A/N

Okay, we ARE skipping three moons so prepare yourselves for a blast… to the future!

Hawkpool dashed around her four kits, desperately attempting to smooth their ruffled pelts. It seemed like only the sunrise before she'd separated Snailkit and Reedkit from each other from their first major fight, and only a sunrise ago since her siblings were born. But that was three moons ago.

"Mooooooom!" Whitekit groaned loudly, squirming away from her and washing her ears himself. "I can do it myself."

"I know you can, darling." Hawkpool meowed through Hazelkit's fur. "But I do it better."

"Ah, no." Birchkit stopped Hawkpool. "I already groomed my pelt."

"Good, good." Hawkpool nodded briskly. She looked around frantically. "Where's Reedkit?"

"Here! Here I am!" He called out, clearly struggling. He was halfway through the protective barrier of the nursery.

"Oh!" Hawkpool cried out in shock, pulling him out, though several brambles stuck to his thick fur.

"Snailkit again?" Hazelkit asked, daintily tossing her head back. Reedkit sighed and nodded, wincing as Hawkpool plucked the last thorn from his pelt.

"She's such a pain in my-" Reedkit cut himself off. "Um, neck. Pain in my neck." He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Oh, what's that? Oakstar's calling us, bye mom!" He darted up towards the Greatledge.

Hawkpool sighed. "Birchkit, can you promise me something?" She turned to the brown mottled tabby tom.

"Sure, Mom." He replied calmly.

"Stay like this." Hawkpool hugged him tightly. "Always be my Birchkit."

He laughed softly. "I'm becoming an apprentice today. But I promise not to forget about you." He squeezed her in a tight hug and pulled back. "I gotta go."

"Whitekit, Birchkit, Hazelkit, Reedkit, Batkit and Shadekit, you have all reached your sixth moon and it has come time for you to be apprenticed. From this day forward, until you gain your warrior names, you shall be known as Whitepaw, Birchpaw, Hazelpaw, Reedpaw, Batpaw and Shadepaw." Oakstar yowled, his eyes shining proudly on his grandkits.

"Your mentors will be Shadeleap, Briarfrost, Snowfall, Splashspirit, Spidertail and Flowerpelt. They all have shown bravery and intelligence, and I hope they pass all they know to you." Oakstar instructed, a small grin on his face.

Whitepaw stood on the tips of his paws to reach Shadeleap's nose, a sly smirk on his mouth. Birchkit showed no hint of hesitation as he bumped noses with Briarfrost, flicking his gaze to Hawkpool for approval. Hazelpaw excitedly butted noses with Snowfall, the white tom even looking slightly happy. Reedpaw felt excitement bubbling in his whole being, he could hardly move. Splashspirit bumped his nose with a slight giggle. Batpaw looked pleased with mentor, Spidertail mildly surprised that Batpaw was almost as tall as him as they touched noses. Flowerpelt gently coaxed Shadepaw on, the greyish tabby timidly butting her new mentor's nose.

The group of new apprentices dispersed quickly once the ceremony finished. Batpaw and Spidertail exited camp instantly with Whitepaw and Shadeleap following them to tour the territory.

"See, Mother?" Birchpaw purred as he padded up to Hawkpool. "Briarfrost is real nice. I know you two are close friends." He nuzzled his mother's cheek briefly. "I'm gonna go tour the territory with Hazelpaw and Reedpaw. I'll see you later."

"B-bye…?" Hawkpool muttered, frowning sadly. Pebbletail padded up to her, butting her to the side as he purposely, sloppily sat next to her.

"They grow up eventually, you know." Pebbletail snorted in amusement. Hawkpool wrinkled her nose at him stubbornly.

"But I don't want them too!" Hawkpool whined, burying her muzzle in the crevice between his shoulder and neck. "It's not fair!" She cried, her voice muffled by his pelt.

