One moon later, Volepaw's POV

I was deep in the waters of our territory's river looking for fish, forcing myself to swim as steadily as possible, even though all I wanted to do was zip through the entire river. But my mentor told me that doing such would scare off all the fish...sigh.

At least my hunting skills were improving each patrol, every now and then I'd catch a bigger fish and my best friend Songpaw would be there to cheer me on. Not saying that Redpaw isn't my best friend, but she's been too busy making goo-goo eyes at my brother now ever since the Queen-Napping Patrol. Well unlike her, I'm actually going to try to make a move on the tom I like: Pikestep.

Sure he's old, but he's also never had a mate. And even though he was kit-napped by RiverClan a long time ago from Twolegplace by a Queen-Napping Patrol, he seems to enjoy our Clan. He would've left otherwise, right? Anyway, I would be dedicated and loving to Pikestep, not to mention a great mother to his kits. And he's got nothing to lose by being with me because I'm awesome!

I enjoyed the slow swim in the river, lifting my head every now and then for air. Then I saw it, a fish almost my size that could feed all the elders and the...queens. I bitterly remembered that my mother was pregnant with what is probably Stormclaw's kits again. Or maybe even a rogue's, but I refused to believe that it was actually a RiverClan tom this time around. And even if it was, she probably doesn't love him.

But I couldn't focus on that right now, I had a big catch in my sights! I leaped out of the water, sprinting through the grass beside the river to catch up to the fish. The rest of the hunting patrol was farther down the river where I would surprise them with my catch. I finally was in reaching distance of the big fish, and I stopped running.

I turned to face the fish in the water and I leaped with my claws unsheathed, slamming into the fish and into the water as I enjoyed the wild struggle the fish gave under my claws. It would only make my victory feel even greater.

I sank my teeth into the fish despite it's wild thrashing and it went limp in my grip. Finally! I dragged the fish out of the water and used my teeth to drag it through the grass until I saw my patrol.

Sweetcloud looked really proud, Darkpuddle and Nettleburr looked indifferent, and Spiderpaw leaped excitedly.

"There's big fish up the river?!" Spiderpaw squealed. "I'm gonna catch one!"

"Spiderpaw, wait!" But my eager friend already took off. Her mentor took off to catch up to her while the rest of us went back to camp. I hoped that Pikestep would be as proud as my mentor was, maybe even prouder.

Redpaw and Flypaw had their heads close when I proudly brought my catch back to camp, and the former looked at me impressed. Brownpaw briefly glanced at my catch before looking for Spiderpaw and Songpaw approached with awe in her soft yellow eyes.

"Wow, awesome catch Volepaw." Songpaw leaned against me and I enjoyed the intimacy with my best friend, but I knew it wouldn't compare to how I will feel seeing Pikestep react.

And lo and behold, there was the older brown tabby tom emerging from the warrior's den. I vaguely felt Songpaw's tail intertwine with mine, and Pikestep looked at me.

He looked away moments later to pick up a piece of fish from the fresh-kill pile, and my heart sunk. I was always there to praise his catches, so why didn't he say anything? I broke away from Songpaw and dared to get closer to my crush.

"Um, Pikestep? Look what I got." I said sheepishly, pushing the big fish towards him. Pikestep glanced in another direction and looked back at me.

"Cool." Pikestep looked back at the piece of fish he was eating and I decided to persist.

"Pikestep, you know I care about-"

"Okay, I can't do this." Pikestep growled, getting up. "Morningpool insisted I let you down gently, but you can't get my hints through your thick skull."

"W-what?" The fish didn't matter anymore, nor all the eyes that were watching the two of us. Instead, the shock and reality of the situation is what was hitting me the hardest. That he didn't even like me as a friend, he hated me.

"Just because I don't have a mate doesn't mean I'd take anybody. I'm not that desperate." Pikestep hissed, then his tone softened. "I think it's best for both of us if you stop flirting with me. Please."

I held back a heartbroken sob, knowing that most of the Clan saw me as the fierce she-cat that could never break. Holding back my tears, I stood tall.

"You're a...fox-heart for talking to an apprentice like that, especially one that's been nothing but nice to you." I growled. "Thank StarClan you don't feel the same since I had no idea this is who you really are."

I spat at the ground near his paws and turned around and left camp as slowly as possible, swam across the river, and climbed onto the tree-bridge. The Island would be the perfect place to cry. I was determined to make sure no cat saw me cry.

I jumped off the other side of the tree-bridge and ran past the clearing and into the trees to finally let out a sob...and then another...then I couldn't stop. Tears fell like a waterfall as it hit me that I was so unlovable. My fierce nature wasn't attractive, it was intimidating. At least that's what I thought at the time.

"...Volepaw?"

That shut me up. I stopped my sobbing sounds completely and stayed behind the tree I was leaning against. I was too hysterical to recognize the voice.

I heard the cat walk closer and I wiped my tears knowing that I couldn't run away. I was still wiping them away when I felt a soft body lean against me: Songpaw.

"You don't have to pretend that you're invincible around me Volepaw." Songpaw whispered. "Any cat would be hurting in this situation."

I leaned on my best friend's shoulder, appreciating her support. The sun was setting and we watched the sun fall beneath the trees and the moon took its place.

"We should probably..." I realized that I actually didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay right here with Songpaw and ignore the pain in my heart. "Could you tell Stonewater that we're spending the night here?"

"Oh! Okay!" Songpaw's ears perked up and she left my side, returning after a while. "He says that it's fine."

I sprawled out on the cool grass and looked at the beautiful moon hanging over the two of us. Songpaw was on her side, letting her paws hang adorably in the air. Amused, I rested my head on her shoulder and knew that I would be just fine.

Oddly enough, the fear of being unloved didn't hurt me anymore that night.

This story will be going on hiatus until Spring 2018 as well as the rest of my ongoing stories. The reason for this is because I am working on my very first original book and I'll need all the time I can get when I'm not juggling college or my job. More info will be revealed on my profile in October.