Lionshimmer opened her eyes to see bright sunlight flittering through the warriors' den entrance. She had just become a warrior yesterday and the night vigil had left her tired but now she felt refreshed and ready to go on patrol. She sat up and gave herself a quick grooming before heading out of the den. She gazed around the clearing. She saw Phoenixstar, Aquaheart and Galaxyheart talking over below the Highrock, which was right beside Phoenixstar's den. Lionshimmer blinked. Galaxyheart was lucky that his father was still around. Lionshimmer's father had been killed along with her mother in a battle against LightningClan by the LightningClan deputy, Dragonfang. That just made Lionshimmer hate him even more than she already did. LightningClan had no mercy and didn't follow the warrior code at all. They were always starting fights and killing cats in almost every battle. StormClan was lucky to still have their three apprentices, Flamepaw, Wavepaw, and Scorpionpaw.

"Hey Lionshimmer!" Lionshimmer looked up to see Brighteyes and Bronzefrost sitting at the edge of the clearing with a plump rabbit in front of them. "Want to share with us?" Brighteyes asked.

Lionshimmer smiled and nodded, trotting up to sit with them. "I'm glad you're finally a warrior," Bronzefrost commented.

"Yeah, me too," Lionshimmer agreed.

"What do you think Phoenixstar is talking about over there with Aquaheart and Galaxyheart?" Brighteyes asked.

Lionshimmer and Bronzefrost turned their gazes to the small group. "Who knows? Maybe a way to deal with LightningClan?" Lionshimmer suggested.

Galaxyheart then looked at Lionshimmer and smiled, staying there for a moment before turning back to look at his father.

"And Galaxyheart just smiled at you," Brighteyes meowed.

"I don't think it meant anything. It was more a typical smile," Lionshimmer replied.

"It didn't look that way to me," Stormcloud chimed in as she joined the group. "When are you even going to start spending time with him? He clearly likes you."

"No he doesn't. He's the leader's son. Like he's ever look at someone like me," Lionshimmer argued.

"Oh come on! You've had your eyes set on him ever since you and him first trained together," Stormcloud pointed out. "I don't see why you could ask him to go for a walk or something."

"I don't want to force him to do something he doesn't want to do. Besides, the forest can be dangerous with LightningClan so close," Lionshimmer meowed.

"Whatever, but that's not going to get you anywhere," Stormcloud snorted.

Lionshimmer rolled her eyes. She then heard rustling at the camp entrance. They all looked to see Lionclaw's patrol returning from marking the border. The cats that followed Lionclaw were Mysticfang, Redhorn, and Scorpionpaw. Lionshimmer could see that they all had scratches. Lionclaw went over and reported to Phoenixstar while the rest of the patrol went to the medicine den. Before he followed the other members of his patrol, Lionclaw shot a hard look at Galaxyheart before trotting off.

"What's Lionclaw's problem?" Brighteyes asked. "He's always looking at Galaxyheart like that."

Lionshimmer shrugged. "Who knows, but if he wants to be a grumpy fleabag, I say let him. He's one of out strongest warriors. I'm not telling him what to do."

"Well, I don't trust him one bit," Stormcloud snorted.

"Me either. Every time I look at him I feel like he's hiding something," Brighteyes added.

"Well, I wouldn't judge him until you got to know him," Bronzefrost pointed out.

"You could try but Lionclaw won't talk to you. He just pushes you away as if you were a piece of crow-food," Stormcloud replied.

"Just talking about him is making me irritated. Let's change the subject," Lionshimmer meowed.

"Good idea. Besides, I want to talk more about you and Galaxyheart," Stormcloud meowed, teasingly.

"Oh drop it!" Lionshimmer growled.

"Hey," Everyone looked to see Galaxyheart coming up to them. "What are you girls doing over here?"

"Just chatting," Brighteyes answered. "What were you talking about with your dad and Aquaheart?"

"Nothing much. He's trying to get me to find a mate, but I don't know if there's anyone out there for me," Galaxyheart replied. "Who would put up with me?"

"I can think of one cat," Bronzefrost meowed, grinning. Lionshimmer rolled her eyes and pretended as if she didn't care.

"So, do you have your eye set on a certain she-cat?" Stormcloud asked.

"Oh maybe one," Galaxyheart answered, looking at Lionshimmer out of the corner of his eye. "Well, I was just going to go for a walk, but my dad doesn't want me going out by myself. Would you like to come with me, Lionshimmer?"

Lionshimmer looked up at him and nodded, feeling a little hot but she didn't show it. "Sure. Let's go." Lionshimmer got up and followed Galaxyheart out of camp.

Once out of camp Lionshimmer looked at Galaxyheart. "Really, who is it?" she asked.

"Well, she's smart, kind, fast, strong, and has the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen," Galaxyheart answered. "She beautiful but she'd never go for a guy like me."

"Why wouldn't she? She'd be lucky to have someone like you," Lionshimmer argued.

"You really think so?" Galaxyheart asked, a smile spreading across his face.

"Yeah, and she-cat would be lucky to have you for a mate," Lionshimmer answered.

Galaxyheart smiled and dashed off. "Race you to the river!"

Lionshimmer smiled, competitively. "You're on!" She took off after Galaxyheart, passing him with ease and arriving at the river first. "I win!" Lionshimmer panted.

"You're probably the fastest cat in the Clan," Galaxyheart rasped as he caught his breath.

"I guess I get it from my mom," Lionshimmer meowed as sadness washed over her. She looked at her reflection in the water. She looked just like her mother. "She was pretty fast too."

Galaxyheart noticed her sadness and padded over to her side. "Are you ok?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just miss my parents," Lionshimmer rasped, tears forming in her eyes.

Galaxyheart lifted her muzzle with his until she was looking into his eyes. "You're parents aren't gone, you know. I'm sure that they're watching you from StarClan right now."

Lionshimmer sniffed. "You really think so?"

"I know so. They wouldn't abandon their beautiful daughter." Galaxyheart nuzzled Lionshimmer. Lionshimmer closed her eyes and nuzzled him back. He's right. They are watching over me, and I need to stop feeling sad and start living my life.

Please R&R :)