Brambleclaw sat by the fresh-kill pile in the ThunderClan, basking in the Green-Leaf sun. As deputy of the Clan, he was happy to see the pile freshly stocked. It raised the morale of his warriors considerably to be fighting on a full stomach. The tom sighed. He and Firestar had hoped this Green-Leaf season wouldn't be threatened by battle or drought, but it seemed that the former deputy of WindClan, Mudclaw, was causing trouble for Onewhisker. On his death-bed, Tallstar, the previous leader of WindClan, had appointed Onewhisker as his successor, even though his deputy was Mudclaw. This had obviously caused dissent in the ranks of WindClan. Firestar expected a fight to break out daily. Brambleclaw didn't fully support the prospect of ThunderClan going to war over something that didn't concern his Clan whatsoever, but Onewhisker was Firestar's old friend. There was no questioning that Firestar would support Onewhisker if conflict broke out.

He shook his head to rid himself of the troubling thoughts, and he turned to look at his clan-mates. Most of them were sharing tongues with their friends, family... and mates.

Instantly, he felt himself turn and stare at the medicine cat den. Almost as if on cue, Leafpool, the daughter of Firestar and Sandstorm, emerged from the den. He stared at the she-cat, enthralled. His eyes widened a little... okay, a lot.

This continued for a while.

'Brambleclaw! I need to talk to you.'

Brambleclaw blocked out all noise, concentrating only on the matter at paw.

'Brambleclaw?'

A group of apprentices got in the way of his view. Quickly, he craned his to the left, trying in vain to-

'BRAMBLECLAW!'

Finally, the deputy turned his head grudgingly away from Leafpool to see his friend, Brackenfur, standing behind him. 'What is it?' Brambleclaw snapped. 'Can't you see I'm busy?'

Brackenfur stepped back a little, clearly taken back at his tone. 'Um... well... I was wondering if me and Sorreltail could go to the Gathering tonight. It's been a while.'

Immediately, Brambleclaw ran his tongue quickly down his pelt, smoothing down his fur. Every time he got... distracted... like that, it always ended up with him snapping at a clan-mate. 'I'm sorry.' He apologized to his friend. 'It's just, well... I'm in a bad mood at the moment.'

Brackenfur rolled his eyes. 'Well, if all the things you're occupied in the day with is staring at she-cats, then I think I have the right to interfere.'

Oh damn. Brambleclaw felt his heart dropping like a stone. He didn't see me staring at Leafpool, did he? 'Oh! Um—' he managed to choke out. 'Well, I, I can explain-'

Brackenfur purred with amusement. 'Look Brambleclaw, every cat knows you like Squirrelflight. There's really no reason to try and hide it.'

Brambleclaw nearly died of shock. 'WHAT?!' He yelled, making several members of ThunderClan turn to face him. 'I'm sorry, just what?!'

'You were just staring at Squirrelflight, weren't you?' Brackenfur said, sitting down and beginning to groom his whiskers.

Brambleclaw turned around in horror, his eyes wide. The place where Leafpool was sitting at the time he had been staring at her, was now occupied by the medicine cat's sister, Squirrelflight. He rolled his eyes. How convenient, he thought sarcastically. It seemed to always happen the same. Whenever he actually managed to get a look at Leafpool on her own, her retarded sister would always turn up and make everyone think he was staring at her. Who in their right minds would check Squirrelflight out? He had just about managed to handle her in the Great Journey, but it was a miracle he had survived her seemingly tireless annoyingness.

Seriously, he admired her stamina. That was it.

Brambleclaw had no idea how Leafpool and Squirrelflight had been born to the same parents. They were both total opposites. There was the absolute epitome of beauty, kindness and amazingness in every way. Then there was Squirrelflight. Leafpool could actually be classed as a cat. Squirrelflight? Not so much.

Third, Leafpool had to be the most beautiful cat to have ever existed in the Clans. Her pelt was so silky, and had the most beautiful and rich tortoiseshell fur that he had ever seen. Her eyes were a deep shade of amber, flecked with gold, just the like the rising sun. Whenever he stepped within five fox-lengths of her, he felt himself growing hot. He knew it was wrong to feel the way he did about a medicine cat, (it was breaking every rule in the code) but he didn't really give one. StarClan, he could hardly breathe whenever she spoke!

Mind you, Brambleclaw could hardly breathe when Squirrelflight spoke, but that was for an entirely different reason.

'Just for the record, Brackenfur.' He said, slowly. The tom got up and pressed his face against Brackenfur's. 'I . DON'T. LIKE. SQUIRRELFLIGHT.

In a lower tone, he added, 'I'll explain later...'