I built my warrior's nest beside Ashfur's, knowing it was probably expected of me. Brambleclaw entered the den, looking bleary-eyed with exhaustion. I had to stop him before he fell asleep. We couldn't talk in here; it might wake Ashfur.

Springing gracefully over Cloudtail, I landed in front of my father and cut him off. I whispered quietly, "I need to talk to you." He blinked in surprise, but followed me silently out of the den and into the center of the camp.

I looked directly at him, my voice grave. "Brambleclaw, you need to keep an eye on Ashfur."

Anger sparked in his eyes and his paws flexed. He growled protectively, "Did that fleabag hurt you?"

It was touching to know he still cared about me, even after all of the recent happenings between us. "No, he hasn't. I think… I think he wants to hurt Mouseclaw, though." Brambleclaw was silent for a few seconds. I was dreading his response. What if he cast my fear aside, as well? Then who would protect our Clanmate?

Please, StarClan, let him listen!

Our eyes met again, and when he saw the terror in my eyes he nodded once- very seriously to my relief. "I will keep them away from each other, and there will always be a friend near Mouseclaw."

I purred, flicking my tail happily. Any barriers that had been between us instantly burned down. He gently pressed his nose against my own before inviting, "Do you want to lead a patrol?"

Lead a patrol? So soon after receiving my warrior name? I swelled with pride and accepted, "Okay!"

He smiled, "Good. Take three others along the WindClan border with you."

I dipped my head to him as he flicked his ears in a goodbye. I watched him whisper something to Stormfur, then nod towards where Mouseclaw and Berrynose. A second later, Stormfur bounded over to the younger toms and invited them hunting.

Confident that my friend was safe, I sought out my other three patrol members. I went over to my brother and denmate. "Hey, Poppyspots. Do you want to go on a patrol?"

She stretched, flexing her claws. "Sure."

Lionfang jumped onto his paws, and unsuccessfully tried to conceal his wince. "Can I come, Hollythorn? I'm so bored."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Your wounds aren't even close to healed yet. Do you want to get an infection?"

Flattening his ears irritably he sighed, "I guess not." His tail lashed as he limped towards Jaywing, who sat outside of the medicine cat's den discarding shriveled berries.

After finding Icepaw and Hazelpelt, the patrol was on the move. Icepaw was full of energy, so she ran ahead to scout the perimeter. Hazelpelt glanced at us and asked, "So, how is everything with Lionfang and Ashfur, you two?"

Poppyspots smiled thoughtfully. "I think I want to have his kits."

I purred and nudged her shoulder heartily. "That's great!" My brother was going to be a father! I was going to be an aunt!

She lowered her ears in embarrassment. A moment later they both pinned their eyes onto me. I looked away and shifted on my paws. "I think I'll wait a few seasons." I wasn't able to decide why I felt so bad about that. I never wanted kits before.

Hazelpelt cheerfully broke the silence, "I'm waiting, too. I want to run myself out of energy before I have to get stuck in the nursery with some needy little bundles for two seasons."

Poppyspots chuckled at Hazelpelt. She never had struck me as the type to want to find a tom and start a family. She would probably be like Mousefur, and choose to never have any litters at all. Nobody ever said a she-cat must procreate.

A startled yowl interrupted our chat- it was Icepaw. Snarls broke out up ahead and I unsheathed my claws. "Come on!"

We charged through the brambles until we tore into a small clearing. Ferncloud, Ashfur, and Icepaw were fighting off a patrol of WindClan warriors. With the arrival of us three- the numbers were even.

I sprang at Heatherpaw, deeply glad Lionfang was not here. Some part of me knew that he would never stop loving her. It would hurt them both if they were forced to fight. I bowled into Heatherpaw and knocked her onto her back, sending her rolling into Hazelpelt.

Breezepaw jumped me, and we started rolling around in a flurry of ripping fur, fierce biting, and feral snarls. I was shocked that he was so powerful even though he was so small. I was bigger, though, and a managed to slam him onto his side. He attempted to scramble onto his paws. A well-aimed blow to his muzzle sent him staggering away.

Blood pumped through my veins as I looked around. Ferncloud was losing a battle against Tornear. A snarl bubbled from deep in my chest and I charged forward, knocking Ferncloud out of the way. I winced as the blow meant for her ripped down my cheek. Luckily for me, his claws had not broken the skin, only pulled out some of the fur.

"If it isn't Hollypaw!" Tornear jeered. I felt fury bubble within me at the casual use of my old apprentice name. "Is it a nice change to be doing the rescuing for once?"

I could still see the deep, raw wounds that Ashfur had left a few suns ago littering his body. It inspired me to show him that I wasn't an apprentice who needed saving anymore. I was a strong young warrior who wanted his blood under my claws.

My fur fluffed out in rage and I caterwauled as I sprang at him, landing on his shoulders and heavily slamming him onto his stomach. I delivered a fierce bite to the back of his neck. I wasn't a monster like him, though. I made sure it wasn't in a spot that would kill him. Tornear yowled and thrashed, managing to dislodge me.

We squared off and circled like the angry warriors of the past. LionClan versus TigerClan. The young and powerful against the experienced and well trained. Through my peripherals I could see that the other WindClan cats had been chased off. Only Crowfeather remained, watching out for his Clanmate, but barricaded from coming to help by Icepaw and Ashfur. This battle was a grudge match. A battle for my very honor as a warrior of ThunderClan.

We pounced at the same time and collided midair. His claws raked along my shoulder as my teeth snapped down upon his foreleg. Though his superior weight and strength made it so I was the one who ended up pinned below him- my bite was too fierce for him to stay. He broke away from me and fled towards the WindClan border besides his Clanmate.

Poppyspots sprang onto a boulder and yowled furiously, "Stay out of our territory!"

I sat down to catch my breath, turning my head to listen to Ferncloud as she spoke to Icepaw and Hazelpelt. "It's a good thing you were so close. We would have been crowfood without your help!" She settled down and started helping Icepaw lick some blood from her white fur.

Ashfur bounded past Hazelpelt and pressed his nose against my unscratched cheek. He purred, "I'm so glad you're safe. That was well fought, a moment ago."

I purred back, walking along his side to brush flanks with him. I was shocked to feel something hot and sticky seeping through my fur. Pulling away and glancing at his side, I found myself looking at such a deep score the blood was spilling like a small, crimson waterfall. I gasped, "Ashfur, you're hurt!"

His eyes were cloudy with pain as he glanced at me. I could tell by how tense his body was that he was using his whole store of energy just to stand. He leaned forward and whispered sadly, "Hollythorn, I love you."

I heard Hazelpelt send Poppyspots to the camp to retrieve Leafpool. I didn't move; his hypnotic blue gaze froze me. I knew that he wanted to hear me, for the first time, say 'I love you, too'. I just stood there in horror.

Hollythorn, you must say something! Don't just lock up like a startled fawn.

I stuttered, "D-don't talk, A-Ashfur. Lie down and save your energy."

A dark, terrifying blackness crept into his eyes. He glowered at me, looking torn between heartbreak and hate, as he sank onto the ground. Ferncloud came to sit beside him.

I decided hastily, "Icepaw, Hazelpelt, let's go finish the patrol and make sure everyone is back across the border."