Okay, Featherpaw becomes Feathersomething!

This is about 2 months later, around February or March.

Oh, I just recently read a fanfic written by T.-Roxie-I. It's called Every Rose Has Its Thorns

the sequel is called Burning Roses, Silver Thorns

There is also a third book, but I forget what it was called...check it out! It's ironic, because one of the main character's name is Thorntail, and I have a Thorntail in my story too! I didn't steal the name, I promise! You should know...

Chapter 9

Featherpaw groaned and opened her eyes. "What?"

Hazelpaw was standing over her. "Get up already! Smoketail wants you to be at the fresh-kill pile immediately!"

Featherpaw sighed and heaved herself up to her paws. "Okay, I'm coming." She stifled a yawn and stretched, then trotted out of the apprentices den. Smoketail was at the fresh-kill pile, lashing his tail impatiently. "I'm here!"

"Hurry and get something to eat! Today's your assessment."

"What?! Now? I've only been training for seven moons!" Featherpaw yelped.

Smoketail nodded, his eyes wide. "As if I don't know that? Come on, get something to eat."

Featherpaw picked up a small grey mouse and gobbled it up in three swift bites. She jumped toward the tunnel and mewed, "Let's go!"
Smoketail purred at her enthusiasm. "Okay, let's go."

He led the way to the Sky Oak. "Here's what will happen. You just go hunt by yourself, catch as much as you can. I'll be watching you, don't forget. And be careful!"
Featherpaw nodded and bounded away. Most of the snow had thawed away, and new-leaf (spring) was on its way. She scented the air and dropped to a hunting crouch when she scented mouse. Sure enough, a small grey mouse was scurrying about at the roots of a tree. As Featherpaw crept closer, it disappeared underground. She held her breath and waited.

The mouse slowly crawled back up, glanced around, then kept on rummaging on the forest floor. Featherpaw purred inwardly and stalked closer. When she was a whisker-length away, she pounced and killed it. She buried it by the tree and kept going.

As she traveled toward the stream that marked the border with RiverClan, she thought she heard a rustle behind her. She whipped around and caught sight of grey and black fur streaking away. Smoketail's not doing a great job on spying on me. Oh well, he probably just wants to make sure I know he's there. She hid in some ferns and waited.

Soon, a vole approached the water. She pounced right away, and killed the tiny creature with a swift bite. She buried it by the stream and started wandering near the clearing that marked the ShadowClan border. Something about the borders didn't seem right, but she dismissed it. I have to focus on my assessment right now, she thought. But as she hunted, she realized something wasn't right. She sniffed the scent markers to discover that ShadowClan had moved their borders onto ThunderClan territory. She hissed and looked around to see a ShadowClan patrol approaching.

A grey she-cat that she recognized as Cinderash, the deputy, hissed at her mockingly. "What's a ThunderClan apprentice doing on ShadowClan territory?"

Featherpaw bristled. "I'm on ThunderClan territory, and so are you!"

Cinderash narrowed her eyes. "Oh, is that so?"

Featherpaw nodded boldly. "Now get off! And move the scent markers back!"

"Who's going to make us?" yowled a brown tom. It was Bearfoot.

Featherpaw hissed and prepared to jump at him, when a meow sounded behind her. She turned around to see Smoketail emerging from the bushes. The three ShadowClan warriors took advantage of the distraction and attacked the ThunderClan cats.

Bearfoot jumped on Featherpaw's back and scratched at her. She rolled over, sending him flying, then jumped on top of him. He pushed her off and pinned her down on the ground. "Apprentices should respect their elders," he hissed.

"But you're just a kit!" Featherpaw yowled as she squirmed out of his grasp. She slashed her claws across his cheek and looked around. Smoketail was battling with two ShadowClan warriors at once. She jumped in to help him, but Bearfoot blocked her way.

"Where are you running off to? I'm not done beating you up," he screeched as he launched himself at the silver cat. She leaped out of the way and bit his leg. He hissed with fury and leaped on top of her again, this time, pinning her down. Featherpaw squirmed and wriggled, but he didn't loosen his grip. He was just leaning down to bite her throat. Featherpaw closed her eyes and braced herself for the blow, but suddenly, his weight was lifted off of her.

She gasped and looked around to see Forestlily battling with Bearfoot. Shadowclaw and Hazelpaw had sent Cinderash limping back to ShadowClan camp, and Smoketail was battling with a ginger tom. Featherpaw jumped over to her mentor to help him. His shoulder was bleeding badly and his ear had been partly torn. She knocked the ginger tom off of him.

