Here is the first one-shot, with a word starting with A.

Good reading!

One-shot n°1: Acceptance

As deputy of my Clan, I should always put the others before myself. But a few moons before today, I put aside that unspoken rule. Before that time, there was one thing I could not stand: my leader welcoming strangers into BlazeClan. Of course, I wasn't the only cat thinking like that: some of my clanmates disagreed with Birchstar's decision with accepting Foxpelt as one of us. Unfortunately, the warrior code states that a leader's word is law, and even I, as deputy, couldn't convince him not to do so.

It all started last green-leaf.

Sandleaf was walking through the forest, Duskcloud and Hawkfur at her heels. They had a border to check, but the new mates were gossiping and giggling behind her, as usual. Sandleaf despised Duskcloud: she was pretentious, arrogant, and deeply annoying. On the other paw, Hawkfur was quite a nice cat: he was calm, patient, joyful and especially easygoing. Sandleaf couldn't understand how both of them ever became mates in the first place! Hawkfur deserved much better than Duskcloud.

"Hello, I—"

Sandleaf jumped out of her fur at the sound of the voice. Behind her, she could sense Duskcloud and Hawkfur's astonishment, and easily guessed their expressions. She had been lost in her thoughts, and hadn't noticed the cat approaching!

"Who are you?" she growled to the stranger.

In front of her sat a handsome, fox-coloured tom with amazingly long fur and deep green eyes. His plumy tail was curled neatly around his paws, and he didn't seem at all bothered by her angered expression.

The tom smiled at her words. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he meowed with a honey-like voice. "I thought you had seen me."

Sandleaf bit back a sharp retort. How foolish of her not to have noticed him! She had been too absorbed in her thoughts. And those two incompetent cats behind her had done nothing to help!

With the noise they were doing, I'm sure the rogue found us like that! she thought, fur bristling in embarrassment.

Recomposing herself, Sandleaf took a step towards the ginger tom and growled again.

"Who are you, and what are you doing on BlazeClan territory?"

The tom didn't change his expression, and his smile grew even larger.

"My name is Fox," he meowed, "and I would like to join your Clan."

Had you seen my expression, you would have laughed your head out. Because whatever I was expecting him to say certainly wasn't that. He was handsome, really, but his expression and smirk made me want to slap him in the face with my tail.

Sandleaf's eyes widened and her mouth hung open. "Join our Clan?!" she repeated.

"That's what I just said, yes," purred Fox, eyes glinting in amusement.

Sandleaf's head snapped around to seek help from Hawkfur, but her jaw dropped even lower when she realised that he was gone. Gone! And with Duskcould! The little mouse-hearts had left her to deal with Fox alone!

I'm going to shred them when I return to camp, thought Sandleaf, feeling anger boiling inside her. What were they thinking, sneaking behind my back like that? Did they think I wouldn't notice?!

"Yeah, they disappeared a while ago, when you were busy thinking about how handsome I was," meowed Fox, mischief glinting behind his eyes. "I didn't want to startle you again, so I didn't say anything."

How dare he?! thought Sandleaf, roaring inside herself. Handsome?! I wasn't thinking about that!

"You're funny when you're angry," snickered Fox, tearing her out of her thoughts. "You make all sorts of weird faces!"

"Get out of here," hissed Sandleaf, feeling heat flushing up to her face. "Get out, or I claw your ears out, rogue," she spat, accentuating the last word. "Of course you can't join our Clan. you'll never fit in, and you're much too annoying for your own good!"

"I'd like to see you try," laughed the fox-coloured tom. "By the look of it, you're all sharp words and no claws!"

Sandleaf didn't need to be asked twice. Without any warning cry, she sprang and tackled Fox over. In a heartbeat, she had him pinned to the ground.

"Surrender, you useless piece of fox-dung!" meowed Sandleaf, making sure her claws were visible and glinting dangerously in the sunlight.

But the only thing that Fox did was laugh. "I know that you'll never kill me," he meowed. "I can see it in your eyes."

The tom was deeply annoying, but I could do nothing about it. What good would it do to me if I killed him? So I just let go of him and started walking back home.

But you know what he did? He followed me. He followed me! Right thought the territory and into my camp! I was to sick of him to complain, so I just led him to Birchstar's den.

"Hello, Sandleaf," meowed a surprised Birchstar as the ginger she-cat entered his den. "What have you brought to me here?" he added, even more surprised at the sight of the flame-coloured tom behind her.

Exasperated, Sandleaf sighed. "This tom here," she meowed. "Wants to join our Clan. Obviously, I said no, but he insisted on following me all the way to our camp."

Birchstar's brow furrowed. "Oh, really?" he meowed, looking at Fox. "Well, I don't see why not. He looks strong, and we could use an extra warrior."

"Are you serious!?" growled Sandleaf. "Don't you realise what it would mean? We can't accept every stranger that wanders on our territory!"

"Of course not!" retorted Birchstar. "But this ones seems quite capable of becoming a warrior. And if he asked for it, why not let him try?"

Sandleaf did not answer, and instead stalked out of Birchstar's den angrily.

