Here is Birchkit and Applekit, sometime after they become apprentices. It was suggested by Rosetail's Loyalty. And everyone knows how they touched noses in Starlight (aka the CUTEST MOMENT IN THE ENTIRE BOOK). That's all the evidence I need. They are just so CUTE...
Sorry. I love this couple. Also, new rule: NO CATS THAT ALREADY HAVE MATES. (ie Firestar, Ferncloud). I will, however, do a fic with the two before one of them (or both of them) get their mates, or with one missing the other one since they already have a mate. (ie Dusty and Sandstorm, or Stormfur and Squirrelflight).
"All alone, Brambleclaw?" Birchpaw faced his mentor, shuffling his paws in a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
"Yes. Up the ShadowClan border. Renew the scent markings, and see if you can catch yourself a vole, while you're at it." Brambleclaw bent so that he was eye-level with the apprentice. "It'll be your first time out in the forest alone. I know you're ready."
Assured by the warm certainty in the other cat's eyes, Birchpaw leaped up. "Okay!"
Brambleclaw let out a mrrow of laughter and gave the gray cat an affectionate lick. "Remember to report to Graystripe when you get back!"
Birchpaw leaped down the thorn tunnel, out into the forest. He skidded to a halt once he had cleared the stone hollow and started to walk more slowly, falling into the crouch that Brambleclaw had taught him.
"I'm not afraid of any ShadowClan warriors!" he growled to himself. "Feel my teeth, Blackstar!"
He stepped on a twig and the snap made him let out an involuntarily squeak of alarm. A bit ashamed by this, he continued on more warily.
The birds sang from the trees, and the young cat could hear the scrabbling of mice in the undergrowth. It was truly greenleaf, and Birchpaw's claws unsheathed as he thought of coming back to camp with some fresh-kill to present to his mother Ferncloud. Maybe he could even impress his prickly father, Dustpelt!
Slowly, the forest began to switch to pine, and a pungent odor of ShadowClan entered Birchpaw's nose. He blinked as he neared the border and moved silently, beginning to wonder what would happen if he really did run into some ShadowClan warriors.
He dared to sit up and look across the border, wrinkling his nose at the wet barren of ShadowClan territory. "How can they ever stand to live there?" he mewed to himself.
Without warning, a heavy weight dropped on him from behind. Birchpaw let out a yowl of alarm as he felt claws grip his sides and struggled madly, to no avail. He was just beginning to panic when he heard the friendly purr in his ear. "I see your moves haven't gotten any better."
She leaped off of him and strolled across so that she was standing opposite of him, and Birchpaw blinked twice before he recognized her. "Applekit?"
"Applepaw," she corrected, with a touch of pride. "And you're Birchpaw now, right?"
"Yeah!" Caught by sudden joy, Birchpaw leaped towards her and licked her face. "I haven't seen you since the Clans seperated!"
The reddish-gold she-cat blinked her yellow eyes at him. "I know. I'm too newly apprenticed to go to Gatherings yet."
"Me too." Birchpaw stepped back awkwardly. "So, how is ShadowClan? And Toadkit and Marshkit?"
"Marshpaw and Toadpaw are fine," she answered with a wave of her tail. "Arguing about which one of them will be the best ShadowClan warrior when the time comes."
"Well, they'd better watch out for me!" Birchpaw bent down. "I'm going to be the best fighter ThunderClan's ever seen!"
"Oh, right." Applepaw twitched her whiskers. "if I had really been after you, you would have been fresh-kill there!"
"I'll show you fresh-kill!" Birchpaw leaped at her and they tumbled over across the border, spitting and hissing playfully, their claws sheathed and their eyes dancing with amusement. When at last Applepaw dislodged Birchpaw and threw him off he landed against a tree, panting hard. She stood over him. "See? Fresh-kill."
"Okay, so I've got a bit left to learn." Birchpaw pushed himself to his paws. "But I'll be a warrior yet."
"I'm sure you will." Applepaw looked at him. The humor was gone from her eyes, but not the warmth. "You'll be a great warrior, Birchpaw. I'm sure of it."
"Er..." Birchpaw's flecked gray fur tingled, and he found himself having difficulty meeting her eyes. "So how's your training going?" he asked, trying to break through the moment.
Soon the awkwardness was forgotten as the two young cats discussed their training and mentors, worries and ambitions. Birchpaw was greatly relieved to have someone to share all this with- there weren't any other cats in ThunderClan his age, and he was the only apprentice. Applepaw had Toadpaw and Marshpaw to confide in, but she too seemed to enjoy talking as much as he did.
Not once did the young cats think about how they were from different Clans, and how they shouldn't be meeting. How can it be bad? wondered Birchpaw. We all came together to find our new home, after all. None of the Clan leaders had a problem with our friendship then. It shouldn't change!
Finally the sun began to set, and Applepaw looked towards it regretfully. "I should go. I'm on hunting duty and have to pick up my fresh-kill."
Birchpaw nodded. "Brambleclaw will think I've been eaten by a badger if he doesn't see me back soon."
Applepaw stepped closer, touching her nose to Birchpaw's cheek. "See you, then."
"Definately." Birchpaw nuzzled her, wondering how the ShadowClan scent, which had always seemed so putrid, could suddenly be so comforting.
Applepaw took a pace towards the border, and then she looked back. For a moment that may have been a heartbeat, or perhaps several moons, she watched Birchpaw. Then she put her paws completely into ShadowClan territory. Within a few moments the reddish-gold apprentice had been swallowed up by the marshes.
Birchpaw was still motionless. He wasn't quite sure why, but he found his paws rooted to the spot, his green eyes trained on Applepaw's disappearing form, her bright fur like fallen leaves. When she disappeared altogether, he still felt that warm fire inside him. It burned in his heart and belly, leaving behind thoughts and feelings that he found that he could not even begin to understand. Not quite yet.
Okay, say it with me now: AWWWW!