"Are you okay?" she yelped.

Smoketail lay, crumpled on the ground. "I don't know," he whispered.

Featherpaw looked around. The ShadowClan cats had retreated. "Smoketail's hurt!" she yowled.

Forestlily, Shadowclaw, and Hazelpaw raced over and stared down at him.

"We have to get him to Mosspelt," Shadowclaw mewed. "Come on. It's a good thing we heard you fighting while we were hunting." He gently clasped his jaw around Smoketail's scruff and started dragging him back to camp. Hazelpaw padded alongside him, and the two other cats hurried after him.

Forestlily and Featherpaw walked side by side. "Thanks," Featherpaw mewed.

Forestlily didn't reply. Her eyes were dull and full of worry.

Featherpaw lowered her head. "I hope he'll be okay. He has to be okay!" Panic and alarm gripped her like thorns gripping her fur.
Forestlily turned an angry glare on her. "This is your fault! You could've helped him! When I got there, he was battling two warriors at once! If it wasn't for your stupid assessment, he wouldn't have had to go out in the forest with you! It's all your fault!"
Featherpaw hung her head. "It's not my fault. It's not my fault," she repeated to herself. "It was an accident."

"And now, because of you, my uncle might die!" Forestlily hissed.

"It's not my fault!" Featherpaw yowled. She raced ahead of the other cats and raced into camp. She almost ran over Thorntail as she scurried into the apprentices den and crashed down at her nest. Is it really my fault? What if he dies? Will the Clan really blame me?

She raised her head slightly when she heard panicked mews and a worried yowl. Then she heard murmurings, then it was all quiet. Except for a small sound. Of paws slowly shuffling into the den. She turned away, not wanting to talk to anyone. Her nostrils flared at the scent of Thorntail. Did he blame her too?

Then she felt a tongue rasping over her ear.

"Is he okay?" she whimpered.

Thorntail settled down beside her. "It's not your fault, whatever happens to him, it's not your fault."

"Is he okay?" she repeated, her voice smaller.

Thorntail sighed. "Mosspelt is trying her best."

Featherpaw shivered at the thought of the smoky-grey deputy lying on the ground unconscious. Thorntail must have felt it, because he licked her ears again.

The silver she-cat cat wanted to purr, but she couldn't be feeling happy at a time like this. "I should go see him, right?" She struggled to get up to her paws.

Thorntail laid his tail on her shoulder protectively and the way. When they emerged from the den, Ashenfur looked up at the two with surprise in his eyes. He and his old apprentice exchanged knowing glances. Thorntail beckoned to Featherpaw, and they slowly made their way to the medicine cat's den.

Thorntail murmured, "Wait here." He went into the den with a quick glance at Featherpaw.

She lay down at the entrance of the den, and had her eyes closed when a soft mew startled her. She looked up see Leafdapple looking at her worriedly.

"M-mother," she squeaked.

Leafdapple sat down beside her daughter. After a moment of comforting silence, she said, "It's horrible, what happened to him, isn't it?"

Featherpaw nodded, suddenly feeling numb. She glanced up and saw Thorntail at the entrance of the medicine cat's den. "Come on in," he said. Featherpaw got up and followed him.

As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she could barely make out the shape of Mosspelt standing over a certain smoky-grey, almost black tom. "Is he alright?" she yelped when she caught sight of her mentor.

His eyes were closed, and his pelt was covered with scars and blood. Mosspelt had wrapped the wounds with cobwebs to stop the bleeding. His flank slowly rose and fell, and his whiskers twitched every now and then.

Mosspelt sighed. "Well, we'll see what happens. I've done all I can for now."

Featherpaw stared at Smoketail, and suddenly her legs started to shake uncontrollably. She whimpered as she collapsed onto the ground. Her eyes grew wide as she realized that she had no control of her legs. "What's going on?" she asked.

Mosspelt brought her some herbs and fed them to her. "It's just shock. Don't worry, you'll be okay. It's shock." Then, turning to Thorntail, she mewed quietly, "She was right there when Smoketail fell unconscious, correct?"
The brown-gold tom nodded curtly, gazing worriedly at Featherpaw.

"I think I should keep her here," Mosspelt muttered. "Featherpaw, would you let me look at your wounds? You were slightly hurt in the ambush too."
Featherpaw didn't reply, and Mosspelt started examining her.

