20 (Actually 1) Love Stories:

Dovewing pricked her ears, listening attentively as Squirrelflight listed the patrols. "Let's see," The ginger deputy mewed. "Bumblestripe, Dovewing, Mousewhisker, and his apprentice, Sparkpaw, can go hunting. Please leave immediately." The gray warrior sighed, gouging the ground with her claws. Did she have to be with Bumblestripe? "You can go hunting by the ShadowClan border. Be careful not to cross it, though."

She nodded, not really paying attention, and listened as Sparkpaw, who was actually Squirrelflight and Bramblestar's daughter and sister of the medicine cat apprentice, Alderpaw, let out a whoop of excitement. "Oh my StarClan I'm going hunting this is amazing please, Mousewhisker, please can I climb a tree and hunt some squirrels- not like I don't like my mother you know but I want to hunt in the trees please, please, please!"

"You won't be hunting in any trees, Sparkpaw!" Mousewhisker mewed sternly, and Dovewing glanced up, realizing they should have already left. Where was Bumblestripe? "I'm right here," the tom mewed, as if he had read her mind, making her jump. The pale gray tom was standing right next to her, so close that their pelts almost brushed. "Come on, let's go!"

Sparkpaw bounced and Mousewhisker nodded, and so the four trotted out of the hollow and into the forest. "Can I hunt alone?" Dovewing asked. She really wasn't desperate to be with Bumblestripe. "No, but that reminds of pairs. That would be a good idea; hunting in pairs is always useful. Since Mousewhisker should be with his apprentice, I'll hunt with you, Dovewing." No! Not him! He might love me, but I really don't love him!

But he was the leader of the patrol- what he said went- and so she nodded and watched as an overexcited Sparkpaw led Mousewhisker at a dash into the forest. Then she turned to Bumblestripe, only to find he was stalking a shrew. Dovewing crouched, sliding silently over the ground until she was opposite Bumblestripe, and caught his eye before nodding slowly.

He crashed forwards, letting out a yowl and scaring the shrew into her paws. In turn, Dovewing lunged and nipped the shrew's neck, killing it. She picked it up and found herself looking into Bumblestripe's eyes. "That was awesome," she mewed, and she meant it.

...

As the two of them carried their catch back to where they had left Mousewhisker and Sparkpaw, Dovewing realized that not only had they caught a lot of prey, but she had really enjoyed spending time with Bumblestripe. In total, they had caught three shrews, a squirrel, two blackbirds, and four mice, which was almost too much for them to carry.

When they entered the clearing, Dovewing found the Mousewhisker and his apprentice had beat them there, with their own good catch as well. Though, Dovewing noted proudly. We still caught more then them!

"Good job!" Mousewhisker complimented. Dovewing blinked her thanks before glancing at Sparkpaw, remembering her earlier excitement. "Did you climb a tree to catch that squirrel?" she asked, nodding a squirrel that smelled strongly of the apprentice. "Yes, I did!" Sparkpaw mewed, her eyes twinkling with pride. "It was a neat catch. Good job." Dovewing complimented, licking the apprentice's ear before turning back to the others. "Come on. Let's get back to camp."

...

It was the Gathering, and both Bumblestripe and Dovewing had been chosen for the Gathering patrol. As they and the other cats gathered, to leave, Dovewing found herself pressing against Bumblestripe to keep warm, making the tom who loved her purr happily. She wanted to move away; she wanted to tell him no. But her paws wouldn't move, and as the ThunderClan party stampeded out of camp and towards the island, Dovewing found herself staying by his side.

Whatever had happened to her, made her jerk away from him and made her hate him in the first place, seemed to be thawing away. At least, that was what it felt like. A small, burning sensation in her heart, ready to burst yet still as calm as sunshine, peaceful and warm. Finally, when they reached the tree-bridge and she hung at the back of the group near Ivypool and Rosepetal whilst Bumblestripe ran on across, Ivypool padded over to her. "What's up with you and Bumblestripe?" Her sister asked in a teasing tone, though her eyes were serious.

"Nothing!" Dovewing exclaimed, narrowing her eyes and trotting away. Yet she knew- she knew it in her heart- that it wasn't true. There was something going on between them- she just didn't know what it was.

...

Three days had passed since the Gathering, and Dovewing found herself wishing to spend time with the tom who she once thought she loved. What is happening to me? Every day, she hoped with all her heart that Squirrelflight put them together- and, of course, every day her heart had to be broken. Even worse? Every time she got close to Bumblestripe, she thought of Tigerheart. No! I cannot love Tigerheart. I am a ThunderClan cat. I hate Tigerheart and the rest of ShadowClan, and I know that Bumblestripe is my mate.

Wait, what had she thought? Dovewing stood, frozen to the spot, staring into nothing. She had thought that Bumblestripe was her mate! Nonsense! Yet, when she thought about it... She was right. Dovewing and Bumblestripe were mates, now, truly in love.