Hello again! Welcome back to Warriors High! We are back with what's gonna be one of my favourite chapters to write! I love this.

Last chapter was a bit boring, so now I have brought an -hopefully- interesting one!

Ivystorm: I ship DovexBumble too, but I guess DovexTiger is okay. It's okay to ship CrowxNight, but I don't think Crowfeather's having any of it.

FreeEcho: Thanks! It's okay if you forget to review.

But on that note

30 REVIEWS! YAY!

Anyway, on with the chapter!

Cinderheart POV

It was just under a month after we started school, and I was stretched out on my bed when my phone started ringing. Lionblaze's name flashed up on the screen and I held the phone to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Oh! Uh-hi C-Cinderheart…"

"Uh, are you alright?" I asked. He didn't sound very stable.

"Oh-oh, yeah, I'm -Foxleap shut UP!- f-fine! I was just er-curious if…"

There was the sound of Lionblaze taking a large deep breath.

"Would you like to go out with me?"

I felt the heat rising to my cheeks immediately.

"Lionblaze…"

"Oh nonono it's fine! You don't have to go if you want to!"

I laughed. "No, no, I'd quite like to go!"

There was a slightly audible 'Yes!' from the other end.

"Okay! I'll pick you up at seven tonight, okay?"
"Okay!"

I hung up, then immediately let out a loud squeal.

"So Lion asked you out?"
I jumped, then spun around. I had completely forgotten that Hollyleaf and Icecloud were there too. The ravenette laughed and came over to give me a hug.

"Congrats! Now we just gotta decide on what you're going to wear…"

I swallowed. 'Deciding what you're going to wear' was code for every girl in the vicinity get over here and we're gonna make this girl beautiful through several hours. I was slightly more sporty than I was fashionable, but I still knew quite a few things about it. But Hollyleaf, Honeyfern, Poppyfrost and Hazeltail...damn.

Within seconds, the whole gang was over.

Foxleap POV

I just listened to Lionblaze ask out Cinderheart and her accepting.

Well damn I gotta up my game.

I'm not even entirely sure about whether Ivypool is taking our relationship seriously. Does she think we go beyond best friends? I mean, good friends is fun, but I feel more.

I really gotta up my game.

Lionblaze immediately went off to start getting changed. Jayfeather was nowhere to be seen, and Lionblaze had entered his own world, so I was technically alone now. Alone to plan what Ivypool would love to do with me.

Now, she loves practising parkour with me in the library, but we do that anyway. She loves stalking people and jumpscaring people, but she does that anyway. She loves…

I got it.

Some epic game of Capture the Flag! We'd be on the same team, but against who?

Oh wait, I have a long list of people who work in a club called Vent Runners.

I hurriedly texted Olivenose.

Foxyleap101: Hey Oliveeeee

Oliveness: Sup

Foxyleap101: If Ivypool's in, do u wanna go somewhere and hav a rlly cool game of Capture da Flag?

Oliveness: Sure! I'm in!

Foxyleap101: Can u ask Shrewfoot to be on ur team?

Oliveness: Shrews busy but I can bring ma new bf Owlclaw

Foxyleap101: Yep he'd be gud! I'll ask Ivy now

Oliveness: Kool cya

Foxyleap101: Cya

Well that's two people in, one person left to go. Inhaling, I called Ivypool and waited for her to pick up.

"Hey Fox sup?"

"Hey Ivy."

Lionblaze POV

Oh man I feel so stressed!

It's five to seven, and I need to pick Cinderheart up in five minutes!

For our first date!

Yes, I know first surprising, but I only really confessed to her last year. And I guess I haven't had the guts to ask her out since.

Well, I guess I'd better get used to it.

I wasn't like this when I dated Heathertail, no she made me feel confident.

But after we had to break up, I guess I didn't really have the confidence to start another relationship.

But Cinderheart is who I need, so I'm ready to date her.

Foxleap had just left, and Jayfeather was nowhere to be found, so I was just pacing around the room, counting how many things could go wrong. I don't know why, but I can't put a positive thought into my head right now. Except Cinderheart.

