Hey guys. Sorry I didn't update yesterday, but by the time I got home, I just really wasn't in the mood. *Sheepish grin* Still love me? You should this has fluff out the wazoo. Is that a word? Must be Word hasn't underlined it;)

Runningspirit26- No problem=) Glad you liked it and I hope you enjoy this!

Jayleaf1- I know right? Oh glad you liked the names! Yeah I'm proud of him too=) Yeah Echo's his mom, and know I haven't found her yet. Oh I just never got on it and then I don't have time, I only have enough time allotted for one internet obsession and that's this;) Great quotes! Hope you like this!

Bramblewhisker88- A bit yeah but it's still fun=) Yeah I think he does=) Thanks I was just trying to mix things up=) Glad you liked the names! Yeah I just figured they'd wonder about that you know? Well I hope you enjoy this!=)

Onyx- Glad you like Snake=) I hope you enjoy this!=)

Chapter Thirty Five

*Flamepaw*

"Okay guys what are we going to do today?" I ask the group as we eat breakfast.

"Why don't we visit the new kits?" Moon Beam asks from between Lightingpaw and her sister.

"Oooooh I like that idea!" Spottedpaw mews, lifting her head up.

"Erm….." Cloudpaw mutters, eyeing us wearily.

"What is it brother dear?" I ask cheekily causing him to stick his tongue out at me.

"I think what he's trying to say that us toms… aren't all into that idea. Sorry." Thornpaw mews with an apologetic shrug.

"Fine." Owlpaw replies, "Don't go."

"We won't." Cloudypaw replies. And then all of the guys start to stand.

Lightingpaw hesitates, but Featherpaw looks at him kindly and mews, "Come on Lightingpaw you don't really want to go see the kits."

"Uh… yeah I'll catch up with you later." He mews before joining the others. Only Hailpaw remains, under strict looks from the guys.

Mosspaw opens her mouth but I shoot her a sharp look, I have a feeling that today he'll tell Moonpaw how he feels. Mosspaw snaps her mouth shut. I look around at the girls to see them shooting each other covert looks. All except Featherpaw who is staring at Hailpaw with a puzzled look. I remember that she hadn't been here for his confession.

"I think we should go in groups," Feather Breeze mews, "It's not very roomy in there and we don't want to overwhelm them."

"You're right," I mew, "Who wants to go first?"

"I kind of want to go hunting later so can I be in the first group?" Moonpaw asks. We respond with nods and yesses.

"I'll go with you." Hailpaw mews, then adding, "If that's okay."

"That's perfect!" I mew with a smirk. He looks down embarrassed, but I really want this to work out for him.

"I'll join in too," Featherpaw mews with a shrug.

"Can I finish up the group?" I ask. Everyone agrees so we get up and head into the nursery.

As we enter, Blazefeather and Creamlight's kits bound up to us. They jump up and paw at our sides. "Hey darlings," I mew as others greet the kits.

Sparrowkit has Blazefeather's eyes while Rosekit has her mothers. Falconkit's eyes are dark amber gold while Skykit's eyes are sparkling blue.

"Are you here to see us?" Rosekit asks.

"Or the new kits?" Falconkit guesses.

"Both." Featherpaw mews licking their foreheads. "You two go on," she mews nodding to Hailpaw and Moonpaw, "We'll stay here."

"Come on guys, show us your favorite places," I mew to the kits. We follow them over to Creamlight's nest, but both of us stay focused on Hailpaw and Moonpaw.

*Moonpaw*

We wander over to Cherrytree's nest and mew hellos to her. She smiles at us and tells us that the kits just opened their eyes. They're awake, but they look at us somewhat blearily and stay cuddled deep in their mother's fur.

The two toms are both gray but Twilightkit is dark gray with white paws and shining gray eyes while Swiftkit is a lighter spotted gray with Cherrytree's eyes. Swankit has bright white, shining fur and blue eyes the color of the lake. Dawnkit is a creamy calico with light green eyes.

They start to tussle gently, tumbling over each other and pulling on each other's ears. They give soft squeaks and then they suddenly stop, yawning simultaneously, showing off their little teeth and pink throats. Then they curl up and start sleeping, snoring soft I sigh and look at Hailpaw, "There so sweet, have you ever seen something so precious?"

He shrugs and mews softly, "I don't know, I've seen better." I start slightly and look at him in surprise as his light green eyes stare intensely at me.

"Um…" I look away breaking the stare and mew, "We should probably let the others come over.

"Yeah." Hailpaw says softly and we walk over to the others. They stare wide eyed at us and I wish I could ask Featherpaw what Hailpaw's thinking.

As we pass her Featherpaw hisses, "Stop being so dense!" in my ear. I stare after her in shock and confusion. Uncle Blazefeather's kits demands my attention but I can't help wondering what Featherpaw meant.

I meant I like Hailpaw, a lot. But he couldn't like me. It never even occurred to me that he could like me. He thinks of me as a friend. He doesn't like me. He couldn't

Could he?

*Hailpaw*

We leave the nursery soon and I walk slowly, trying to get Moonpaw to hang back with me. I want to take her to the lake at sunset and tell her then, but I also don't want anyone else to spill. The girls don't want to, but I'm sure they'll get all excited about it and the next thing I'll know they'll have blabbed. As for the guys, they'd do it on purpose because they're spiteful.

