chapter three

have you seen the kits yet? grasswhisker purred as she slid out of the nurserey. splashwing nodded happily. there're so cute! It had been less than a moon since their warrior ceremony, and dreampool, a pretty pure white she-cat had given birth to darkwhisker's kits the night before. has she named them yet? the lithe, black-and-white warrior asked. grasswhisker shook her head. but I hope she does soon. the sooner they're named, the sooner they're apprenticed. and starclan knows every warrior wants a apprentice! splashwing chuckled. are you sure that we're ready? a 'paw is a big responsibility! her sister sniffed. I can handle it, she mewed. it's not like being a mother! you can disipline them more.

the she-cat shook her head. well, I think that the mentors have it easier. they only have to deal with them for what, four moons? five? the mothers have to look after them for six moons, sometimes more! imagine that!

the silver tabby shrugged. whatever.

rolling her eyes, splashwing stalked off to her den. inside, she found swiftclaw.

things had changed between them ever since her warrior ceremony. not as many she-cats liked him any more. he was only three moons older, but cats like spiritbreeze and birdheart had begun to mature. birdheart was expecting shadowclaw's kits, spiritbreeze and leafstorm were now mates, and... willowflower was still single. but none of this changed swiftclaw's or splashwing's popularity. toms still hung around, but swiftclaw and splashwing had become friends. she had been cautious at first, and she still got jealous glares from she-cats at camp. the pretty she-cat knew that her clanmates were waiting for them to become mates. still, she hung back. she was still barely a warrior, and she knew that if she became mates with swiftclaw, she would gain the strong hatred and anger of almost every single she-cat in the clan.

but there was one female that hated splashwing the most.

that cat was willowflower.

splashwing could hear the white feline spreading rumors about her around camp. she had heard things like, is it true you cheated on your assessment? or, do you really get special help from the leader when you hunt?

they were all fake, of course. but willowflower's hatred? not so much.

it was not that swiftclaw liked willowflower or anything, but it was a open secret that she had had a mad crush for the tom ever since he was born. which was weird, since he was half a moon older than her, but whatever.

the black and white she-cat found herself staring into swiftclaw's blue eyes. she quickly glanced away, but the tom's gaze still lingered in her mind. she padded next to him.

look, we need to talk, she meowed. and she could see recognition dawn on him.

I think... I think-

but swiftclaw interrupted.

will you be my mate? he blurted out.

splashwing was quite taken aback. she had had toms ask her this before, but she had turned them down. she had never had any shred of feelings for any of them. but now... I... I... splashwing stuttered. the tom's gaze fell. I should have known you would refuse.

No! No, I'm just shocked! she replied hastily.

are you too shocked to answer me? swiftclaw muttered.

splashwing locked her gaze with his. she had to know if he acually loved her, or if he just liked her like all the other toms did.

do you really love me?

swiftclaw met her eyes.

yes.