Glad that Brambleclaw was so far ahead, I turned to the gray tom beside me, our pelts brushing lightly. "Ashfur," I whispered, pressing close to his side.

"What is it, Squirrelflight?" He asked gently. Hegazed deeply in to my shining green eyes, making me feel like I could look in to his forever.

"You're really great." I finally mewed, stifling a purr from rising in my throat. I was sure of the feelings I had for the lean gray warrior, but was not completely sure he felt the same way. Not only that, but, a part of me wanted to wait and see what my relationship with Brambleclaw would be like once we got through this quarrel.

The young gray tom's blue eyes shown. "You are too." He whispered back, pressing closely to my side. Ashfur opened his mouth to say something else, but a dark brown tabby cut him off.

"There you both are!" He growled. "I thought that you'd gotten lost!"

"Sorry..." I muttered coldly, not looking in to his burning amber eyes that scorched my ginger pelt. Brambleclaw set off once more, flicking his tail for us to follow. With a hiss of annoyance, Ashfur and I followed him, wishing the Brambleclaw I knew was back. A wave of sadness crashed over me, would Brambleclaw be like this forever? I wondered, padding near to the border of WindClan.

The three quickly got to an open space in ThunderClan territory, near WindClan territory, the scent of fox strong and fresh. "Fox..." I spat, my ginger fur bristling.

"Squirrelflight!" Ashfur gasped, his blue eyes wide. I turned to see a horrid orange-red creature, with gleaming brown eyes. "Just slowly back away..." He whispered to me. Nodding, I took one paw step back, thinking the fox would stay still. It didn't. The fox growled, claws unsheathed, it sprang, I inhaled it's horrid stench, gaging as it lashed it's claws across my flank. The fox eyed my neck, and bared its teeth showing he was about to make the killing bite. Before it could, a flash of gray caught my eye and the fox was knocked away from me.

My green eyes widened. "Ashfur..." I mewed in barely a whisper, weak from awe. With all my effort, I heaved myself at the fox with a snarl as it tried to claw the gray tomcat. The fox began to struggle against the us, flailing and clawing to get out of my strong grip. Suddenly, the fox thrust me off of him, blood gushing from a new wound on the back of my neck. StarClan save us! She cried silently, feeling drowsy.

A yowl of fury made me flinch in surprise. That's Brambleclaw's cry! I thought hopefully, barely making out the image of him slashing at the fox's muzzle. The fox soon retreated, Brambleclaw letting out a snarl as it disappeared in to WindClan territory. A deep gash on his shoulder he padded over to me. "Can you walk?" He asked, helping me to my feet.

"I think..." I replied weakly. "Brambleclaw, thanks for saving us." I added as I slowly rose to my paws with the help of the tabby tom.

Brambleclaw's reply was harsher than I would've thought it to be. "That's what Clan mates do. They help each other." He said flatly, his amber eyes expressionless as I leaned on his shoulder for support. My heart shattered as he replied, my green eyes shining with hurt. I darted away from him, realizing Ashfur wasn't with us.

"Ashfur!" I yowled, rushing over to where we'd met the fox. I saw him lying on the satin ground, red with blood. StarClan can't take him! I thought as I pressed my nose in to his fur.

lol. Thanks for the great advice in the comments from the prologue! Wondering... Should I make Ashfur die? XD