Brookshadow woke to a gentle prodding in her shoulder, and she looked up to see Dewfur nudging her with his nose. Brookshadow felt a rush of affection for him, and sat up and pushed her nose into the warrior's shoulder fur. Dewfur started, then purred and licked her ear.

"Come on, let's go hunting." Dewfur mewed as he stood and started towards the outside world. "I already asked Squirrelflight if it was okay that the two of us go hunting together, so we're good, plus you got a few extra minutes of sleep."

"Thank you, Dewfur." Brookshadow meowed. "I needed it."

The silver warrior shrugged. "Sure, it was no problem." He sounded like it was no big deal, but Brookshadow could tell that her thankfulness had boosted his mood. They headed the opposite direction of the lake, out to the clearing that they had visited the previous day. This time Brookshadow knew the way, and she continually sniffed for signs of other cats. When they reached the rock they had raced to the day before, Brookshadow caught the scent of thrush. Scanning the landscape, she spotted it pecking the ground for worms, barely six fox-lengths away. She nudged Dewfur and pointed with her muzzle to the bird. He followed her gaze and flicked his ears.

"You want to get it?" Brookshadow whispered. Dewfur nodded and began stalking up to it. Brookshadow watched, sniffing the air for more prey. Dewfur was nearly to the bird when it began to fly up in an explosion of feathers and squawking, and Dewfur jumped and snagged the bird, bringing it back down to earth and nipping its neck to kill it. He came back to the rock with his prize in his jaws, his eyes shining brightly.

"Good catch," Brookshadow purred. Dewfur nodded his thanks and dug a hole to place prey in. Then he dropped the thrush in, covered the hole, and began to pad towards the forest, Brookshadow following close behind, her jaws slightly parted to take in scents. As they entered the cool shade of the forest, Brookshadow scented mouse, and spotted it scuttling on top of a tree root, nibbling on a seed it had clamped in its tiny paws. Brookshadow dropped into a hunting crouch and began to stalk towards it. She heard Dewfur drop into a crouch behind her and wondered what he was stalking before returning her attention to her prey. The mouse had dropped its seed and was sniffing the air wearily, and Brookshadow pounced. She missed her mark, and the mouse tried to speed away, but the lgiht brown she-cat swiped her paw on top of it, knocking it over so it lay stunned, but alive. It took a moment before the mouse tried to get away again, and Brookshadow knocked it over again and killed it with a swift blow to its head. Lifting the mouse in her jaws, she turned and padded back to where Dewfur was digging a new hole for a squirrel he had caught. He looked up at her when she approached, spotting the mouse in her jaws.

"Nice catch," He said after placing his squirrel in the hole. Brookshadow placed her mouse in the hole, then purred her thanks.

This would turn out to be a successful hunt.

Brookshadow padded next to Dewfur as they travelled to the island where the Gatherings were held every full moon. They had caught plenty of prey, and they had spent the time until the Gathering together. They walked close enough for their fur to brush, and Dewfur let her go first on the tree bridge that led to the island, making sure she didn't slip and fall into the water. When Brookshadow landed on the other side, her sister Featherdapple came up to her, looking anxious.

"I, uh, need to talk to you," Featherdapple said, her paws shuffling on the ground.

Brookshadow nodded. "Okay." Turning to Dewfur, she purred, "I'll be back in a few." When he nodded, Brookshadow followed Featherdapple to a secluded spot in the bushes.

"What is it, Featherdapple?" Brookshadow asked her sister.

Featherdapple took a deep breath. "I saw you. When you were with Piketooth."

Brookshadow felt her heart sink as her sister's words hit her. "Featherdapple, I..." She didn't know how to respond. She dropped her voice to a hoarse whisper, her ears flat against her head. "I love Piketooth..." She mewed feebly, wincing at herself. It was the most dreadful reply that she'd ever heard, and it was coming out of her own mouth.

"I thought you and Dewfur were together now?"

She shuffled her paws. "It's really complicated. I'm sorry... I... I'm trying to figure out what I want."

Featherdapple took a deep breath, nodding a bit. "How long has it been going on?"

"...Since a moon after he was made a warrior." Brookshadow meowed, shifting her paws guitily.

"Brookshadow!" Featherdapple exclaimed.

"I know. Please don't tell anyone... I'm trying... really, I am!"

Featherdapple sighed. "Alright... I'll give you some time to decide... You have two moons. Should that be enough time to figure yourself out?"

Brookshadow nodded. "It should, yes."

"Alright. But after that, if you get out of your nest, I'll follow you. After the two moons, if it happens again, I'll have to tell Bramblestar. Not because I want to, but because it's against the Warrior Code and I don't want you getting hurt."

Brookshadow nodded. "Thank you, Featherdapple."

"What are sibllings for." Featherdapple sighed as she stood and began to leave. Brookshadow started to follow her out, but was knocked back into the bushes. Brookshadow looked to see Piketooth standing above her, purring. Brookshadow pushed him off and backed away from him. He watched her, his head tilted in confusion.

"Brookshadow, are you okay?" He asked, taking a step towards her.

"No, I'm not okay." She sighed. "I just... I don't know."

"What don't you know? Brookshadow?"

"I just... I don't feel right. It's hard, I'm trying to figure this out..."

Piketooth's eyes flashed in hurt. "Brookshadow, don't you love me?"

"Of course!" Brookshadow mewed, her eyes locked onto his. She rushed forward and nuzzled his neck fur. "But it's hard. Featherdapple saw us..."

"She did?" Piketooth's voice had softened, and he felt gentler.

"She did... I love you, Piketooth, so much, but... I don't know how we can keep doing this..."

"We can...." Piketooth searched for an answer. "We..." He looked at the ground, but Brookshadow could see the crushing hurt in his eyes. "We can't."

Brookshadow felt her own heart piercing. "Piketooth..." She reached a paw out to touch him.

He moved away, avoiding her gaze. "No. You're right. We can't do this."

"No... Piketooth... We can figure out a way?" Brookshadow practically pleaded.

"No, we can't." He looked up at her, his eyes now hard, emotionless. "I never really liked you." He mewed, his voice firm. Brookshadow felt his words stab her heart violently. "Perchtail was always my first pick, over you."

Brooksahdow reached out after him again as he trotted away from her, her heart trapped inside her chest until she felt like she couldn't breathe. Brookshadow tried to quell her quaking soul and pushed out of the bushes towards Dewfur. When he spotted her, he purred and had her follow him to to her siblings, and they sat down. Featherdapple caught Brookshadow's broken gaze, and Brookshadow looked to the Clan leaders. She tried to listen, but she couldn't and ended up not hearing most of what was said. Finally Dewfur stood beside her, and Brookshadow snapped back to reality, and followed him to the tree bridge. As she leaped down on the other side, she slipped, and she would have fallen into the lake around the island if Dewfur hadn't pulled her away from the edge.

"Are you okay? You've been distant ever since you talked with Featherdapple." Dewfur meowed, sniffing her up and down to make sure she was uninjured.

Brookshadow hesitated. She couldn't tell him about her feelings. "Yes, I'm fine." She mewed, trying hard not to let her voice shake.