Well, I think I finally decided on Echopaw's warrior name. It is not one of the choices on my poll but I really like it and none seem to really fit. But, of course, we all know how quickly my mind can change. (: So, thank you to those who reviewed! 61 reviews! That's one of the most I've ever gotten for one of my stories, so thank you all. My goal is to get 100 by the end of this story, so remember to review at the end of each chapter and you can get a virtual plushie of any cat you want from this story!

Wolfheart911: YAY! FORBIDDEN LOVE! I find it the most romantic kind. And plus, Tinypaw and Blackpaw just….work. (: Thanks for your review!

Silent Steps in Silver Snow: Yeah, Rowanpaw has to come back into the picture sometime soon…hmmm….well, thank ya lovely for reviewing!

Luckyfur: Yeah, a lot of people misunderstand Crowstar. So what if he's murderous, vindictive, ambitious, and has an icy heart? Pft, those are just minor details! XD

Oh, and now I'm stuck on Tinypaw's name….help, please. ^-^

The rest of the day had come and gone and Echopaw still couldn't find time alone to question Tinypaw. Whenever they had even a second together, she would open her mouth with the words on her tongue but then some other cat would appear out of nowhere. She was getting very annoyed and exasperated. All she needed were a few moments with her friend! Was that too much to ask?

Apparently.

Echopaw was lying down outside the apprentice den, staring impatiently at the brambles. She was waiting for Tinypaw to get back with Fishleap so that she could try once again to confront the silver she-cat. The tip of her fluffy tail continuously twitched against the ground and her paws fidgeted as she anxiously awaited her friend's arrival.

The sun had set a while ago and now the sky was a deep indigo, not yet black. A sharp wind swept over her and carried the promise of a harsh leaf-bare. Leaf-fall had arrived and Echopaw knew it would not be long until the first snow fell.

At long last, the brambles rustled and Tinypaw stepped into the clearing. She was carrying two mice and a vole and Echopaw's belly rumbled at the sight. She hadn't eaten since sun-high. She rose to her paws and padded to the fresh kill pile, intercepting Tinypaw on the way.

"Hey, Tinypaw," Echopaw meowed easily. "Wanna sit and eat together?"

Tinypaw shook her head and placed her prey on the pile. "Sorry, Echopaw, I already promised Tanglepaw I'd sit with him. But, you're welcome to join us!"

Irritation pricked at her paws. "Listen, Tinypaw, we need to talk," Echopaw growled, her patience snapping. She was not one who could continuously keep waiting for something of such great importance.

Tinypaw's eyes stretched wide but she nodded and silently followed Echopaw out of the clearing. Pawsteps sounded behind them and Rowanpaw appeared. "Hey, are you two off to?" he asked. The question was meant for the two of them but Echopaw felt it was directed more towards her. They hadn't been spending as much time together as they used to, and it was not on accident. She had to keep herself distant from the ginger tom because she couldn't risk any distractions.

"Um," was all she could come up with. Wow, brilliant Echopaw! Way to talk your way out of this one! She looked helplessly at Tinypaw who stepped forth.

"We're just going for a walk is all." Which wasn't a total lie.

Rowanpaw's tail waved eagerly. "Cool, can I come?"

"N-no, we just, um, need it to be us two at the moment." Why was she stuttering? She had never stuttered in front of Rowanpaw before, so why was he making her so clumsy with her words now?

He cast a confused look at her from his pale eyes. "Uh…okay. I guess I'll just go and sit with Tanglepaw…" His voice trailed off and it seemed as if he wanted her to answer.

Well, say something you mouse-brain! Echopaw cleared her throat and stared at her paws. "Okay." Okay? That was the best she could come up with? She felt Rowanpaw's questioning gaze and her pelt flared with embarrassment. She wanted to explain to him why she couldn't have him with them-with her-but her throat wouldn't form the words. So, she just stayed silent as Tinypaw spoke.

"We'll be back soon. Go tell Tanglepaw I'll sit with him some other time, okay?"

Rowanpaw nodded and, with one last glance at the creamy she-cat, padded back to the clearing. Echopaw heaved a sigh of relief as his pelt disappeared from view. "That was close," she murmured. "Come on, let's go."

Tinypaw didn't reply, just began walking through the forest again. Echopaw knew that she should explain what happened back there. But then again, she didn't know herself.

"You know, you should tease him like that," Tinypaw mewed suddenly, stepping over a fallen branch.

Echopaw looked at her, not following. "What?"