"But they have to." Pebbletail lifted her chin to his eye level. "They gotta become their own cats now. You'll always hold a special place in their hearts." He purred, kissing her cheek quickly. "How do you feel?"

Hawkpool gasped shortly in surprise, swatting his muzzle in response, though Pebbletail just purred again and stuck his tongue out at her.

"I, but, um, it's, uh, you see, I-I, nothing…" Hawkpool stammered, speechless as her mind fizzed out.

Pebbletail sniggered slightly. "And now you know how you used to make me think and act and feel."

Hawkpool regained her composure, raising an eyebrow at the grey tabby. "Used to?" Great, just at the time I start to like him he doesn't like me. Fan-freaking-tastic.

Pebbletail looked away bashfully. "Well… I dunno… Maybe a bit of both. But…. on the contrary, there's nothing to stop me from doing this."

Pebbletail leaned forward, closing his eyes as he gave Hawkpool's lips a quick, sweet peck. He lingered for a while, Hawkpool too stunned to move. He nipped at her lip a second time, smirking as he pulled away.

Hawkpool stared at him, her eyes round like a kit's and her mouth slightly open. Pebbletail chuckled to himself, trotting away with a wink.

Hawkpool flopped over on the ground as she felt all common sense fly away with the kiss. A giggly sigh escaped her, a moony look on her face as she stared at the faint, wispy Green-leaf clouds.

What in the name of StarClan am I doing?! Hawkpool realized, dragging her paws over her face shamefully. It's like I've completely forgotten about Thornsnag and Jaytalon. I mean, Pebbletail's… pretty hot now that I think about it and he's been there for me and- NO! Ugh, I'm a fool. I can't. Can't. Can't C-A-N-N-O-T! Get it together, Hawkpool. She scolded herself, sighing in frustration.

Oh, but he's so slimming- no. Wait, his amber eyes. It's like my new favorite color… I could stare at them all day- no, no. Stop it. Hawkpool shook her head viciously. I need to stop.

Hawkpool charged out into the forest, ignoring the oddly bright colors standing out to her. "Runningclaw, Badgerfoot, Juniperfur!" She called out. "Need any help with Ivypaw and Antpaw?"

"We're good!" Juniperfur replied, scrambling out the Hollow. "Splashspirit's helping us as well with Reedpaw. Why don't you hunt? The clan's been so busy with so many kits we've hardly had time to catch prey."

"Aye, aye." Hawkpool agreed. "No problem. I haven't swam since I taught Acornheart how to swim a few moons ago."

Hawkpool dove repeatedly under the water, catching fish after fish. Heaving herself onto the shore for what seemed like the millionth time that day, she stared at her hefty pile of around eight to ten fish. She had been fishing all day since sunhigh, and the sun had begun to just set.

Burying half her catch and carrying the other half in her jaws, she quickly sprinted to camp, peeking through the barrier hesitantly. Pebbletail was waiting by the corner.

Holding her breath, Hawkpool stalked through the barrier, holding her head high so the fish blocked her sights towards Pebbletail.

She trotted the fresh-kill in the pile, finding herself gazing at Pebbletail again. Is it okay…? To like another tom after… what happened? Hawkpool wondered to herself as she slowed to a trot whilst making her way to her buried prey.

YES! Her heart screaming, pounding in her chest and leaping in her throat. NO! It would be wrong. A disgrace to Thornsnag and Jaytalon! Thornsnag died for you! Jaytalon… well, he almost killed you. Okay, a disgrace to Thornsnag! Her mind rationalized.

Ugh, if only I wasn't so stupid and selfish… Hawkpool thought, flopping down in a pile of cattails, the tips tickling at her nose.

"I at least gotta take this back to camp." Hawkpool muttered to herself, cramming the various prey in her mouth and pelting back to camp again.

"Hawkpool!" Splashspirit called out. "You've been missing all day! Where'd you go?"

Hawkpool shrugged to her former apprentice, dropping the prey in the pile. "Fishing. Been by the river all day."

