Appleheart padded out of the warriors den, daydreaming about a certain ThunderClan warrior. A small patch of filtered sunlight warmed her, but nothing could warm her as much as the glow inside her when she thought of Birchclaw. Slowly, Appleheart was beginning to admit to herself that she had never felt this way about any other cat. And she was going to meet him again today!

Seeing Birchclaw yesterday had felt… well, perfect. The fact that he had no mate, he enjoyed talking to her and that he wanted to meet her again… perfect, perfect, perfect!

Appleheart couldn't help purring quietly with joy as she remembered the gleam in his amber eyes as he'd glanced at her before padding away. She licked a paw and began to groom herself, thinking happily of yesterday.

"Hey, Appleheart," a voice beside her meowed.

Appleheart turned, one paw still held to her muzzle. "Oh hello, Smokefoot."

The black tom dipped his head. "I was just wondering…" he scuffed the ground with his paw, then said in a rush. "If you aren't doing anything today, would you like to come hunting with me?"

"I'm sorry, Smokefoot," Appleheart replied, and she was. They'd hunted together before as apprentices and he, being the more senior apprentice, had shown her all the best hunting grounds. "I planned to go hunting by myself."

"Oh," Smokefoot looked slightly hurt and embarrassed. "Oh, okay then." He stood up.

"How about tomorrow?" Appleheart suggested. It would be nice to hunt with Smokefoot again.

"Tomorrow?" Smokefoot repeated, pricking up his ears. "That sounds great." Hesitantly, he began to pad away. "See you later then."

"Bye," Appleheart called after him as he left the camp. Noticing that it was nearly sunhigh, she pulled a thrush out of the fresh-kill pile and devoured it with quick, almost dainty bites. Finished, she glanced at the sky again.

"I'm going hunting," she told Oakfur, who was on guard duty. He nodded, and Appleheart dipped her head and pushed through the gorse tunnel. Outside, she gave herself a brief shake before heading off to meet Birchclaw.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Appleheart sat down at the water's edge, curling her tail around her paws. Birchclaw wasn't there yet.

"Okay," Appleheart whispered to herself, the sound of the river in her ears. "Remember, he probably only likes you as a friend." Nonetheless, she couldn't help smiling to herself.

A twig snapped behind her. Instinctively, apple heart spun around, her fur beginning to bristle. But it was too late.

Large sheathed paws caught her and pushed her into the shallows of the lake. Luckily it was greenleaf, and the water was pleasantly warm.

Appleheart raised her head, spluttering. On the bank, Birchclaw sat looking pleased with himself, his fur dripping from crossing the river. "Hey, Appleheart," he meowed calmly, a gleam in his amber eyes. "I thought you'd fancy a dip in this warm weather. I certainly enjoyed mine."

Appleheart stood up, laughing. She began to wade towards him. "And I thought you should come and join me," she purred as she leapt. She caught his shoulders with sheathed paws and the two cats rolled into the lake.

Birchclaw growled good-naturedly once he'd caught his breath back. He hit out with a paw and splashed Appleheart. Green eyes shining, the pale tabby responded by splashing him, and for a while the two warriors forgot all about their Clans as they acted like they were kits again, play-fighting in the water.

Laughing, Appleheart glanced up at the sky. She stopped. "I'd better go," she meowed quietly, not meeting his eyes. Birchclaw nodded, and the two cats waded towards the bank before shaking themselves dry. The playful atmosphere between the two was gone; Appleheart wished she didn't have to return to her Clan. She wanted to stay here, playing with Birchclaw. But her Clan would miss her if she stayed any longer.

Appleheart touched his nose with hers. "Bye," she murmured, drinking in his welcoming scent. "I had fun today."

"So did I," Birchclaw sounded sad as well. Sorrow glinted in his eyes. "I'll see you later, then."

Appleheart nodded, her throat dry. She began to pad away into the pine forest.

"Appleheart, wait!"

Appleheart turned; Birchclaw was racing over to her. "Birchclaw?" she meowed in surprise. "What is it?"

The light brown tabby pressed his muzzle against hers. "Appleheart, I've been wanting to… I've been waiting to tell you…"

Birchclaw looked her straight in the eyes. Appleheart could see emotion and passion swimming in the depths of his gaze. And then he opened his mouth and said something that Appleheart had been secretly wanting him to say ever since the Gathering.

"I love you."