I couldn't understand how easily he had accepted Fox's demand. He was so naïve! How could we trust this stranger? I was completely furious.

The same day of course, Fox got his apprentice name. Birchstar had taken this decision so lightly, and had not even asked the Clan for their opinion!

And guess who Birchstar chose his mentor to be? ME OF COURSE!

"So, mentor," purred Foxpaw. "What am I learning today?"

The tom was so annoying. You cannot imagine what it was like to train him. I hated him. He made sure my life was miserable, and the Clan wasn't helping. And of course, his mentor had to be me.

"You will be learning to shut up and listen, mouse-brain!" growled Sandleaf, cuffing him over the ear in return.

But Foxpaw only laughed. "Me? Shut up? In your dreams!"

Eventually, he had to have his warrior name. So one day, Birchstar just told me he thought Foxpaw was ready.

For the second time, I couldn't believe my ears. Ready?! He hadn't even learned to respect me! And who was Birchstar to say how my apprentice was doing?

Well: my leader.

"Foxpaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Foxpelt," meowed Birchstar to the fox-coloured tom, who was puffing his chest proudly. "StarClan honours your energy and ability to adapt, and we welcome you as a full warrior of BlazeClan!"

"Foxpelt! Foxpelt!"

As the Clan chanted his new name, Sandleaf couldn't help but glance at the tom. Right at this moment, Foxpelt turned towards her, and stuck out his tongue.

You'll never understand how it was like to live with him in the same den. Of course, he had grown popular within the Clan, and most of my clanmates really liked him by now. I was maybe the only one hating him after all these moons.

"Come on, Sandleaf," meowed Blackwing to her friend as they got out of the warrior's den one morning. "Foxpelt's nice! You should try and see the good side of his character for once. He's so funny..."

"No," growled Sandleaf, turning her back on Blackwing. "I'll never like the tom. I can't stand him!"

"Well, I sure can't force you to like him, but could you at least try to tolerate him?"

"No!" spat Sandleaf. "I. Won't. Tolerate. Him. Either!"

I was stubborn, I really was. But I couldn't imagine a world in which me and Foxpelt could talk to each other without trying to kill the other one.

Nevertheless, one day, something happened.

I was on a patrol with Blackwing and Foxpelt (huh!), and we were supposed to check one of our borders. It was raining hard, and, at one point, we came across a flooded stream we had to cross. Pointing to a fallen tree that spread right across the stream, Blackwing had the idea to use it to get to the other side. I hesitated at first, but finally agreed to the idea.

Sandleaf slowly crossed the makeshift bridge, making sure not to slip. Blackwing had gone first, and had arrived safely to the other side. Foxpelt was waiting for his turn, behind Sandleaf, impatient.

Suddenly, a magpie let out a high pitched cry, and Sandleaf lost her grip on the branch, surprised. Yelping, she plummeted down the tree and fell into the stream.

"Help!" she yowled, paws flailing as she tried to grab the fallen tree. But the current was strong, and Sandleaf was swept away each time she tried to swim back to the shore. Weary and tired, she lifted her muzzle out of the water in a last attempt to breathe, and lost consciousness as she slowly sunk into the black depths of the stream...

I was surprised when I woke up in Reedclaw's den. I thought I had died for sure, but our medicine cat was gazing gently at me. I wasn't dreaming. I was alive!

"What happened?" meowed a weak Sandleaf, slowly getting up to her paws.

"You nearly drowned, but Foxpelt saved you," purred Reedclaw as he sorted through his herbs.

"That's good," answered Sandleaf, suddenly tired. "Wait, what did you just say?" she meowed, as realisation struck her.

"Foxpelt saved you."

"FOXPELT?!"

I didn't understand why he had done that. Foxpelt?! Really? Why would he, of all cats, rescue me from a certain death? I was sure he wanted the deputy position, and with Birchstar acting like he did, I was sure he would be my successor if I were to die.

SO WHY DID HE SAVE ME?

Foxpelt padded to the medicine-cat den, eager to see if Sandleaf was recovering. Sure, he didn't really like her, but he wanted to make sure he hadn't saved her for nothing. The stream was cold, for StarClan's sake!

"Reedclaw?" he meowed, padding into the den. "Is Sandleaf better?"

"Yes, she is," purred Reedclaw, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Come and see for yourself."

Foxpelt noticed Sandleaf's pale ginger shape curled in a tight ball at the far end of the den, and padded towards her.

"Glad you're not dead," laughed Foxpelt. "Life would be so boring without you!"

"Shut up," answered a sleepy voice, but Foxpelt could discern amusement in it.

I know it seems weird, but we eventually became good friends. We always teased each other, from time to time, but not to the point of wanting to claw the other one's ears out.

I grew used to him being part of BlazeClan, and I now cannot imagine a life without him.

It was only then that I realised the importance of acceptance.

I hope you liked this first one-shot! I really enjoyed writing it XD

Just a little question: don't you think Foxpelt and Sandleaf would make a cute couple?

Reviews are always welcome, so don't hesitate to write a little word, and press the button!

~Lightningfire