Thorntail sat down beside the silver apprentice and wrapped his tail around her comfortingly. She turned a grateful, blue gaze on him before turning back to Smoketail.

After a long silence, Featherpaw asked, "When do you think he'll wake up?"

Mosspelt hesitated as she replied, "Well...I'm not sure exactly..."

Featherpaw didn't take her eyes off her mentor as she asked, "Will he live?"

There was a long silence, besides for Thorntail gently washing Featherpaw's delicate silver-white ears. When she didn't get an answer, she pulled away from Thorntail and faced the medicine cat. "Why won't you give me an answer?"

Mosspelt sighed. "Sometimes, Featherpaw, not even herbs or a medicine cat's knowledge can save a cat." After a pause, she said, "You would know, right?"
Featherpaw lifted her head and gazed at the medicine cat with confusion clouding her eyes. "What do you mean?" She felt Thorntail shift beside her, and questioned him. "What is she talking about?"

Mosspelt let out a frustrated sigh. "Nothing. Ignore it. I'm sorry I mentioned it, Featherpaw. It's nothing." She glanced worriedly at the apprentice, then mewed, "I need to speak to Lionstar. Watch Smoketail, and if anything happens, just yowl for me." She padded out of the den, her tail flicking dismissively.

Featherpaw turned to Thorntail and prodded him with questions. "What was she talking about? You seem to know."

Thorntail shook his head. "I don't know anything."

"You're lying!" Featherpaw hissed. "I can tell."

The tom denied it again.

"I can tell. It's in your eyes," Featherpaw said softly. In those deep, soft amber eyes of that golden-brown tom was a flash of worry, guilt, and...regret. In a harsher tone, she demanded, "What was Mosspelt talking about, Thorntail?"

Thorntail shifted his paws uncomfortably. "I guess you don't remember, I was almost three moons old when you and he were born."

"He?" Featherpaw hissed. "Who's this...he?"

"Your brother. Then known as Skykit. And you were Featherkit."

Featherpaw gasped. "I had a brother? Wow...What happened to him?" She hadn't expected that! Why didn't anyone tell me, all this time? Not my mother, not my father. No one told me.

"Listen, Featherpaw," Thorntail urged. "He...he, well..."

"Spit it out!" Featherpaw hissed.

Thorntail sighed. "He sneaked(I tried to type 'snuck' but I guess it's not a word, or so said my spell check thingy) out of the nursery, and eventually, out of camp. He was barely two moons old. Anyway, he wandered over to the RiverClan border, and fell into the stream."

Featherpaw could feel her mouth forming into a cry, but no sound came out. She glanced at Thorntail, whose amber eyes were clouded with...memories?

"By then, your mother had realized that he was missing. So they sent out Ashenfur, Shadowclaw, and Mosspelt out to find him. They found him on some rocks at the side of the stream, half dead." Thorntail's voice quivered a bit as he added, "Mosspelt did her best. She truly did. But...he didn't pull through."

Featherpaw let out a small squeak of alarm and buried her nose in Thorntail's coarse, bristly fur.

He took a deep breath. "Mosspelt warmed him up, then took him back to camp. He stayed with her for a few days. But then he just...didn't make it." Brushing his tail along her flank, he added, "I'm sorry."

Featherpaw lay still as his tail brushed over her scar. Then she finally mustered up enough courage to squeak, "What was—What was I doing all that time?"

Thorntail shrugged. "I think, I think you were too young to realize that he was gone. Or maybe Leafdapple told you something else, but...you didn't take it too hard." He licked Featherpaw's nose.

Featherpaw pulled away from him—his loving amber eyes, his gentle licks, his soft voice, his friendship. She turned cold blue eyes on him and hissed, "Why didn't anyone tell me? I mean, after I was old enough to understand, why didn't anyone tell me the truth? Why didn't anyone, not even you, tell me the truth?"

Her small voice had escalated to a loud screech.

"Shh," Thorntail mewed, trying to quiet her down. "Calm down."

Featherpaw unsheathed her claws. "Leave me alone!" She turned away and raced out of the den, spooking Mosspelt. She rushed past everyone's questioning, curious, and worried gazes. She rushed into the apprentices den and collapsed on her nest. Today was supposed to be a great day! I was being assessed by Smoketail, possibly to receive my warrior name! But instead, those stupid ShadowClan cats had to come and attack! And I had to be selfish! Instead of helping Smoketail, who was battling two cats at once, I was just defending myself from Bearfoot. I had just been trying to protect myself! I'm selfish! Then a thought struck her. What if it is my fault? What if he doesn't...pull through?

