Three ~ First Person, Grasspaw's POV...

Timid and quietly, I stalked towards my prey that I had been wanting to catch all morning. It was nearly sunrise, and many of the cats that had been on dawn patrol had already gone back to camp.

I unsheathed my claws, crouched lower and to ground and -

"I bet you miss it!"

I growled as the squirrel pricked its ears, lashed its bushy tail and scurried up a tree, a few berries and nuts stuffed in its cheeks.

I turned to find - who else? - Lichenpaw sitting a couple tail lengths away from me, his entire body shaking with laughter.

I hissed and shoved away the urge to run at him, pin him down, and express my feelings for him right then and there. Instead, I lashed my tail and growled, "What was that for?"

"Entertainment, dear Grasspaw." Lichenpaw purred sarcastically, padding slowly towards me. Once he was within pawing range he reached upward and pawed the top of my head, ruffling the fur. "See? Now you look like a hedgehog."

I hissed and licked one of my paws, drawing it upward and smoothing the fur down. "I hate you, you know."

"Oh, don't be like that!" Lichenpaw's golden-amber eyes were glimmering with laughter. A smile appeared on his muzzle. "And I hate you, too."

"Glad we're on the same page, mouse-brain." I fought back the urge to press my pelt against his, to feel his tail entwining with mine and shoved past him roughly, knocking him to the ground.

The scent of lavender, honey, and pine needles clung to my pelt the entire way back to camp. I forced myself to not notice it, even if it was hard to do.

He can't be in my head... He just can't be... His scent shouldn't be on my pelt... I shouldn't love him!

But you do, my mind retorted. You always have, Grasspaw. And you're such a fool for loving a tom.

~~Lichenpaw~~

"I cannot believe you, Lichenpaw! Why would you leave the battle training area to go hunting with him?"

I flattened my ears to my head and rolled my eyes. I really hated getting lectured by my parents, but being lectured by my own sister? That was about ten times worse.

"I get it, Furzepaw... Okay? I won't do it again..."

My sisters amber eyes were full of panic and her pale brown pelt was ruffled, as if she had thought I had been fighting a fox all by myself. "You'd better not," she warned, flicking her ears in the direction of our parents. "Or next time they'll know, not just me. You're lucky I'm not even going over there and blabbering the whole story to them..."

"Thank you for that, Furzepaw." I meowed and touched my nose to her ear. "You're a good sister."

"Great StarClan, stop making a scene..." She grumbled and lightly shook me off. Her eyes were shining with love, yet her tone was annoyed.

"Sorry," I purred and touched my tail-tip to her shoulder. "I'm -"

"Lichenpaw!"

Furzepaw's eyes flickered over my shoulder before back to me. She murmured a quick, "Have fun, bro! I've got to go... Clean my nest!" and scurried off to chat with some other apprentices.

Thanks, sis.

"What's her deal?" Grasspaw muttered, coming to stand at my left. I groaned inwardly and shuffled away from him, feeling awkward and odd standing even within a mouse-length of him. "She's acting like she doesn't want to be near me!"

I know the feeling all too well... I thought but shoved the urge to say it directly to him away. "Uh..." I racked my brain for something to say. "W-why are you over here, Grasspaw?"

His swampy green gaze focused on me. "What, can't a cat talk to a fellow apprentice such as yourself?"

"I guess you can... I mean, it's just that we've never really... Had a casual conversation before..."

Grasspaw snorted, as of what I had said was meant to be comical. "Well, now we can." His gaze flitted across the clearing, as if he thought cats were overhearing our conversation. "But not here... C-can we go out into the forest?"

My whiskers twitched at the awkward tone in his voice. "Sure, I guess. But it's almost moonhigh, so we've got to be back soon."

His eyes flashed with hope. "I promise we won't be long!" Without another word he dashed off into the forest. Confused and slightly afraid, I followed reluctantly.

He actually didn't go very far from camp, much to my surprise.

I was laying on my back, staring up at the sky. Grasspaw was beside me, sitting up and looking straight ahead. Silence stood between us like a third cat.

I finally decided to break it. "Grasspaw... Why'd you want to come out here?"

He blinked for a moment, but didn't turn to face me as he answered. "I just wanted to come out here... I guess I don't like being out of camp by myself." He flashed a shy smile in my direction.

"You told me you wanted to talk," I said, rising to my paws and facing him. "So spill it, Grasspaw."

His breathing hitched, as if he was choking on air. "I-I don't have anything to say," he stammered.

I rolled my eyes. "Liar."

I felt my pelt grow hot from awkwardness as I finally noticed he had been looking at me. "Why are you staring at me like some kind of creep?" I objected, a growl rising in my throat.

He flashed another shy smile, and my growl dissolved. "Because you're mesmerizing."

I gulped in air, trying to calm myself. "W-what?"

Grasspaw's eyes flashed and he tucked his ears against his head, looking down at his paws. "I-I'm sorry, Lichenpaw... I hadn't meant to say that..." He looked at me with tears in his eyes and flashed another smile, this one full of hurt and shame in himself. "False hope and a lost cause, I guess..."

He rose to his paws and began to pad toward camp.

"Grasspaw..." I murmured against the wind, hoping my call would reach him.

But he was already gone.