Disclaimer: I, KatieK101, do not own Warriors. If I did than Crowfrost and Dawnpelt would be the power couple of the Warriors world.


Chapter Two - I'm Surrounded by Madness


"The eyes are the window of the soul." - Unknown

Crowfrost's POV

On the outside, I radiated waves of confidence. On the inside, I felt like I had ants crawling all over my body.

It was a little bit before dusk, around the time I would be organizing the evening patrols. However the patrols would be sent out a little later today than usual, due to a few certain ceremonies. Namely Wasppaw's warrior ceremony, and my soon-to-be apprentice's ceremony. Ugh, why didn't I protest this harder? I thought to myself as the clan gathered beneath the Tall Boulder, where Rowanstar would soon be standing. I was seated a little ways beneath him in the deputy's spot. I don't want to train Hailkit! I don't want to train any of those kits! And certainly didn't want to trainany kit with Dawnpelt!

Speaking of the spoiled she-cat, she had padded into camp just a few moments ago. Judging by the large toad clamped between her jaws she just returned from a solo hunting trip. Confusion was splashed across her admittedly beautiful features, until Olivenose bonded over to her side and informed her of the ceremonies taking place. Anger instantly replaced her confusion, and I swear she looked right at me as if it was my fault she wasn't getting an apprentice. Don't look at me like that! I wanted to snarl. It's not my fault you didn't get what you wanted for the first time in your life! I would hand Hailkit over to you in a heart-beat.

"I see the clan's already gathered," A voice from behind me commented. I nodded.

"Word spread that Wasppaw's ceremony would be held this evening. They must have gotten tired of waiting for you to call them together," I added teasingly, hoping that the remark would erase my unease. However I had no such luck, for the unease clung to my pelt like a tick on a dog.

But if Rowanstar noticed my unease he did a credible job of masking it. Instead he smiled lightly and said, "I'm proud of you, Crowfrost."

Huh?

"For taking everything so well," Rowanstar elaborated. "I know it won't be easy for you to mentor Hailkit, but you've taken it into stride and handled it like a seasoned warrior. As for Dawnpelt… well honestly, I thought for sure you would refuse to ask for her assistance." You didn't give me a choice! "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that you're making me proud, both as your clan leader and former mentor." He flashed me a grin. "I couldn't ask for a better deputy."

Well that's just fantastic. Now there's no way I can back out at the last second. "Uh, don't mention it Rowanstar," I said, smiling weakly. Really, don't.

The large ginger tom shot me one last grin before scaling the Tall Boulder, immediately grabbing the attention of his clanmates. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey join together for a clan meeting!" As the last remaining warriors seated themselves beneath the Tall Boulder, I had to admit, Rowanstar looked every inch the clan leader he was. His muscles rippled easily beneath his ginger tabby pelt, and he stood with a confidence that gained over many moons. He looked ready to take on the world.

Funny how he can't keep his daughter in line. Sorry. Couldn't resist.

"Cats of ShadowClan, today we are gathered for two of the most important ceremonies a clan leader can make; the making of warriors and apprentices." Rowanstar gestured for Wasppaw to take his place directly beneath the Tall Boulder, and the ginger and brown tom complied. Tigerheart walked alongside his apprentice, chest puffed out with pride.

As Rowanstar preformed the required words, I felt my unease slowly slip away. Are you proud of him too, Toadfoot? I wondered. Are you watching your only son become a fierce ShadowClan warrior?Almost as if Toadfoot was responding to me, I felt a gentle breeze glide through the camp, ruffling my black pelt in the process. My cocky expression gave way to a small smile. I'll take that as a yes.

Tuning back into the ceremony, I heard Rowanstar say "I, Rowanstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He had trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Wasppaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Wasppaw sat up straight as he answered boldly, "I do."

Rowanstar looked proud. "Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name: Wasppaw, from this moment on you will be known as Waspstripe. StarClan honors your bravery and strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan. Serve your Clan well, and with everything in you."

"Waspstripe! Waspstripe! Waspstripe!" The clan cheered loudly, practically shouting his name. I joined in as well, and shot the young tom a wink when our eyes met. Atta boy, Waspstripe. He grinned and dipped his head in understanding.

A few heart-beats later Shrewfoot appeared, showering her only kit with affection, and purring loud enough to drown out the rest of the clan. Waspstripe tolerated his mother for a minute before shoving her off of him, although he wore a smile. A couple of my clanmates chuckled and Rowanstar allowed the cheers to die down before going on.

"And now, the making of apprentices. Honeykit, Cloverkit, Hailkit, step forward." I felt my grin slip right off my (handsome) features. Looks like the fun's over.

Cloverkit and her sister darted forward, squealing excitedly to each other, while Hailkit hung back a little, and marched forward with a certain dignity to him. I snorted.