Splashspirit's jaw dropped. "You basically did the job of our hunting patrol."

Hawkpool shifted her weight, swiping a paw over her face. "I guess I did. Oops. I'm gonna go out again."

"But it's almost moonhigh!" Splashspirit protested, jumping in front of the former queen. "You can't go out now."

"Chill, Splashspirit. I'll be back before the sun sets." Hawkpool insisted, swerving around the black spotted she cat. Of course, Hawkpool knew this was a lie. The sun would already have set once she got to the Mossy Hollow. Splashspirit blocked her former mentor's path.

"Hawkpool, come on," Splashspirit pleaded. "I've known you since before you even joined RiverClan. I know something's bothering you."

Hawkpool let out a heavy sigh. "Fine. It's... it's Pebbletail."

Splashpsirit cocked her head. "What about him?"

The silky black she cat frowned. "That's just the thing. I don't know. He just seems so... different lately. Like, well, attractive."

Splashspirit's face erupted in a wide, cheeky smile. "Oh my StarClan! You loooooove him!" Splashspirit cooed, her eyes sparkling as she shook Hawkpool till she was dizzy.

Hawkpool pushed her former apprentice off her. "No, I do not love Pebbletail! That's ridiculous..." Hawkpool cleared her throat awkwardly. Splashspirit scoffed.

"Puh-lease, Hawkpool. He loves you, and you love him. You said it yourself that he's attractive," Splashspirit pointed out. Hawkpool hung her head and nervously chewed on a claw.

"I..." Hawkpool gulped. "But what about Thornsnag? or Jaytalon?"

Splashspirit rested her tail on Hawkpool's shoulder. "That squirrely ThunderClanner tried to burn you alive. He doesn't deserve your love."

Hawkpool shrugged in agreement. "But still, there's Thornsnag! I don't want him to feel like I'm abandoning him!"

Splashspirit sighed, sitting down and patting her tail for Hawkpool to join her. "He's gone, honey. Tell me, what would he say if he was here now and saw you moping over him, after all this time?"

Hawkpool didn't hesitate to reply. She and Thornsnag knew each other like their own pelts. "He'd tell me to be happy like we were together. He hated seeing cats he loved in pain. He'd say to move on, that we'll meet again, and to love again." Hawkpool stopped herself, clearing her throat nervously. "But, I can't love again."

Splashspirit raised an eyebrow to Hawkpool. "What's stopping you? Or better yet, who's stopping you? If the answer is 'I don't know', then the only cat standing in your way, is yourself. You are the only one in the way of your own happiness, Hawkpool."

The black she cat groomed her chest in embarrassment and shamefulness. "It can't be Pebbletail, can it? I used to hate him! He was so annoying!"

"Wasn't that the same way with you and Thornsnag?" Splashspirit pointed out. Hawkpool looked conflicted, chewing on a claw again. She stood up and waved her tail in a farewell.

"I just need to think." Hawkpool murmured as she slunk through the barrier for the third time, turning her heather red eyes up the dotted sky, the plants and flowers around her illuminated by the silver moonlight of an almost full moon.

Colors blurred around her, the stars shining down on her slick, damp pelt, creating a starry like shimmer.

Time's been ticking, hearts are runnin'

Think that Cupid's up to somethin'

You asked me how I feel, I say nothin'

But lately color seems so bright

And the stars light up the night

My feet they feel so light

Hawkpool leapt from mossy rock to rock teetering around, staring up at the sky, content under the shimmering stars of the navy blue sky, the moonlight casting eerie glows on the heather and lavender.

