A new chapter!!! Hope you liked my last one and in case this comes out early or late I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Leopardfur side-eyed the group of apprentices where they were spread out and lined up and down the river bank as they concentrated on their hunting assignments. It pleased her to see how well they were all doing, even as leafbare was rolling in they were so far still plentiful with fish coming in from the river. But good catches weren't entirely on the dappled, golden tabby she-cats mind, instead her amber eyes kept subconsciously wandering towards one apprentice in periocular without her meaning to.

The older warrior watched as Morningpaw, quite a tiny and unorthodox apprentice that had a compulsive behavior for sticking her nose into where it didn't belong and taking others along with her, flashed out a dainty paw and dragged a good sized salmon to shore where she swiftly killed it and added it to her prey pile.

There was no mistaking how skilled she was but Morningpaw's behavior of constantly getting into trouble bothered her. So far there hadn't been any backlash or negative consequences to her actions, not from saving WindClan from ShadowClan or rescuing ThunderClan's kits but those reckless actions still put Leopardfur on edge. Just because nothing had yet happened to RiverClan over the tiny flame-pelted apprentices actions didn't mean that there still won't be in the future.

Leopardfur more than anything wanted to march over and cuff the pretty, sleek furred she-cat over her ears and give her a good long lecture about running off into danger without thinking of the consequences. But she refrained from doing so because truthfully it wasn't really her place. It was the duty of her mentor or their leader to set the apprentice straight and curiously as of late, Morningpaw had been spending many evenings speaking one on one with Crookedstar. The dappled, golden tabby warrior wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not but so far Morningpaw hadn't been getting into any more trouble.

The lack of trouble and spontaneous heroic acts from the flame-pelted apprentice put Leopardfur somewhat at ease. It meant that Whiteclaw wasn't throwing himself into danger either. Leopardfur didn't see the appeal that her son did towards the once housecat. She was pretty, a strong fighter and decent at everything else but she was also constantly getting into constant trouble causing Whiteclaw to join her.

Why couldn't Whiteclaw have fallen in love with someone more boring and on the safe side like Emberpaw? Leopardfur thought to herself, exasperated with young couples and their attraction to one another.

It wouldn't be long now till Morningpaw becomes a fully fledged warrior. Then there wouldn't be any restrictions between the two and they'd be off, becoming officially mates and starting their own family. It made Leopardfur wonder how her son had grown up so fast, it wasn't long ago that he was just a little ball of fuzz, not listening to a word she said.

The thought of becoming a grandma at her age made her audibly groan aloud. It caught the attention of all the apprentices and although Leopardfur felt somewhat embarrassed the older she-cat also knew they wouldn't say a word and quickly went back to focusing on their test.

A litter of kits that were a mix between Whiteclaw and Morningpaw was a gamble of how they would turn out. Though something deep inside told her that they are going to turn out as wild and reckless as their mother.

However, something about their relationship rubbed Leopardfur the wrong way. Whiteclaw seemed to put in all the effort on his side when it came to courting but Morningpaw never seemed to reciprocate in the same manner, or not from what Leopardfur has seen, and always seemed one-sided on Whiteclaw's end. At first she believed that Morningpaw wanted to keep things private, Leopardfur knew that she wouldn't want anyone meddling into her own relationship if she ever had one, but Whiteclaw had no reserve in showing everyone how much he adored Morningpaw, so it couldn't be that. On the apprentice's end it was more like she was treating him as a friend, one that exasperatedly played dumb whenever someone tried to bring it up. Morningpaw didn't have to hide anything from anyone about her relationship with Morningpaw -- unless.

"Times up!" Leopardfur called out, halting the apprentices. Obediently, all three apprentices stopped what they were doing and took a step back and lined up beside each other. Slowly Leopardfur came to inspect each prey pile and see how well they had all done. It was apparent that Heavypaw was the best of the three, better quality and more prey. Morningpaw and Emberpaw are more or less tied with equal amounts to their piles. Overall, the apprentices did remarkably well for themselves. They all passed.

They were practically shaking out of their pelts from how excited they were to get the verdict that they had all passed their tests. It reminded Leopardfur of when she passed her own test back when she had been an apprentice just like these three.