Rowanstar seemed amused as he started with Cloverkit's ceremony, preformed the required words and then assigned Owlclaw as her mentor. The dark gray she-cat seemed elated with Rowanstar's choice, and eagerly stepped forward to touch noses with Owlclaw. Owlclaw was practically glowing with pride as he followed through with the customary gesture, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Smokefoot was watching his former apprentice proudly.

Then came Honeykit's turn. The golden tabby she-cat looked ready to burst out of her fur she was so excited, and her blue eyes brightened when Rowanstar announced that Ivytail would be her mentor. The tortoiseshell she-cat seemed pleased with her new apprentice and they too touched noses.

Dread filled my belly when I realized that it was finally time for Hailkit to be made my apprentice. "Hailkit," Rowanstar started. "You have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to become an apprentice. From this day on until you earn your warrior name you will be known as Hailpaw. Your mentor will be Crowfrost."

This is it. No turning back now. I smiled confidently and stepped down to meet Hailpaw while Rowanstar finished the customary words, but was taken back when Hailpaw looked… disappointed? My smile froze on my features; was I reading this tom right? Surely he couldn't be disappointed with having the deputy as his mentor.

"Crowfrost, you are ready to take on another apprentice. You received excellent training from your mentor, and have shown yourself to be brave and loyal. I hope that you will pass on everything you know to Hailpaw." Funny how he assigns someone so "loyal" to the kit of a traitor, I thought resentfully.

But of course I couldn't voice my thought, so instead I said, "I'll do my best." After that I stepped forward and leaned down to touch noses with Hailpaw, who after a heart-beat of hesitation, did the same.

"Cloverpaw! Honeypaw! Hailpaw! Cloverpaw! Honeypaw! Hailpaw!" ShadowClan took up the traditional chant just as they had done with Waspstripe, but I noticed a couple of them exchanging curious glances with one another, and then looking at me. They know how I feel about the Dark Forest trainees. They're probably wondering if I agreed ahead of time to mentor Hailpaw, or if Rowanstar surprised me. I couldn't say I blamed them.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw that Ratscar and Pinenose, although they joined in the chanting, wore concerned expressions. Because I'm mentoring Hailpaw, I thought. Well don't worry; I don't want to mentor him anymore than you want me to.

"Congratulations, guys!" A voice exclaimed, snapping me out of my observations. Ashpaw, who was now the oldest apprentice in ShadowClan despite being only two moons older than Hailpaw and his littermates, bounded forwards to greet her new denmates.

"Thanks," Hailpaw meowed immediately, and I blinked when he perked up noticeably. Wha-?

Cloverpaw and Honeypaw mewed their thanks as well, looking quite excited now that they were no longer kits. Ashpaw directed her attention to the mentors which, unfortunately, included me. "If you don't mind, I can show them where to get the best moss and help them build their nests?" The sleek gray she-cat offered.

Owlclaw and Ivytail glanced at me, and I realized that whatever I did, they would do as well. "I don't mind," I said with a shrug. "I have to organize the dusk patrols now anyways, and it would be better to show him the territory when the sun is brighter."

"Same here," Owlclaw meowed.

Ivytail fixed Honeypaw with a stern eye. "Don't leave Ashpaw's side," she ordered. "If I find out you gave her any trouble, you'll spend your first day as an apprentice checking the elders for ticks."

Honeypaw's light blue eyes widened and she nodded fiercely. "I won't!" She squeaked, probably scared out of her fur. I chuckled to myself; Rowanstar had been right to assign Ivytail to the curious apprentice. She would keep her out of trouble for sure.

Masking her amusement, Ashpaw dipped her head to the mentors one last time before trotting out of the camp, the three new apprentices scurrying behind her. "She'll have her paws full," Owlclaw remarked.

I shrugged. "Eh, she's Tawnypelt's apprentice. She can handle it." I glanced at my companions. "Well since neither of you have anything apparent to do, I don't suppose-"

"Hey Crowfrostyfrost!"

I stiffened before clenching my eyes shut and groaning; I felt a head-ache coming on. Maybe I should have taken Hailpaw out after all… "What do you want, Ferretclaw?"

The cream-and-gray tom slid to a stop right in front of me, his blue eyes bright. "I just wanted to congratulate you on receiving an apprentice!" He exclaimed. "That's a pretty great honor, you know. And lucky Hailpaw, getting a warrior as fantastic as you for a mentor! I bet he was shaking in his pelt, he must have been so excited."

"Yeah," I said wearily, as I recalled the disappointment that had shined in his dark blue eyes. "Something like that."

The cream-and-gray tom sighed wistfully. "I wish you could have been my mentor," he meowed. "We could have had so much fun training! Don't you think so, Crowy?"

Ivytail and Owlclaw chuckled, and I growled lowly. "I told you not to call me that."

