Lilypaw's POV

I sat outside of the SnowClan camp, appreciating the view. The camp was located near the edge of a cliff, and I coolly looked down it. Vultures were wheeling. Down, down, down. I knew that something had died. I hated those birds of death, as every sane living thing would, but, at the same time, I felt a small respect for them. I looked down, further still, to the ground, at the Everfrozen Forest. The trees never lost their needle leaves, and they always grew. Down there, they looked huge, but from here, they looked like small things a kit would play with. The snow lay on the ground, only disturbed by fresh pawprints, as it had only stopped snowing recently. I sighed with awe. I heard crunching pawsteps behind me. Startled, I turned back and saw Petalpaw making her way through the snow. I shivered, oddly cold.

"Young, love-lorn apprentices shouldn't stand so near the edge," she said, only half-joking. I winced at the not-so-subtle barb. My sister was not one to make her words flow smoothly. She was very blunt, and always to the point.

"What is it?" I sighed. She shoved me a little, and my paws faltered, sliding me towards the edge, "Hey!" I yelped. I had almost fallen over. I shivered as I thought what would have happened if I had plummeted down to the ground.

"You know. What's up between you and Talonpaw?" I blushed under my thick lilac fur as I thought of him. Talonpaw. The apprentice of my dreams. I sighed wistfully.

"Nothing."

"Yet?" I shrugged.

"Something like that." Petalpaw's teasing eyes suddenly grew serious. I gave her a funny look. "What?"

"Lilypaw, you know he ignores you, right?"

"Well, yeah! All tom apprentices are like that. Thornpelt told me so."

"Thornpelt? That crazy old nursery queen who has nothing to do all day but gossip?" Petalpaw snorted. I bobbed my head in affirmation.

"Yes! She's wise."

"She's crazy. But Lilypaw, you know he is ignoring you because he doesn't want to be with you?"

"What?!" I cried, "Impossible!" She shrugged.

"It's true. Just wait and watch, Lilypaw. And mark my words. One of these days, you'll see for yourself that I'm telling the truth." I shook my head.

"You're lying! He'll get around to it! Just you wait and see!" I looked up to the bright sky, "We were a mateship made in Starshine." Petalpaw fluffed up her fur. Then she sighed, and turned to walk to the SnowClan camp. I stayed there, poised at the cliff's edge, not the least bit afraid, until after Petalpaw was long gone. I sighed, and watched my breath come out in little clouds.

They were so pretty, and so fragile. Like life. I sighed, then turned and walked back to the camp. The snow crunched pleasantly under my feet, and the breeze blew crisply in my face. I was enjoying myself a lot. And today, I wouldn't be in any trouble for staying a little too long at the cliff's edge. I hoped. I didn't want ANOTHER lecture from Shadowflight. I winced as I thought of the last time Shadowflight had lectured me. Talonpaw had watched the whole thing.

Suddenly, I smelled many cats, I knew I was close. I shouldered through a hole in the rock, and dipped my head to Mountainpine, who was sitting on guard. He nodded back, and I emerged into the camp.

The leader's rock was on my right, and next to that was the deputy's den. Yes. Hawkflight does have her own den. It was in a little cave-rock, and lined with bits of fur, feathers, and moss. It had always been like that, and it was oh-so-warm during the very cold season. Next to her den was the apprentice's den, which was very cold during the frozen seasons. And there was the warrior's den next to that, then the medicine den, the nursery, and the elder's den. You may have noticed that they were all hollowed-out rocks in the middle of a barrier of rocks. So much the better for camouflage from enemies or hunting birds.

I tripped happily down the way to Shadowflight, my paws disturbing the thin layer of snow that powdered the ice, which covered the ground. I saw Shadowflight glaring at me, and my tail drooped. I saw Briarpaw watching me with interest, and a bit of prideful scorn. But Talonpaw wasn't with her. I sighed with relief.

"Lilypaw! You were supposed to have been here some time ago!" I looked at my paws as she began to lecture me, then glanced at Briarpaw again. Talonpaw had come in through a little trail, and was walking closer to her. I watched as he sidled up to her, and let her cuddle in closer to his thick, shaggy fur. They rubbed against each other, and I thought I could hear faint purring. Tears filled my eyes, and I watched as they both stared at me with contempt. Shadowflight had come to the end of her lecture, so I nodded mutely as she walked away to go on her patrol. So, Petalpaw was right. They were close. Why hadn't I seen that? They had always sat close together when we all ate. They always snuck out at night, and I had always assumed- No. I was just seeing things. Surely Talonpaw would do that to me? I watched as they exchanged a few close words, and Briarpaw trotted off urgently through a side trail. Talonpaw was watching her with admiring eyes. I padded up to him.

"So, uh, hi," I chirped in greeting.

"Hi," Talonpaw meowed back, rather uncertain. I inched closer to him.

"So, how's the weather like?"

"Mmm, lovely." Closer, closer, closer. There! I was sitting at his side, as close as Briarpaw was. He was still staring after her. I butted his chin with the top of my head, and his eyes flew open, and he jerked away. Too much?

"Hey!" I cried.

"WHAT in Starshine's name was THAT?" He hissed. His eyes were angry, even though he tried to keep his tone down. I flattened my ears, and backed away.

"Well, I thought that-"

"That what?" I blinked, tears filling my eyes.

"Talonpaw-" He turned, and ran after Briarpaw. I was unable to contain my sobs, so I retreated to the apprentice's den, and bawled like a new-born kit. So Petalpaw WAS right. He loved Briarpw.

And he couldn't care less about me.


Hello! So, I'm assuming that y'all like this little pet project, so I have decided to continue it. Happy tra-

Oh. I forgot. Sorry. Here are a few questions:

What do you think will happen?

How will Lilypaw react?

Does Talonpaw really mean to act like a jerk?

Will Briarpaw stop being such a snob?

Who's you're favorite/least favorite characters so far, and why?

And that, dear readers, concludes chapter one. So, bye!

~Shadow out.