Little Hawk couldn't believe this. She couldn't believe what had just happened. She didn't understand, she just wasn't able to wrap her head around why. Why would Night and Flame pair her and BREEZE of all cats? Why?!

After Night and Flame finished talking to the toms about their duties for the day, they padded over to the two new pairs of mates. It was custom for each pair of newly-made mates to have a "bonding session" they called it. Basically, the two cats would go out into the valley and find a space to talk and "bond" as they said. The thought itself just sent shivers down Little Hawk's spine. Spending the rest of the day bonding with Breeze? She felt like she was going to vomit.

Night and Flame stopped in front of the four cats,

"Congratulations young ones," Flame said dipping his head respectfully to the cats,

"So, as you each know, after the ceremony each new pair of mates must spend the rest of the day bonding with the other out in the valley. I suggest that go out now so you can have as enough time. You are to return at sunset and start sharing a nest together."

Little Hawk almost gagged, having to bond with Breeze was enough but sharing a nest? She was going to die before anything could happen between them. Night started to continue on as Little Hawk looked at her paws, tears starting to form in her eyes.

"On another note, Ice, Breeze, in a half moon you will have your tests, we hope that you have been preparing." Night looked at each tom, staring at Breeze a little longer with a questioning look. Breeze looked away, seemingly uncomfortable.

"Well, you cats should get going! Have a nice time," Flame ended with a small smile, his gaze flicking between the young cats, each in turn before spinning around and walking away, Night kept looking at Breeze for a heartbeat longer. Little Hawk wasn't sure what their relationship was but she didn't pay that much attention. Soon Night turned and followed Flame.

Little Hawk looked over and shared a glance with Tansy, her fur had been spiked since the ceremony. Tansy's eyes screamed with terror, her small frame quivering. Little Hawk nodded, she felt the same way. Breeze started stalking off towards the Valley, turning around sharply,

"Hey! Are you coming or what? We don't want to waste daylight and with your slowness we won't be able to make it anywhere before sunhigh if we don't start moving," Breeze said rolling his eyes and giving her a glare before turning back around and continuing to stalk toward the Valley. Tansy shared an apologetical look with Little Hawk before she started to walk with Ice out of the cave. Little Hawk felt a tear graze her cheek as she walked out of the cave beside Breeze. Why was he so mean to her? She didn't understand what she had done to make him hate her so much. Her and Breeze branched off from Ice and Tansy and walked through the heather before Breeze abruptly stopped and sat down.

"This spot is fine," he said curtly, glaring at her as she sat with her head down.

"What's wrong with you? Are you actually crying?" Breeze said as he laughed, everything directed towards her full of malice. Little Hawk glared at him and wiped her eyes with her paw.

"So.. I guess we're supposed to be bonding. Whatever that means.." Little Hawk said quietly, trying not to look at Breeze.

"Uh, yeah that's what Flame said. You sure are a dumb she-cat. I wish we hadn't become mates, you're just so annoying it's embarrassing. And now that you're my responsibility it's going to suck for me.." Breeze said, but before he could finish Little Hawk interrupted him,

"Then why did you accept me?! You could have said no! If you hate me this much why didn't you just refuse me? Huh?!" Little Hawk screeched, she didn't care that she had interrupted him, she hated how he treated her. She couldn't stand it. She looked down at her paws, her frame hunched over, waiting for him to claw her or punish her for yelling at him.

But Breeze just sat there. He looked at her. Little Hawk couldn't quite see what he was trying to portray through his gaze, but she straightened herself, licked her chest fur and looked away from him, attempting to keep her composure. Breeze didn't say anything for a few moments, just looked away. They sat like that, across from each other but not looking at one another. After a while Breeze simply said,

"It's getting late, I'm going to hunt so we can eat tonight," Then got up and left. Little Hawk glared at his back as he sauntered away and into the brush. She looked back into the beyond, she thought about running away, far far away. She could actually live, she wouldn't have to deal with stupid toms anymore. She could be alone and watch every sunrise and sunset. She wondered if toms out past her valley treated she-cats they way toms treated them here. She sat in thought for a while, waiting for Breeze to come back and take her back to the cave.

Little Hawk eventually heard rustling and turned her head towards the noise, seeing that it was Breeze, carrying a vole and a small sparrow in his jaws. He didn't stop to set them down, just looked at her, annoyed and beckoned her to follow him as he walked up the rise. Little Hawk leered at him, he just pissed her off in every way possible. As she slowly walked behind him, she turned around to look at the sun starting to fall in between the mountains. She took a fresh breath of air as she looked on with joy, feeling at peace for the first time that day.

"Come on, stop looking at the stupid sky. Flame and Night said we had to be back by sunset." Breeze turned around, growling at having to set down his prey to speak. He whipped his head back around and picked up the food, continuing to stalk away through the undergrowth. Little Hawk sighed quietly, her joy short-lived as she returned to reality. They returned to the cave soon after, Breeze putting his prey on the pile before heading over to talk with Night.

Little Hawk slumped down in the corner, tired of everything. She looked over to see Tansy and Ice return to the cave, she looked over to Tansy expectantly, asking her if it went well. Tansy looked at her with sad eyes, she started to pad towards Little Hawk, seemingly eager to share her own experiences about the bonding session with her best friend, but Ice growled at her, making her turn back solemnly, head down as she padded back to Ice's side. She glanced back at Little Hawk, who looked shocked with the way Ice ordered her around, but Tansy was soon shielded by Ice's white pelt as they walked over to their own side of the cave to eat.

Little Hawk felt so bad for Tansy. She had wanted to go over there and claw Ice for ordering her friend around with no remorse, but she restrained herself as she saw Breeze walking over with two mice.

"Here," Breeze said curtly, dropping the mouse at her paws before settling in beside her without a word to eat his own mouse.

Little Hawk bit into the soft flesh. She felt numb as she ate. After she had finished she licked her paws clean and laid on the ground, closing her eyes. Breeze had finished and licked his lips, sitting back onto his haunches to clean out his long, pitch-black fur. Little Hawk didn't even feel anything at this point. She just wanted to sink away into the darkness and never appear again.

That night, little Hawk and Breeze slept as far from each other as they could, laying on opposite sides of the nest. Little Hawk started crying, she hated this! She hated it. She just wanted everything to go away. She wished it would all just disappear.