Dipperflight crouched outside the warrior's den, watching the patrols be assigned. Fennelstorm stood beneath the high ledge, warriors gathered around him with sleepiness still warming them. Dipperflight stood, edging closer. Maybe the deputy would assign him to a hunting patrol? Though, with me messing up and not doing what he wanted yesterday, that's doubtful.

      He caught the glance of Dawnwhisker as she half-listened, half-slept to Fennelstorm's sharp commands.

      "Dawnwhisker." Her eyelids fluttered as she was called, her ears twitching.

       "mH-- yes?" She sat up straighter, attempting to blink the sleep from her eyes again.

       "You'll be leading a hunting patrol at sunhigh at Sunningrocks. Take...," Dipperflight locked eyes with him. "Anyone you think will be up to it." A quick jolt of happiness sparked in the tabby tom. Dawnwhisker would probably choose him; she always liked chatting with him. The tabby calico looked right at him, opening her mouth to speak. "Except," Fennelstorm spoke up, continuing, "Dipperflight. I have a certain task for him."  Dawnwhisker nodded, flicking her ear to the deputy's mate.

      Dipperflight curled his tailtip with interest. What did Fennelstorm have planned? An outing to somewhere nice? A run through the treetops? Helping with the apprentice's duties? His amber eyes were bright with anticipation, but the ginger deputy didn't so much as hint to what his job was going to be. Fennelstorm finally turned after the patrols had been assigned, and Dipperflight saw Dawnwhisker return to the warriors den to catch a bit more of sleep.

      "So!" Dipperflight blinked, his tail high. "What do I get to do today?" Fennelstorm narrowed his eyes with confusion.

"What do you mean 'what do I get to do today?' You're staying in camp." Dipperflight's excitement deflated quicker than a WindClan cat chasing a rabbit.

"I just thought--" Dipperflight ducked his head quickly as he caught Fennelstorm's glare.

"I'm going out on patrol all throughout the day, and I don't want to catch even a trace of your scent outside of camp," he paused before turning to leave, "Hopefully you can at least do this." Dipperflight slowly nodded. Yeah. Yeah, then he won't be mad at me. He'll be happy with me.

      He turned, padding back to the warriors den to try and fall asleep again, but as he curled up tightly in his moss nest a tail length in front of Fennelstorm's empty one, he couldn't help but feel something tug at his heart. He pulled his tailtip over his nose, ignoring it, forcing his breathing to slow and sleep to overcome him.

      Dipperflight was outside the warriors den again, the sun nearing high. He hadn't slept for very long, the sunrise patrols leaving and returning dawn patrols had stirred him right when forgotten dreams had started chasing through his head.

Cold sunlight burst through clouds, gently trying to warm the ThunderClan camp. Dipperflight carefully watched Rosefoot and Lionfur groom each other's pelts, their two kits running around them. Rosefoot carefully stroked his mate's golden ginger coat, while Lionfur purred quietly to themself. Cypresskit was loud as usual, bossing around her sister Plumkit ruthlessly. Lionfur flicked their tabby tail sharply at Cypresskit, making her let out a surprised yelp.

Dipperflight blinking slowly. He couldn't remember the last time he and Fennelstorm groomed each other. It had to have been back when they first started being interested in each other. It was soon after his father, Ravenfur, had died. He looked down to his paws, shaking the memory away.

He looked up to Rosefoot and Lionfur again. Cypresskit and Plumkit had resorted to play fighting, which Plumkit did seem to excel much more at, causing the darker ginger kit to get frustrated and make up rules limiting the smaller sister. Dipperflight's eyes softened. Maybe if.. One day... He shook his head. No. Fennelstorm is way to busy with being deputy and keeping cats under control, and besides I'd probably mess something up.

      He spotted Dawnwhisker exiting the warrior den, stretching. Her calico pelt was still ruffled in a few places, but she didn't seem to mind. She waved her tail lightly to Dipperflight as she crossed the clearing to Lionfur and Rosefoot. The ginger tom stood up as she approached, and Lionfur looked at the kits before saying something that he couldn't make out. Dawnwhisker looked across the camp to Dipperflight, motioning for him to come.