"So we're going to hunt right?" I ask Moonpaw before she can follow her sister. I need to keep her away from everyone.

"Uh yeah. You want to get a bigger group?" Moonpaw asks, looking at me with her beautiful, crystalline blue eyes.

"Erm, n-no it'd uh take too much time." I stammer quickly after coming out of my trance.

"Okay." She mews with a smile and we wander out into the forest. Mostly we goof off teasing and joking with each other. We have a few races and I find out that she is waay faster than me. I don't mind much though.

We catch some prey and just chill for a while. We find a glade and we just flop down and start chatting.

"So how is the apprenticeship going?" I ask, watching her face in the afternoon light.

"Wonderful." Moonpaw mews excitedly, "But…"

"What?" I ask. She looks away from me so I half sit up and repeat, "What?"

"I… I just, I don't… I suppose I'm feeling some pressure." Moonpaw finally mutters, sounding guilty as she says it.

"From who?" I ask gently, "Your mom? Dad?"

"No!" she gasps, looking horrified, "No, not at all! StarClan no they're so supportive! No not them…"

"Then who? Sandstorm?" I ask with a frown.

"No, she's wonderful. No I'm feeling it from the Clan. It's like they're always watching me, like they expect me to be just like my mom. I know that they didn't even want us to be born… So I'm like seriously just get out of my life. I'm just a paw… I don't need –" Moonpaw takes a big gasp of air and sighs, shaking her head, "I'm sorry you don't want to hear this."

I laugh and shake my head at her in disbelief, "I do too!" I protest.

"Oh Hailpaw," she mutters, "You're too nice to me. Eh forget the Clan. I am who I am and I'll work my hardest so –"

"The Clan can get over it." I finish with a smile.

"Exactly." Moonpaw grins.

"C'mon." I mew, noticing the sun sinking, "I want to show you something."

I get up and she follows me curiously. I love that about her, her face shows her emotions and I can always tell what she's thinking.

"Where are you taking me?" Moonpaw asks, batting her eyes slightly.

"You'll see in a bit, I promise." I mew.

"Okay…" she mews, trailing out the word.

We keep strolling through the forest until we reach the lake. The sun is nearing the water, a fiery crimson disk, sending colors radiating through the sky. Deep, rich blue is creeping up at the edge of the sky, followed by profound purple, shot through with light violet and then shining pink surrounding the sun. The colors are reflected off the water and I smile widely, the scene is just as perfect as I planned.

"Oh Hailpaw! It's lovely! I've never seen the sunset at the lake… oh thanks!" Moonpaw mews, smiling up at me.

My heart jumps into my throat and I stammer, "You're welcome…"

"Ah it's so gorgeous! I've never seen anything more extraordinary!" Moonpaw gasps.

"I have." I mew quickly, as my mouth goes dry.

"Really?" She asks, confusion written on her face, "What?"

"You."

For a few moments she stares at me in shock and it's horribly silent. My heart speeds up to where I get dizzy. I can't see straight and for a few moments I start shaking, fear bubbling through me. All I can think is, StarClan no, she doesn't like me! I've ruined everything!

Then I realize her eyes are sparkling with tears, "Me?" Moonpaw stammers, "Me?"

"Yes… Moonpaw I-I really like you." I stammer, "As more than a friend. I understand if you don't feel the same way, but I just… needed to tell you."

I look down until she gasps, "Oh Hailpaw you idiot! I like you too!"

I look up blinking and mew, "Really?"

"Yes!" she exclaims, "I was worried you didn't like me!"

I can't help but burst into laughter. Moonpaw joins me, her eyes lit up with joy and she walks closer to me, nudging me, "So I'm better than kits and sunsets?" her eyes are teasing and I shrug.

"The heart has to say what the heart has to say." I reply dramatically.

Giggling she shakes her head and mews, "You're fantastic."

"Why thank you." We walk back to camp, letting out pelts brush and I feel sparks shooting through me. My heart is back in my throat and my brain buzzes. As she's talking I lean over and lick her ear.

Moonpaw glances up at me and then smiles back, and licks my ear. I feel tingly all over, and I'm sure I'm grinning like an idiot.

"You're adorable you know." She whispers, rolling her eyes.

"Thank you. You're beautiful, you know." Moonpaw grins in an embarrassed sort of way and we keep walking. When we're almost back to camp, she suddenly freezes, staring off into the distance in horror.

"What?" I ask in alarm.

"You don't think we'll become like Fallensnow and Thornpaw do you?"

"No!" I mew quickly and she sighs.

"Good." She mutters, shaking her head wearily.

I laugh and we walk into camp. Before we get a few steps, Tinypaw runs up to me, "Hailpaw, they're making us warriors tomorrow!"

"What?" I gasp, my eyes going wide, "But our assessment…"

"It was the one we had yesterday, they were deciding if we were ready or not, that's why they didn't tell us!" Tinypaw continues, his voice loud with excitement.

"Whoa…" I gasp.

"Hailpaw that's wonderful!" Moonpaw purrs and I smile at her, lit up in the sunset.

Yeah it is…

So what did you think? How was the fluff, cause you guys know that's not easy for me. Well I hope you enjoyed it!

Quote- "I think we've had a bad influence on her." ~Ron Weasley, The Scorer's Stone (Movie)

Because come on, we all love it=)

Well review please!

~Midnight