Well, thank you all who have reviewed, favorite, and voted on my poll. It really makes me feel good whenever I see one of those in my inbox. (: In this chapter, I skipped ahead two moons because it was dragging on and Echopaw needs to be a warrior already. :D So, for the sake of the story (and my sanity) bear with me, please. This is more of a relationship building chapter, and where we meet a very important kitty! DUN DUN DUN! Comments anyone? Yes, no, maybe? YAY! FIVE REVIEWS!

Iceflower of ThunderClan: I know, I like her character as well. She's one of my favorites! (:

Wolfheart911: Nah, I think Echowhisper would be too obvious and I don't like it cause it's just not…Echopaw, you know? I'm leaning towards Echospirit or Echofrost but IDK!

Silent Steps in Silver Snow: WOW! LONG REVIEW! And yeah, Iceheart has that name cause she's silvery-white with blue eyes and she has a really big heart. Even though it may not seem like it. LOL And that would be cool to have a crossover thingy like that…idk how many people would read it but whatever! XD thanks for reviewing! AND UPDATE WOMAN!

Luckyfur: Oh, wow, you're the first person who has said they like Crowstar! LOL And I love Blackpaw as well. I already have his, Rowanpaw's, and Tanglepaw's warrior names picked out. I'm caught on Echopaw and Tinypaw…Lol Hope you enjoy this chapter! *Throws you Blackpaw plushie*

The moon had waxed and waned twice since ThunderClan had accepted Iceheart into its ranks. Echopaw knew that they had to come up with a plan sometime soon on how to take down Crowstar, but no one could seem to formulate one at all. She realized just how bad it was getting when Crowstar appeared at the Gathering two moons ago and had announced that RiverClan would no longer be attending the Gatherings. Of course, no cat really believed StarClan would let him do that; but at the previous full moon there had been no sign of his brown and white coat.

"He can't just stop coming all together!" Mouseclaw had hissed when the rest of the Clan found out.

"I fear for what goes through that cat's head…" Ivypetal murmured.

When Echopaw's Clanmates had bombarded Iceheart with questions and demanded to know what was going on, the white she-cat had just sat quietly and shook her head sadly. Echopaw knew there was no way she could possibly explain everything to them without causing chaos.

Hawkstar had taken the news terribly, just as she expected he would. "He has no right to pull away from StarClan!" her father had spat. "Who does he think he is?"

The fact that the brown tabby hadn't been the same since Pinepaw's death didn't help the situation. Echopaw knew he was still grieving. They all were. There were times when she still had nightmares about that night and she awoke consumed with guilt. But she also knew he was taking it a lot harder than anyone else; anyone could see it in his clouded gaze and the way his tail hung low, or the way he always seemed distracted no matter how hard Echopaw tried to bring him back.

Now, two moons later, Echopaw was jolted awake with her heart pounding as Pinepaw's screams echoed in her ears. The familiar fear of the nightmare slowly faded away as she realized she was still in her nest and not back in time. Rising to her paws, she blinked her large eyes and noticed that Tinypaw's nest was empty. Maybe her friend hadn't been able to sleep either.

Careful to not tread on anyone's tail, the creamy she-cat stepped quietly out of the den and was washed in moonlight. The warriors of Silverpelt glimmered down at her and her fur turned silvery from the crescent moon that hung high in the sky. Her paws itched for movement so she padded to the bramble entrance where Stormstripe was standing guard.

He was still as a rock as she went by him, waving her tail in greeting. The only acknowledgement he gave her was a once over with his green eyes. He didn't question her about leaving in the middle of the night and she was thankful for that. Once in the forest, Echopaw relaxed. She stretched for a long moment until her whole body quivered with the effort and then started to make her way through the silent trees.

The feeling of leaves under her paws calmed the anxiety coursing through her and the branches that swept overhead provided a feeling of comfort. She loved the forest at night, with all its untold mysteries and the way the leaves dappled the light shining through. Echopaw didn't care where she was going; she only wanted to enjoy the night.