I'm ignoring all the signs

I keep on frontin', yeah, I stay bluffin'

I keep you wonderin'

Keep you huntin' for my lovin'

But I crave us huggin'

Yeah, I stay stubborn

Cause I can't admit that you got all the strings

And know just how to tug 'em

I think I'm in love again

(My head, yeah, you're in my head)

I think I'm in love again

(My head, yeah, you're in my head)

I didn't think it could be true

Let alone that it would be you

I think I'm in love again

(I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love)

My heart's' pacin', I'm confused, I'm dazin'

I saw something I never seen in you, it's got me shakin'

I must be hallucinatin'

I hear it happens, I'm just sayin'

Babe I'm just sayin'

Someone give me some paper

Someone give me some crayons

I'm feeling like a child, I need something to play on

I'm trying hard to trust you when you say, "Give me your hand."

Baby, I'm fallin', I hope you catch me when I land

(Artist is Kat Dahlia; I Think I'm in Love)

Hawkpool sprawled on the mossy floor, sighing dreamily. He helped me move on. Sure he was strict, but I would have done the same, maybe even been tougher. Splashspirit was right...

"Hawkpool, there you are!"

Hawkpool turned at the voice in time to see Pebbletail slide down into the Hollow and sit beside her. "Yep, here I am." Hawkpool replied.

They sat in silence for several moments, before Hawkpool turned on her back, staring into his amber eyes.

"You like me." Hawkpool stated, though she meant it as a question. Pebbletail gawked at her, but he dipped his head, closing his eyes

"Yeah." Pebbletail muttered, twiddling with a scrap of moss between his claws.

"...More than a friend?" Hawkpool squeaked, her voice barely audible.

Pebbletail swallowed the lump in his throat, his heart thumping so strongly he was surprised she couldn't hear it. "Yes." He admitted, his voice a hoarse whisper. "B-but you still love Thornsnag an-and Jaytalon s-so I don't mean to get in th-the way." He quickly added, shuffling his paws and diverting his eyes to across the other side of the Hollow.

"I…. I think I'm in love again." Hawkpool mumbled, resting her head on his shoulder.

"O-oh?" Pebbletail faltered, peering at her. "Lemme guess. Um, Acornheart? He seems quite a lot like Thornsnag." Pebbletail said, smiling encouraging at her. "You do what makes you happy, Hawkpool."

"This makes me happy." Hawkpool purred, briskly kissing his lips and pressing her nose to his and slowly blinking her eyes. "You make me happy, Pebbletail."'

Splashspirit was soooo right.

(Reedpaw POV; earlier that day)

"Birchpaw, you're so slow!" Hazelpaw teased, running circles around her brother.

"I just don't feel comfortable leaving mom all alone. She looked real sad." Birchpaw snapped, narrowing his eyes at Hazelpaw.

"Pfftt!" Hazelpaw scoffed. "We had to leave the nursery at some point. Now, come on. I wanna kick some WindClan butt."

"Hey, where'd Whitepaw go?" Reedpaw asked, glancing around their territory.

"He went off with Batpaw soon as he could. They're probably already finished touring the territory and already learning how to fight!" Hazelpaw growled, digging her claws into the dryness of the Green-leaf ground.

"Fighting isn't everything a clan cat does, Hazelpaw." Briarfrost scolded, narrowing her deep blue eyes at the grey-brown she cat. Hazelpaw groaned and rolled her eyes.

"Whatever." Hazelpaw mumbled, dragging her tail as they reached the Hollow.

"This is the Mossy Hollow. Apprentices train and learn battles moves here because of the moss to cushion a fall. It's also a long way down so be careful when you're running. Many have fallen in." Briarfrost explained, pulling Hazelpaw back from the edge.

Hazelpaw huffed, spotting Juniperfur and Badgerfoot with their apprentices in the Hollow. "Hi, Ivypaw!" Hazelpaw shouted, waving her paw in the air. Ivypaw flicked her tail response, too busy for a formal reply as she ducked a blow from Antpaw and flipped him over on his belly, but he shoved her off easily.

"Let's keep going." Snowfall hissed, his pale icy blue eyes slitted at Ivypaw. Hazelpaw frowned at him, now glaring at her mentor and Ivypaw.