See, Ferretclaw is the clan idiot. He's oblivious, annoying, loves to make horrible puns, and even more than that, he loves to give everyone horrible nicknames. But what does he love even more than that; why, ShadowClan's prized deputy, of course. For whatever reason Ferretclaw firmly believed that we were – ugh, StarClan I hate even thinking the word – best friends. And no matter how many times I told him, "Ferretclaw, you're annoying", "Ferretclaw, I hate you", "Ferretclaw, I would rather have a fox claw out my eyeballs than hang out with you", all he ever did was laugh and pad happily away.

And yet somehow I always ended up on the same patrols as him.

But not today!

"If you excuse me," I said rather stiffly. "I have patrols to organize." Turning my back on the gray-and-cream tom, I looked at Ivytail and Owlclaw. "Ivytail, can you lead a border patrol to the ThunderClan border?" I asked. The she-cat meowed that she could, and asked who she should take. After racking my brain for a second I replied, "Take Tawnypelt, Stoatfur, and… Waspstripe. I'm sure he's dying to go on his first patrol as a warrior." Ivytail nodded and went off to round up her patrol.

"I suppose you want me to lead a hunting patrol?" Owlclaw guessed.

"Crowy?"

I nodded, and tried to ignore how Ferretclaw had started playing with my tail. "Yep. Go ahead and take Scorchfur-"

"Frostycrow?"

"Spikefur-"

"Crowfrostypaws?"

"And…"

"Crowfrostmoss?"

Finally I couldn't handle it anymore. Spinning around with lightning-like reflexes I snarled, "What in the name of StarClan could you possibly want, Ferretclaw?!"

Ferretclaw didn't looked affected by the fact that I was ready to lunge for his throat, and said pleasantly, "I would like to join a patrol."

I was ready to kill a cat. "Fine then, you can join Owlclaw's patrol!" I snapped.

Owlclaw, who had been grinning broadly in amusement only a few heart-beats ago, shot me a look of betrayal. Sorry Owlclaw, I shrugged. It's nothing against you. Besides, for all his many, many faults, Ferretclaw was actually a fine hunter. Not that I would ever tell him that.

Ferretclaw's ears perked up. "Okay," he agreed. "Are you coming with us, Crowfrosty-"

"No!" I barked.

"Actually Crowfrost," my eyes widened when I heard Rowanstar's voice behind me. Oh StarClan, please no! "Since you don't have Hailpaw right now, why don't you join them? It'll be good for you to stretch your legs a bit."

Ferretclaw gasped with delight and I clenched my eyes shut. What did I ever do to deserve this?

Dawn Frost

"And then Crowfrost made this spectacular leap and tackled the eagle right out of the air!"

"That never happened, Ferretclaw," I growled.

The cream-and-gray tom shrugged. "Well it could."

Owlclaw and Spikefur exchanged tired glances with each other, and Scorchfur snorted from his spot beside me. "Why is he so obsessed with you?" Scorchfur hissed, annoyance lacing his tone. I couldn't say I blamed him; Ferretclaw hadn't shut up ever since we left camp.

"As if I know!" I hissed right back.

"Oh, and then there was this one time-"

"Hey Ferretclaw!" I suddenly exclaimed. "Why don't you go check out the marshes and see if you can't catch a toad or two. You've always hunted well in the marshes." I smirked to myself, pleased that I had thought up an excuse to get the annoying tom out of my pelt.

Ferretclaw's jaw dropped and he looked at me like I was a StarClan warrior. "Y-you mean you've noticed?!"

The entire patrol groaned.

Dawn Frost

"Well that was torture," Scorchfur remarked as we padded into camp.

I nodded as made my way over to the fresh-kill pile and deposited my two lizards. Scorchfur added in the frog he caught. Licking my lips, I said, "At least it's not you he's obsessed with."

Scorchfur looked thoughtful for a moment before asking, "Hey, if Ferretclaw was a she-cat, what do you think his warrior name would be?" I blinked.

"That's a strange question, don't you think?" But when Scorchfur looked serious I shrugged. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe Ferretheart? Ferretpelt?"

"Hm," Scorchfur mused. "You know, it's a shame that Ferretclaw wasn't born a she-cat. Then you wouldn't have any trouble finding a mate!"

I shot the smirking gray tom a look of absolute repulsion as our conversation from yesterday come flooding back to me. "That's not funny," I growled.

"I thought it was kinda funny."

"I would choose you over Ferretclaw in a heart-beat, even if you were still a tom!"

Scorchfur looked slightly creeped out. "This conversation is getting awkward."

I shrugged. "It's your fault for bringing it up." With that last comment I raised my head and scanned the camp for a certain creamy-colored pelt. Now, where is she?

"Looking for someone?" Scorchfur asked.

"Dawnpelt," I muttered as a response. "I have to ask her about helping me mentor Hailpaw."

Scorchfur blinked, surprise alighting his amber eyes. "You mean you're really going through with that?"