      The brown tabby got to his paws, curiosity driving him towards the nursery entrance.

      "Hey, Dipperflight, Lionfur wanted to come with us on the hunting patrol to get some fresh air, ya'know?" Rosefoot began.

       "I just wanted to know if you could possibly watch Cypresskit and Plumkit while I'm out? I won't be long, and you'll only have to sit and look out for them--"

      "Yeah..!" Dipperflight meowed, and he wondered if it were a bit too quick of a reply. I bet this is why Fennelstorm wanted me in camp-- he knew this would be happening, and he wanted me to help out! Lionfur's face lit up.

      "Thank you so much!" They purred, tail high. Dawnwhisker had already departed to round up two more cats for the patrol, and was standing at the bramble camp entrance.

He watched the hunting patrol leave, Cypresskit and Plumkit just behind him to watch their parents depart with wide, excited eyes.

"This is so exciting!" Plumkit chirped, leaping out to jump onto Dipperflight's tail. Dipperflight purred, swishing his tail back and forth for her to chase. Cypresskit pushed her sister over, though, leaping down to catch his dark tipped tail, which flicked out of her white pawed reach just before she could claw him.

"We could play moss ball!" Plumkit chimed in from where she had been pushed over. Cypresskit stopped her chasing to brightly nod.

"Yeah, yeah! Dipperflight, you should play moss ball with us! You're a huge warrior, but you'll probably miss all of our awesome tosses!" The dark ginger kit purred.

"I'll go grab some moss from my nest!" Plumkit darted off before Dipperflight could tell her not to use her own bedding for games.

The sun was half-way down the sky before the hunting patrol returned. Cypresskit was chewing on a springy root, Plumkit half-asleep against Dipperflight's hind-leg. Cypresskit sat up, sprinting to meet her parents as they entered the camp, each carrying a bird. Dipperflight sat up quickly, noticing Fennelstorm returning with the patrol as well. Plumkit had woken all the way up by then, trotting to greet Lionfur with a happy purr. Fennelstorm strode up, having just dropped a vole on the fresh kill pile.

"Dipperflight," the ginger tom said his name, though whether it was a greeting or a call, the ThunderClan warrior wasn't sure.

"What patrols did you go on today?" Dipperflight asked, keeping his head low and gaze up to the deputy.

"What did you do?" He completely ignored the question. Dipperflight sat down, his eyes closing proudly.

"I stayed in camp, and I watched Lionfur's kits! They were really good the whole time, I was a little worried--"

"What? Why? You were supposed to be taking a day off-- no work at all. Why would you watch their kits? You should've been in the den resting." His quiet, sharp mrow drew Dipperflight back to reality. He blinked slowly, letting out a small exhale of realization. How could I have been so blind? My life isn't like Lionfur and Rosefoot's. Life isn't kits and cuddles. He looked to the ground shamefully.

"I'm sorry Fennelstorm...," he murmured quietly.

"I would hope you're sorry. StarClan, Dipperflight." He gently nudged his mate's cheek, pushing him in the direction of the patch of ferns. "You've always got bees in your brain. Hopefully tomorrow you'll do better. Honestly, you've been horrible the past few moons." Dipperflight nodded slowly, catching the glance of Stonevine who padded past the pair. The grey tabby she-cat purred a small "hey," and, "you two are so cute." Fennelstorm purred brightly to her, curling his tail. Dipperflight's fur grew hot.

I guess. Everyone says we're adorable and good but... Lately, I don't know. Something doesn't really feel all too right. Maybe it's nothing, but maybe.. Maybe. No. I can't think like that. Fennelstorm saved me, he loves me. I owe it to him to try to be a good mate, to try and not be such a terrible cat all around. He settled down in the ferns, a mouse-length from the ginger tabby. I need to keep trying to be good enough and make him happy.