It made Leopardfur proud of them all. Although she'd never tell them that. It was as they were leaving, more than likely to go off and excitedly tell everyone back at camp that they passed their test, that Leopardfur decided to last second hold Morningpaw back.

Although it wasn't her place to scold the young apprentice about her reckless behavior it was her place as a mother to speak with the flame-pelted she-cat about her son.

"Morningpaw, I want to speak to you about Whiteclaw."

A look of surprise and worry appeared on the young apprentice's face. Leopardfur wanted to snort in amusement at how ridiculous her daughter-in-law reacted towards the mention of Whiteclaw, everytime he was brought up it was as though Morningpaw expected for something tragic to have occurred to him. It's not like he's gonna fall off the side of a gorge or anything.

"I wanted to know if you and he are having any issues in your relationship." Leopardfur questioned, more like demanded.

Morningpaw tilted her head in confusion, her green eyes narrowed slightly. "I don't think anything's wrong, why? Did he say something?"

Leopardfur shook her head. "No, he didn't have too. I noticed how you both act around each other. He's always putting in the effort to make you feel comfortable and happy but I don't think you are making the same attempt."

Morningpaw's eyes stretched wide, and a look of guilt casted over them. "I wasn't aware that I was failing him."

Good. She was seeing the error of her ways, now she will try harder to return those feelings so that she and Whiteclaw can move forward and be more open with the rest of the Clan. They have nothing to hide and they need to know that their Clanmates won't judge them.

"I should have known though, he is my best friend after all. Best friends should know these things."

Yes. Best frie-- Leopardfur's mind went blank for a moment, the only cat able to do so being the RiverClan's overly annoying deputy that couldn't take anything seriously. Morningpaw seemed to have that same ability in making the dappled, golden tabby's mind stutter to a stop before it kick-started itself again. "Best friends?" Leopardfur echoed, staring dumbfounded at the glum apprentice. "Don't you mean your future mate?"

Morningpaw had the audacity to huff and roll her eyes. "Heavypaw said the same thing to me not long ago. No, we're not mates, we're best friends. He doesn't see--"

"Yes he does." Leopardfur interrupted the flame-pelted apprentice before she could finish. "I swear on my life, Silverpelt, even StarClan that Whiteclaw loves you and thinks you're already in a relationship."

"But we aren't and Whiteclaw has never expressed that he wanted to be mates." Morningpaw denied.

"He told me that he told you he liked you," Leopardfur remarked, recalling how excited her son had been when returning from saving ThunderClan's kits and how he had confessed his feelings to Morningpaw. "After your little joint in ShadowClan."

Morningpaw shook her head in denial. "That was just a sudden strong declaration about our friendship in the thick of the moment. It was really sweet though."

"Strong declaration about your friendship." Leopardfur blandly echoed, wondering if minnows were swimming around in that head of hers. "He also told me that you're going to share a nest together in the warrior's den."

"Well I said I wouldn't mind sharing a nest with him." Morningpaw admitted. "I mean if there's a lack of space then it's not a problem, we've spent moons together in the apprentices den so it won't be a problem."

"Lack of space." Leopardfur muttered, wondering what in StarClan's name was going on. "You both even talked about having kits for StarClan's sake!"

"Whiteclaw only asked if I ever wanted kits, I told him that I would like some in the future." Morningpaw replied, looking confused.

"You've talked about having kits." Leopardfur meowed, blinking incredulously at the apprentice. "And you think it's just a common topic that anyone just brings up randomly in conversation?"

"Isn't it?" Morningpaw asked in confusion.

It was then that it clicked in Leopardfur's mind what was going on and why Morningpaw was responding the way that she is. Morningpaw didn't know. Morningpaw hadn't been playing stupid this entire time to keep her and Whiteclaw's relationship private. She had genuinely been minnow-brained to the fact that Whiteclaw was in love with her and wanted them to be mates. Leopardfur was torn between wanting to pity the oblivious apprentice or sigh in exasperation due to the lack of proper communication between the apprentice and her son.

