"I don't really want anyone to know," Ashpaw complained. She and Hazelpaw were seated by the warrior's den, waiting for Featherflight to come out or be alone. "Besides, me and Featherflight aren't really close… if I were to tell anyone I'd most likely go to Pantherpaw or Darkpaw…"
"Neither of them have had experiences with forbidden love." Hazelpaw gave a little shudder. "Oh StarClan, this is so romantic!"
"Hush," Ashpaw muttered, embarrassed. She silenced her next comment when Featherflight padded out. She shook her dusty tabby pelt off of any moss and stretched out. She turned her golden eyes on Ashpaw suspiciously.
"What're you two gawking at?" she demanded quietly.
"We need to talk to you," Hazelpaw hissed urgently, looking around to make sure no cat had heard. Ashpaw lashed her tail around her body and tried to cover her eyes. She could feel her face growing hot and a shiver running through her. She didn't want to tell anyone at all.
But Hazelpaw dragged her along with Featherflight into the small clearing at the entrance, right in-between Council Rock and Ashenstripe's den.
"What're you guys doing up so early?" yawned Burntleaf as she padded out of the den. Not long after Maplestream became her mentor, Burntleaf had decided to become a medicine cat instead. Just like her mother Reedtalon, she wasn't very good at fighting. After Rainwhisker died, Ashenstripe became medicine cat and took Burntleaf as her apprentice.
"Just going for a walk," Hazelpaw meowed hastily as the three cats disappeared into the bushes.
"What's this really about?" Featherflight growled, turning on the small apprentices. "You've got some nerve dragging me out of camp before I've even eaten."
"We need your help… some advice," Hazelpaw mewed. "Actually, Ashpaw needs it."
"Well?" Featherflight asked. Ashpaw couldn't speak. She crouched down and whimpered.
"I… it's fine, Hazelpaw," she managed to squeak.
"She's in love with a CaveClan apprentice," declared Hazelpaw brusquely. Ashpaw hid her face under her fluffy, red-tipped tail.
"Is this true?" Featherflight asked, her tone flat.
"Yes…" Ashpaw mumbled.
"And does he love you back?"
Ashpaw nodded slowly. "We're… we're going to meet each other in three more days. What should I do, Featherflight?"
Featherflight's eyes shone with questions, but she closed them and sighed. "Forget about him."
"What?!" Ashpaw cried, her fur bristling. "But… but I can't…"
"You both belong to Clans," Featherflight stated, lashing her tail. "You can't be together when you must be loyal to them."
"I can't just forget about him!" Ashpaw complained. "And… I'm sorry I ever asked for your advice! You'd… you'd better not tell anyone, b-because I'm still gonna meet him!"
Featherflight purred and touched Ashpaw's shoulder with her tail. "No, I won't tell anyone. But these sort of relationships don't always work out, and I don't want you to get hurt."
"It makes sense," Ashpaw admitted, "but I want to be with him, just as long as I can." Featherflight nodded solemnly.
"StarClan will see that everything turns out how it should," Hazelpaw comforted her friend, touching her nose into Ashpaw's fur. Featherflight gave a nearly inaudible snort before walking back into camp. "What was that about?" Hazelpaw muttered. "What's wrong with StarClan?"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Ashpaw stood, uneasily looking around the clearing by Crossing Rock. Every noise made by the leaves rustling in the wind or by prey caused her to jump. She shivered in anticipation for a patrol to find her, but luckily the sunhigh patrol was just heading back to camp.
Ashpaw called a greeting when she saw Palepaw trotting up to her from the horizon. When they met, he rubbed his muzzle against the side of her head and her shoulder. Ashpaw's face flushed and she licked his shoulder in reply.
"I'm glad you could make it," Palepaw purred.
"It wasn't easy," Ashpaw confessed. "I had to pretend to be hunting with my friend, and my mentor almost didn't let me go."
"I have a day off every now and then," Palepaw boasted nonchalantly. "My mentor says I'm so ahead in training, he doesn't have anything left to teach me."
"So you're going to be a warrior?" Ashpaw asked excitedly.
"My assessment was yesterday," Palepaw replied. "I'll find out later how I did."
"I'm sure you passed," Ashpaw mewed. Palepaw's eyes shone as he blinked in gratitude. He sat down beside her and curved his tail around her, grabbing her tail and twining it with his. Ashpaw leaned against Palepaw's shoulder and sighed softly. She wanted to be here with him forever, not having to worry about her Clan. But she couldn't.
"My aunt Icepath just had her kits not too long ago," Palepaw commented, breaking the blissful silence.
"That's wonderful!" Ashpaw exclaimed. "How many?"
"Three. Two look like her mate and one looks like her." Palepaw let out a purr. "They were so tiny, nearly as big as my paw." He lifted a sandy-colored paw in example.
"My mom says she remembered that about us when we were born," Ashpaw said. "She was surprised to have four kits. Ashenstripe said that my mom was hoping for three."
"Yeah…" Palepaw mewed distantly. "Listen," he muttered. He lowered his voice and looked her in the eye. Ashpaw felt her heart thudding in her chest. "About the arrow on your back. You said your kin all had it."
"At least one cat from each generation," Ashpaw confirmed.
"So… it's true that you're related to Bristlestar?"
"No, you mean Bristletail?" Ashpaw tilted her head in confusion. "He's my great-grandfather. He lives in the elders' den back at camp. But, he's not a leader…"
"He used to be," Palepaw interrupted. "He was the leader of MountainClan. One of the elders was telling me about her time as a MountainClan cat, and she mentioned the arrow on his back." Palepaw tapped the arrow on Ashpaw's back with his tail. "Just like yours."
"He never told me," Ashpaw gasped. "I… I never even thought…"
"SH!" Palepaw hissed suddenly, whipping around and crouching low. "I heard something."
"It's just me," came Hazelpaw's offended mew. The black she-cat leaped gracefully over the bush and walked over to them. "I needed to warn you, Treestar sent out another patrol near here."
"Thank you, Hazelpaw!" Ashpaw touched noses with her friend. "Palepaw, Hazelpaw already knows. I hope you don't mind."
Palepaw got out of his fighting stance, but the fur on his back stayed up slightly. "It's fine. But you need to leave." Palepaw walked back to her and rubbed his body against hers as he passed. Ashpaw purred at him and grazed his tail with hers.
"You guys are so cute together," Hazelpaw squealed.
"Oh, stop it." Ashpaw flushed. "Let's get home, quick."
