Hype! Here's the first round of our contest!

Please don't make any guesses in the comments as to who wrote what; we'd like everyone to vote based on the writing and not on the authoring.

Without further ado, entry one!

—

"Hey, Amberpaw."

A breathy whisper roused him, the voice familiar and sweet. Amberpaw let out a soft mrrow, his chest filling with warmth as Featherpaw's voice floated into his ears. "Wake up, silly. You have dawn patrol, remember?"

Amberpaw, though grateful for her considerate gesture, still only made a small noise in response, reluctant to leave his warm nest next to Featherpaw and enter the frigid air of Leaf-fall. As he opened his eyes, longing filled his heart and he gazed lovingly at Featherpaw's sleepy form. I don't want to leave her. Every tip of pure white fur seemed to glow in the filtered sunlight, blazing brilliantly, and her light blue eyes, currently slitted in sleep-mist, captured his attention as they always did.

"It's not fair," Amberpaw murmured softly, his eyes refusing to drift away from Featherpaw. "It's not fair that I can't just lay here with you and stay warm, and it's not fair that I can't spend every second of every day with you."

Sighing, Featherpaw mumbled, "I wish I could stay here all day with you, too," before she buried her face in his fur, affection and drowsiness radiating off of her. This is perfect, she's perfect, Amberpaw thought, nearly drifting off. Time seemed still as his mind groped for a word to describe her in this moment. Ethereal. She was ethereally beautiful, with her dainty paws, pretty face, and warm heart. In a moment of brash thinking, Amberpaw whispered, "I like you a lot."

Disappointment filled his stomach as he realized that Featherpaw couldn't hear. She was fast asleep once more. He pushed away the feeling, deciding that it was best this way, that they were only apprentices after all.

Remembering his dawn patrol duties, Amberpaw reluctantly began picking himself up and out of the nest. He glanced back at Featherpaw again, trying to burn this moment into his memory, wishing to never lose it. She looked so innocent, curled up in their entwined nests with her paw stretched out, as if beckoning Amberpaw even in her sleep.

He tore his gaze away, shaking his pelt to rid it of dust, and stepped through the ivy entrance and into the chilly air. The dawn patrol was almost ready to leave, and he only had time for a quick drink from the river before the rest of the patrol began filing out of Riverclan's camp. Quickening his pace, Amberpaw caught up to them, falling in line behind his mentor, Beechfur.

-

The sun, hanging high and directly overhead, marked a mealtime. Cats began thronging around the fresh-kill pile, pelts of all colours blended together around it, all of them eager to snap up prey

Usually, Amberpaw would go and join them, but today he hung back, preferring to bask in the sun rather than compete to get the tastiest fish. Feeling content with his spot, Amberpaw watched as Clan life went on around him. Most of the warriors were gathered around the fresh-kill pile. Outside their den, the elders were bickering about the nasty taste of their fish, even as they continued to eat it. The leader of RiverClan, Reedstar, was sharing tongues with his old friend, and deputy, Otterstep. Both cats were strong and wise, and Amberpaw never ceased telling himself that "One day, I'll be as strong and loyal as Otterstep, and I'll defend my Clan no matter the cost, just like Reedstar." Amberpaw shook his head, trying to clear his head of delusional fantasies where he was the leader, and everyone in Riverclan loved him. That would actually be so-

A stifled mrrow jolted him back to reality, and he whipped his head around to find Featherpaw, who appeared to be rather amused. Oh Starclan, I hope she didn't realize I was daydreaming again, Amberpaw thought, trying to hide his embarrassment behind a surprised look.

In her mouth Featherpaw held an enticing hunk of fish, and Amberpaw's stomach suddenly let him know how hungry it was by emitting a loud growling sound. Mortification flooded through his body, and his ears burned. Seeming even more entertained, Featherpaw just shook her head and placed the piece of fish down in front of Amberpaw.

"Here, you should take the first bite," Featherpaw declared, nudging the piece towards Amberpaw as she settled down beside him. Amberpaw had to stop himself from staring at her, scolding himself internally for being a weirdo.

"Thanks, you're the best," he breathed, gratefully sinking his teeth into the meat and tearing off a piece. Featherpaw then joined in, taking tiny bites here and there in the delicate manner she always ate. Amberpaw always enjoyed spending time with Featherpaw, and this was no exception.

Swallowing the fish, Amberpaw turned his gaze to her once more, starting conversation with a simple question, "So how has your day been so far?"

Featherpaw's eyes lit up, clearly excited to relay her day's activities to Amberpaw. "It was so great! Heronwing and I went looking for herbs, and she showed me this really cool spot by the stream where she had been growing catmint. It was inside an old tree! I didn't believe it until she showed me, I don't even know how she got it to grow inside there, but sure enough, there was tons! We harvested a lot, because she said that we'd need it for when Leafbare arrives. Honestly, it must be so cool to have a medicine cat as your big sister. She's the best, and-" Featherpaw stopped, taking a moment to breathe before looking up, clearly embarrassed. Shifting her position, she glanced at him sheepishly. "Sorry for rambling again."

