AN: DAMN. I had Sparrowsong's name as Swallowpaw! ARGH! It's amazing how easily I forget. Bear with me, pretend she always was Sparrowpaw. Seriously, SWALLOWpaw, what was I thing?

Ashtail spent the rest of her vigil cursing herself. She was on her vigil after being made a warrior, a warrior who had to defend her Clan from other Clan cats, and she had met with one of them! Not just that, she loved him! She let her tail drag as she made her way back to camp. Dawn was breaking when she returned, and luckily only Hazeleye knew she was gone. Hazeleye gave Ashtail a conspiratorial grin, but Ashtail saw disappointment flicker in her friend's eyes.

Ashtail might have to meet Palepaw in battle, so she couldn't be loyal to her Clan and to him. She always thought her warrior vigil would be exciting and emotional. It sure was, but not the way she'd hoped. Ashtail looked at the rising sun thoughtfully, praying to StarClan that everything would turn out right in the end.

"You can talk now," Firestorm mewed humorously when Ashtail silently made her way to the fresh-kill pile. Ashtail, still saddened in thought, replied with a nod and picked up a mouse. "Is anything wrong?" her former mentor asked, worry lacing his mew.

"Nothing," she said shortly, sitting down farther away from him.

Firestorm gave her a parent-like look. "I may not be your father, but I know something's up, and if you want to talk about it, I'm here."

"There's a tom…" she began, trying to be as vague as possible. "I really like him, but…" she trailed off, unsure of how to continue.

"Is this the same one from last time?" Firestorm purred tauntingly. He was laughing at her. At her insecurity. Ashtail took a calming breath and mewed her agreement.

"And… things between us would be hard if we were together," she continued slowly. "But, it's my problem. Thank you for listening, though." She took her mouse hastily over towards the warrior's den.

"Hi, Ashp- um, Ashtail!" came the high-pitched mewl of Windpaw, the small daughter of Skyfang and Reedtalon.

"Hello Windpaw," Ashtail replied.

"What's it feel like, bein' a warrior now?" the hyper gray she-cat asked, bounding over beside her. Windpaw's brown eyes were shining with anticipation, so much that it caused Ashtail to laugh.

"Feels the same as when I was an apprentice," she replied, then hastily mewed when she saw the sadness in the apprentice's eyes, "but I still feel proud that I've worked hard to become a warrior." Not that I deserve it, she thought, wincing slightly.

"Um, okay," Windpaw mumbled, looking at Ashtail in confusion. She raced off with the same energy her mother had, almost running into Shimmerfrost. The white she-cat purred in amusement and stepped out of Windpaw's way.

"Hyper one, isn't she?" Shimmerfrost mewed. Shimmerfrost and her sister Dapplesoul were the two kits of Frostfire and Shadowstripe. Shimmerfrost had her mother's shocking blue eyes, while Dapplesoul had her father's yellow eyes. Dapplesoul's pelt had a few gray splotches, as well as nearly-invisible tabby stripes. Shimmerfrost looked just like her mother, with long white haired that shone no matter how messy it was. Both were just as beautiful as Frostfire and Ivorywind, and it unnerved Ashtail to be around any of them.

Ashtail replied with a nod. Shimmerfrost, a bit put back at Ashtail's act of unfriendliness, swished her long tail as she walked away. Used to the cats all begging to talk to you? Ashtail sent to her retreating white form. Not that Shimmerfrost was full of herself, in fact, Shimmerfrost was one of the nicest cats in the Clan, but Ashtail felt she looked bad compared to her cousin. If Palestripe knew Shimmerfrost, or any other cat much prettier than me, he would surely forget about me, Ashtail thought sadly. Everything always came back to him.

She had to set her mind straight. She had to chose then: continue meeting Palestripe, the tom she loved, and risk being a traitor to her Clan, or live her life loyally and alone.

But her thoughts were interrupted when yowls arose from the camp entrance. Ashtail and the rest of the Clan turned as Nightfang, Copperstreak and Shadowstripe raced into the camp. Ashtail recognized them as the sunhigh patrol, but wasn't Treestar leading them?

"Treestar's injured!" Nightfang cried. "She's losing a life! Someone get Ashenstripe!"

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Palestripe returned to camp when the tip of the sun was visible over the gorge's walls. Sparrowsong trotted happily beside him as they made their way into the giant cave that was their camp. Palestripe was busy thinking about his encounter with Sun, the cat who claimed to be his grandmother. How was she? Then it hit him: Copperstreak, Stonetalon's son from ForestClan. Sun must have been Copperstreak's mother, and Stonetalon's first mate.

"Welcome back, brave warrior," Sunbeam mewed as his son returned from vigil.

"Thanks," Palestripe murmured absently. Sunbeam gave him a confused look, then turned to look at Sparrowsong. Palestripe's fur bristled. Did his father still think he liked her? Palestripe wished his relationship with Ashpaw wasn't forbidden. Though they'd only been together for a short time, he felt like he'd loved her his whole life. But it WAS forbidden… he was starting to feel the weight of the problem.

He decided he would consult his insecurity with Sparrowsong. He found his friend curled up by the Clearing. The sunlight filtering in caught her fur just so that it seemed to be glowing. He could see why people thought he loved her, but if only he could tell them the truth! Sparrowsong met his vacant gaze shyly, mistaking his brooding for him staring at her.

"Yes, Palestripe?" she asked, licking her forepaw and running it over her ear. Palestripe snapped back to reality.

"Can we talk for a bit?" he asked urgently. Sparrowsong nodded, and Palestripe lay down beside her as the two friends shared tongues. "I need some advice," he said between licks. "I really love Ashpaw-" Sparrowsong tensed up- "but I just… I feel like a traitor. I know that… I'm not… I just don't know what to do." He flicked his ear irritably.

"You don't want to be a traitor, now do you?" Sparrowsong mewed decisively. Palestripe shook his head. "But you do love her?"

"I know I'm not supposed to, and it's wrong, and against the warrior code," Palestripe sputtered. "But my heart…" Palestripe stopped the sappy words as they came from his mouth. "Never mind."

"No, I want to help," Sparrowsong said gently. "You need to think it over." She gave a sly grin when Palestripe was busy licking her shoulder. "Which means more to you- her, or you Clan?"

"Dreamstar!" came a yowl. The two cats stopped sharing tongues and looked up as Cloudfoot, the Clan deputy, raced into camp, his long white fur matted down with dried blood and fire in his eyes. "I've been attacked by the wretched ForestClan leader!"

Short chapter, but trust me, in the next one things will get exciting. Will Treestar lose a life? How many does she have left? What really happened? Who should be believed? Why am I asking you, you don't know! Plot suggestions still available, just PM me.