There was a loud noise from the hallway suddenly, showing a group of students had just left a room. From their giggles and laughter it sounded like Honeyfern's roommates and her, and stars know what they've just done.

I saw that it had turned seven, and breathed deeply, walking out the room and directly across to Cinderheart's. Not much of a walk, but I guess it's still nice to meet her. I knocked on the door and waited for an answer. There were a few squeaks from inside, then Cinderheart herself answered the door.

I couldn't speak.

She was dressed in a short blue dress, with silver-white gemstones lining the neckline. It was flowy, not tight, and her silvery-grey hair had been left mostly down with a small plait tied from either side of her head that met in the middle and flowed into the rest of her silky hair. She had some makeup on, but not too much, and she was wearing light blue shoes with a small heel.

I had not been expecting this, she looked absolutely beautiful. I was only in a neat shirt.

I felt the heat rising to my cheeks so I swallowed and said, "Hi, Cinderheart." as calmly as I could.

"Hi…" she replied, blushing. A certain ravenette giggled quietly behind her.

"Uh, should we go?"

"Okay!"

Leaving the awkward greeting behind, I took her hand and we walked to the elevator. I pressed for the ground floor, praying that no one else hopped on as we descended. It was unfortunate that Thunder team stayed on the top floor of the living spaces, but we were lucky enough to go down undisturbed.

After exiting the school through the front entrance, we began walking down to the small town. It was growing darker for only seven o'clock, and there were very few people about. The sky was a pretty tawny as the sun began to set, fading into a deep indigo shade behind us.

The school and this town sat on an island 10 miles away from the mainland, so it wasn't too much of a pain to cross over in a boat, but those who lived in the town preferred to stay on the island. Most of the town was small shops, and then the large school, thought there were a few cottages here and there.

I knew the way around the town fairly well, and I led Cinderheart through the peace. We stopped briefly at a nice, small cafe that I had been to often and picked up some drinks. The sun was setting, igniting the sky on a fierce yet soft orange. Cinderheart let out a small sigh of happiness as she watched the sun set, sipping her hot chocolate occasionally. I felt a spark of joy inside me, she was enjoying it! Even though we hadn't really talked much or done much, she was content.

We settled down on a bench facing the ocean, where the waves were lapping lazily against the edge. The sun had set now, leaving a faint rosy glow on the horizon. A deep, dark indigo had been painted over the light blue, and small white speckles made up stars as they slowly began to appear. I put my arm around Cinderheart's shoulders, and she leant her head on mine.

"Isn't it beautiful?" she mused aloud. I nodded.

"Wonderful. So many colours…"

"More than anyone could dream of." her eyes focused on the fade between pink and black-blue as her mind began mixing up colours.

"Do you know what's more beautiful?"

She looked at me.

"You."

She laughed softly. I love her laugh. It's so gentle and calm.

"I love you, Cinderheart."

"I love you too."

We pulled in for a kiss.

Ivypool POV

I've been to the Dark Forest seven times since school started, and this night trip is a relief. Instead of traipsing along with dozens of other trainees, I'm hopping along with Foxleap, Owlclaw and Olivenose, laughing at jokes. I feel so carefree!

Foxleap had called me up and invited me to a game of Capture the Flag with the two Shadow team pupils, then explained that he'd found a really good location for a good game. I, of course, had accepted, eager to enjoy a nice night.

Now we had arrived at the location and I could see why Foxleap had said it was a good location. There were several rocks, trees and bushes dotted around, varying in size and shape, providing hiding spaces for both players and the flag.

We quickly decided on where the borders were, then retreated to hide the flag (yes, we keep these things at random). After some discussion, we scaled a tree, leapt onto a tall rock and placed it out of sight in a small hollow in it before jumping down and hiding behind two trees on either side.

Eventually, Olivenose called across "Ready?"

"Ready!" we shouted back.

"Begin!"

I immediately dropped into a low position and crept forwards to another tree and climbing up it like a squirrel. I caught a glimpse of Owlclaw running forwards to the border, and checking for a sign of either of us before hopping over and diving right into Foxleap's hiding spot. The ginger swiftly tagged him and he trudged back over the border.

