Twigfall sniffed at a bush near the ShadowClan border and recognized the scent of a cat from a memory long ago. Then she remembered it. The scent belonged to the pair of green eyes she'd seen peering at her through the undergrowth when she was just barely an apprentice.

Then she spotted them-the eyes she'd spotted that day.

"Who are you and why are you so close to the border?" The eyes blinked at her and then rose-the cat was standing up.

"I could ask you the same thing," the dark cat murmured. Twigfall hissed.

"I'm not going to play these games with you! Who are you?" The cat slipped out of the bushes and faced her. He was tall and lean, and his fur was black as night. His muscles rippled beneath his pelt, making Twigfall shiver, yet something was oddly inviting about him.

"Nighthawk. I'm new to ShadowClan; well, I was when I first saw you." He took a step forward and Twigfall took a step back. "So who are you?"

"Twigfall." He smiled.

"Nice name. I like it." He stared into her eyes, his gaze unwavering. Then he heard a rustle in the bushes. "I need to see you later. Please meet me here at moonhigh." Twigtail gave him a look telling him he was nuts. "Please."

His pelt disappeared into the trees just as Molepelt jumped out of the bushes.

"Hey Twigfall." He smiled. The tabby warrior smiled back.

"Hey Molepelt. Nice to see you. It's been so long since we've talked civilly." She purred. Molepelt looked down at his paws and his ears flattened back onto his head.

"Listen, I know you've liked me, and I used to like you, but I have Gingerpaw now," his voice cracked with sorrow. "I'm sorry, Twigfall, but I just can't leave her. I just wanted you to know exactly where we stand so you can move on." Twigfall flattened her ears to her head and hissed.

"I already know you love Gingerpaw, you mouse-brain! I've been moving on. Not everyone obsesses about you," she snapped.

"Fine, be that way!" Molepelt turned his back on her and left. She didn't feel bad at all for the way she reacted-he deserved to be yelled at.

When she looked back into the bushes where Nighthawk had disappeared to, she saw a flash of green eyes and then pure darkness.

Sootheart laid in the sun with Rosepetal, sharing tongues. Twigfall saw the sparkle in her brother's eye and the way she returned it with the same passion. The brown warrior knew that Rosepetal would be having kits soon-she just knew it.

Molepelt congratulated Gingerfern on her warriorship near the nursery. Twigfall just barely overheard him saying to her that soon they'd have kits of their own running around the camp.

What was with everyone and kits? Granted, it was the beginning of newleaf, the perfect time to have kits.

Before she knew it, everyone was moving out of the clearing and heading to their dens. Twigfall followed, not forgetting her meeting tonight. Was she actually going to meet him there?

The whole camp fell silent, and Twigfall felt it was time to go. By the time she'd get to the border she'd probably already be late.

She stepped out of the den and snuck over to the dirt place tunnel. Quietly, she slipped through and slunk into the undergrowth to wait.

Finally, Brightheart and Mousewhisker looked away, giving the warrior enough time to get out of their sight. She bounded toward the border, being careful not to make too much noise.

When she got there, the pair of eyes was nowhere to be found. She looked everywhere, yet she couldn't find them.

Eventually she saw something flash in the corner of her eye. It was him!

He stepped out of the cover of the trees and padded over to join her. His nose touched her muzzle gently.

"I'm so happy you came," he purred. Twigfall couldn't resist the urge to purr and let it escape her throat. "I wanted to get to know you a bit better."

"So what do you want to know," she whispered as he pulled away.

"I don't know. Just tell me about yourself." She smiled and began to think.

"Well, I'll start with my kithood. I was born with only three legs," she saw his gaze flash down and open wide with shock. "You surely can't tell me you didn't notice before."

"I really didn't." He was the first cat who hadn't obsessed over her missing leg-he hadn't even noticed it.

"Well, my mother was Cinderheart." Nighthawk tilted his head to one side.

"The one who took Breezepelt over the edge of the cliff?" Twigfall nodded and tears brimmed at the edge of her eyes. "I'm sorry." He pressed his muzzle to her cheek. "Go on."

She continued on to tell him about her brother and how he was falling in love with Rosepetal and about the new warriors.

"Our Clan has more warriors than ever. I think we should do pretty good this leaf-bare." She told Nighthawk all about her successes and her losses before she realized the moon was beginning to fall and dawn would come before too long.

"Sorry, I suppose I should let you speak." She blushed and saw his eyes searching hers.

"Well…" They talked for a long time until Twigfall noticed the sky beginning to gray. She really needed to go.

"I'm sorry, but I have to get back to camp."

"Ok. Can we meet some other time?" Twigfall purred, and Nighthawk's eyes flashed with relief.

"Of course. But I can't discuss that right now. Maybe if we meet at a gathering or something we can talk about it then." With that, she touched her nose to his cheek and bounded away, every ounce of her body wishing to stay.