Tinypaw shrugged, not looking at her. "He likes you a lot and when you do stuff like that, lead him on and then cut him off, it hurts him."

Echopaw halted with eyes wide. "Are you talking about Rowanpaw?" she question stupidly.

"No, Crowstar," her friend snapped sarcastically. "Of course Rowanpaw, who else would I be talking about?"

Echopaw avoided her gaze. "He doesn't like me," she insisted, uncomfortable with the topic. This wasn't what she was here for and especially not what she had intended to talk to Tinypaw about. "We're just friends."

Tinypaw snorted. "Yeah, okay. Look, Echopaw, he's my brother. Don't you think I would know when he likes someone? Even though it's obvious enough that the whole Clan knows about his feelings for you."

Echopaw fiercely shook her head. "No, he can't like me."

"And why is that?"

"Because…" She couldn't possibly explain everything to Tinypaw, at least not now. "Look, can we get to what I needed to talk to you about?"

Tinypaw stared at her for a long moment with enough intensity to make her shift. Finally, se murmured softly, "Just don't play with his heart, Echopaw. If you have no feelings for him than you need to tell him straight out and quit playing games."

"But that's not-"

Tinypaw raised her tail. "I'm not judging you; all I'm saying is be careful what you do."

Humph. As if I would act like a moony she-cat. It's not as if he has feelings for me anyway. However, Echopaw had her doubts about that. She remembered the look he had given her more than once, the one that exhilarated her and scared her at the same time. Her breath caught in her chest and her heart fluttered a bit at the thought of how his ginger fur shone in the sunlight and how his eyes glowed whenever he talked to her. Maybe she did feel something for him, something more than friendship…

No, focus! A voice screamed at her and she shook her head to get rid of the warm feeling. To cover up her moment of uncertainty, she licked her chest fur. Tinypaw had been watching her throughout the whole time and looked smug. Echopaw flicked her ear dismissively. Her friend couldn't have possibly known what she'd been thinking.

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

The abrupt question pulled Echopaw back to reality and she blinked. "Erm." Now that the time had finally come, she had a blank as to how to proceed. Did she start yelling and screaming and accuse Tinypaw of last night? Or did she stall and take her time?

Tinypaw sighed and sat down, her eyes dull. "If this is about last night, I don't want to hear it." At the surprised look on Echopaw's face she added, "You aren't as stealthy as you like to think. I could smell you immediately."

Echopaw tried not to take offense, even though her pride stung a bit. She settled down across from the silver apprentice and didn't even try to deny it. "Why are you with him, Tinypaw?" she asked, not beating around the bush and getting straight to the point. "Do you know how much trouble you both can get into? ShadowClan has never been exactly friendly with us as it is."

"You don't think I know that?" Tinypaw hissed, trying to look fearless. Echopaw could see the worry that sparkled in her blue eyes. "I have tried to stay away from Blackpaw, tried to forget about him but I just can't! I…I love him." This last part was whispered.

Echopaw closed her eyes, uncertainty and understanding clashing together. She could connect with Tinypaw in the perspective of heartbreak, and she also knew how alone her friend felt. She moved next to Tinypaw and pressed comfortingly against her.

"I just don't know what to do," Tinypaw mewed, her voice cracking. "I can't stop meeting him but I know I shouldn't and that it is never meant to be. What do I do?"

Echopaw stayed quiet, letting the silver she-cat tremble against her pelt. "I don't know," she admitted truthfully. "Maybe you can talk to Featherpool or Jaypath and find out their advice."

Tinypaw considered it for all about two seconds. "No, I can't go to them. Jaypath would never understand and neither will Featherpool."

She suddenly had an idea. "Maybe we can speak with Forestfur, then."

Tinypaw shot her a look. "Forestfur? You can trust her?"

Echopaw nodded empathetically. "She's a great listener and I know she won't judge you. It's the safest thing we can do right now. And…I think you should stop meeting with Blackpaw, at least for a while."

Tinypaw hesitated but then nodded. "Okay, I'll talk to her if you say it's safe but I won't stop meeting with him." When Echopaw tried to protest, she continued, "I have to be with him Echopaw, if only a little while. He's the only one who really understands me."

Ouch. Hurt pierced Echopaw's heart. And is Blackpaw here right now? No, I am. I'm the one comforting you and you say I don't understand? But she couldn't say that because she knew Tinypaw didn't mean it. That didn't mean it made it any easier to take. "We should probably head back," she replied instead, swallowing what she really wanted to say.