I sighed as I sat down, and shot my friend a helpless expression. "I already told you, Rowanstar didn't give me much of a choice. He used the whole 'former mentor' excuse on me! How am I supposed to say no to that?"

"Are you sure it's worth it though?" Scorchfur pressed. "Crowfrost, I know you feel like you owe Rowanstar, but there's no way this arrangement can work out. Dawnpelt hates you almost more than you hate her! Even if you would be willing to give it a shot, who says she'll feel the same way?"

A frown played lightly across my lips. "Because of Hailpaw. Rowanstar told me that Dawnpelt wanted to mentor one of the kits, and I saw her playing with them yesterday. It looked like she really was close to them. Even if she wishes I would just drop dead, she likes Hailpaw."

Scorchfur studied me for a couple seconds before shrugging. "Alright, if you say so. She just padded out of the Warriors' Den." My head shot up and I spun around just in time to see that Scorchfur was right; there she was.

All of a sudden I was filled with the urge to walk in the opposite direction of the she-cat, maybe shove her when we passed each other. StarClan, I can't even look at her without feeling angry!She just had that effect on me.

But, I digress. I told Rowanstar I would try to get along with his precious daughter, and I wasn't going to go back on my word. So, plastering on a smirk that would have made any she-cat pass out (and maybe even Ferretclaw), I strolled confidently over to the beautiful, creamy-colored she-cat.

"Hey Dawnpelt," I said smoothly.

Dawnpelt's head shot up and she looked at me as if I had just murdered a kit. "What do you want?" She growled.

The smirk fell right off my features, and replacing it was a rather frustrated expression. "Alright, it's clear that you can't act civil towards me, so I'll just get to the point: will you help me train Hailpaw?"

Great StarClan that hurt my pride a lot more than I thought it would!

"No."

"Good, tomorrow I'm showing him the territory. You can just- wait, what did you just say?"

Anger shone clearly in Dawnpelt's hazel eyes. "I said no."

Well. That was the last thing I expected to hear. And even though I should have been praising StarClan the she rejected my offer, I couldn't help but feel… furious.

Who does she think she is?! Was Dawnpelt really so stuck-up that she thought she was too good to train Hailpaw with me? Or was she too selfish to help someone and not gain anything in return? Or maybe just too stubborn to accept my gracious offer. "You know you have a lot of nerve rejecting my offer," I growled lowly.

Dawnpelt shot me a mockingly sweet smile. "Are you sure you're not just upset that I rejected you?"

At that very moment, I hated Dawnpelt more than I hated Ferretclaw.

"What's your problem?!" I snapped.

Dawnpelt narrowed her chestnut-colored eyes. "Do you think I'm an idiot?" She challenged. "Crowfrost, you would never ask me for help, so you're either doing this as a prank, or out of pity. And I'm not so desperate that I would accept anyone's pity."

Pity? "I'm not doing this out of pity!" I protested. "I'm doing it out of obligation!" Surprise flickered in Dawnpelt's eyes, and if I wasn't so frustrated I might have been amused. "Your daddy asked me if I would let you help me train Hailpaw."

A series of emotions darted across Dawnpelt's features, from surprise to realization, from realization to fury. "He asked you to… ugh! Why can't he just leave me alone?! Why can't you just leave me alone?!"

"Me?" I protested. "I only asked because Rowanstar wanted me to! Trust me, I never would have bothered you otherwise!" I snapped. Dawnpelt looked at me like I was crowfood (in her eyes I probably was), before growling in frustration and spinning around on her paws, and darting out of camp. "Yeah, I had fun talking to you too!" I shouted after her, more than a little irritated.

"Well that went well," Scorchfur remarked as he came to stand beside me.

I exhaled loudly. "I can't believe she actually said no! And then had the nerve to ask if I was upset that she rejected me! Ugh! I can't stand her!"

"Maybe it's for the best that she said no," the dark gray tom said. "You two working together would have been chaos."

I scowled lightly. "Yeah, I know." I muttered. But deep down inside, I still couldn't help but feel enraged that she said no. Maybe it was because she had rejected me, or... maybe it was because she had rejected me.

Dawn Frost

Dawnpelt's POV

"Ugh!" I growled. "He is just so arrogant!"

Olivenose, my best friend, sighed dreamily. "But he's so handsome!"

"And he had the nerve to pad up to me, smirking like he had just won my heart!"

"I wish he would smirk at me like that."

"Olivenose," I snapped. "Are you even listening to me? Olivenose!"

The green-eyed she-cat snapped to attention and shot me a frustrated look. "Well I am now."

I rolled my chestnut-orbs and stopped walking. "If you only came with me to ramble on about how much you love Crowfrost again, then just go back to camp Olivenose, because I'm not in the mood!"