She jumped up with surprise when she felt another pelt brush hers. She had thought it was Hazelpaw, but instead, it was her sister, Whitepelt.

"Hi, Featherpaw," she mewed.

Featherpaw nodded curtly. "Whitepelt...hi."

Whitepelt sighed. "Featherpaw, what's wrong? You know this isn't your fault."

Featherpaw growled at her friend. "Why can't anyone just leave me alone? To think? To be with myself? Just go away!"

The white she-cat seemed to be taken aback, but then she relaxed. "I'm sorry. I'll leave now."

Featherpaw sighed and closed her eyes to think. As soon as she did, though, she thought, I'm so tired. I guess fighting hunting all day and then fighting ShadowClan cats is hard...

With an involuntary yawn, she drifted off into sleep.

oOoOoOo

Featherpaw purred when she woke up to feel her nose being licked. She guessed it was Thorntail, but when she turned around, she came face to face with a white and grey apprentice. "Oh, hi, Berrypaw," she said softly.

He purred. "Did you have a peaceful nap?"

"Um, yes, it was rather peaceful," Featherpaw mewed. "Um, has Smoketail gotten any better?" Or worse? She thought to herself.

Berrypaw sat up. "Well, he woke up long enough to eat half a mouse and some more herbs. But that was it. I heard most of his wounds stopped bleeding."

Featherpaw struggled up to her paws and glanced outside. "How long have I been asleep?"

Berrypaw shrugged. "Almost a whole dawn."

"A whole dawn?!" Featherpaw yowled.

Berrypaw nodded.

Featherpaw lashed her tail. "I'm going to see Smoketail." She hurried out of the den.

Leafdapple was outside. "Featherpaw, you're finally up!"

"I'm going to see Smoketail," she mewed as she hurried past.

Birdwing, Silverstorm, and Whitepelt had just entered camp, their jaws full of fresh-kill. They looked up in surprise and mumbled something to the silver apprentice, but she didn't hear them. She just nodded and ran into the medicine cat's den.

Mosspelt was sorting herbs and putting them away. "Hi, Featherpaw," she mewed softly without turning around. "I see you've finally woken up."

Featherpaw ignored her and sat down by the moss bed where her mentor lay. It seemed that he was breathing more easily.

The brown medicine cat rested a tail on her shoulder. "Featherpaw, he woke up earlier. He asked about you, then he spoke to Lionstar. I finally convinced him to eat something, and he had half a mouse before he went into unconsciousness again. His wounds are closing up, and I have a feeling that he'll be fine."

Featherpaw let out a sigh of relief, then gazed at Mosspelt with grateful and respectful blue eyes. Without Mosspelt, Smoketail would surely die. And without Mosspelt, she herself might have died too (remember the fox attack?). "Thank you, Mosspelt. Without you, many cats' lives would've been lost. You're the best medicine cat of ThunderClan."

Mosspelt purred at the compliments and licked the young silver cat's forehead. "You're a good cat. I would've liked to have you for an apprentice."

Featherpaw gasped. "But, I wouldn't have been cut out to be a medicine cat!"

Mosspelt shrugged. "Who knows?"

Featherpaw thought about that. Would I have been a good medicine cat apprentice? Maybe...no, I'm going to train to be a loyal warrior of ThunderClan. I've chosen the right path.

"Featherpaw, I'll take care of Smoketail. Go hunt, or join a border patrol, or something."

Featherpaw ducked her head, embarrassed and ashamed. She had spent a whole dawn sleeping, whereas she could have been hunting for the Clan or patrolling the borders and defending ThunderClan territory. "Um, thank you. Do you need anything, such as fresh kill, or more herbs? I could go find you whatever you need."

Mosspelt shook her head.

Featherpaw nodded and bounded out of the den. She looked around and saw Lionstar emerging from the nursery. He saw her and gestured with his tail for her.

"Um, hi Lionstar," she said, padding over to him nervously. She didn't know why he wanted to talk to her. She flicked her ears uncertainly.

Lionstar let out a deep, rumbling purr. "Don't worry, you're not in trouble. I just wanted to tell you something."

"Oh, sure," Featherpaw replied.

"You're warrior ceremony will be later today," Lionstar meowed, his amber eyes glowing. "It would be great to have a new warrior in ThunderClan."

Featherpaw purred, and her heart beat faster. Then, she looked down at her paws. "Wait. No, I can't."

