"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced."
-Soren Kierkegaard

Blaze's POV

I knew I was dreaming because I felt more...myself in this forest. And my pelt was light orange instead of the red-orange I was born with! Was I possessed except in my dreams? I would soon find out.

My heart stopped when across from me was a plump red-orange she-cat with bright green eyes that looked at me intently.

"Come, we have a lot to talk about." She smiled and her paw patted a spot next to her. I gulped and sat next to her.

"Who are you?" I immediately asked.

"My name is Redblossom." She answered. "When you woke in this dream, did you feel more like...yourself?"

"Yeah I do feel more like myself!" I confirmed. "Why is that?"

"I was a RiverClan warrior till I was killed saving all the four Clans you now know of." Redblossom explained. "StarClan expected me to join them, but I refused to leave the friends and family I love. So my spirit sensed and tracked down a Queen giving birth in your Tribe. My soul entered your body and your normal orange pelt turned into a bright red-orange like mine."

"However, what happened was much more than simple reincarnation. Our appearances and minds were fused into one." Redblossom said. "Beside in our dreams, we'refused."

I felt my blood run cold as I realized that the night would soon be over and I'd no longer be myself.

"Well how do we fix this?!" I gasped. "Does that mean that weird tom likes you? Because I'm not interested in being with him!"

"He's not weird." Redblossom's nose twitched. "You don't like Flint right?"

"Of course not! He's not really a nice cat." I scoffed.

"Then let's agree on one thing: we keep Flint away from us. Okay?" Redblossom suggested.

"Okay." I whispered. Soon we would wake up as the same cat again.

One moon later, Oakpaw's POV

"Oh my StarClan I'm going to become an APPRENTICE!"

"Sit still Owlkit! You're not going to look presentable if you struggle so much!" Mothleap complained.

"I don't need to look presentable to fight and hunt!" Owlkit protested. "All I need is the skills of a warrior!"

"And you watching her every move weirdo." I heard my sister whisper in my ear. I jumped and looked at Blossompaw annoyed.

"At least she's actually in this Clan." I retorted, realizing a while ago that my sister fancied Sagepaw. "When our parents find out, they're going to lose it y'know."

"I told you! I just think of him as a friend!" Blossompaw lied, storming off like she'd usually do when I pointed out her forbidden feelings. What did she see in him anyway? He's so negative!

"That hunting patrol better come back soon!" Giselle growled in the Nursery. Turns out her and Ajax were so happy to be reunited that she was expecting their second litter only several sunrises later.

And Blazepaw began acting more normal in the past moon, except whenever Flyfur would try to talk to her she'd get very uncomfortable. It visibly hurt his feelings every time and eventually he stopped talking to her altogether.

"Is something wrong Oakpaw?"

I turned around to see my grandfather and leader Stonestar sit beside me with his concerned gaze.

"Does Flyfur not love Redblossom anymore? He's given up on talking to Blaze." I asked.

"He still does, he just knows that Redblossom is there somewhere but Blaze's feelings are extremely conflicted." Stonestar sighed. "I suggested that he let her think over her feelings."

How long would that take? I couldn't worry too much though, it was Owlkit's ceremony that was about to start!

"All of RiverClan come forth for an apprentice ceremony...well someone's certainly ready to be an apprentice." Stonestar chuckled.

"Of course I am! I want to be the best warrior RiverClan has ever known!" Owlkit purred, puffing her chest.

"Well, your mother probably can't wait to be deputy again, right Mothleap?" Stonestar asked. Owlkit's mother nodded. "Owlkit, you are now known as Owlpaw. Petalstep, I hope you enjoy being a mentor as much as you enjoyed being an apprentice."

Owlpaw eagerly pressed her nose against Petalstep's before hopping around her new mentor.

"And for two apprentices to become warriors. Step forward Rainpaw and Marshpaw." Stonestar added

Unlike most mothers, Pebblebird didn't seem excited. It was almost as if she found them to be a burden. And we had no idea who their father was either.

"You two passed your final assessment with flying colors. Rainpaw, do you promise to protect your Clan even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then you are now Rainsky. And Marshpaw, do you promise to defend your Clan even at the cost of your life?"