"Blech!" Hazelpaw spat as she stepped in a squishy blot of mud. "Yuck!" She squealed, shaking her paw frantically.

Splashspirit chuckled in amusement. "Looks like we got ourselves a drypaw."

"Am not!" Hazelpaw protested squeakily, swiping her paw repeatedly over the dark green grass. "Mud's just disgusting."

"Yeah, and water's wet." Reedpaw meowed sarcastically, flicking his sister's nose as he waded through the sticky mud, Birchpaw following him confidently. "Drypaw."

Hazelpaw suppressed a frustrated squeal, holding her breath in disdain as she stepped in the mud. "Ick." She groaned, grateful to be back on dry ground when she crossed the mud, frantically grooming the mud off her paws and legs.

"These are the Wetlands." Snowfall described. "Though this time of year, it's not very plentiful with prey. You're more likely to find toads and lizards rather than frogs, and those two aren't very tasteful."

"Aren't frogs and toads the same thing?" Hazelpaw spoke up, raising an eyebrow at her mentor.

Snowfall scowled at her. "No, they're not. Toads are a greyer color with lumpy skin and are chewier whilst frogs are more greenish with smooth skin and are riper."

Hazelpaw rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

"Let's head towards the river. Maybe you can pick some fishing skills from Splashspirit." Briarfrost meowed, eyeing Birchpaw. "Hurry up!"

"Yes, Briarfrost!" He chided, casting a final glance at a bush with spiky leaves.

"If herbs interest you so much, maybe you should've become Morningfeather's apprentice instead, since Honeysnow retired after that badger attack." Briarfrost purred teasingly. Birchpaw flushed with embarrassment.

"Her apprentice is Breezepaw." Birchpaw mumbled softly.

"Medicine cats can take two apprentices you know?" Splashspirit replied to Birchpaw. "Puddlewhisker told me about how Honeysnow had a brother train with her under Alderleaf. He died before he got his full name, though."

"I'm not that interested in being a medicine cat! It just looked funny is all." Birchpaw protested, his face hot with chagrin.

"Stop fussing around and hurry over here." Snowfall snapped.

"You're not my mentor…" Birchpaw muttered, following them towards the shore.

"Why do we even need borders? Why can't we all just get along without them?" Reedpaw inquired, mesmerized by the rippling waters.

"Because without them we'd be in chaos." Splashspirit replied to her apprentice. "It marks our territory, and where other clans can't steal our food."

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the fish furs." Came a mocking voice.

"Rabbitpaw, that's no way to speak to RiverClan." A stricter voice scolded the apprentice, the patrol appearing from behind the undergrowth.

"Nice to see you, Rainstorm." Briarfrost bowed her head.

"Who are you?" Reedpaw queried boldly, his blue-green eyes wide with interest at Rainstorm's scarred face.

"The ThunderClan deputy." The blue grey tom replied mildly. "We'll be moving on. Just a hunting patrol." He paused, tilting his head at Birchpaw, Hazelpaw and Reedpaw. "Tell your mother I said hello. Birchpaw, you look a lot like your mother's brother. And Reedpaw, you're almost the spitting image of your father."

"Foxbreathed squirrel-chasers." Hazelpaw coughed under breath, shooting a glare to Rabbitpaw.

The deputy dipped his head again, leading the patrol off. "No stealing prey!" Snowfall hissed after him.

"No worries. We 'foxbreathed squirrel-chasers' have no interest in your scaley fish." Rainstorm chuckled, flicking his tail in dismissal, his patrol disappearing behind a cluster of blueberry bushes, Hazelpaw gaping at him in shock.

"How'd he hear me?" Hazelpaw cried out in disbelief. Briarfrost purred in amusement.

"Back when I was a young apprentice, and before Snowfall and Splashspirit were born, Fallenstar launched an attack on all the clans. Rainstorm- then he was Rainpaw- he took one of Fallenstar's lives, but she brutally scarred his face, losing eyesight in one eye. When you lose one sense, the others are heightened." Briarfrost clarified. Hazelpaw different shaded blue eyes glowed with impressment.

