Newly fallen leaves littered the snowy forest floor, crunching beneath Poolpelt's black paws and giving up their musty scent.
Birds chattered in the snow-filled branches, and squirrels were busy collecting for their leaf-bare store.

Poolpelt had no interest in prey.
The fresh-kill was full, the borders secure.
After the clamor of the nursery, she'd wanted only the peace of the forest.

She'd noticed Feathershine sighing after her as she'd left the tumbling chaos of the stone den.
However much she loved Featherkit, Feathershine missed being a warrior.

"How come Blackfrost gets to hunt and patrol?" she had asked Poolpelt the previous day. "It's his kit, too."
"He can't give Featherkit milk," Poolpelt had reminded her. She'd nudged her sister gently. "Featherkit'll be eating mouse soon, and then you'll be able to leave her with Ashfall or Duskwing for a while and join a hunting patrol."
Feathershine had sighed. "Yes, but then I'd miss the little furball."
Poolpelt had swallowed a flash of frustration. Pick a side!

"Well done, Thornpaw!" Braveheart's mew sounded from over a rise, snapping Poolpelt's thoughts back to the forest.

A branch shook overhead.
"Look, Poolpelt!" Thornpaw was peering down from the leaves. "I'm going to climb to the top!"
"Be careful," Poolpelt warned.
Thornpaw seemed more adventurous with each passing day.
Thornpaw's adventerous spirit was what got Poolpelt to forgive Thornpaw for not telling his Clanmates about Silverstar's condition.

"Concentrate on what you're doing!" Braveheart yowled from the bottom of the trunk.
"Where's Rainpelt?" Poolpelt asked.
Since Ashfall was with kits, Rainpelt had become Thornpaw's new mentor.

Braveheart didn't take his eyes off the golden-brown tabby shape scrabbling through the leaves. "She had to see Flowertail about a seed that got stuck in her eye."

"I'm going to ask Icestar if Braveheart can be my mentor forever!" came a squeal above them. "Rainpelt would never have let me climb this high!"

Poolpelt raised an eyebrow at Braveheart.

Braveheart flashed Poolpelt a guilty look. "Opps," he meowed. "Thornpaw seemed so sure he could do it, I assumed it wasn't the first time..."
Dear StarClan, he's a dork!
Poolpelt purred. "Don't worry! I won't tell Rainpelt."
Braveheart flicked his tail lightly across her flank. "Thanks! And I'll make sure Thornpaw gets back to the camp in one piece!"
Poolpelt laughed. "We'll see.."

Heading away from Thornpaw's tree, Poolpelt wandered through the snow and pushed her way past a frozen wall of ferns.
She was thirsty, and the river was burbling nearby.

The river had risen since the height of greenleaf, splashing over stones and lapping at the snow, its chatter harmonizing with the soft rustle of the snowy forest.

Poolpelt peered through a snowy bush and down the leaf-snowed bank.
A golden tabby pelt moved in the shallows.
Huh?

She tasted the air warily.
Stiffening, she recognized the scent of DawnClan.

She stared in astonishment as Goldenfur padded out on the IceClan side of the river, barely three tail- lengths from Poolpelt.
He shook himself like a dog, then stretched out on a smooth stone sloping up from the water.
The sun glistened on his thick-furred pelt.

He was going to sleep! On IceClan territory!

Poolpelt tensed, ready to spring out and confront the trespasser.
Then she paused.
He looked so peaceful.
Caught in the moment, she caught herself watching his flank rising and falling.
What am I doing!?
She shook her head annoyingly, forcing out the blushing on her face.

She plunged through the snowy bushes and skidded to a halt behind him, sending small stones rattling down the water. "You!"
Goldenfur lifted his head and glanced over his shoulder and smiled happily. "Poolpelt!"
Poolpelt forced herself and her heart and glared at Goldenfur even through his smile.
"Just because you took Icerocks," she hissed, "doesn't mean you can help yourself to any piece of territory you want."

"Sorry." Goldenfur got to his paws. "I couldn't resist such a sunny spot."
"You couldn't resist?" She growled.

All her hesitance to attack him vanished.
She launched herself at him, but Goldenfur ducked and she missed.
Poolpelt stopped with her black paws dug into the stones to stop her from falling over.

