, Viperclaw?" he whispered, waiting for an answer. Viperclaw twined Lionstep's tail even closer. "About two moons," she mewed, her glowing red gaze looking scared and worried and-sorrowful? "A-are you mad at me?" he meowed, afraid. Instead, contrary to his fears, Viperclaw began to purr loudly. "No. Why would I be?" Red met green. "After all, it isn't every day that a tom learns he's going to be a father. Right, Lionstep?" Golden light had appeared on the horizon a little while ago; now it was expanding, growing larger, spreadin beuatiful rays of orange and red across the sky, enveloping the sunrise in a light neither Viperclaw nor Lionstep had ever seen. It was so beautiful. They both knew the answer in a heartbeat: StarClan was speaking its approval. And Lionstep knew what he would say to Viperclaw. As light shone over the grass, making everything as beautiful as the sunrise, he leaned into her ear and whispered, "Right."