Tinypaw nodded and together they made their way to the camp. They emerged from the brambles and Echopaw flicked her ear toward Forestfur and looked pointedly at her friend. Tinypaw sighed but nodded and reluctantly headed for the black she-cat, leaving Echopaw alone.

Her belly gurgled once again, reminding the small apprentice of her hunger. She grabbed the vole Tinypaw had caught and took it to a shady area. She ate it with huge, famished gulps and settled down to give herself a wash. She saw Tinypaw murmuring quietly with Forestfur and felt affection towards the two cats. Her green eyes flicked around the clearing and she spotted Dawnfeather sharing tongues with Stormstripe while Dustclaw and Shineheart headed for the warriors' den. Petalstream was gently urging Hawkstar to take a bite of mouse and Tanglepaw was sitting with Rowanpaw.

It was as if he had heard her think his name. He glanced up and their eyes met for a long moment before she broke it off. Echopaw's heart was thudding wildly and she was so perturbed by the rush of heat she felt. It was as if her pelt was on fire. What was going on with her?

Her conversation with Tinypaw came back to her and she scoffed, even though her ears flushed. There was no way Rowanpaw liked her and she had no feelings for him other than friendship. That was it, just a mutual likening between friends.

Rowanpaw's scent washed over her and Echopaw blinked up at him, bewildered. She hadn't even heard him arrive! Her pelt burst into flames as she realized their proximity and how close he was standing. He didn't look too comfortable either, though.

"Um. Hi," he muttered.

Say something, anything! "Hi." Wow.

"Do you mind if I, uh, sit with you?"

Echopaw's head shook on its own accord and he lied down next to her. Awkward tension settled between them and she shifted slightly away. Their fur barely touched and yet she felt as if flames were devouring her.

"So," he meowed, breaking the silence.

"So."

Rowanpaw exhaled in irritation and he turned to look at her. "Listen, Echopaw, I wanted to ask you something."

Uneasiness warned her to close her ears but she motioned for him to continue. Her curiosity always got the best of her.

He looked at her with such earnest that Echopaw's heart flopped and butterflies entered her stomach. "I like you, Echopaw, a lot. And-" here he hesitated. "I wanted to know if you felt the same way."

So Tinypaw had been right. Echopaw dropped her gaze and swallowed hard. "You're one of the best friends I have," she answered lamely.

Rowanpaw leaned forward, willing her to look up. She did and it was the stupidest thing she could have done. The sorrow in them and hope broke her. "Could I ever be more than a friend?"

Echopaw knew what she should do: she had to walk away and only worry about her destiny. She knew that she could never live up to the cat he wanted by his side. And she was just about to tell him that when a voice stopped her.

You always have a choice, Echopaw. Do not waste it. Echopaw glanced around, startled and saw the faint outline of two cats. One was Snowstar, she was sure, but the other was unfamiliar with its creamy fur and wise green eyes.

Who are you? She breathed.

The StarClan cat purred and softly replied, Now is not the time, dear one. But just remember, you always have a choice. Do not make a mistake you will regret.

The two cats shimmered and then were gone as suddenly as they had come. What was StarClan trying to say, that she had to choose between Rowanpaw and her destiny? But could she fulfill the prophecy even though she cared for him? You have a choice, do not waste it.

Echopaw took a deep breath and turned back to the ginger tom who was waiting for an answer. She looked into his eyes and knew she was making the right choice.

"You have always been more than a friend, Rowanpaw," she whispered, feeling the truth of the words flow over her. She hadn't wanted to admit it, had pushed away all thoughts of it, but in the end she knew without a doubt that she was hopelessly and helplessly in love with him.

And, seeing how his eyes lit up and understanding what it meant for him to hear those words, Echopaw realized that the empty place inside of her was filled with the thought of them together and a future they could have.

However, even though she knew she had made the right choice, apprehension still made its home along with all her doubts. She shoved the cold feeling away and tried to focus of the way Rowanpaw's fur felt against hers and not about the ominous reality looming before her.

She figured she would cross that river when she came to it, and hopefully she made it out alive.

D'aww, I just love fluffiness don't you? *squeals and pushes Rowanpaw and Echopaw together* ^-^ Review, please and don't worry cause there's gonna be a lot of action in the next couple of chapters!

Blackpaw: *waggles eyebrows suggestively at Tinypaw*

Me: NOT LIKE THAT YOU MOUSE-BRAIN!

Anyway….review!