She twisted and sharply nipped his hind leg.
"Ow!" Goldenfur hopped out of the way and swung his head toward her, catching her shoulder as she reared for another lunge.

While she was scrabbling at the air, Poolpelt's hind black paws skidded out of the stones.
She lost her balance and flopped ungracefully into the river.
As the water drenched her pelt, panic shot through her.
I'm drowning!
"Help me!"

But Goldenfur stayed on the bank, his eyes bright with amusement. "Try standing up," he suggested calmly.

Poolpelt thrust her black paws downward, expecting to vanish underwater.
Instead, her feet stubbed against the round stones on the bottom of the river.
She stood up, surprised to find the water barely lapping at her belly fur.
Hot with embarrassment, she stalked onto the snowy bank and shook herself.

"How was I supposed to know it was that shallow?" she snorted. "IceClan cats don't get in the water."
Goldenfur shrugged. "Sorry you got a bit damp." His gaze flitted over her pelt. "I was just defending myself."

Poolpelt snorted. "Why don't you just be quiet and move away from my territory?"
He tipped his head to one side. "It seems a shade to leave at the start of a beautiful friendship."

Poolpelt rolled her eyes. "Surrrrrrreee. You'd better leave. Now or I'll hecking give you a scar you won't forget."
Goldenfur laughed and then dipped his head, his gaze holding hers for an instant, then padded into the shallows and swam sleekly across the river.
Poolpelt watched him slip onto the bank at the other side, water dripping from his thick pelt.

Before he disappeared into the trees he looked back at her, his eyes gleaming.
"I won't forget you, scar or no scar," he called.

Poolpelt did her best to dig her a hole and dump all her feelings into the hole.
She snapped away from him before he could even see a hint of her blushing.
Dumb, stupid, handsome, sweet, frost-brain!

She stamped up the snowy bank and headed into the snowy trees.

When she reached the top of the ravine, she was thinking over Goldenfur.
How could Goldenfur be so nice and sweet to her when she was an enemy warrior?
Why does my heart beat whenever I talk to him?

She was so lost in thought, Amberleaf made her jump when she bounded over the top of the cliff.
"You're wet!" Amberleaf glanced at the sky, puzzled. "It hasn't been raining, has it?"
Poolpelt glanced at her black paws. "It was...er...I slipped and fell...the bank was..." How could she possibly say that she had basically went for a swim in the DawnClan border?
Amberleaf's whiskers twitched. "Not looking where you going?"
"It was slippery!"

Amberleaf's eyes flashed with curiosity. "You look different."
Poolpelt shifted her black paws. "How?"
"You look moony. Like Feathershine when she's talking about Blackfrost."
"Don't be silly!"
"Who is it?" Amberleaf's ears were twitching.
"No one!"

"Braveheart?" Amberleaf guessed.
Poolpelt halted.
Amberleaf was half right, she did love Braveheart, but not as much as Goldenfur.
But.. who does my heart really belong to?

"Of course not!" She replied.
Amberleaf tipped her head to one side. "Too bad," she meowed. "He spends enough time mooning over you."
"R-really..?" She felt like she has been blushing too much for the whole day, she should probably make a blush count.
Amberleaf rolled her eyes. "Hadn't you notice him watching you?"
"NO!" Poolpelt said with so much ferocity to make Amberleaf stop butting into her love life, which worked, since Amberleaf took a step back.

"Okay." The dark-ginger tabby warrior changed the subject. "I'm just off to get some fresh moss for Feathershine and Featherkit."
At the mention of her niece, Poolpelt softened, her damp pelt smoothing. "How is Featherkit?"
"She's been chasing Feathershine's tail all morning. She's ready to box her ears, but she won't. She does it sweetly."
"I can imagine." Poolpelt pictured Featherkit's blue eyes gazing up innocently up while she batted her mother's fluffy tail.

"I just hope Shadowkit isn't a bad influence," Amberleaf fretted. "When I left, he was trying to persuade Featherkit to flick burrs into Splashkit's pelt while she was sleeping."
Poolpelt gasped. "Didn't Duskwing stop them?!"
"You know Duskwing." Amberleaf sighed. "She thinks Shadowkit can do no wrong."
Duskwing spoils him.. she thought angrily.

