Hello! Back again! I'm here to bring you a short, almost plotless, goofy chapter.

I say almost plotless, because it's actually very relevant to the plot. So yeah...ENJOY!

Dustpaw was sore and tired—mostly sore, though. Training had been rather rough the day before, and had left both Dustpaw and Rabbitpaw a little bruised. Badgerfur was really pushing the battle prep, and Birdleaf had stood back to let him work with the two apprentices.

She and Rabbitpaw had practiced a twist and leap maneuver for nearly half the day, and while the two had had a fun time bantering back and forth, their muscles had seen better days.

Still, Dustpaw mused, stretching a stiff limb out, despite it being tough, I learned a lot. I guess that counts for something.

It was sun-high in the WindClan camp and, despite the chilly onset of leafbare, nearly every cat was either out on patrol or basking in the harsh sunlight. Cats shared tongues all over the camp, and everything, for once, seemed at peace.

Dustpaw shut her eyes, enjoying the sun upon her face and the sound of the dying heather rustling in the breeze. Finally, some alone time to recover from the previous day's pains and just be; it was perfect. That is, until Mintpaw's figure blocked the sun, and her voice drowned out the whispering of the heather. Dustpaw's eyes snapped open in irritation, while Mintpaw chittered on about something to do with sharing tongues.

"...and I was thinking to myself: 'Wow, Thicketpaw looks really lonesome, and, wow, so does Dustpaw!', so maybe you, Dustpaw, should go over there and share a rabbit, and maybe share tongues too? I think that would be just—"

"What are you going on about, Mintpaw?" Dustpaw interrupted, not really in the mood to listen to anybody ramble—not even Mintpaw.

Mintpaw looked a little embarassed. "Well, I was thinking..." She shuffled her paws. "Will you just look at poor, lonesome Thicketpaw?"

Dustpaw looked at poor, lonesome Thicketpaw. He was sitting by himself on the opposite side of the camp, looking at the two sisters. When she caught his eye, he started and looked away sheepishly. "Yeah?" Dustpaw grunted, just wanting to relax. "What about him?"

Mintpaw titled her head awkwardly, as if she were trying to get dust out of her ear. "He just...looks like he could use someone to talk to. And you always used to play together in the Nursery!"

Dustpaw snorted, tail tip curling upwards. "Yeah, but that was before he developed a major infatuation with me. Now it's just a little awkward to talk to him."

Mintpaw blanched, green eyes blowing wide. "Wait, you noticed?"

Dustpaw rolled her eyes, and stretched out another limb, wincing as the joint popped. "How could I not notice? He's not exactly subtle."

"But he's a really sweet cat, right? Not bad looking either," her sister meowed with a wink, tail lashing nervously.

Suddenly, it dawned on Dustpaw what was going on. She couldn't believe it didn't occur to her sooner. "Oh!" she exclaimed, standing up suddenly, grunting quietly to herself with the effort. "Oh, Mintpaw, I get it now; I see what your trying to do."

Mintpaw shrunk back, gaze darting briefly towards the Medicine Den. "You do?" she squeaked.

Dustpaw laughed, shaking her head. She could hardly believe how silly she'd been. "Yes! And I can totally talk you up for Thicketpaw, no problem! You should have just told me outright." She leaves in close to her sister and whispered, "Y'know, I'm glad you said something now, because I probably would have just accepted his advances eventually. But now? Now, I can use his interest in me to help you!"

Mintpaw looked like she was having trouble breathing. "No!" she wheezed, shaking her head. "No, please. That's not what I meant at all!"

Dustpaw just laughed again. "Don't worry, Mintpaw, I'll be subtle. Well," she giggled, "subtler than Thicketpaw, anyway."

And with that, Dustpaw turned and sauntered toward Thicketpaw, mood lifted. Mintpaw could really use a tom like Thicketpaw in her life.

Oh, Mintpaw... If you haven't caught on by now, the whole thing is a self-fulfilling prophecy. We're in for a bumpy ride.