"How'd he know me and my littermates?" Birchpaw asked suspiciously.

"Who cares?" Reedpaw scoffed. "He knew our father!"

"Rainstorm merely recognized you, because he knew both your parents. And because your mother, is his sister." Splashspirit purred at the trio's jaws drop in disbelief.

"But, he-he's ThunderClan!" Hazelpaw objected, her eyes wide in shock.

Briarfrost chuckled at their puzzlement. "Hawkpool was stolen from RiverClan as a kit and raised in ThunderClan until she was a new warrior. She then switched allegiances and joined us with your father, who came with her, Thornsnag."

"Are we ThunderClan?" Reedpaw asked meekly.

Snowfall shrugged. "Not enough for a battle over you." His voice was light but his eyes practically were the color of loathing.

"Let's move on to Sunning Rocks." Splashspirit cast a glance at the trio. "I'm sure you three haven't walked this much ever."

"I remember before we came here we walked a lot." Birchpaw spoke up, matching Briarfrost's pace.

The group of cats followed the river upstream, the forest on the other side beginning to flow out into the moor on the left, and into a dim, pine forest to the right.

"What do scent?" Snowfall demanded, his icy gaze settling on Hazelpaw firmly. SHe lifted her head, parting her jaws.

"Well, I recognize ShadowClan. They haven't marked their borders in a while though." Hazelpaw tipped her head to the left. "That airiness must be WindClan. They smell fresh, so I think a patrol recently went by."

"And you're just a beginning apprentice?" Briarfrost gawked at the grey-brown she cat.

Hazelpaw gushed at the attention. "I've always had sharp nose…"

"So does Hawkpool. She was always first to scent prey when we were hunting." Splashspirit meowed wistfully. "Your mother was a keen mentor."

"You were mentored by our mom?" Reedpaw asked, cocking his head at his own mentor. SHe nodded.

"I guess this is your grandfather's sense of humor. Your mom mentored me. I'm mentoring you. Wouldn't it be funny if you mentored one of my kits?" Splashspirit purred contently.

Reedpaw chuckled, stopping himself as they approached a large clearing with wide, flat boulders in the center, warm with sunlight.

"This is Sunning Rocks. Beware; this time year, snakes like the hide in the crevices, so we prefer to steer clear of here." Splashspirit twitched her whiskers in amusement as Hazelpaw neared the stones, but quickly grew worried and tugged the apprentice back. "Your recklessness is going to get you killed one day, Hazelpaw."

"I prefer to be called daring, courageous, or brave." Hazelpaw protested, squirming away from the young warrior.

"Bravery isn't walking up to venomous and poisonous snakes. It's just stupidity." Snowfall snapped angrily, but genuine worry flooded his normally vicious stare.

"U-um… S-sorry…?" Hazelpaw muttered, studying her paws.

Snowfall sighed. "I may hate my family, and they may hate me, but I have no quarrel with you. You're my apprentice. I have every right to worry about you. I-it doesn't mean anything else." Snowfall ended with an unconvincing stammer, twitching his ears as he looked away.

Hazelpaw smirked, purring as she pressed against him in a cliche manner. "Oh, thank you for saving me!" She placed a paw to her head, feining a swoon.

Snowfall purred raspily, stopping short. Hazelpaw tipped her head. "Something wrong?"

"N-no, I just…" Snowfall's eyes were damp. "I haven't purred, or even really smiled since I was a newbie apprentice… I forgot how it felt." He admitted with a small grin. "Thanks, Haze."

Hazelpaw shook her head. "Don't call me that."

"Too bad, Haze. You're stuck with it now."

A/N

Awwww, aren't Hazelpaw and Snowfall a cute couple? No? Too bad. I'm still trying to get in the groove of HawkXPebble. I could still use some help in the reviews, but please no hate.