Suddenly, the wind picked up and the breeze carried with it the scent of something peculiar. Or rather, someone. Tinypaw's scent wafted around her and Echopaw sniffed the air. Tinypaw must be out for a walk like me, she figured. That was, until another smell joined her friend's. One that seemed familiar but she just couldn't place.

Following the scent trail, Echopaw slipped through bushes and swerved around trees, padding lightly. Finally, she arrived at the ShadowClan border. To say she was confused would be an understatement. What would Tinypaw be doing so far from the camp and at the ShadowClan border, of all places? Just as she opened her mouth to call out the name, a squeal erupted in the still night. Echopaw ducked quickly behind a tree, peeking out to see the commotion.

The slender figure of Tinypaw rushed out of nowhere, voice raised in a laugh of delight. A shadow moved behind her and Echopaw realized with a jolt that it was actually a cat. One she had seen before…

"Blackpaw, honestly, you'll make me wake the whole forest!" the silver she-cat shrieked as the black tom pounced on her. They crashed onto the floor in a shrieking mass.

Echopaw's heart stopped. Now she remembered where she had seen this cat before! She recalled her first Gathering when she had met the ShadowClan apprentice-Blackpaw-and with a jolt remembered the way Tinypaw's eyes had lingered on him as he had left. Oh Tinypaw…she thought in despair, sympathizing for her friend. What have you gotten yourself into?

Their play fight stopped with Blackpaw on top and Tinypaw struggling underneath. "Give up yet?" he growled, eyes shining.

"Never!" Tinypaw meowed, kicking him off and swatting at him. Her blue eyes sparkled with adoration as she gazed at the huge tom.

Blackpaw walked forward and gave her a lick on the ear. The silver apprentice sighed and sat down. He settled down beside her and they were both silent for a moment.

"What are we going to do, Blackpaw?" Tinypaw mewed, glancing up at the ShadowClan apprentice.

Blackpaw shrugged his big shoulders and bowed his head. "Our leaders will never let us be together. We could always run away…" he suggested, looking hopeful. Echopaw gasped quietly. Run away? How could Tinypaw ever agree to that? But when she saw her friend shaking her small head, she exhaled, relieved.

"No, I could never leave my friends, my family, and my Clan."

"Not even for me?" Blackpaw murmured heavily, looking at his paws.

"Oh Blackpaw," Tinypaw whispered, pressing against him and twining their tails together. "You know you could never leave either. It doesn't matter how much we love each other, our hearts will always be with our Clans."

The black tom closed his eyes for a long moment and Echopaw felt her heart cracking for the two. They were obviously in love with each other but it could never be. Finally, Blackpaw let out a deep breath and gazed down at the ThunderClan apprentice. "I will always love you, Tinypaw," he meowed fiercely. "No matter what they say or what they do, you will always hold my heart."

Tinypaw blinked slowly up at him. "And you will always have mine."

Echopaw bowed her head and backed away, unable to stand anymore. She turned and padded away in the opposite direction from the two forbidden lovers. Questions buzzed through her mind as she pushed through a fern or bracken and no answers were within her reach until she confronted Tinypaw about it. She would never tell anyone about their meetings, she could never do that to her friend. But maybe she could try and understand what was so great about love.

Love.

An image of Rowanpaw flashed through her mind but she shoved it away viciously. We're just friends. I have a destiny to fulfill and I can't be distracted. She felt a twinge of disappointment but she didn't acknowledge it.

Are you happy, StarClan? She thought bitterly, lifting her face to the sky and scowling at the stars. "Are you happy that I'm accepting my prophecy? That I'm giving everything up for you?"

There was no answer. Not that she expected one.

Echopaw decided that she would talk to Tinypaw in the morning and try to make her see some sense. She arrived at the bramble entrance and slid through, nodding at Stormstripe and heading towards the apprentice den. She slipped inside and could barely make out the sleeping forms of Tanglepaw and Rowanpaw. Yawning hugely, she curled up in her nest and tucked a paw over her nose. She stared at the wall of the den, knowing that, even though she was exhausted, sleep wouldn't come just yet.