Anyone else might have flattened their ears or shrank back, but fortunately, it took a lot more than just a snippy comment to hurt Olivenose's feelings. She wasn't easily deterred, she had a thick skin, and was sassy enough to hang with the best of them. Despite the countless arguments we'd had (which were mostly about Crowfrost, considering I hoped he went to the Dark Forest when he died, and she thought he was a StarClan warrior), there was no one else I wanted as my best friend.

Even if I did want to claw her eyes out sometimes. Like right now, for example.

Olivenose snorted. "You're one to talk. All you ever do is rant about how much you hate Crowfrost!"

"I didn't ask you to follow me out here!" I hissed. "You saw what happened, you knew exactly what I would rant about!"

"Oh Dawnpelt," Olivenose sighed with mock pity. "When will you realize that I'll always follow you? You're stuck with me." I huffed when she pressed her pelt against mine, but I didn't pull away from the comforting feeling.

"Lucky me," I muttered. But when I lifted my hazel gaze to meet her bright green gaze, I was forced to smile. I really am lucky to have such a great best friend. Even if Crowfrost was her idol.

Olivenose returned my smile and sat down on the grassy soil, and I did the same. "Go ahead," she meowed. "Rant on about Crowfrost to your heart's content. I'll listen this time."

I hesitated for a heartbeat before giving into temptation; I had some pent up frustration I needed to get out. "I can't stand him!" I exploded. "He thinks he's so perfect, and it wouldn't be so bad but he never misses the chance to rub his accomplishments in someone's face, be it at camp or at a Gathering. He prances around like he's StarClan's gift to the world, and we should all just overthrow Rowanstar and make him leader instead. And his smirk-!"

Olivenose sighed dreamily. "His smirk…"

"I don't know how it's possible for one cat to have so many different smirks!" I fumed. "He has a smirk for every situation! I mean, did he just study his reflection in a puddle until he mastered control over his facial expressions?!"

"And again, I could tolerate even that, but the way cats treat him infuriates me! He wouldn't be nearly so cocky if she-cats didn't throw themselves at him, just begging him to look their way!"

Olivenose shrugged, as if it wasn't her fault that she was so infatuated with the black-and-white tom.

"But what's even worse than that," I started bitterly. "Is how he treats the she-cats who throw themselves at him. Sure, it's pretty shallow to throw yourself at a tom just so that he'll look your way-"

"Thanks," Olivenose commented dryly. "Really feeling the love over here."

"But the way that he treats them in return is absolutely disgusting." I finished, wrinkling my nose. "He flirts with them, charms them, makes them feel like they're the only she-cat in the world, and as soon as he gets what he wants from them, he dumps them like they're crowfood!"

Olivenose raised an eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed with my rant. "Do you speak from personal experience?"

I wasn't meant to take the question seriously, maybe snort and roll my eyes, but I looked sharply at her anyways. "Depends; do you count yourself and Ivytail as "personal experience"? Because if so, then yes." I was never one of Crowfrost's victims, but my best friend and my former mentor were. Even though I'd never been in a "relationship" with the devious black-and-white tom, I watched the two she-cats who I was closest to (excluding my mother) go through the grief that Crowfrost forced upon not only them, but countless others as well.

"I don't have any regrets," Olivenose said with a shrug, but I wasn't fooled for a second. I saw the brief flash of pain in her vibrant green eyes; I was the one she cried on when Crowfrost broke her heart. And yet, for some reason, she still idolized him.

"Clearly," I mumbled under my breath. A light frown dusted my features and I shook my head. "I just don't understand it. How can you, no, wait, how can any she-cat still want to be in a relationship with him even though you know what he's done to other she-cats? It's not like it's a secret that he uses she-cats; he brags about it to everyone!"

Olivenose smiled sadly. "You already said it: he makes you feel like the only she-cat in the world. He whispers sweet nothings in your ear, makes you laugh, twines your tails, and looks at you with those eyes…" The tortoiseshell she-cat gave her head a quick shake. "Besides, you would have to be blind to not find him handsome. What with his black-as-night pelt and his white chest and paws, and that strong build. And have you seen the way he walks? It's like he's taunting everyone, daring them to challenge him. Who wouldn't want to be with a tom that confidant?"

"Arrogant is more like it," I said dryly.

"And he has those eyes," Olivenose said, echoing her earlier statement. "Oh, those eyes. They're the exact same shade as frost, and they're so clear and so blue. And when he looks at you with them, they get this certain kind of gleam in them, and you just can't help but fall victim to him, and you'll want to give him the moon and the stars, you'll want to give him anything to keep that gleam in his eyes. I know it sounds ridiculous but I-I just can't describe the feeling you get. It's like he hypnotizes you…" she ended her fanciful explanation with a long, dreamy purr, and a faraway look in her eyes.

I stared at her as if she had a disease.

