Ashfur's dark blue eyes peered through the opening of the warrior's den. The sun sent bright rays of light dancing in the clearing, where two cats had their tails entwined, and then trotted out of camp, probably going on a patrol. His neck bristled at the sight of them. The she-cat was Squirrelflight; the cat he thought had loved him. The cat who had made him feel like everything was going to work out, and then had walked away with Brambleclaw, the second cat that he had just seen go into the forest. Involuntarily, his claws dug into his mossy bedding, and he forced himself before he shredded his nest.
Finally, Ashfur decided he would be of better use to ThunderClan if he actually did something, and padded slowly into the sunlight. A cool breeze ruffled his grey fur, but the sun quickly warmed him up. Suddenly Ashfur felt stupid, standing aimlessly in the middle of the clearing while everyone else had a purpose. His tail dragging in the dirt, he walked to a sunny corner of the rocky hollow, where he laid down and began grooming himself.
The shadow of Whitewing blocking the warm sun from Ashfur's pelt made him look up. Without thinking about it, he glared at the she-cat, unable to realize that the only cat who had hurt him was Squirrelflight, and he didn't need to treat every cat badly. His eyes softened when he saw the hurt in her emerald eyes.
"Sorry Whitewing.. I'm just.. Not feeling myself today, you know?" He said hoarsly, guilt gnawing at his belly. The bad feeling went away when he saw her face light up. She was so forgiving when it came to Ashfur, since she knew what had gone on with him and Squirrelflight.
"It's fine," she mewed, her tail waving to show she wasn't upset. "I was just wondering if you wanted to go on a hunting patrol. It seems like everyone else doesn't have time for me right now." Whitewing focused her gaze nervously on the ground, her whiskers twitching as if she were uncertain of herself.
"I'd love to!" Ashfur couldn't hide the excitement out of his voice. Maybe this was it. Maybe he could just let go of Squirrelflight and that piece of fox dung Brambleclaw. He looked at Whitewing differently for a moment. Could he learn to see what was right in front of him, to love a she-cat who obviously had feelings for him? He studied her quietly, and noticed for the first time how her long, white fur was always groomed to look sleek on her small frame. He noticed how pretty her green eyes looked when the sun hit them at the perfect angle.
As the two cats walked out of camp together, Icekit and Foxkit where watching from inside of the nursery.
"Oooo! I think Whitewing's got a crush on Ashfur!" squealed Icekit, and the two kits burst into laughter. Ferncloud shushed them with a flick of her tail, and then watched her brother with hopeful eyes. Oh StarClan, please let her bring my brother back, she thought sadly. Squirrelflight had changed him, and maybe Whitewing could be the only one bring him back.