Shadestorm's pov

When Shadestorm woke up the next morning, rain was thrumming the roof of the warriors den. Water was dripping down to her pelt.

I hope I don't have to go out today.

She saw Cedarheart and Ratscar reluctantly padding out of the den for their dawn patrol. She twitched her whiskers with sympathy.

Tawnypelt touched her shoulder with her tail.

"We should probably go out now so Russetfur won't be so mad. Lets check if we could patch up some dens. Its basically pouring outside."

The tortoiseshell wrinkled her nose with distaste.

Shadestorm yawned and followed her friend out of the den.

Once in the clearing, the two she-cats were assigned to fix the medicine den roof. As soon as they entered the medicine clearing, they saw Littlecloud sorting herbs.

Littlecloud's mentor, Runningnose had retired into the elders den a few moons back. He had served his clan well and the kits and apprentices enjoyed listening to his stories.

Tawnypelt cleared her throat at the tunnel, and Littlecloud looked up from his herbs. "We were told to patch up the roof a bit"

"Sure! I'll be on my way in just a moment. It seems that the worst leak is in a corner just above the herbstore." After Littlecloud had left to tend to his patients, they began the task of strengthening the roof.

They were in the middle of weaving a branch in the roof when Tawnypelt spoke.

"What was that thing with you and Blackstar yesterday?"

Shadestorm was startled by the question. "What do you mean?"

Tawnypelt rolled her eyes. "You know exactly what I mean. You were literally gazing into each other's eyes. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if you told me you liked him."

Shadestorm dropped the branch she had been working on. Her pelt bristled defensively. "I don't!" Or do I?

Tawnypelt just stared at her for a moment. It looked like she didn't know whether to be amused or disappointed in her friend's ignorance. "You can't lie to me. I saw how you looked at him."

She looked away from her friend. "I seriously don't know. I always feel kinda nervous around him, and he is quite nice..."

Tawnypelt chuckled. "I think you just answered your own question. Next you'll be telling me your expecting his kits."

"Says the cat who always tells me about how Rowanclaw is so handsome and funny." Now it was Shadestorm's turn to look smug.

Tawnypelt had an alarmed expression on her face. "Uhh, that's totally different!"

Shadestorm let out a laugh. Soon the two friends were both laying on the ground, laughing at each other's stupidity.

Someone cleared their throat at the mouth of the den. Both of them instantly looked up, the sound of the laughter dying.

Littlecloud was standing near the den entrance, looking immensely awkward. His expression told Shadestorm that he'd heard everything.

All of them wore horrified expressions.

"I'm not sure what I just heard but I'm not going to repeat it." The medicine cat mewed after a moment of immensely awkward silence.

The air in the den was very tense, but they finished their work guickly.

After the roof was ready, they shared a thrush in the clearing. But Shadestorm was lost in her own thoughts.

As her eyes found a certain white and black tom, she couldn't help but feel a tiny bit of warmth.

I really like him, don't I?

Blackstar's pov

Blackstar was woken up by distressed yowling. He sprang up and guickly walked out of his den.

Several other cats were awake, all of them staring at the nursery. Cedarheart was pacing in front of the crowd.

"What's happening?" He asked the closest cat, who happened to be Snaketail.

"Tallpoppy is kitting. Littlecloud is helping, and Whitewater and Shadestorm are there too." The other tom replied.

His heart started beating faster of the mention of the gray she-cat's name. The time they had hunted together still lingered in his mind. Why am I constantly thinking about her?

...

A quarter moon later Tallpoppy's kits had started bouncing around in camp, getting under everyone's paws. Applekit, Toadkit and Marshkit were constantly in trouble.

Right now he watched as the kits gazes were locked into unsuspecting Smokefoot's tail. Before they could bounce, Shadestorm drew them away and announced; "Who wants to play mossball before it's time for your nap?"

The kits tumbled over each other in their eagerness to find a ball of moss. Shadestorm trotted after them. She's good with kits.

Wait, why am I thinking about that?

She caught his eye a moment later, and smiled. Blackstar grinned back at her, just because he could.

Even as the forest was being destroyed around them, he couldn't help but smile when she looked at him like that.

Redpaw's pov

Redpaw ran across a flowery meadow in Starclan territory. Moonlight danced on her messy brown fur. Even in Starclan her pelt wasn't well groomed. Her amber eyes, so much like her father's, were shining with anticipation.

She was headed to the meeting. There Starclan would decide about who would be making the journey to the sundrown place to meet Midnight.

I hope Nightstar won't choose Shadestorm. I don't want anything bad happen to her.

Redpaw watched over her sister often. She had seen her become friends with Tawnypelt and Blackstar.

Her whiskers twitched with amusement when she thought about the Shadowclan leader and her sister. They have a future together.

...

Redpaw arrived at the meeting. She watched them choose other cats, but she didn't really care who was going.

When Nightstar finally stepped forward, she pricked her ears. Tawnypelt's image appeared to the pool. Redpaw's eyes widened.

Not her! What if she never comes back! Shadestorm will be griefstricken when she leaves!

But then, Tawnypelt was capable and brave.

She'll come back a hero. I just hope Blackstar will believe her. He already doesn't trust her that much because of her past.

Redpaw closed her eyes briefly. She just had to have faith.