His… eyes? I thought to myself, absolutely bewildered. They're just eyes. There's nothing that grand about them, other than the fact that they are an interesting shade of blue. They're very light, but not quite sky blue. I guess frosty-blue really would be the best way to describe them, but- Oh my StarClan now she has me thinking about them! Ugh! I'm surrounded by madness!

There was only one logical excuse for Olivenose's fascination with Crowfrost and his eyes.

"You're delusional."

Dawn Frost

"You know, I don't remember a time when Crowfrost ever asked for anyone's help with anything."

"That's because his ego is larger than the silverpelt and he's arrogant," I said simply, not really paying Olivenose any mind as I examined a catch I had just made – a blue-tailed lizard. I swiped my tongue over my jaws longingly. Blue-tailed lizards were my absolute favorites!

"He asked you for help mentoring Hailpaw."

I stopped.

That's… that right. Now that I think about it, that's the first time I've known him to ever ask someone for help. A frown played across my lips, until realization dawned on me. "Rowanstar asked him to," I said. "I guess Crowfrost owed him for something and he complied. Besides, he was probably praying to StarClan that I refused his offer." If he prays to anyone but himself, that is.

"But don't you find it the least bit strange?" Olivenose pressed. "Just a little bit?"

I shrugged. "No, not really." I glanced at her over my shoulder. "Don't tell me that you do."

"I guess I'm more shocked than anything else," Olivenose said slowly, as if she was carefully choosing her words. "I mean, you two hate each other. And yet… he asked you. Even if Rowanstar did put him up to it, why would he ask Crowfrost of all cats? Why not Owlclaw? Heck, Ivytail was your mentor! Why not her?"

I sighed as I finally stood up, my blue-tailed lizard hanging from my jaws. "Because he promised me that when the time came, I could mentor Hailpaw. Not Honeypaw, and not Cloverpaw. He specifically promised me Hailpaw."

A look of remembrance flashed across Olivenose's features. "Oh, that's right. And then he told you yesterday that he changed his mind?"

I nodded, bitterness creasing my features. "He never gave me a reason, just told me that Crowfrost would be mentoring Hailpaw instead. And then Crowfrost told me that it was because Rowanstar thought I wasn't ready to take on an apprentice," I ended the sentence with a sneer. "I don't understand it, Olivenose! He thought Tigerheart was ready for an apprentice, but not me? If anything, I'm moons more mature than both Tigerheart and Crowfrost combined!"

"Maybe it doesn't have anything to do with maturity," Olivenose suggested. "Maybe he's waiting for something else to happen?"

"Like what?" I asked doubtfully.

"Maybe he's waiting for you to gain a mate."

I shot my grinning friend a sharp look. "Stop it." Olivenose pestered me nonstop about when I would finally give a tom a chance and take a mate, no matter how many times I delivered the same response: "When I find the right tom". It's not my fault all the good toms in ShadowClan already had a love interest!

"No, I'm being serious," Olivenose said with her grin still intact, looking the complete opposite of serious. "What if he's waiting for you to take a mate and soften up a little? It's not a secret that you have the tendency to act quite coldly, and you can't stand immaturity. What if he thinks you'll be too harsh on an apprentice?"

"Because that isn't logical," I said with a roll of my hazel eyes. "If he promised me an apprentice before the kits were even three moons old, he obviously must have thought I was mature enough to handle the responsibility then, and trusted me to be gentle with Hailpaw." I frowned lightly. "Besides, you saw how much time I spent with those kits; they love me. I would never treat them coldly. I only do that to mindless toms."

The tortoiseshell she-cat shrugged in a submissive manner. "Fine, you win. I have no idea why Rowanstar changed his mind. But I do know that the sun is setting and moon-high will roll around soon, and the clan is probably wondering why we're not back at camp yet."

I blinked and glanced at the sky, and saw that Olivenose was right; the sun was setting at a rapid pace. "Alright, come on." I meowed, tightening my hold on the lizard that still hung from my jaws. "Let's go."

Dawn Frost

When we reached the camp entrance Waspstripe was already there, back straight and amber eyes bright.

"Sitting your silent vigil?" Olivenose asked the ginger-and-brown tom. Waspstripe dipped his head in response, the ghost of a grin on his lips. I smiled a bit as I thought about mine and Tigerheart's customary vigil. It feels like it was just yesterday…

"Good luck," I told the young warrior before trotting into camp. Olivenose, who hadn't hunted, told me she would see me in the Warriors' Den. I flicked my tail in acknowledgement as I continued on my way to the fresh-kill pile, where I dropped my blue-tailed lizard. I was tempted to pick it back up and have a quick snack before I turned in for the night, before ultimately deciding against it. I wasn't very hungry anyway.

But I also wasn't ready to surrender to sleep just yet, so I padded a little ways off and started grooming my creamy-colored pelt, all while keeping a close eye on the activities going on around me.