"Why not?" Lionstar asked. "I talked to Smoketail (Smoketail and Lionstar are brothers) earlier."

"Well, I want to wait until Smoketail is better. Until he can leave the medicine cat's den and patrol and hunt like normal," Featherpaw mewed, staring down at her paws.

Lionstar purred. "If that's the way you feel, that's fine." Then, his expression turned serious. "You're a nice cat, Featherpaw. Normally, most apprentices would like to earn their warrior names as soon as possible."

Featherpaw shuffled her paws and purred. "Um, thank you."
Lionstar nodded. "But mind you, Mosspelt might insist on keeping Smoketail in her den for a moon. You know how she is."

Featherpaw nodded. "I know."

Lionstar gave her a nod and padded away.

"Hey, Featherpaw!"came a yowl.

Featherpaw glanced around and saw Whitepelt. "Hi!" she mewed.

Whitepelt purred as she walked over to Featherpaw. "You're back to your friendly self," she commented.

Featherpaw tilted her head to the side, then remembered snapping at her friend earlier. "Oh, right, that. Look, I'm sorry..."

"It's okay. What did Lionstar want to talk to you about?"

Featherpaw explained the whole situation about the warrior name. "But I wonder what Lionstar was doing in the nursery."

Whitepelt's eyes stretched wide. "You don't know? Silverstorm, his mate, is having kits!"
"Really?" Featherpaw mewed. "I didn't know. Wow...Thorntail and Forestlily are going to have brothers and sisters?"

Whitepelt nodded. "Anyway, do you want to go hunting?"

Featherpaw's tail curled. "Sure! Just us two?"
Whitepelt shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

"Can I go?" came a meow.

The two she-cats turned around to see Thorntail, his brown-gold pelt looking like a bright flame in the sun. He purred and repeated, "Can I go hunting with you two?"

Featherpaw purred and glanced at Whitepelt before answering, "Of course, Thorntail, why not?"

Whitepelt merely flicked her tail and led the way toward the tunnel. "So, where should we go first?" she tossed over her shoulder.

Featherpaw shrugged, but Thorntail mewed, "How about the Sky Oak? There should be plenty of prey there since new-leaf (spring) is here."

Whitepelt nodded. "Good idea. Let's go." She started to travel at a brisk pace.

Featherpaw and Thorntail raced after her. Featherpaw nearly gasped when she felt Thorntail's pelt brushing against hers. She glanced at him to see that he had been gazing at her all this time. Their eyes met, and Featherpaw couldn't help but purr.

She heard Whitepelt snap, "What are you two purring about?" and looked away, embarrassed.

Thorntail tapped her shoulder with his tail playfully and slid in some shadows behind a bramble bush. Featherpaw purred and hid in some tall grass. Featherpaw looked around and saw Whitepelt hiding behind some ferns.

A mouse began scurrying around at the roots of the Sky Oak. Featherpaw's ears perked up as she crept forward. Finally, she leaped at the mouse. She purred, satisfied at her catch.

Whitepelt nodded, seeming to say, "Nice job."

Featherpaw looked around and saw Thorntail stalking a starling nearby, then turned her attention to a vole that was scurrying about in the tall grass.

oOoOoOo

Featherpaw dropped a squirrel, two mice, and a vole on the fresh-kill pile and stepped back to let Thorntail and Whitepelt do the same.

"That was a great hunt," Whitepelt remarked, looking at the fresh-kill pile.

Thorntail nodded in agreement. "You're right." Featherpaw caught him giving her a glance and shuffled her paws nervously.

"Well, I went on a border patrol earlier, and now this hunt has worn me out!" Whitepelt mewled with a yawn. "I'll be in the warriors den if you need me." She waved with her tail and padded away, leaving Thorntail and Featherpaw alone at the fresh-kill pile.

"So..." Featherpaw mewed, suddenly finding her paws to be very interesting.

Thorntail purred. "You're not tired like lazy old Whitepelt, are you?"

"Hey! You're actually older than her," Featherpaw corrected. Then she said, "Actually, I'm a bit, uh, twitchy. I mean, well, I'm not tired at all, and I have so much energy that I could..." she lowered her head, embarrassed. "Just...I'm not tired at all."

Thorntail purred. "Then, um, you wouldn't mind coming for a walk with me?" he asked, almost a bit shyly.

Featherpaw purred. "Let's go."

Thorntail nodded and led the silver she-cat out of camp.

