Erin Hunter owns the Warriors series. Every character, setting, etc in this story belongs to them - the story in question is mine. Enjoy.

Mapleshade growled at Rabbitfur, the elder who had repeatedly insulted her kits. "I will not have my kits judged before they have even begun their warrior training!" she hissed. "Patchkit, come here; we're going for a walk in the forest."

Rabbitfur narrowed his yellow eyes. "The forest?" he mewed. "You know it's against the warrior code to take them out of the camp while they're under six moons, Mapleshade. Have you forgotten what you live by?"

Mapleshade growled a second time, "Of course not, Rabbitfur. I suppose if it means the entire world to you, I won't take them out for some fresh air." Her long-haired pelt bristled.

Rabbitfur huffed, "Then leave me. I'll be watching you." It was obvious that he was suspicious.

Mapleshade took her kits away from the old gray tabby. She still felt the anger that came from the jeers crawling underneath her fur. Her litter of three immediately began play-fighting once they made it back over to the nursery area. She could see that he was right, however; all three of them were clumsy and seemingly bare of the skills that ThunderClan-born kits had. But who else other than Rabbitfur cared? Certainly not her, she knew that. She somehow felt like she'd just avoided making a big mistake, which made her heave a sigh of relief.

Her kits wouldn't be judged.

"Larchpaw, Patchpaw, Petalpaw!"

Mapleshade relished in the cheers for her now apprenticed kits. However, she still felt awful; only a few moons ago, Appledusk had broke off their relationship. "I'm with Reedshine now," he'd said. "I'm sorry, but I must choose my RiverClan mate over my forbidden one."

Reedshine had kitted their litter of three: Willowkit, Shykit, and Toadkit. They were only about two moons younger than their ThunderClan half-siblings. Mapleshade dug her claws into the grass just thinking about how Appledusk had dared be disloyal towards their relationship. But to be loyal to me, he'd have to be disloyal to Darkstar and RiverClan, she reminded herself, calming down. I love him too much to put him in danger of being exiled. She would force herself to move on, even if it was difficult. Perhaps she would even find a new mate. Or maybe not.

Oakstar jumped down from Highrock, and the Clan split up. Larchpaw had been given to Frecklewish, Petalpaw to Nettlebreeze, and Patchpaw to Ravenwing. Yes, he wanted to be a medicine cat. This didn't really surprise Mapleshade. She could see it in the curious way he stared at the medicine den, and how he always wanted to help the black tom. She was fully supportive of his dream, and so she suggested it to Oakstar.

"Patchkit has been showing a large interest in becoming the next medicine cat," she mewed.

"Is that so?" Oakstar replied. "I'd be fine with it; it's Ravenwing that must make the decision."

So she went to Ravenwing and explained. "He's very helpful and attentive," he told her. "I don't think he'd be a nuisance here. Send him to me, and I'll have a talk with him about it."

The calico tomkit ended up spending from sunhigh until dusk in there. When he came out for his evening meal, he mewed excitedly, "I'm gonna be his apprentice!" Never before had Mapleshade's heart warmed up as quickly as then.

Now she watched the trio greet their mentors and talk over what they would begin with. Ravenwing ended up taking Patchpaw out to show him the best herb-picking places, while Larchpaw and Petalpaw toured the territory with Frecklewish and Nettlebreeze. Mapleshade herself was put on a sunhigh hunting patrol with Deerdapple, Seedpelt, and a tom named Yarrowclaw - Deerdapple was leading. She looked all around her as they walked through the oak forest, deciding on where to hunt. Finally out in the trees again, she thought; even though she loved raising and spending time with her kits, she could never live without warrior duties.

"I say we hunt in the trees near Sunningrocks," Yarrowclaw spoke up.

Deerdapple nodded approvingly. "Good thinking. I agree."

