"Ashfur?" Someone called to me, his or her voice sounding muffled to me as I was awoken from sleep. "Ashfur! Get up! Come on, lazy lump, Firestar's called a clan meeting."

It took me only a second to recognize the voice of Cloudtail. I lifted my head, blinking as the bright morning sun filtered through the little patches in the den wall, blinding me. I felt my fur ruffle against the cold as the wind blew. Cloudtail had joined Brightheart, and he began to leave the den.

"What's the meeting about, anyway?" Spiderleg complained good-naturedly. "It's too early for this!"

Several of us senior warriors purred in amusement. Thornclaw reported, "He canceled dawn patrol for it. Hollypaw is getting her new mentor today."

With that said, we all filed out of the den and made way over to the clearing below the highrock.

Once the apprentices and elders had arrived, Firestar began to speak. "As we all know, Brackenfur's shoulder will not be entirely healed for nearly an entire moon. I have spoken with him, and with some of the other warriors. We agree that a new mentor must be chosen for Hollypaw."

I glanced at the young she-cat. Her eyes were despondently trained on the stone under our paws, and her ears were lowered in defeat. I felt my heart thrum with pain as I looked at her sorrow. It must be very difficult for her to lose her mentor, especially because they thought so highly of one another. I, personally, would be rather upset if someone else was training Lionpaw. He may be irksome, but I was proud of him.

"Graystripe, you will take over her training. Pass onto her your wisdom and your courage." Firestar announced cheerfully. My whiskers twitched in amusement as Hollypaw instantly perked up. One could assume she approved of this choice. As a kit, I always looked up to the warriors like Graystripe, too, even if our clan mates scorned him for having been a Riverclan cat for a while.

The two greeted, and we all turned to go about our business. I had just come up to Lionpaw's side when Poppyspots and Cinderfur bounded over to us. Cinderfur asked, "Are you going hunting, Ashfur?" I nodded, and she meowed hopefully, "Can we come with you guys?"

Lionpaw was the only apprentice not in battle training today. The clan would need help hunting from the other young warriors. I accepted, "Sure. Come on." Our little group slipped out of thorn tunnel in a single file line. Brambleclaw was outside with several other warriors. He perked his ears and glanced over his shoulder as he heard us approaching.

"Hey! Are you all going hunting?" He asked hopefully. When Cinderfur told him yes, he flicked his tail at the three other cats with him; Sandstorm, Sorreltail, and Berrynose. "Join Sandstorm's patrol."

He joined up with his own patrol of cats. Probably a border patrol, as the dawn one was canceled for the mentoring ceremony. Sandstorm began to lead the troop into the forest, heading towards the lake.

I fell into the back with Sorreltail. Brushing her flank with my tail tip I asked quietly, "How's Brackenfur today?"

Her sad amber eyes met mine, and she sighed. "Not much better. He's so stiff he can barely move himself. Jaypaw says that it'll be a few more suns before the muscles are able to relax fully."

"He would know!" Berrynose butted into our conversation. "He's the mousebrain that ran right off the edge of the hollow when he was a kit."

"That wasn't his fault!" Lionpaw instantly, angrily, defended his brother. "He couldn't see where he was, or have you forgotten that he's blind?"

The young warrior's eyes flashed, and his neck fur begun to bristle with Cinderfur and Poppyspots chuckled at him. Fur fluffing out, Berrynose snorted rudely, "Right, it was your fault then! You and Hollypaw are the ones who dragged him off to find a fox, of all the stupid things!"

Lionpaw stiffened and his ears perked. He quite suddenly reared around, facing Berrynose as he stalked within striking distance. He snarled, "We were just kits! We didn't know that we'd be in danger."

Sniffing arrogantly, the warrior goaded, "You lot were stupid kits, then."

A furious cry erupted from Lionpaw's chest, and he bowled right into Berrynose. Screeching in fury, the warrior grabbed onto Lionpaw and they started tussling violently. I felt a sharp stab of impatience with the two young and hotheaded toms. Sandstorm apparently shared this feeling. She commanded fiercely, "You two, knock it off!"

The order from the senior warrior did not go un-noticed by the toms. They fell apart an instant later, chests heaving. Berrynose spat at Lionpaw, his eyes a light with a challenging fire. Of course, as I'd expected, my daring apprentice took that challenge. He flung himself at Berrynose a second time. Alarm seemed to coarse through everyone else on the patrol, because suddenly a heated spat had turned into a vicious brawl.

I dove in between them, shouldering Lionpaw away and flattening Berrynose onto his back in one fluid motion. I snarled and my ears pinned back against my skull. Both toms immediately relaxed into submissive postures.

"What in the name of Starclan is wrong with you two?" I demanded, my voice scathing. They both opened their mouths, and I silenced them with a lash of my tail as I stepped off of Berrynose. Rhetorical questions didn't need answers. I hissed, "Berrynose, you're a warrior. Shape up and act like one!" The young cat flinched away from me, and I rounded on Lionpaw. He held his ground, his chin raised. I growled, "Lionpaw, you let yourself give into silly taunts. I expect better out of you."

I felt Cinderfur appear at my shoulder. She gave me a timid nudge; her blue eyes round with surprise. I realized all the she-cats were gazing strangely at me. I had let my temper show too aggressively. I took a deep breath to calm myself and forced my fur to lie flat, turning my head the other direction.

Sandstorm took over. She instructed, "Berrynose, find Brambleclaw and join the warrior patrol. I expect you to explain to him that you're not responsible enough to attend a hunt with your clanmates. I'll talk to Brambleclaw later and make sure he was told."