"Where are we going, Thorntail?" Featherpaw asked curiously as she padded alongside him.

Thorntail shrugged. "Somewhere, um...private," he murmured.

Featherpaw's eyes stretched open, but he didn't seem to notice. "L-like where?"

The golden- brown tom shrugged again. "Anywhere where I can talk to you without arousing suspicion."

"What?!" Featherpaw hissed.

"I'll-I'll explain. Just follow me."

Featherpaw twitched her ears. This wasn't the shy, cute Thornpaw anymore. It was proud, confident and somewhat mature Thorntail. "Okay," she mewed reluctantly.

Thorntail wove between two brambles, then they came to a short maple tree that stood near the RiverClan border. It was surrounded by lots of undergrowth. "Have you ever been here before?" he asked.

Featherpaw shrugged. She remembered passing by it a few times, but she hadn't paid much attention to it. She flinched when she felt something snake around her tail, and glanced around to see that it was Thorntail's golden tail entwining with hers. But he pulled away quickly.

His amber eyes were full of regret. "You hate me that much," he muttered bitterly.

"Oh, no, it's not that!" Featherpaw said. "I was just surprised. I thought it was a snake or something!"
Thorntail blinked at her, then touched her shoulder with his tail. She purred at his warm touch of affection.

He took a deep breath, then began to say, "Featherpaw, I don't know if you feel the same way, but...ever since you became an apprentice, I've looked at you with a different point of view."

Featherpaw gazed at him with wonder.

"I—I got jealous when I saw you talking with any other tom. I was always proud of you when others spoke well of you. And...I couldn't stop padding after you," the tom admitted.

Featherpaw purred when she realized the meaning in his words. "R—really?"

Thorntail nodded. "I can't believe myself." He jumped in surprise when Featherpaw licked his shoulder.

"Thorntail, I feel the same way about you, too," Featherpaw said softly, her blue eyes full of compassion.

"You do?" Thorntail yowled.

Featherpaw purred in reply. Thorntail relaxed and started washing Featherpaw's ears.

Thorntail spoke between licks, "If anyone were to see this right now, they'd probably be really mad."

"Why?" Featherpaw asked.

"Because. Apprentices aren't allowed to have mates. I mean-uh, not that you're my mate or anything..."

She purred. "Don't worry. Once Smoketail gets better, I'll receive my warrior name." She turned her head and licked his nose.

Thorntail purred and wrapped his body around hers, his tail wound around hers, his brown nose touching the silver cat's pink one, his flank pressing into hers, his whiskers brushing against hers. Their silver and golden-brown fur mingling together, the maple tree standing over them peacefully. Featherpaw purred and tucked her head under Thorntail's chin, sighing happily. If we could just stay like this forever...

"Thorntail?" came a sharp mew.

The two cats looked up, their eyes wide. Thorntail pushed Featherpaw away, and she landed in some ferns. She scrambled under it and watched as Ashenfur stalked toward his former apprentice. "Thorntail? What are doing here?" He sniffed the air. "Do I smell Featherpaw?"

Thorntail shook his head vigorously. "No, why would Featherpaw be here?"

"I smell her scent, and it's fresh," Ashenfur insisted. He growled. "What were you doing with my daughter? I know you two are attracted to each other, but..."

Thorntail shrugged. "I just came here to think...but Featherpaw did go out hunting earlier. Maybe she came by here."

Ashenfur hissed and sniffed Thorntail. "Her scent is all over you!"

Thorntail ducked his head. "Oh, right, I was, uh..."

"Just get back to camp," Ashenfur mewed calmly, seeming to know what was going on. "I'm going back to camp."

As soon as her father disappeared from view, Featherpaw stood up and let out a sigh of relief. "He's so protective of me," she remarked as she padded back toward Thorntail.

He purred. "I would be, too, if I were him. I'd be scared some other tom would steal you," he said playfully, batting at her ear.

She hissed and knocked him over. "Think you can mess around with me and get away with it, huh?"

Thorntail pushed her off gently and said in a serious tone, "Let's get back to camp. Ashenfur might get all suspicious."

Featherpaw nodded, and they started padding back toward camp, their pelts brushing and their tails entwined.

ok, after reading T. Roxie. I's story with thorntail in it, my character has gotten a bit off focus...if u know what I mean...but please bear with me!

By the way, I wanted to do a chapter with snow, but I didn't get to it. So let's just say it snowed, but I just didn't write about it. Thanks, bye!

And review!