So they went to hunt, and they returned to camp with a good stash of prey. After placing her catch on the fresh-kill pile, Mapleshade looked around camp for her kits. Instead, she came across Dawnfeather - Beetail's mate and Nettlebreeze's mother - lying stretched out in front of the nursery. Her belly was swollen with unborn kits that were overdue. She was sharing a plump squirrel with Beetail.

"Good to see you," she greeted Mapleshade when she padded over.

"Hello, Mapleshade," Beetail mewed. "Ravenwing and Patchpaw have returned, but the others are still out."

Mapleshade nodded appreciatively at the deputy. "Thanks for telling me," she told him. "How are you, Dawnfeather?"

"Uncomfortable," the ginger tabby queen admitted. "If it weren't for Beetail and Nettlebreeze fussing over me, I'd probably be without hope. Next thing you know, I'm gonna be carrying fully grown cats 'cause they just don't wanna come out!"

"Nettlebreeze's litter had the opposite problem," Beetail meowed. "They came a half moon early. Poor Darkkit and Twigkit died before they got to open their eyes; they were just too weak."

Dawnfeather nodded sadly, adding, "That's why I never gave up on Nettlekit, even if it took a while before he had the strength to go outside the nursery."

Mapleshade could remember every event they were describing; she'd been an apprentice at the time. "I hadn't given up hope, either," she told them. "There wasn't anything I could do to help, but I can recall constantly worrying about him."

"It's much appreciated to hear now, Mapleshade," Dawnfeather purred. "Thank you." She stretched her head up, her beautiful eyes focused on the camp entrance. "They're back."

Mapleshade turned around, seeing the two mentors and their apprentices pad inside. "Go tend to Rabbitfur and Dawnfeather," Frecklewish ordered. "Only then can you get some prey."

"My paws hurt!" Petalpaw complained. "Can't I just rest in the sun for a while?"

"Of course not, you mouse-brain," Larchpaw told her, flicking his tail with a smirk. "Do you want a punishment on our first day?"

"He's right," Nettlebreeze agreed. "Petalpaw, you can go tend to Rabbitfur. Larchpaw, you go help Dawnfeather."

"But she's already eating," Petalpaw pointed out.

"He can clear her nest," Frecklewish told her. "Get started, you two."

The two apprentices headed off towards their different destinations, but Mapleshade knew from experience that both would end up in the medicine den for moss and mouse bile. Frecklewish and Nettlebreeze padded over to Mapleshade, who'd padded away from Beetail and Dawnfeather to give them space.

"Larchpaw's a good cat," Frecklewish told Mapleshade. "He's a good listener, but he still has the curiosity and adventrousness that makes a great warrior."

"Petalpaw's impulsive and snobby most times, but she has her good moments," Nettlebreeze added. "And even her stubbornness could be useful. Reminds me of a certain she-cat."

Mapleshade hit him in the face with her tail. "Shut up," she teasingly meowed.

Nettlebreeze locked eye contact with her, seemingly unaware for a few moments. Then he shook himself and looked away. "I'm gonna go get some prey," he mewed before quickly excusing himself to the fresh-kill pile.

Mapleshade looked to Frecklewish. "Do you have any idea what that was?" she asked.

Frecklewish purred, "He obviously likes you, mouse-brain!" Then she remembered who she was talking to, and she gave her friend a sad glance. "Sorry, I mean... I know that you were Birchface's mate."

Mapleshade's blood froze; it'd been a good few moons since that'd been mentioned. She'd completely forgotten. "It must be harder for you," she meowed, thinking fast. "To be honest, I think I'm mostly over him. But don't think I didn't love him or anything; I just don't think he'd want me to grieve forever."

Frecklewish nodded. "I understand," she assured the calico. "I can relate to that, actually. I miss him, but our father's got another mate now. You know how our mother died when we were apprentices, right?"

Mapleshade murmured something that resembled a yes. It was true - their mother, Suntail, had died from greencough the leaf-bare they'd become apprentices. She'd hardly even been kitted, but she'd heard stories.