Just as the sky was beginning to lighten, a form slipped into the mouth of the den. Echopaw snapped her eyes shut and tried to make her breathing even and deep. She felt Tinypaw settle down next to her in her own nest and heard a small sigh escape her friend.

As Tinypaw drifted off Echopaw tried to escape as well into the dreamless floating that only sleep could bring.

*INSERT LINE BREAK*

"Echopaw! Wake up!" Forestfur's sharp command startled the small apprentice who had been nodding off on her paws.

"W-what?" she stuttered, flicking her eyes around. Her mentor along with Adderflight, Windfur, Rowanpaw and Tanglepaw were staring at her. She felt her pelt heat up with embarrassment as she realized that she had completely missed the whole lesson.

Her mentor's amber gaze burned into her fur. "We were just discussing the importance of the offense position in battle but I suppose you didn't hear any of it, huh?"

Echopaw shook her head, eyes on her white paws. She had woken up exhausted from her midnight trek through the forest and the discovery of Tinypaw's secret. Forestfur had questioned her if anything was wrong and she had replied no. But here she was, falling asleep while standing upright, and during an important lesson no less!

"Well, then," the black she-cat huffed, annoyed. I guess since you are not even trying to listen then you will have your first assessment." Echopaw's eyes snapped up. Her first assessment? Oh, why now of all days?

"Come."

Echopaw could feel the sympathetic gaze of Rowanpaw as she meekly followed Forestfur out of the training clearing. They walked in silence for a while before her mentor halted suddenly. She recognized the tall beech trees and knew that they were not far from the camp.

"Now," Forestfur meowed, turning towards her. "Do you want to tell me what's really wrong with you?"

Echopaw was startled. So Forestfur had just wanted to know what was going on. "But what about my assessment?" she asked, bewildered.

The black warrior sat down and wrapped her tail over her paws. "Well, obviously I just said that to get Adderflight and Windfur off our backs so that I could ask you in private." Kindness and sincerity glimmered in her eyes. "Now, spill it."

And without even realizing it, Echopaw told her everything. From the prophecy and how confused she felt to her newly found dilemma concerning Tinypaw and Blackpaw. She knew she had nothing to worry about as soon as she saw the genuine warmth in Forestfur's eyes. Plus, the thought of handling everything on her own scared her. It felt good to get it off her chest.

When Echopaw finished explaining it all, it felt as if a huge weight had just been lifted off her shoulders. She paused at the end of her explanation and took a much needed breath while Forestfur took it in.

"Well," she finally mewed. "That's a lot of pressure for a eight moon old apprentice to be carrying around."

Echopaw nodded wearily. "Tell me about it," she muttered, clawing at the dirt. "But what should I do about Tinypaw, Forestfur? I don't want her to hate me but she needs to realize what she's doing!"

Forestfur was nodding slowly, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Yes, I think you should talk to her about this. But don't attack her and demand to know answers. You need to bring it up lightly and say 'look, I know what you're thinking but just hear me out'. I think she needs a friend more than she realizes. But remember, in the end it's her decision and you cannot force your beliefs onto her."

Echopaw looked at her mentor gratefully. "Thank you, Forestfur. Thank you for listening and giving me advice about this."

Forestfur looked embarrassed and just shrugged. "If I can't teach you anything today, I guess it's good to guide you onto the right path. But-" she added when Echopaw opened her mouth. "Tomorrow I expect you to be well rested and ready to learn because tomorrow you will be having your assessment. Is that clear?" She gave her apprentice a stern look.

Echopaw nodded eagerly and leapt to her paws. "I'll go talk to Tinypaw right now!" She pressed her muzzle to Forestfur's shoulder and blinked her pale green eyes up at her mentor. "Thanks, Forestfur. For everything."

And with that, she raced towards the ThunderClan camp with a new purpose and left a shocked and humbled Forestfur behind.

Soooo…what did ya think? As soon as I started this story, I knew I wanted a forbidden love somewhere in here so TA-DA! TINYPAW AND BLACKPAW! Will it work out? Will they be together? And what was up with that flash of Rowanpaw, huh? Find out….eventually. ^-^

Review, the button's getting quite lonely and VOTE!