Chapter Two

Squirrelflight walked quickly to her sister and the new medicine cat, Leafpool. She didn't ever think that she would get used to Cinderpelt being with Starclan. The medicine cat had died that very day, trying to save Sorreltail from a badger. But now she was gone. Squirrelflight sighed and went over to her sister, who was working on healing Dustpelt's injuries.

"Hey, Leafpool," Squirrelflight said, "Firestar said I should come help you. Brightheart will also help when she comes back."

Leafpool glanced up at her sister. "Go find out how many and which injuries Brambleclaw has. Clean them, and come back to me for herbs."

Squirrelflight did not question Leafpool's choice to send her to Brambleclaw. Her sister always new how Squirrelflight was feeling and now though Squirrelflight hadn't realized that she loved Brambleclaw, and not Ashfur, Leafpool knew. All Squirrelflight knew was that she had been much more worried for Brambleclaw during the battle then she was for Ashfur.

She found Brambleclaw lying by the wall of the camp with his eyes closed. Oh, no! Is he hurt worse than I thought? I should have gone to him before Ashfur! Ashfur wasn't hurt this badly. As she thought this, she looked over his wounds. She began to lick clean a nasty looking cut on his check.

Brambleclaw's eyes blinked open and he jumped with surprise.

"Oh, it's just you, Squirrelflight," he murmured, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be taking care of your precious Ashfur?"

Is he upset that it seemed like I cared more about Ashfur? She thought. I know I love Brambleclaw, or Leafpool would never have sent me to him. Does this mean he loves me too? Squirrelflight wondered.

"Shhh," she said soothingly, "I'm just going clean your wounds and then I'll find some herbs for you."

Brambleclaw lied down, but his body was tense.

"I'm not going to hurt you." Squirrelflight said.

"I can't be sure, can I?" Brambleclaw spat. "After all, you hate half of my family."

"That has nothing to do with how I feel about you!" She hissed.

"Oh? Well if that's true, then why do you hate me?" He asked.

"So now it's all my fault is it? How could the great Brambleclaw ever make a mistake? I don't trust Hawkfrost and I don't like how you do, but I was willing to try and ignore it. Then you started acting like you never wanted to talk to me again, when I tried to talk to you. That's when I realized that Hawkfrost was more important to you than I ever was or would be." Squirrelflight said sadly.

"That's not true! If you're talking about the meeting after Tallstar died when I didn't tell you what had happened then you haven't seen my side of it. I'd forgotten that you were mad at me about Hawkfrost and I also thought that it would be better for you, as well as everyone else to hear it from Firestar. After that you never talked to me and whenever I tried to go to you Ashfur would appear or you'd ignore me and walk away… And now you love Ashfur." He stated dejectedly.

"I am not in love with Ashfur!" Squirrelflight felt like screaming it but just managed to keep her voice low. "He's a good friend but that's all he'll ever be to me. For a while I could fool myself into thinking I loved him, but I know I truly don't."

Brambleclaw looked up at her, curiosity shining in his eyes. They seemed to be asking, 'Who do you love now?'

Squirrelflight answered his unasked question, "I love you, stupid furball."