Chapter 1
Breezepelt was hunting. The rabbit he had tried to catch earlier had gotten away, and now he couldn't find another. The reason he had missed the rabbit was that he couldn't get the image of that beautiful tabby and white apprentice, Ivypaw, out of his mind. Breezepelt thought he loved Heathertail, but it was clear she would never love him like she loved Lionblaze. Every cat in WindClan knew that she still loved Lionblaze, even if she wouldn't admit it. She-cats! he thought. I'll never understand them! All of the sudden Breezepelt realized that he was supposed to be training Ivypaw. He got up and ran back to the camp, then started looking for the little apprentice.
* * *
"Has anyone seen Ivypaw?" Cinderheart yowled. She, Whitewing, Birchfall, and Dovepaw were starting to get very anxious. They hadn't seen Ivypaw since the battle. That was a moon ago! Everyone had been too injured to look for one ThunderClan cat individually.
"Cloudtail!" Brambleclaw, the deputy, ordered. "Take a patrol to WindClan, and if she's not there, follow her scent. Cinderheart, Lionblaze, Dovepaw, Mousewhisker, and Foxleap, you go with him."
Immediately, the patrol set out, desperate to find the young apprentice.
* * *
"Jump, duck, roll, swipe- what's wrong, Ivypaw?" Breezepelt asked as they attempted battle training.
"Nothing. Keep going," Ivypaw muttered sadly.
"What is it? I know something's wrong," Breezepelt pointed out.
"It's just that nobody thinks I'm pretty. Everyone ignores me, and pays attention to fluffy, adorable Dovepaw!" Ivypaw wailed.
"I think you're pretty," Breezepelt soothed.
"You do?" Ivypaw breathed.
"Yep," he answered.
"What about Heathertail?" Ivypaw questioned.
"Everyone knows she doesn't really love me," Breezepelt murmured sadly.
Without warning, Ivypaw leaned against him, closed her eyes, and purred contentedly. Breezepelt purred too. He had finally found a cat willing to be his mate because she loved him, not to prove her loyalty. For once, Breezepelt was finally happy.