Main Clearing

The trip to the river was short and awkward. When they finally reached their destination, Earthstar flew into the water fast as lightning.

Nightfrost wasnt so fast into the water as Earthstar and Adderpaw were. She waded into the water and then dropped a paw into the clear and cool water. Then next moment, she had a fish flopping up on the shore. Nightfrost killed it with a hard blow with her paw.

"Nice catch!" Earthstar mewed to Nightfrost. Then started to instruct Adderpaw, occasionally glancing back at her.

Nightfrost felt a warm glow of affection from head to tail-tip at Earthstar's praise. "Thanks!" She mewed.

Adderpaw listen to every word that Earthstar told him, "Like this?" He mewed as Adderpaw did what he was told to do when fishing.

"Yes! You're a bit clumsy, but for your first time that was great!" Earthstar praised.

Adderpaw pricked his ears at his praise. Then Adderpaw saw a flash of movement in the glow of the water. Then he rose his paw and the flopped out a large carp.

"Great catch Adderpaw!!!" Nightfrost mewed, gazing down at the apprentice and then looked at Earthstar.

"Good, now keep at it!" Earthstar said, looking back at Nightfrost.

Adderpaw, after a he had caught a few fish, he flopped down onto the ground beside the river.

Nightfrost had caught a couple of fish herself, but was distracted the whole time.

Earthstar cleared his head by shaking it fiercly. Then, he dove underwater to fish easier.

Nightfrost then mewed, " I am going back to camp." She then picked up her fish and with taking one last look at Earthstar, she padded away.

Earthstar nodded and kept fishing and instructing Adderpaw.

When Nightfrost reached the camp, she had dropped off her fish and then settled down in the main clearing and rested her head on her paws.

Earthstar laid down next to Nightfrost. Panthersoul stared at the pair, purring in amusement.

Nightfrost purred as she realized that Earthstar had come back to camp and had layed right next to her. Her feelings for Earthstar had been building up so strongly, the only thing that is scaring her is if Earthstar doesnt feel the same way. And only thinks of her as another Clanmate.

Patchkit and Icekit squeezed between the two warriors. "You guys are sitting really close! Do you like each other or something?" they asked in unison. Earthstar blushed and cleared his throat, clearly surprised and embarrassed that even kits could tell that he had a crush on Nightfrost.

Nightfrost felt the prickle of embarressment creeping up into her fur. She just shufled her paws and didnt face the curious kits.

Shypaw then came slinking up to the two kits and mewed, almost like a whisper, "What is going on?"

"Earthstar likes Nightfrost!!!" Patchkit mewed. "Patchkit, Icekit! Stop bugging your leader and get back into the nursery!" Snowstep scolded her kits. "I am terribly sorry, Earthstar!" she apoligized, bowing her head. "That's ok..." Earthstar replied, still blushing.

Tigerlily then poked out of the nursery, her belly swolen with unborn kits and mewed, "You bunch!" She let out a mrrow of laughter and went back inside the warmth of the nursery.

Nightfrost then looked Earthstar in the eyes and mewed, "Umm, that was something. We both know that is not true..right?" She mewed, feeling like she is lying, which she was.

Earthstar looked hurt by her denial. "Well, I was kind of hoping it was true...." Earthstar whispered, standing up and padding to his den, ears flat to his skull and tail flicking and drooping at the same time.

Nightfrost was about to reply to Earthstar, knowing she had hurt him. "It is true...." She mewed, really quiet. Nightfrost then watched Earthstar pad away towards his den, feeling regretful. Oh, StarClan, why do I always have to push cats away?! I love him! How can I prove to him that I truley do!? Nightfrost thought, her eyes getting heavy with grief.

"Don't feel bad, he's always been a bit overly sensitive. He'll figure out that all of it is true soon enough." Sunstep soothed, padding over to the freshkill pile. "That's right!" Snowstep nodded in agreement.

Nightfrost just nodded, quietly growling under her breath. She wanted to hear that from Earthstar! Nightfrost then got to her paws and slowly started to pad to Earthstar's den, to see if she could make things right.

"It's okay, you didn't mean to." he replied, intertwining his tail with her's. "So, you're done growling at my brother?" Sunstep asked. He was the brother of Lioneyes.

Nightfrost purred, enjoying the feel of Earthstar's fur against hers. When she saw Sunstep pad up to them, Nightfrost knew this could mean trouble.

"Sunstep, stop." Lioneyes mewed, as he got up from where he was laying and padded over to the gathered cats.

Sunstep purred "I was kidding. I would never be disrespect my gracious leader!" his eyes burned but he sucked up his anger.

"I know, Sunstep. I'm sorry for growling at you, Lioneyes." Earthstar apoligized.