Shrewtail sat and watched his clanmates from the highrocks.
It was midday and the hot sun was washing into his pelt, causing his body to feel hot and sticky.
He wanted to be laying down in the shade, but he was keeping watch.
His paws itched restlessly and his stomach growled, but he ignored it.
Shewtail sighed loudly before laying down, crossing his paws and laying his head down on them.
He eyed the cats in camp lazily.
From where his small brown figure was settled, he could spot Graystripe and Millie, busy with their kits. Bumblekit was acting more rambunctious then usual. Graystripe suddenly twisted around and said something to his kit, a stern look on his face and Shrewtail guessed he was scolding the little brown kitten.
He also saw Birchfall sitting with his mate Whitewing.
Shrewtail twitched his whiskers as a bee buzzed past his face, then he searched the camp for one face, one very special face.
Cinderheart, Leafpool, Mousefur...... There!
A flash of bright orange fur and green eyes, she was there.
Squirrelflight.

The she-cat he had been in love with since he was a apprentice.
Everything about her captivated him and made his heart beat so fast he was scared it would explode. Her narrow face, long lithe body, dazzling leaf green eyes. Her orange fur always had this gleam to it, it always reflected the sunlight. Shrewtail looked at his own dingy fur and then sat up to give himself a good washing.
Dirt was all over his fur, and Shrewtail felt a wave of embarrassment spread over him, making him even more hot. He was hoping Squirrelflight hadn't seen him in this condition, dirty and scruffy like a kit.
Why couldn't he ever keep his pelt clean?
As he rasped his tongue over his fur, he pretended it was really Squirrelflight, cleaning his back with gentle strokes.
Even the thought of her sent shivers up his spine!
Licking his muzzle one more time, Shrewtail lay down once more and closed his amber eyes, shutting out the world around him.
Oh, if only Squirrelflight felt the same way!
He heard a yowl from below and opened his eyes.
What he saw no surprise, but it upset him anyway.

It was Ashfur and Brambleclaw. The two toms he hated the most. He despised them with everything he had.

They were nothing to him.
They were always trailing after his Squirrelflight, following her around like love-sick apprentices.
It was Brambleclaw who had yowled.
Somehow he had stepped on a thorn and was begging Squirrelflight to fix it for him.
It was disgusting! That large muscular tom whining over a little prick in his paw pad.
"Boo hoo." Shrewtail spat, closing his eyes again.
A little edge of sadness worked it's way into his heart.
How would Squirrelflight ever notice him with those two thugs in his way?
She always did treat him like her childhood friend.
He wasn't a apprentice anymore! "I'm a Warrior now!" Shrewtail meowed to himself. "And I'm just as good as those two mousebrains. I'm good enough to be her mate..... Right?" He pictured her in his mind, her pelt glowing as usual, her eyes glowing with love.
Love for him and him alone.
"I love you, Shrewtail." She would purr, pressing her muzzle into his fur. And he would reply just as lovingly.
"Oh Squirrelflight...." Shrewtail mrrowed to himself, falling deeper into his thoughts.
"What about 'Squirrelflight'?"
Shrewtail jumped to his paws at the voice, his whiskers twitching up a storm in humiliation. "Squirrelflight!" He stammered, trying to avoid her confused eyes. "I, er, Nothing!"
"Oh.... Well....." The flame colored she-cat pushed the dust on the ground into a little pile, causing her white paw to become a brownish color. "I was wondering if you'd like to go hunting. Just me and you?" She glanced up, and Shrewtail searched her eyes for that love he saw in his dreams.
But her eyes only held that sisterly affection that had always been there, since they were kits in the nursery playing until their mothers returned from eating.
Shrewtail's heart sunk, and he gulped, trying to swallow his crushed feelings.
"Oh..... Yeah..... Sure." He forced enthusiasm into his voice and smiled. "I'd love to!"
"Alright!" Squirrelflight smiled back, and Shrewtail felt faint as he looked into her eyes, so he looked away and started down the steep rocks.
Well, it was a step. Before he would have to of competed with Brambleclaw and Ashfur!
Brambleclaw and Ashfur.
He flashed the tabby tom and gray speckled tom a look of triumph.
"See you around." He said, making his voice sound so sugar coated no one would ever know he was taunting them.
Ashfur curled his lip at him, but Brambleclaw didn't do anything but dip his head at them.
Shrewtail shrugged.
He was going hunting with the cat he was in love with, and that was all that mattered.

For now.