Over the next moon, Willowpaw had gotten better at fighting. It seemed like Deernose wanted to teach her all of the fighting moves in a couple of moons. But she had to be strong, she was a warrior apprentice.

Willowpaw followed her mentor, trying to keep herself out of Roseclaw's way. The black she-cat hissed at her whenever she could. Willowpaw hated her. Both her and Ratwhisker. They only treated her like a disease. Luckily Leafstorm and Brownfoot were on patrol with them as well.

"You nervous?" Leafstorm asked, keeping to her side. The black and white she-cat had her tail curled in delight. "I always feel a bit anxious getting near an enemy border. Sometimes the warriors are nice. But sometimes aggressive."

"I bet you wouldn't feel that way patrolling with Smokefrost," Brownfoot teased.

"Sure, I would," she purred. "I have him to protect me."

"Will you have kits?" Willowpaw asked curiously.

"I don't think now is the best time," Leafstorm swayed back and forth. "I hope that Bumblestar will give me Sweetkit when she's old enough."

"Sweetkit?"

"She just wants an apprentice," Brownfoot replied. "Don't worry Leafstorm. You are young."

"An apprentice takes patience," Roseclaw told her with a huff. "They can be quite annoying."

"You can also bond with them," Deernose reminded her. "That's a great feeling."

"And the pride you get when they become a warrior," Brownfoot beamed.

Willowpaw watched the warriors speak as they approached the ShadowClan border. But something felt wrong. Was she being watched? Looking around, it felt like eyes disappeared from sight.

Rustling from the other side caught all of their attention. Three ShadowClan cats moved into the sunlight. Willowpaw recognized Honeyfang, Nightpaw, and Softstripe.

The gray tabby she-cat was the first to speak, "Looks like we have company."

"Don't worry, Softstripe," Deernose waved her tail. "We haven't stolen anything or crossed."

"And make sure to keep it that way," Honeyfang hissed. "I don't want to have to smell ThunderClan stench on our land."

"As long as ShadowClan does the same," Roseclaw arched her back, teeth flashing.

"Of course," Softstripe placed her tail over Honeyfang's mouth. "No need to start any unnecessary fights."

"We understand," Brownfoot held Roseclaw back, the she-cat growling.

The ShadowClan warriors quickly marked the border, each of them looking deadly. But Willowpaw noticed the way Nightpaw was hinting at the sky.

Meet me at Moonhigh.

He mouthed his message at her. Willowpaw didn't have to meet with him, but she didn't know if that was bad or not.

The ShadowClan cats left, but the feeling of being watched wouldn't go away. Were there more ShadowClan cats in waiting, ready to pounce? Willowpaw shuddered at the thought.

"Come on," Leafstorm nudged her. "If we leave you behind, I'd have to eat all of your prey. You wouldn't want to give me a bellyache, would you?"

"I'm coming," she broke out of her daze and followed the rest of the patrol. She couldn't help how nervous she was. What did Nightpaw want that couldn't wait for the next gathering? And why her?

"Don't worry, Willowpaw," Deernose nudged her lightly. "You seem so nervous. I know you haven't been in a real battle yet. But you are never alone."

"Scared of a couple of ShadowClan warriors?" Roseclaw yawned impatiently. "What I would expect from a kittypet. You should just give up trying to train her."

"She has potential," Deernose defended. "I will make her a warrior. She's my first apprentice. I have to prove that I can be a good mentor."

"Darkstep had the same thought process," Leafstorm whispered to Willowpaw, trying to make her feel better.

"How did Darkstep die?"

"She was killed by a monster," Leafstorm frowned. "She was my sister."

"I'm sorry," Willowpaw lowered her ears.

"It's alright. I got over her death moons ago. I live my life honoring her memory. That's what being a warrior is to me." Leafstorm glanced at the sky. "She's the one who told me that Smokefrost liked me. He was Smokepaw then."

"What about grumpy Smokefrost do you even like?" Willowpaw had to know.

"When he isn't being strict, he's one of the sweetest toms in the forest. I admit that he annoyed me all the time while we were kits. But no matter how many times he irritated me, I couldn't get him out of my head. I felt lonely whenever he wasn't next to me."

"Really?"

"Yup. That's what love is. Feeling completely comfortable as long as they are by your side." Leafstorm sighed.

Someone Willowpaw felt comfortable with? Surely Spiderwhisker. He was always so close to her and so friendly. Could that turn into love?


"Hey, Willowpaw!" Moonpaw called to her from where she was sharing a rabbit with Redpaw. The ginger tom kept his eyes on his food. "Come eat with us."

"Where are Mousepaw and Whitepaw?" Willowpaw asked, settling beside the siblings.

"Rainfall and Swiftfeather took them to train," Redpaw swallowed, yawning a bit.

"Owlwing just had me clean the elders' den and the nursery. Sweetkit sure does talk a lot. It will be interesting having to share this den with her," Moonpaw got up and stretched. "I think I'm full. Why don't you two share it."

Willowpaw watched her pad away, seeing the mischievous gleam in her eyes. Moonpaw thought she was clever. She shook her head.

"Here," Redpaw nudged it towards her. "You haven't taken a bite yet."

"Oh!" Willowpaw took a huge bite to contradict his words. The other apprentice gave a small purr of amusement.

"We share in this Clan, kittypet."

"I'm not a kittypet."

"You are."

Redpaw devoured the rest of his share of the rabbit and got to his paws. He turned to give an amused smirk and flicked her ear with his tail.

Willowpaw shook her head again as he padded away. He really needed to not call her kittypet again. But unlike every other time, it didn't make her annoyed. Trying to get that smirk out of her head, she went back to eating. But her ears felt too warm.


Author's Note

I now have a poll on my profile if anyone wants to check it out. Question time!

What is your opinion on Leafstorm?