Making sure neither were watching, I took the leap of faith over to a tree on their side of the border. I barely made it, but made minimal sound. Peering out, I saw Foxleap had begun charging forwards, ducking into hiding spots occasionally, and tricking the opponents. I noticed Olivenose's mottled hair flying behind her as she leapt into a forward roll and stopped against a rock on our side.

Owlclaw and Foxleap were sneaking around the same rock, unaware of the closeness of the opponent. Suddenly, Foxleap leapt onto the rock, then pounced down on the other side, landing on a shocked Owlclaw before taking off and hiding behind a thick holly bush somewhere further in, leaving Owlclaw on the ground and very confused. I saw Olivenose sneaking about, trying to find our flag. I winced: she was getting pretty close.

I slid down the tree silently and rolled quickly over to behind a rock. I scanned the area, seeing if I could spot either Foxleap, Owlclaw or their flag. Nothing. I crept over to behind another rock, and almost fell into a narrow gap under a rock. Suspicion creeping up on me, I slid my hand into the gap and felt the flag.

I poked my head up. Olivenose was up the tree we had jumped from to hide the flag, and it wouldn't be long before she found it. Foxleap was busy chasing and running from Owlclaw over both sides of the border, looping around rocks and shrubbery. I found myself with two options, take the flag and run back, risking getting caught by Olivenose who would definitely see me coming, take the flag and slowly creep back, risking being seen by her or running straight into Foxleap and Owlclaw, or leave the flag for now, regroup with Foxleap, get Olivenose out of our territory, leave the ginger in defense and then sneak back here and back.

I decided on the latter and pretended to crash into Foxleap, sending us both tumbling into Owlclaw and being sent back over the border. I quickly scrambled up the tree after Olivenose, but the Shadow girl leapt down and ran further into our territory, finding my hand hitting thin air instead. I chased after her, eventually running her into Foxleap. He tagged her and sent her back over the border, leaving us alone on our side.

"Have you found the flag?" he whispered.

"Yup. Can you stay here in defense, keep pretending to hop over the border and keep them busy?" I asked.

"Can do. Good luck!"

I snuck back into a shadow, looking up at the dark night sky. I had only just become night, and I felt a rush of luck. I factored best at night. I breathed deeply, each breath lengthening, in...out...and ready. I felt almost invisible as I slipped between shadows, watching my teammate and opponent's alike, careful to not disturb anything.

Getting over the border was easier this time, as both Olivenose and Owlclaw were trying get past Foxleap having not seen me leave. I dived into shadow after shadow, my silence coming naturally. This is what I was born to do. I reached their flag again and took it swiftly. Foxleap was still holding them back, but for how long?

As I reached the border unseen again, but quickly realised that Olivenose was missing again. Foxleap was on their side of the border, with Owlclaw trying to catch him. The ginger continuously flipped over to other rocks and tall surfaces, keeping the Shadow boy busy, but he seemed to have forgotten about Olivenose.

Where is she? I scanned our area and saw her heading over to the tree again. I panicked slightly and quickened my pace, avoiding the duo chasing each other. My pace quickened again as Olivenose stepped onto the rock, looking around for the flag. I had reached the base of the tree. Suddenly, her foot fell into the gap and she looked down, startled. She grinned as she reached down to pick it up. I was balanced on a branch as she called to Owlclaw, then began making her way to the edge so she could jump down.

I honestly don't know how I did it. I leapt forward, arms outstretched legs out behind me, sailing through the air. I dropped the flag halfway, then just as I started to dip, I crashed into Olivenose, my hands meeting her shoulders. She threw the flag behind her in alarm, and we both fell towards the floor. I landed on top of her, then rolled off, both of us panting heavily.

"Nice move!" she gasped.

"Congrats on getting so close!" I replied.

We lay there until Foxleap and Owlclaw came over, both panting too. The ginger scrambled up the rock and let out a cheer.

"We won!"

"Well done!" Owlclaw called as we got up. I was still gasping for breath and collapsed against Foxleap as he jumped down. He held me.

"Great job!" he said to me.

"Couldn't have done it without ya."