"Whether or not you believe me, Whiteclaw truly does love you. The entire Clan can see that he does, except apparently you of course, and he genuinely thinks that you feel the same way and want to be with him just as much as he does with you."

Morningpaw made a good impersonation of a gasping fish. "Y-your sure about this?" The apprentice asked, appearing mere heartbeats away from fainting.

"As serious as a warning for an attack on the camp." Leopardfur bluntly replied, tilting her head as Morningpaw fell down hard onto her hunches.

"I- I never realized." Morningpaw muttered.

The emotional turmoil the apprentice was in caused Leopardfur to feel more pity for her. Although there was the thought that Morningpaw was overthinking things and being a little dramatic in the way she was handling them. Being told that one of her friends was in love with her shouldn't be that shocking. But a show of sympathy was needed at this moment, or so Leopardfur believed, and she showed it by laying her tail onto Morningpaw's shoulders and giving her a firm sound of advice. "You don't have to be mates with Whiteclaw if you don't want to. He'll be disappointed, yes, but he will respect your decision--"

"But he might not want to be my friend anymore." Morningpaw objected, appearing panicked.

More like he'd mope around and take every shift of patrols he could get so he could try and hopefully get over you, was what Leopardfur thought, and internally cringed to think of how upset her son is going to be when he finds this out. But he wouldn't fault Morningpaw for not feeling the same. "Perhaps things between you will be different," Leopardfur knew that it would. "But I believe he'd rather have you as a friend in his life regardless than not have you in it at all." Despite how painful it would be for him.

"I never thought about taking a mate yet, or who it would be with." Morningpaw admitted, appearing sheepish. "I thought it would be awhile till anyone took notice. I'd never imagine that Whiteclaw out of anyone would want to be mates."

Oblivious and stupid, my son sure knows how to pick them. Leopardfur slowly breathed out through her nose, before saying, "you don't have to decide anything now. You're just an apprentice and should focus on becoming a warrior for right now. Finding a mate, having kits or even simply having a crush can all wait in time. If it happens, it happens and if it doesn't then that's okay too."

Leopardfur let her words sink in, watching as Morningpaw absorbed them and actually made it through that thick skull of hers. Finally, the flame-pelted apprentice nodded, causing the warrior to sigh in relief. This has certainly knocked off some time from her lifespan.

Leopardfur flinched as Morningpaw suddenly sprang forward, a look of consideration now coloring her green eyes. "Thank you, Leopardfur. For telling me." Morningpaw dipped her head, a show of thanks.

"Don't thank me. It wasn't anything extravagant. I was just pointing out the obvious." Leopardfur waved off, wondering whether or not she did the right thing.

"I'll make sure that I won't hurt him, no matter what decision I decide." Morningpaw meowed, giving the internally worried mother some assurance. "That I promise you."

Leopardfur supposed that her son could do worse as she watched the small flame-pelted apprentice walk off with her shoulders squared and head held high.

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Fun Facts

Yeah! Leopardfur was the one to point out the obvious! No sugarcoating anything, getting straight to the point and making sure that Morningpaw understands it completely. Good on the mama Leopardfur!

Poor Morningpaw, having no idea that her best friend was in love with her! Now that she does, how will their relationship change? Or will it stay the same? Who knows besides me?

Yes! Morningpaw passed her second to last test and soon she will become a warrior! (I have already decided on her warrior name so look forward to that and be sure to speculate what it is! I'd love to see all your guesses!)

I thought it was about time that Leopardfur got involved with her son's love life and it was obvious that someone else had to point out that her was in love with her because Morningpaw would have never figured it out on her own.

Oakheart easily gets on Leopardfur nerves because their personalities just not mesh well. He's to laid back about everything and that causes Leopardfur to snap at him a lot. (though she still sees him as a great warrior and Clanmate. although she also finds him to be a bit of an idiot)

Going back to Morningpaw pov next chapter! And boy is it going to be a doozy although you might see Ravenwing again!! (I did say he was important to the plot and that you'd see him again) Grayfang to but to a lesser extent!

Leopardfur is probably rereading the terms of those adoption papers. She probably didn't sign up for dealing with angsty romance problems involving her son. Or a lack of one.