The sun-down border patrol had just strolled into camp, with Tawnypelt in the lead, her apprentice Ashpaw at her shoulder, and Starlingwing and Applefur trailing behind them closely. Their stride was relax and they talked easily so I assumed that ThunderClan and RiverClan were keeping to themselves.

Kinkfur and Shrewfoot were soaking up the last rays of sunlight just outside the Elders' Den, looking content to lay there the rest of their lives. I smiled at the pair of friends fondly before letting my chestnut-colored eyes drift once more.

Ratscar and Pinenose were trotting happily out of camp with their tails twined, presumably for a late-night outing since their kits were now apprentices. Not that was worth batting an eye over; ShadowClan cats were known to be night-owls, often hunting under the cloak of darkness, or having training sessions with apprentices. I briefly wondered when Crowfrost would take Hailpaw out for his first training session in the dark, before I caught my thought process and frowned lightly. There's no reason to think about that, I scolded myself.

And speaking of ShadowClan's "prized deputy", he looked to be in a yet another forceful conversation with Ferretclaw, whilst Scorchfur watched from the sidelines, amusement written across his features.

I snorted softly but didn't look away from the toms, instead choosing to enjoy the show. Crowfrost looked as if he was trying to explain something to Ferretclaw but wasn't making much progress, and Ferretclaw looked at Crowfrost with all the awe of a StarClan warrior. I screwed up my features. Great StarClan, not only are she-cats infatuated by Crowfrost, but Ferretclaw too?I was surrounded by madness.

And then Crowfrost looked off to the side in frusteration, and our eyes met.

His pale blue gaze brightened when it landed on me, and his mind was probably swirling with insults he could use on me, and scenarios where I would make a fool out of myself. Normally I would scoff and look away but tonight, I held his gaze evenly, studying it. After a few tense moments I stood to my paws and padded towards the Warriors' Den.

I had looked directly into his eyes and not felt a thing. His eyes were an interesting shade of blue and that was all.

Dawn Frost

Crowfrost's POV

I blinked when Dawnpelt didn't immediately break out eye contact, instead choosing to hold my gaze firmly, almost as if she were concentrating on it. I was even more confused when she stood abruptly to her paws and disappeared into the Warriors' Den, not once glancing back at me. Wha-?

"What was that about?" Scorchfur asked me softly, to which I shrugged. As if I knew what went on in that she-cat's mind. "She looked like she was trying to dissect you."

"Actually-" I groaned aloud when Ferretclaw decided to voice his opinion. "To me, it looked like she was admiring Crowfrost's eyes."

"And why, pray tell, would she do that, Ferretclaw?" I muttered irritably.

Ferretclaw tilted his head to the side and looked at me as if the answer were simple. "Because you have very nice eyes," he replied pleasantly.

Scorchfur chuckled. Ferretclaw smiled.

And I was ready to kill a cat.


Question of the Day

How do we feel about Ferretclaw?

#Ferretclaw is bae.


This was a really fun chapter to write! We got our first Dawnpelt POV, and we'll continue to see more from her as the story progresses. I think the majority of the story will remain in Crowfrost's POV, if only because he needs more character development than Dawnpelt does, but she should have one at least every other chapter. She's a lot of fun to write for; so sassy and opinionated. Plus it's always nice to have a break from Crowfrost constantly gushing over himself, as much as we love him :3

Reviews are the best motivation! I will be responding to each and every one of them with a PM.


Allegiances

ShadowClan

Leader: Rowanstar - ginger tabby tom with amber eyes

Deputy: Crowfrost – handsome black-and-white tom with light blue eyes (Apprentice: Hailpaw)

Medicine Cat: Littlecloud - very small tabby tom with blue eyes

Warriors: Tawnypelt - tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes (Apprentice: Shadepaw)

Ivytail - black, white, and tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes (Apprentice: Honeypaw)

Ratscar - brown tom with long scar across his back with dark blue eyes

Applefur – mottled brown she-cat with green eyes

Scorchfur - dark gray tom with bright amber eyes

Owlclaw - light brown tabby tom with green eyes (Apprentice: Cloverpaw)

Pinenose - black she-cat with amber eyes

Tigerheart - dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Dawnpelt – pretty creamy colored she-cat with hazel eyes

Starlingwing – Ginger tom with bright amber eyes

Olivenose - tortoiseshell she-cat with bright green eyes

Ferretclaw – cream-and-gray tom with light blue eyes

Stoatfur - tortoiseshell and white she-cat with brown eyes

Grassheart - pale brown tabby she-cat with pale green eyes

Spikefur - dark brown tom with amber eyes

Waspstripe – ginger and brown tom with amber eyes

Apprentices: Ashpaw – Sleek, dark gray she-cat with blue eyes

Hailpaw – light gray tabby tom with dark blue eyes

Honeypaw – golden tabby she-cat with light blue eyes

Cloverpaw – dark gray she-cat with one black paw and green eyes

Queens: Snowbird - pure white she-cat with green eyes (Expecting Scorchfur's kits)