"I'll visit the nursery," Poolpelt offered.
"Feathershine would appreciate it," Amberleaf meowed. "I think she's got den fever. She's almost shredded her nest. She needs some fresh air."

As Amberleaf padded into the snowy trees, Poolpelt noticed a tuft of dog hair caught in the snow.
There was barely any scent clinging to it—it must have blown there, rather than left by a passing dog—but it might keep Featherkit busy for a while.
She plucked it up with her claws and carried it down to the nursery.

Feathershine was looking hot and harassed when Poolpelt padded into the stone den.
Splashkit, Riverkit and Robinkit were tumbling over Ashfall, their tails flicking in Feathershine's face at every turn.
Featherkit was fast asleep, splayed on Feathershine's flank so that she couldn't move.

Shadowkit was nagging his mother.
"Why can't I go out?"
"You've just come in."
"But it's a sunny day."
"You need a nap."
"I'm not tired."
"You will be later."
"I'll sleep then."
"But you'll be grumpy all afternoon if you don't nap now."
"No, I won't."
"Yes, you will."
Feathershine rolled her eyes at Poolpelt.

"Here." Poolpelt dropped the tuft at the edge of her sister's nest.
Amberleaf was right. The moss was in shreds.
"Featherkit can play with it when she wakes."
Feathershine groaned, trying to adjust her position without disturbing the kit.

"What's that?" Shadowkit was already leaping for the dog fur.
"It's for Feather—!"
Shadowkit hooked it up before Poolpelt could finish her sentence and started chasing it around the nursery. "Look!" he squealed. "I'm Blackfrost, attacking that mangy dog!"
"Keep your voice down," Feathershine pleaded.

Shadowkit paused, his claws pinning the dog fur to the den floor. "I hate the nursery," he complained. "It's too full of kits. I'm never allowed to play anymore. I should be in the apprentices's den with Thornpaw. I bet he doesn't have to take afternoon naps."
Poolpelt purred. "Maybe not, but he wishes he could."

Featherkit lifted her head sleepily. "What's going on?"
"You've woken her up!" Feathershine puffed.
"Good," Shadowkit mewed. "Now she can play, too."
Arrogant furball! Poolpelt thought angrily.

Featherkit looked around. "Play what?"
"My new game; it's called Kill the Dog," Shadowkit told him.
He flung the tuft of fur over Featherkit's head.
Featherkit scrabbled up to catch it, making Feathershine grunt as the kit's hind claws dug into her pelt.

"Let's go for a walk," Poolpelt suggested.
Feathershine blinked.
"Featherkit's happy playing with Shadowkit," Poolpelt reasoned. "I'm sure she could spare you for a while."

She looked at the pale white kit bundling around the nests after Shadowkit. "You'll be okay if Feathershine comes for a walk with me, won't you?"
Featherkit didn't even glance at her. "Of course."

"We'll keep an eye on her," Ashfall promised.
Feathershine's eyes brightened. "Well, I suppose I could go out for a while."

"It'll do you good," Poolpelt promised.
"Are you sure she'll be okay?" Feathershine fretted.

"She'll be fine," Ashfall told her. "Now, go on. I'm sick of listening to you sigh."
"I don't sigh!" Feathershine objected.
Duskwing flicked her tail. "You've been snorting like a badger all morning!"
"Okay, okay!" Reluctantly Feathershine climbed out of her nest.
"Don't come back till your paws ache!" Ashfall called as Feathershine followed Poolpelt out of the nursery.

"Hurry up!"
Feathershine was dragging her paws as Poolpelt led her to the entrance. "But what if she gets hungry?"
"She won't starve."
"What if she gets anxious without me?"
"She's got a whole Clan looking out for her." Poolpelt nudged her sister into the stone tunnel. "I think she'll be okay."
Great StarClan, if this is like what it is to have kits, then I'm glad I don't have any!

She shooed Feathershine up the ravine, shaking her head when Feathershine halted at the top and peered wistfully down at the camp.

"Look," Poolpelt huffed. "It's a lovely day. Featherkit will be fine. It's not like we're going to Highstones. You'll see her again before the sun's moved a mouse-length."