When the sun rose again, Tallsong was carried out by Gullpelt and Goldensong. Blackstrike accompanied them, wanting to make sure no one attacked them. Nightpaw wasn't sure where they buried her, as there was no dirt, but she didn't ask about it. She didn't want to talk to anyone today.

Boulderfur came over. He had heard the news, but had given her her space during the night. Now, he approached her and touched his nose to her shoulder. She turned to look at him.

"I'm so sorry, Nightpaw." He murmured. Nightpaw sighed and looked down.

"I wish I could catch you a dozen gulls if that would make you feel better." Boulderfur voiced. Nightpaw nodded, her heart warming ever so slightly at his words. She pushed her head into his chest, not caring what it looked like and sighed. He just put a paw around her comfortingly and she sniffled.

Eventually, she had to rise to her paws. Her father returned, going into the warrior's den and talking to no one. Nightpaw didn't want to do anything, however the Clan was hungry, as was she, and she needed to find something to eat. She rose to weary paws and headed out with Boulderfur.

The day was cloudy, and it was rightfully so. It seemed even StarClan was mourning for them. She shook her head, and kept walking. Boulderfur helped her find the hunting cannisters and knocked it down. After sharing a meal of tuna with him, Nightpaw rummaged and managed to find some other salty meats and large, pale yellow circles that crunched when you ate them.

Afterwards, they took a long walk home. Boulderfur said nothing, but kept his tail on Nightpaw's flank for both guidance and comfort. Nightpaw was grateful to Boulderfur and his kindness. When they entered camp, Nightpaw went and brought the salty meats to the medicine den and put the yellow circles in the fresh-kill pile.

When nightfall came around, Froststar called another Clan meeting. Nightpaw wondered what he would have to say.

"Will all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather in the center of camp for a Clan meeting?" He called. Nightpaw padded out with Boulderfur, who seemed silently pleased about something. She could only wonder what.

"Nightpaw, step forward." Nightpaw looked up at him, completely confused. What had she done now? Had she done something wrong? She padded forward.

"Nightpaw, you showed excellent skills as a warrior in the skirmish yesterday." Froststar said, looking down at her. Nightpaw quivered. Was this her warrior ceremony?

"I, Froststar, leader of CliffClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn."

Nightpaw tried not to shake as she looked up at him. Behind her, she could hear Spiderpaw murmuring to Ravenpaw.

"Nightpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Nightpaw nodded. "I-I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Nightpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Nightbreeze. StarClan honors your courage and skill in battle, and we welcome you as a full warrior of CliffClan."

Nightbreeze stared up at him before padding forward, licking his shoulder as he touched his muzzle to her forehead. She was quivering. She had no idea that she would be having her warrior ceremony today!

"As tradition, you will stand silent vigil and guard the camp tonight." Froststar instructed. She could hear her name still being cheered by all of her Clanmates.

"Congratulations, Nightbreeze." Squirrelstorm was one of the first to congratulate her. She purred and smiled at him.

"I am proud of you, Nightbreeze." Boulderfur purred in her ear. She felt her pelt warm at that.

"You make me a proud father, Nightbreeze." Blackstrike nudged her shoulder and she felt her heart warm.

She padded towards the entrance of the camp. She was honored to finally receive her warrior name, and three moons early, at that! She was content. She sat down and stared out into the Twoleg street as night began to take hold and cover the land in darkness. She would protect and serve her Clan with her life.

The next morning, Redheart came and told her her vigil was over. She yawned and stretched, ready to take a nap. She padded towards the warrior's den, where Boulderfur greeted her kindly.

"Here, I'll show you where your nest is." He purred softly in her ear. She purred back. He had made a nest for her out of softened woods and torn up Twoleg wrappers. When she laid on it, it made a satisfying crinkling sound and she let out a purr.

"Thank you, Boulderfur!" She exclaimed, looking up at him.

"It is no trouble. Get some rest, Nightbreeze." He said gently, his eyes glowing with an emotion Nightbreeze wasn't quite sure she knew. It made her feel happy inside, and she let out a loud purr as she fell asleep, thinking of Boulderfur and her new life as a warrior.

She awoke at sunhigh. There was a hole in the roof of the Twolegplace that allowed the cats to sun if they chose to. Squirrelstorm nudged her awake.

"Hey, Nightbreeze. It's sunhigh. I was wondering...do you want to sun with me and share tongues?" He asked. Nightbreeze blinked up at him. He wasn't really… liking her? Was he? She rose to her paws.

"Thank you, Squirrelstorm, but I'm going to politely decline. I think I will...go out hunting." She looked around. Boulderfur was standing nearby. "With Boulderfur." She added hastily.

