I blinked awake to see Nightshade padded up with two mice in her jaws. A rabbit was laying beside me. I blinked and yawned. Nightshade dropped the mice and licked the top of my head.

"C'mon. We should head back to camp."

I nodded and pulled myself to my paws. I lifted the two mice in my teeth and Nightshade lifted the rabbit. We padded back through the trees in a comfortable silence, brushing against each other. We moved away slightly as we entered camp. She laid her rabbit on the fresh-kill pile and I took my mice to the Elder's den. I laid one in front of Ravenpaw and Barley and the other in front of Dogtooth, who had retired early because of blindness. I slipped back out of the den and walked towards the Warrior's Den. I gathered moss and built a nest, next to a nest that smelled like Nightshade. I stepped back out and laid in the sun, the heat warming my fur. I could almost fall asleep. I shook away the sleepiness and looked around. Nightshade was speaking quietly with Briarpaw, Tawnyfoot's new apprentice. The two she-cats laughed quietly.

"Hey Shadowfrost!"

I turned to see Snowclaw trotting in my direction. He plopped down and trailed his tail down my spine. I shivered and batted the tom's tail. He pulled his tail back and smiled.

"Y'know, I've liked you for a while..."

I blinked and pulled myself to my feet. Snowclaw followed.

"Hey!"

I turned and my hackles began to raise.

"Well, I don't like you like that. Please just leave me alone."

I padded quickly away. I heard Snowclaw trotting after me. I quickened my pace. I felt someone leaping on top of me, trying to bowl me over. The sting of claws being raked down my spine kicked anger into my mind. I spun around and swatted the tom in the face. He growled angrily and tried to attack again.

"You will mate with me, it's destiny!"

I hissed and backed towards the medicine den. Snowclaw ran towards me. He leaped, claws outstretched, teeth bared. I leaped out of the way and tried to call out to Shadestar and Specklefur. I heard a hiss as a black streak shot past me and tackled Snowclaw. Nightshade hissed in her brother's face.

"Stay off of her."

He nodded and Nightshade climbed off of him. She padded over to me. After quickly sniffing my wounds, she guided me to Tawnyfoot's den. Tawnyfoot glanced back at us, her graying muzzle tinted green from sorting herbs. She grabbed cobwebs and trotted over, bandaging the wounds Snowclaw had inflicted. Nightshade had her nose pressed into my side. I turned my head and nuzzled her side. Tawnyfoot stepped back and sat down.

"That should do it."

I nodded in thanks and padded out into the clearing. Shadestar and Specklefur were talking quietly with Snowclaw. I padded to the Warrior's Den. Nightshade followed me to the den where Swallowwing, Swanfeather, and Rednose meowed in concern. I just shook my head and laid in my nest, stiffness seeping into my bones. Nightshade shifted her nest closer to mine and laid down, her back pressed against mine. I slipped into sleep, a warm purr caught in my throat.

I blinked awake in the middle of the night, yawning silently. Nightshade was laid in her nest, but her eyes were open. I stroked my tail over her back, standing and pressing my nose into her neck. Nightshade looked over at me and stood, following me silently and out to the camp. I padded silently out to the forest, walking through the trees to the lake. I sat, tail wrapped around my paws. Nightshade sat beside me and leaned against my side, staring out at the moon-lit lake. She looked sad and far away.

"What are we going to tell the Clan?"

For a moment I wondered what she meant, but soon it dawned on me. Our relationship. I shook my head.

"We don't have to. It'll be our little secret."