"Okay." Marshpaw scoffed, looking annoyed.

"Then you're now Marshcloud." Stonestar meowed ignoring her attitude. "May you two make RiverClan proud."

"Owlpaw! Rainsky! Marshcloud!"

"We will be going to the Gathering, and at the next sunrise Petalstep can take Owlpaw on the tour." Stonestar explained. "I will be bringing Mothleap, Rowanpelt, Voletooth, Songpool, Flyfur, Spidermoon, Sedgestep, Emberstem, Brambleblaze, Petalstep, Marshpaw, Blazepaw, Flintpaw, Oakpaw, Blossompaw, and Owlpaw."

"Yes!" Blossompaw purred.

"Unless Sagepaw isn't there." I growled, followed with my sister glaring at me.

"Why do you have to be so difficult!" Blossompaw whined before joining the cats leaving the camp.

My mentor seemed to staring daggers at Sedgestep and Marshcloud who were joined at the hip and I stepped away from her to walk with Owlpaw.

"Why is your mentor so bitter?" Owlpaw whispered.

"She used to have a mate till they split up and I'm pretty sure that mate was Sedgestep." I explained.

"That makes sense, now that Marshcloud is a warrior they seemed to be publicly affectionate." Owlpaw agreed. "Sorry that you got her as a mentor."

"It's okay." As long as you're here.

Blossompaw ran ahead of all of us onto the tree-bridge, and I knew it was because she smelled the scent of WindClan. I wasn't going to rat her out because I wasn't certain yet, but it was really hard not too.

After all, if she ends up expecting kits from Sagepaw when they're warriors it'd be too late.

"Blossompaw seems much more excited for Gatherings than usual." Mom purred obliviously. "So glad she's interested in the Clan affairs now."

I wasn't going to lie and agree that was why she was excited so I smiled and me and Owlpaw climbed onto the tree-bridge with her in front of me.

"Um...I'm not exactly crazy about trying to balance on this thing." Owlpaw gulped.

"Let me hold onto your tail and if you trip I'll keep you up OK?" I suggested.

"...OK." My teeth gently held onto her tail as we carefully walked across the tree-bridge. Several Clanmates hissed in annoyance but I ignored them.

"I hate this stupid tre-AAHH!" I heard Flintpaw fall into the water but kept going for Owlpaw's sake. Once we were on the island, me and Owlpaw saw Stonestar and Rowanpelt helping Flintpaw out of the water.

"What a mouse-brain." Owlpaw giggled.

Me and Owlpaw turned around to see the other three Clans already here and Lionpaw walked to my side.

"Hey Lionpaw, long time no see! How are ya?" I meowed.

"Great!" Lionpaw purred seeming more talkative than usual. "Badgerleap's kits became apprentices while we were gone! Thrushpaw and Hazelpaw are much more fun to hang with than my family thank StarClan!"

"That's good to know." I smiled. "I wonder how Hogpaw is doing. Wanna come with me to look for her Owlpaw?"

"Sure!" She replied.

Blazepaw's POV

It felt weird being one cat but not being one cat. At least thanks to Redblossom I can mentally label what these places are and know who some of the cats are.

Part of me wanted to be at Flyfur's side and part of me wanted to stay as far away from him as possible. But I now know who is definitely toxic to me.

"Blazepaw!" Flintpaw yowled running towards me. "Why didn't you tell me where you were my little flower-"

"Don't call me that!" I hissed unsheathing my claws. "You stay away from me!"

"What?! Blazepaw I didn't even doanything!" Flintpaw whimpered.

"How many time did I tell you I am not your mate?!" I pointed out. "And you ignored me! Listen...let me make this veryclear for you. I. Will. Never. Be. Your. Mate. NEVER."

The last word I emphasized was a little too loud and most of the cats at the Gathering were looking at the two of us. But I was just waiting for Flintpaw to finally understand and respect my wishes.

"...Blazepaw I think you're just going through something right now and-"

That was enough for me, I lifted one paw and slapped it across his cheek knocking him onto the ground. I could hear gasps and sensed Flyfur looking at me intently.

I looked at him and managed a smile.