Softpaw looked around wildly for the sound of the voice yowling. "Thunderclan retreat!"
She glanced at the mystery Shadowclan apprentice and ran away with her clanmates. They returned to camp bloody, beaten, and disgraced. While the other cats on the patrol reported the incident to Smallstar the other cats sulked, but Softpaw sat deep in thought. Somehow she knew that tom well enough to not want to hurt him.
"I heard you fought well." A silver tabby tom sneered. Softpaw flattened her ears in embarrassment; she hadn't helped her clan at all. She had been too concerned with the mystery tom.
"Leave her alone Silvertail." A huge white tom retorted sharply.
"I was just joking." Silvertail scoffed. "I know she did great!" He purred and rubbed his pelt gently against hers, making a shiver of delight course through the apprentices body. She liked both toms a lot. Silvertail was more exciting, but mean, while Whitefoot was sweet and caring, but a bit dull. She knew her mother, Sunstripe, wanted her to choose Whitefoot, as did her father, Squirrelfur, and she was close to choosing him, but she knew she would regret not choosing Silvertail.
"So do you want to go hunting with me?" Whitefoot repeated for the third time, while Silvertail was obviously trying to hold back a chuckle.
"Um, no thanks I already told Silvertail we could go." She replied distractedly. Whitefoot looked utterly crestfallen and Silvertail sat with a smug look on his face.
"Actually, I think I'll hunt by myself." She turned and bounded out of camp. She looked behind her to make sure neither tom was following her and slowed down. She sniffed the air and her mouth started watering immediately. Squirrel. She saw it not even two rabbit hops away. She crouched down and crept forward. She was about to pounce when a twig cracked behind her. The squirrel ran away up into a tree and Softpaw couldn't catch it.
"Foxdung!" She seethed, digging her claws into the soft earth. She heard a leaf crackle and whipped around to see who had ruined her meal.
"Sorry!" A silver tom with two black paws apologized. "I didn't mean to do that. What's your name? I have to know!"
"You're the mystery tom! I'm Softpaw!" The Thunderclan apprentice blurted. The mystery tom's whiskers were twitching. "Mystery tom? My name is Nightpaw."
Softpaw didn't recognize that name. "Was that all you wanted?"
Nightpaw nodded and left Softpaw alone. She shook her head in confusion. Why would he risk getting caught by a patrol to see her?
"Hi Softpaw."
Softpaw jumped to her paws. "Great Starclan! Silvertail you scared me!" Her heart was racing in embarrassment and surprise.
"I'm sorry." He replied coolly. Softpaw could never figure out his mood. "Are you happy to see me?" She asked. He shut his eyes for a long time and replied gently. "Yes, but it's hard to admit it. I don't like for others to see my sensitive side. It makes me less of a warrior."
"No it doesn't!" Softpaw protested. "I love that side of you." She flicked her ears back in embarrassment. She hadn't meant to say that.
"I love you too." Silvertail stuttered in surprise. Softpaw nodded happily and licked his nose gently.