Elders: Oakfur - small brown tom with brown eyes

Kinkfur - tabby she-cat, with long fur that sticks out at all angles and brown eyes

Shrewfoot – gray she-cat with black paws and blue eyes

Smokefoot - black tom with blue eyes; retired young due to injuries

ThunderClan

Leader: Bramblestar – Dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Deputy: Brackenfur – Golden brown tabby tom (Apprentice: Seedpaw) (Stand in for Squirrelflight while she's expecting)

Medicine Cat: Leafpool – Light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes (Apprentice: Jayfeather)

Warriors: Cloudtail – Long haired white tom with blue eyes

Brightheart – White she-cat with ginger patches

Spiderleg – Long-limbed black tom with brown underbelly and amber eyes (Apprentice: Dewpaw)

Thornclaw – Golden brown tabby tom

Whitewing – White she-cat with green eyes

Birchfall – Light brown tabby tom

Berrynose – Cream colored tom

Mousewhisker – Gray and white tom (Apprentice: Amberpaw)

Hazeltail – Gray and white she-cat

Lionblaze – Golden tabby tom with amber eyes

Poppyfrost – Tortoiseshell she-cat

Foxleap – Reddish tabby tom

Icecloud – White she-cat with blue eyes (Apprentice: Snowpaw)

Toadstep – Black and white tom

Rosepetal – Dark cream she-cat

Bumblestripe – Very pale gray tom with black stripes

Blossomfall – Tortoiseshell and white she-cat (Apprentice: Lilypaw)

Briarlight – Dark brown she-cat

Dovewing – Pale gray she-cat with blue eyes

Molestripe – Brown and cream tom with green eyes

Cherryleaf – Ginger she-cat with amber eyes

Apprentices: Jayfeather – Gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes

Seedpaw – Very pale ginger she-cat with green eyes

Lilypaw – Dark tabby she-cat with white patches with dark blue eyes

Snowpaw – Snowy white tom

Amberpaw – Gray and white she-cat

Dewpaw – Light gray tom

Queens: Daisy – Cream long-furred she-cat

Cinderheart – Gray tabby she-cat (Mother to Lionblaze's kits: Palekit – light gray she-kit; Stonekit – gray tabby tom)

Squirrelflight – Dark ginger she-cat with green eyes (expecting Bramblestar's kits)

Ivypool – Silver-and-white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes (Expecting Mousewhisker's kits)

Elders: Purdy – Plump tabby former loner

Sandstorm – Pale ginger she-cat with green eyes

Graystripe – Long-haired gray tom

RiverClan

Leader: Mistystar - gray she-cat with blue eyes

Deputy: Reedwhisker - black tom

Medicine Cat: Mothwing - dappled golden she-cat (Apprentice: Willowshine)

Warriors: Graymist - pale gray tabby she-cat

Duskfur - brown tabby she-cat

Minnowtail - dark gray she-cat (Apprentice: Hawkpaw)

Pebblefoot - mottled gray tom

Mallownose - light brown tabby tom

Robinwing - tortoiseshell-and-white tom

Grasspelt - light brown tom

Hollowflight - dark brown tabby tom

Troutstream - pale gray tabby she-cat

Mossyfoot - gray and brown tom

Rushtail - light brown she-cat (Apprentice: Flowerpaw)

Shimmerpelt - silver she-cat

Lakeheart - gray tabby she-cat

Heronwing - gray and black tom

Apprentices: Willowshine – gray tabby she-cat

Hawkpaw – dark brown tabby tom

Flowerpaw – Gray-and-black she-cat

Queens: Petalfur - gray-and-white she-cat (expecting Mallownose's kits)

Elders: Mintfur - light gray tabby tom

Icewing - white she-cat with blue eyes

Mosspelt - tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes

WindClan

Leader: Onestar - brown tabby tom

Deputy: Harespring - brown-and-white tom (Apprentice: Oakpaw)

Medicine Cat: Kestrelflight - mottled gray tom

Warriors: Weaselfur - ginger tom with white paws

Crowfeather - dark gray tom

Nightcloud - black she-cat

Gorsetail - very pale gray-and-white tom with blue eyes

Leaftail - dark tabby tom with amber eyes

Emberfoot - gray tom with two dark paws (Apprentice: Larkpaw)

Heathertail - light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes

Breezepelt - black tom with amber eyes

Swallowtail - dark gray she-cat (Apprentice: Greenpaw)

Furzepelt - gray and white she-cat

Apprentices: Larkpaw – black she-cat

Greenpaw – ginger she-cat

Oakpaw – light brown tabby tom

Queens: Sedgewhisker - light brown tabby she-cat (expecting Emberfoot's kits)

Elders: Whitetail - small white she-cat