The icy winds of the forest rippled against the small ferns growing around the frozen lakeside. All was quiet, and eerily peaceful. Warriors trickled through the undergrowth, arriving back from their latest hunt. They carefully travelled around the long, winding lakeside. Very few arrived back with prey, and those that did looked weary beyond belief. Their sides were weak and thin. Some cats were growling.

"Morning, Pinestrike." A grey, tabby she-cat purred. She was on her way out of camp. Dew was dropping from the grass. Pinestrike looked down at her. "I suppose you didn't find anything much." She stated, looking at his prey. "No surprise, really – you've got Deadeye with you." He frowned.
"What do you want, Ivyfeather?" he snarled.
"I don't want anything – not from you, at least. I must be off now, anyway. Perhaps I'll bring back some prey." She purred once more. Pinestrike raised an eyebrow.
"What else would you be doing?" he inquired, not taking back his aggressive tone.
"Oh, you know," she smiled, with a twinkle in her eyes, "She-cat things. I can elaborate if you'd like." Pinestrike gained a horrified look, and tried desperately to end the conversation. Ivyfeather laughed, and waved her tail to jesture goodbye.

Pinestrike arrived back in camp, with a scrawny squirrel in his jaw. Should I drop it in the fresh-kill pile, or bring it to the medicine cats? They do deserve an award. He thought. He carried the squirrel further into the medicine cat den. Another cat, who he could not quite name, was with Ripplebeam. She had striking silver fur – although she wasn't the prettiest, in his opinion. The den smelled of herbs. He also picked up a soft scent of flowers. "Ripplebeam?" he mewed curiously. They both turned around in shock.

"P-pinestrike? Um, it's really nice of you to, uh, be here! Wh..." Ripplebeam stuttered, looking to the she-cat for advice. She looked devastated and ashamed. Pinestrike could put 2 and 2 together. The she-cat gave him a strong glare. "Don't you dare. Pinestrike, please. You don't understand!" Pinestrike frowned. "This is against the warrior code! I can't stand for this!" he growled, albeit keeping his voice down. Ripplebeam looked at him in shock. "Are we clan cats, or are we rogues?! Ripplebeam, I expected better from you. You know that you can't take a mate." He hissed.

"P-p... Pinestrike. Our love couldn't hurt anyone," He murmured, curling tails with the she-cat "Besides, it's not as if I'm being distracted from my d-duties. Sturdyleaf can take care of things on his own."
"Sturdyleaf has enough things to worry about! Half of the clan hasn't eaten in days, how are we supposed to stay well without food?" he growled, raising his voice. Ripplebeam whimpered, while the she-cat prepared for a fight. "I've been working day and night, time and time again just so you two can have some illicit romance? Do you know what I call cats who can't obey the warrior code?"
"What, reasonable cats?" the she-cat retorted, edging closer to Pinestrike.
"No. I, and everyone else, call them traitors." He spat. "If you want to go be in love somewhere else, as rogues, then by all means be my guest. Otherwise, this has to stop."
"You do NOT call me a-" the she-cat yowled, before Sturdyleaf walked in.

Sturdyleaf raised an eyebrow, and chuckled. "What do we have here?" he asked, looking to his former apprentice. They both nodded understandingly. Pinestrike continued to growl towards the other cats. "Calm down, Pinestrike. This isn't worth it, you know. Let him be young." He smiled. Pinestrike grumbled to himself for a few seconds before regaining composure. Sturdyleaf had a strange way with words, and he couldn't bring himself to deny him. "It's not in the warrior code for no reason, though. Nepotism is one thing that comes to mind." Pinestrike glared at the couple. Ripplebeam just grinned sheepishly, more confident in the presence of his former mentor. The she-cat simply growled. Sturdyleaf gave him a sly look.

"If, indeed, the clan is in such hard times, then surely there are more important things to worry about?" Sturdyleaf pointed out. Pinestrike gave a low growl.
"I'm not going to argue with you, Sturdyleaf. You're not the one I have a problem with." He retorted.
"Good." he smiled. Pinestrike coughed.
"Don't think that I'm just going to conveniently forget this, you two." Pinestrike growled. "Anyway... you can have this. Share it between you." Pinestrike half-heartedly dropped the squirrel on the ground, and walked away.

Sturdyleaf watched him walk away from the medicine cat den. He chuckled slightly to himself, although Ripplebeam still looked concerned. The she-cat huffed loudly as soon as Pinestrike was out of sight. "Honestly! He's so stuck in his ways, that Pinestrike – what does he care what we do with our lives?" she grumbled. Ripplebeam brushed his tail over his mate's nose, in an attempt to calm her. She growled for a bit, and swatted his tail out of the way. He laughed, and they began play-fighting. They're still young, and innocent, he thought to himself so they still know how to make the best of a bad situation.

I wish I could be like them.