"Oh." Squirrelstorm was visibly disappointed. "Well, alright. I'll see you around, then?" He asked.

"Of course!" Nightbreeze did feel a little bad, but she didn't want to give Squirrelstorm the wrong idea. He was great and all, but...just as a friend. Besides, they couldn't choose mates. Froststar chose mates for you.

"Hey, Boulderfur!" She called as she dashed over to him. He was having a conversation with Stonestrike, so she waited patiently for him to finish. He finally turned when he was done and looked at her.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Do you want to...go hunting?" She asked a little uncertainly. Boulderfur just smiled at her.

"Sure!" He said. "I would love to go hunting with you."

With you. Nightbreeze took note of the extra words, and her stomach flipped a little. He would love to go hunting….with her. She could hardly contain the pleasure that those words meant to her. He chuckled and shook his head, looking at her.

"Well, let's go, then." He said. She nodded, and walked out of camp with him.

It was different, hunting with Boulderfur as a fellow warrior rather than an apprentice. She didn't mind, however. He talked with her just as normal, aside from the occasional pelt brushing and the fur warming every time he looked at her. Other than that, it was normal.

They eventually found some food to share. They were like the yellow circles they saw yesterday, however they had a thin orange coating on them. When they ate one, they found it to taste...slightly spicy, and nothing like the orange sticks they had grown fond of in CliffClan.

"What is it like, having your brother be leader of the Clan?" Nightbreeze asked, looking up at Boulderfur. Boulderfur sighed.

"Honestly? Infuriating." He shook his head. Nightbreeze pricked her ears, looking at him.

"Oh?" She asked.

"Yes. He is an infuriating leader. The way he just...left behind Yellowpaw, and didn't even give Fireclaw or Windpelt a proper ceremony…." He dug his claws into the asphalt. Nightbreeze had to agree, so she said nothing.

"It's not all. He's always so forceful. He thinks the only way to solve a problem is with violence. He may say to only use the killing bite when you absolutely need to, yet he's used it on three cats!" His fur raised a bit.

Nightbreeze stared at him in shock.

"He's foolish, he doesn't make great decisions, he….he doesn't deserve to be leader!" He hissed. Nightbreeze came over and touched his shoulder with her nose. He sighed.

"I'm sorry, Nightbreeze." He sighed.

"It's fine." She said. "What about Redheart? He's the deputy."

"He's just as bad." Boulderfur groaned. "He's a puppet of Froststar. He wouldn't dare speak against him. He'll be just as bad of a leader as Froststar is."

"Then who do you want to see as a leader?" She asked.

"Well, I, myself, wanted to be leader. However, I'm much too old for that now. Someone who's….someone who's like me." He said. "Strong in battle, courageous...and follows their heart, but not their own selfish desires." He said.

Nightbreeze nodded. She wasn't sure who that would be, but she didn't say that. She just nodded and agreed with him.

"Thank you for letting me rant a little." Boulderfur smiled gratefully. Nightbreeze smiled back.

"Of course! You can talk to me about anything, Boulderfur." She purred. Boulderfur purred back.

"Thank you, Nightbreeze." He said softly.

"Of course." She purred.

Boulderfur pressed against her, and her heart skipped a beat. She looked at him, but she pressed back, twining her tail with his. He let out a loud purr, the vibration massaging her skin, and she purred back. She liked this. She liked him. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he drew his tongue over her back. She quivered, leaning into the touch.

"Nightbreeze...I...I want you to know something." Boulderfur stammered after a few moments. She blinked and looked up at him.

"I...I really care for you. A lot. And I want to say….I want you as my mate." Boulderfur said. Her eyes widened, her heart racing.

"Boulderfur, I…." She licked his cheek. "I want you as my mate, too."

Boulderfur couldn't have purred louder if he tried, and Nightbreeze was nearly shaken by his deep, loud purrs that came from him. She licked his shoulder, he licked hers.

She spent more than her fair share of time with him there, just enjoying his presence there. Her pelt was gleaming by the time they were done, and his was smoothed, his scars barely noticeable under his now carefully kept pelt.

She walked into camp at sunset, smelling entirely of Boulderfur. Squirrelstorm looked at her, but he caught a scent and looked a bit disappointed. She sighed, feeling a bit bad for him. He would find love in someone else, she was sure.

She walked into the warrior's den, curling into the nest Boulderfur had made her. Not long after, he walked into the den after her, moving his nest towards her and curling himself next to her, his long tail resting on her flank. She sighed and smiled contentedly, leaning into him.