Snowfall had been in Thunderclan for a half-moon now. Badgerstripe had been returned to Riverclan, but Snowfall had decided to stay. Smallstar was beginning to trust him and was letting him sleep with the warriors and he could go on hunting patrols. He stopped thinking about Poppynose a couple of sunrises ago and was becoming close friends with Flameheart. She was a lot more fun to hang around than his former mate.
"Hey!" Came a voice. Snowfall jolted out of his thoughts to see Softpetal standing in front of him.
"What?" He growled jokingly.
"Tonight's the gathering." Softpetal replied seriously. "Would you like to go? Smallstar said you could if you wanted."
Snowfall was tempted to go, but he wasn't sure. "I don't know." He meowed hesitantly. "I'm not a member of the clan, so I probablye shouldn't go."
Softpetal shuffled her feet and looked hopefully at Snowfall. "Would you like to join Thunderclan?"
"Um, no, I'm sorry. It's just too soon." Snowfall meowed. "Maybe next moon."
Softpetal blinked understandingly. "The offer won't be there in a moon." She blinked again and padded away.
"Do you want to go hunting?" A cat asked from behind Snowfall.
"Sure." He replied, turning to see who it was. "Oh, hi Birdpaw. Can we take Flameheart with us?"
"Of course!" Birdpaw nodded fervently. Snowfall padded over to Flameheart and asked if she wanted to go, but she had already gone on one that day.
"Sorry Snowfall." She meowed. "I would go, but I have to take a break sometime."
They touched noses gently and Snowfall bounded back to Birdpaw. He was surprised to see Tigerfoot with her and shot her a questioning glance.
"He needed something to do." Birdpaw muttered defensively. Snowfall and Tigerfoot didn't get along because Tigerfoot thought that Snowfall and Softpetal were falling in love. The tabby tom glared at Snowfall for a second, but stopped when Birdpaw cleared her throat. Snowfall blinked and the three left the Thunderclan camp. Tigerfoot led them farther and farther away from camp. Eventually he stopped and Snowfall realized that they were near the Riverclan border. Tigerfoot sat down and Birdpaw stared at him strangely.
"Why did you stop here?" Snowfall questioned. "I smell no prey."
"I really need to speak with you." Tigerfoot confessed.
"What about?"
Tigerfoot sighed and opened his mouth to reply.
"Do Windclan not care about their warriors?" A Riverclan cat jeered from their territory.
"They have agreed that I will be returned soon." Snowfall called back. The toms across the river nodded and padded away, leaving the three alone.
"I want to talk about Softpetal." Tigerfoot meowed. Birdpaw started to leave, but Tigerfoot stopped her. "She's your mother. You should stay."
Birdpaw nodded cautiously and sat down.
"So, Softpetal." Tigerfoot continued. "I'm worried about her. I've loved her since the day I saw her lovely green eyes and I fear that you're taking my chance with her away."
The idea was so ridiculous that Snowfall burst out with laughter. "No, no, no, no. You can have her."
Tigerfoot's eyes brightened, but then darkened again. "What's wrong with her?" He demanded. "Nothing. That's what."
Snowfall took a step back with astonishment. "I didn't mean there was something wrong with her. She's my, well." He stopped.
"Your what?"
Snowfall gulped. "My best friend. It would be too weird being mates with her."
Tigerfoot sighed with relief and relaxed. "Well that changes everything. Will you help me win her over? It's been a half-moon since Whitefoot died and she hasn't shown any interest in me."
"You have to give her time." Snowfall snorted.
"Typical tom." Birdpaw complained under her breath. Tigerfoot and Snowfall glanced at each other and fell over with laughter.
"Great Starclan, Birdpaw, you just made my day." Tigerfoot gasped breathlessly.
"Me too!" Snowfall choked out. Birdpaw rolled her eyes and glared at them. "Sit up and shut up. My mother deserves the best and you are the best, Tigerfoot. You need to take your life seriously instead of acting like it's a joke all the time. You will have five new children and that's a big deal."
Four, Snowfall thought, but he didn't say it out loud. "Okay. Let's be serious now."
Tigerfoot nodded and calmed down. "So tell me what she likes and everything about her."
"Well, she likes everything. I don't really know." Snowfall shrugged. Tigerfoot's jaw dropped. "Are you serious? Thanks a lot."
Birdpaw batted his nose with her paw. "Just be yourself and she will love you. She already likes you a lot."
Tigerfoot dipped his head bashfully and Snowfall chuckled quietly. "I'm glad I have friends in this clan."