Lowering his ears and shooting a glare at Lionpaw, Berrynose sprinted the opposite direction. Sandstorm's gaze rested onto Lionpaw now. She met my eye and snorted. "I'll let Ashfur deal with you. You're not my apprentice."

She stalked away, and we all fell into step behind her. I came up beside Lionpaw and gave him a stern look. He lowered his head just a little and muttered to me, "I know what you're going to say, so don't bother. I don't care if he is a clanmate or not. No cat is going to talk about Hollypaw and Jaypaw that way without answering to me."

I felt a grudging admiration for his spirit enter me. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd take on Firestar himself for implying any of his family was less than wonderful. Hollypaw was quite wonderful. She needed a good tom that was willing to fight for her. She didn't need her brother, though. She needed me.

I caught Lionpaw off guard when I meowed, my tone friendlier than usual, "Jaypaw can defend himself just fine, his tongue is sharper than any set of claws. You should start thinking more about Poppyspots than your siblings. Hollypaw has others who can fight for her."

His ears perked and he lifted his tail, nodding once before he bounded over to Poppyposts and Cinderfur. He purred gently and rubbed his head against Poppyspots's shoulder.

I had taken it that I had the silent approval of Lionpaw. I didn't need it, but it gave me a glimmer of hope. If her over-protective brother were so willing to let his grasp on her ease, perhaps my other obstacles would be easy to get around. Jaypaw and Mouseclaw were not a problem for me. Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw I'd have more difficulty with.

It was Hollypaw herself, though, which would require the most effort to convince. I knew, though, that I was willing to do anything I had to if it would make her give into me. If it would make her duck under my protective wing, and shelter there forever.

We returned a while after sunhigh, with quite a notable catch considering it was leaf-bare. I sent Lionpaw, as well as Hazeltail and Whitewing, to clear out the elder's and Leafpool's dens today. With the other apprentices busy the young warriors could step in and help. When Foxpaw and Icepaw returned a few moments later, Cloudtail told them to help.

We all lazed around in the warm sunlight for the rest of the afternoon. My ears pricked when I heard Graystripe's voice nearby. Turning my head to the half-rock, I saw that Hollypaw was there. She looked half-asleep, and exhausted. I smiled a little bit as I pushed myself to my paws. Brackenfur had made her an exceptional hunter, and it was clear Graystripe planned on honing her battle skills.

I grabbed a particularly plump thrush from the fresh-kill pile and crossed the camp. Looking over Hollypaw, I dropped the bird at her feet then watched for her reaction. She opened her eyes and looked at the bird in surprise, glancing up at me. I explained simply, "You looked hungry."

Her stomach growled at that very second, making young Icepaw chuckle. She smiled and pulled the bird over to her. "I guess I am. Want to share?"

A thrill of hope shot through me, and I settled down beside her. I happily started plucking the annoying feathers from the bird, and it was swiftly prepared for consumption. I offered her the first bite, and it was not long after that we had finished it off. Hollypaw asked me, "So where did Lionpaw run off to?"

Taking about a cat's sibling was an icebreaker when it came to affectionate conversations. Squirrelflight and I were always questioning the health and happenings of Ferncloud and Leafpool at first. I felt a surge of excitement as I motioned towards the elder's den. Lionpaw was sharing a rabbit with Longtail and Poppyspots there.

Jaypaw sighed suddenly, rolling onto his paws. "I have sick cats to tend to. I'll see you in the den, okay, Hollypaw?" She answered him, "I'll probably be asleep, but okay." The tom stalked away, grabbing two voles for Dustpelt and Honeyleaf. Icepaw bounced to her feet and followed when she saw Ferncloud making her way there as well.

Alone at last, I inched myself nearer to Hollypaw. I could feel her heat radiating off of her pelt as the cold wind chilled us all. Purring under my breath I tenderly rasped my tongue across her ear- inviting her to share tongues with me on a deeper level than just a friendly clanmate sort of way.

It elated me when she purred neck and her tongue connected with my shoulder fur. I had set up the playing field for the game of love, and she just tossed on her piece.

We soon fell into a heavy pattern. I was immune to the feeling of eyes on my back as I washed that soft, earthy-scented fur. I had fallen into my own little world, where only the two of us existed.

"Ashfur!" I heard my name snapped from the center of the camp. It was a voice I had grown to pity. Brambleclaw, trapped in Squirrelflight's faithless pool of mock-affection. I looked over my shoulder and watched the great deputy as he came over to us. His eyes were blazing with hate, and his stiff walk made it clear he was wound up from the sight of Hollypaw and me.

I flexed my paws a little bit, lying calmly as I met his gaze. My voice was chillingly cool when I responded. "What is it, Brambleclaw?"

"Up for the sunset patrol?" He asked, his tone making it clear this was no suggestion. "I need someone to lead it."

I shrugged indifferently. What was a patrol going to do to stop me from being near Hollypaw? I was going to see her tomorrow. And the next day, and the day after that. Every single sun from now until Starclan we had the change to be together.

I was not bothered by this slight setback. I asked calmly, "Who else is coming?"

"Brightheart, Mouseclaw, and Birchfall." He shot back at me a half of a second later.

I gathered myself on my paws, glancing at Hollypaw. I hoped my gaze seemed to say what I could not. We'll play later, my sweet. The game is not over yet. "I'll talk to you later, Hollypaw." She nodded and I bounded across the camp to find the others.

No, the game was not even close to over. The game would never end.