Starfur listened to the camp. Dandelionpaw was sleeping in his nest, snoring softly, exhausted from the trip to the Startree last night. Starfur felt a surge of affection for him. He was such a good apprentice. He learned quickly, and always did as she asked. He'll be a great medicine cat when I'm gone, Starfur thought. And suddenly, she remembered her mother's words, I'm not scared of death, and you shouldn't be either.

      She smiled to herself. Thinking about her mother always filled her with joy. Meadowstar has been a terrific leader, and an even better mother. Her father, Groveleaf, had died before she had been born, but she sometimes saw him and her mother in StarClan. She had seen them last night. They had warned her of great trouble coming to the Clan, but they didn't know what it was.

      Shaking the thought from her head, her gaze landed on a dark pelt. Darkmoon was organizing the day's patrols. His voice was clear and commanding. Starfur admired how he took his role in EchoClan so seriously. Does he ever get a break? As Starfur was lost in her thoughts, Darkmoon turned and saw her looking at him. She quickly turned away, embarrassed to have been caught staring.

      With a jolt of fear, Starfur realized he was walking toward her. Oh no! Starfur was certain he was going scold her, but when she looked up, his eyes were warm. That was unexpected, she thought.

      "Good morning," he said.

      Starfur quickly sat up and met his blue gaze. "Good morning, Darkmoon," she tried to sound formal, and Darkmoon frowned a little at this.

"I was wondering if you wanted to share some prey with me." Darkmoon's paws shuffled a little. Starfur could tell he thought she was going to decline.

"Oh, sure," Starfur answered. "I would love to." She gave him a friendly smile.

Darkmoon's eyes showed obvious relief as he led her over to the fresh-kill pile. He picked out a fat rabbit and laid it down between their paws. Starfur crouched down and began to eat. The two cats lapsed into silence as they munched on the rabbit.

      Finally Darkmoon spoke, "So, what are you planning to do today?"

      As she licked the remains of rabbit from her lips, Starfur thought. The she remembered. "Oh! I have to check on Phoenixwing." Starfur thought of the reddish-brown she-cat who had just moved into the nursery.

Darkmoon's eyes flashed with brief disappointment, but it happened so fast Starfur wondered if she had imagined it. "I'll see you later," she said.

"Yea, see you later," Darkmoon replied gruffly.

Starfur wondered why he was so grouchy all of the sudden as she headed to the nursery. Phoenixwing was lying on her side, her belly swollen with her unborn kits. She raised her head as Starfur entered. "Hello," she meowed drowsily.

"Good morning," Starfur purred. She checked the queen's belly and listened to the little heartbeats of her growing kits. "All healthy," she announced. "Are you eating well?"

"Yes," Phoenixwing replied. "Scarletpetal comes here everyday to give me her best catch of the day. She's really excited to meet my kits." Her voice held only affection as she talked about her sister.

      "I'm sure the father is very excited too," Starfur said, wondering if she might be able to get Phoenixwing to drop some hints about who he was.

      "Yes. . ." Phoenixwing looked a little guilty at this, but Starfur didn't have a clue why.

      "Well, I'll leave you be now," Starfur said, then backed out of the nursery. She made for her den. As she walked, she caught sight of Darkmoon again, and any thought of Phoenixwing vanished. She waved her tail at him, and he nodded curtly back. Starfur frowned. What was up with him? Was he upset that she had to do something else?

      Well, he's going to have to get used to it, Starfur thought. I'm a medicine cat.

      And then it hit her. He still likes me! And he's still upset that I became a medicine cat instead of a warrior! Starfur's tail lashed. It's because I told him that I liked him back! Maybe it made him think that she was going to drop her duties to be with him. And all though the idea was tempting, the Clan came first, and nothing would change that.