"Well, I can't help but think that I'll have half-siblings eventually; that helps my grieving fade," Frecklewish continued. "I don't think Oakstar's ready yet, though. It'll probably be awhile before he can bring himself to have more kits. He might feel like he's betraying Birchface."

Mapleshade couldn't think of an appropriate response, so she simply mewed, "I hope everything works out for you, but I should be going."

Frecklewish meowed, "Yes, thank you. Goodbye."

Mapleshade padded over to the fresh-kill pile, seeing that Nettlebreeze was the only one there. It seemed as if he were thoroughly examining each individual piece of prey, but she could tell that he wanted to be near without having to speak. I should tell him that I appreciate how he feels, but also that I'm not into him in that way, she thought. However, she simply began looking over the options for a meal herself. Time seemed to get slower by every heartbeat that passed. Nettlebreeze eventually looked up, locking his cloudy teal eyes with her amber ones.

"Can I talk to you?" he meowed.

Mapleshade already knew what the talk would be about, but she nodded anyway. "Let's go outside of camp for some privacy," she told him.

She led the younger tom out, and they walked while he assumedly thought over what to say. "I... I've felt a strange way about you since the last moon or two of my training," he confessed. "But I knew that you were involved with Birchface, and I thought it'd be a rude thing to tell you while you might've been grieving still. However, I can't take the pounding feeling in my chest any longer. I love you, Mapleshade!"

Mapleshade stopped, staring at him blankly; even though she knew what he'd say, she hadn't expected to feel so strongly towards him so suddenly. Something enticed her into making her purr softly. "I love you too," she told him without realizing. "I love you, Nettlebreeze!"

They curled themselves around each other, both cats purring up a storm. Mapleshade, despite feeling so amazing and warm and fuzzy inside, was slightly confused; she'd never realized any attraction to Nettlebreeze in the past. Where had her sudden yearning and craving for him come from? It doesn't matter, she told herself. I love him. He's all I need. I've obviously always felt this way.

They continued their walk for a little while longer before returning to camp. Mapleshade felt light on her paws, and like she could do anything. She'd felt the exact same way with Appledusk, but she no longer felt it when she thought of him - only Nettlebreeze. Nettlebreeze occupied her thoughts, much like Appledusk once had. When he began going to the fresh-kill pile, she followed. He grabbed a piece of prey, and they ate it together. They shared tongues afterward.

"I'm surprised," Frecklewish mewed, padding over.

"I am too," Nettlebreeze admitted. "But I'm so unbelievably happy as well. I couldn't wish for anything else."

"Neither could I," Mapleshade purred.

Over the span of the next few days, Mapleshade had made her new nest right next to Nettlebreeze's. She seemed attached to him, and became increasingly uncomfortable if they were separated. He didn't seem to mind too much, telling her that they'd see each other again later. It felt like a betrayal to her. The entire Clan had noticed their new bond, and many cats had congratulated Mapleshade on successfully moving on.

"I'm proud of you," Bloomheart, her former mentor, mewed one day when they were on a patrol together. "It's healthy to see you not linger on the past."

Her three kits even reacted well to Nettlebreeze, and even began treating him like the father they'd never had - especially Petalpaw. She'd become a hard worker in an attempt to please her mentor.

A moon passed, and the beginning of leaf-bare rolled around. Snow hadn't fallen yet, but the air had turned colder than before. Mapleshade had just found out wonderful news: she was a moon into pregnancy. Ravenwing had her moved into the nursery once he found out. But as the days slowly went by, more and more cats began noticing how unhealthily attached to Nettlebreeze she was. She would refuse to move from her spot whenever he was apart from her. He'd even grown concerned, but he hadn't mentioned anything to her.

Until one day, that is.

He approached her after she'd finished a sparrow. "We need to talk," he meowed, and he sat down in front of her after she'd mewed her agreement to conversating. "Have you truly moved on?"

Don't worry, the sudden relationship will make sense later on. I know how to write realistic pairings, so don't think I'm some weird preteen who thinks love comes out of nowhere.

thanks for reading friends