It was now Amberpaw's turn to be amused. "Don't worry about it," he chuckled. "I'm just glad that you've been having a good day."

Featherpaw smiled at him, leaning into his side, and they relaxed under the sun's warming rays. Once more, Amberpaw's eyes couldn't look away from her. She was truly beautiful to him.

He closed his eyes like before, trying to make sure he remembered this moment, this feeling. The word from earlier in the morning returned back to his mind. Ethereal. Her presence was intoxicating, causing a wave of emotion to crash over him whenever he saw her. Feelings of love, loneliness, and affection would overwhelm him, as though he were drowning in a river full of it.

Feelings of love and a lack of forethought combined in a cocktail of careless decisions, and so Amberpaw decided to express something that he would normally rather die than admit. With adrenaline and apprehension flowing through his veins, Amberpaw opened his mouth, disregarding everything else around him.

"Featherpaw," He paused, his mouth completely dry, but there was no going back. "Featherpaw, I like you."

Time was still once more. Relief and regret surged over Amberpaw, and doubts flooded his mind. He felt very stupid now, and lowered his head in shame. I'm such an idi-

"I like you too," Featherpaw whispered softly, warmth and fondness emanating from her eyes, ever so bright and blue. Amberpaw felt a rush of excitement, wishing dearly that they didn't have to seperate once more, and his mouth curved into a smile.

-

Shivering violently, Amberpaw stumbled back into Riverclan's camp, right behind his mentor. During their hunting trip, a storm had begun climbing across the horizon, and soon it had been racing across the sky. Just before they reached the camp, the dark clouds above them began shedding their tears. It was a lot colder now, and Amberpaw was soaked. Most cats were in their dens now, taking shelter from the freezing droplets of water.

Running through the ivy entrance, Amberpaw burst into the apprentice den, eager to see Featherpaw once more. Yet there was no one in the den, which usually made sense - they were the only apprentices - but she should've been back by now. Hunting wouldn't have taken long. In fact, Amberpaw worried, it's too dangerous to be fishing now, the river is swollen and too fast for a slight cat like her. A pit began forming in his stomach, causing Amberpaw to back out of the den to go search for Featherpaw's mentor.

The freezing rain stung his eyes as he bolted across camp towards the warriors' den. Pushing through the narrow opening, Amberpaw entered, looking rather disheveled. The warriors closest to the entrance muttered in protest, but the apprentice spoke rapidly. "Is Streamtail here? Streamtail?"

Otterstep sat up, motioning to the others that he would handle this. "No, Streamtail isn't back yet. Why?" His tone remained calm and kind, but his eyes showed that he was annoyed. Amberpaw couldn't bring himself to care.

"Streamtail and Featherpaw went out fishing, but they aren't back yet, and the river's so dangerous now. What if one of them got hurt? They should be back by now y'know-" Amberpaw's worried voice was cut off by Otterstep's calm tone.

"Hey, don't worry Amberpaw, I'm sure they're fine. Streamtail is a reliable warrior, and Featherpaw knows better than to fish in this weather. Give it a little while, and if they don't come back in a little while, we'll send out a search party."

Amberpaw's mouth twisted unhappily, but Otterstep wasn't done.

"You woke up early and you've been training hard all day, Amberpaw, I think you're a little tired and it's getting to your head. They're both probably sheltering by the stream, waiting for the rain to let up. Why don't you go rest? I'll wake you if we send a search party. Okay?"

Otterstep's reassurance did little to help Amberpaw's worry, but he did see the the sense in his words. "Okay, you're probably right," he murmured in response. "Thanks."

The deputy smiled reassuringly at him, and with that, Amberpaw left, once more returning to the Apprentice den. Trying his best to push his worries aside, Amberpaw settled into the nest that he and Featherpaw shared, feeling a sharp pang of loneliness strike his chest as he curled up and began drifting off.

-

"Help! Help, someone help! Someone, please!" Shouts from outside startled Amberpaw awake, and he stumbled out of the den, trying to shake sleep from his pelt. The rain had gotten worse, and he could barely see anything. Cries of help once again resonated throughout the camp, with their source being the camp entrance. Several other warriors had gotten out of their dens, but Amberpaw didn't wait for them. Streaking across the camp, he reached the entrance in a heartbeat, and found Streamtail there. Realization began sinking in, weighing his paws to the ground, but sharpening his tongue.

"Where's Featherpaw?" He demanded harshly, trying to disguise his fear with annoyance. Streamtail didn't answer, gasping for breath as she tried to force words out. A voice from behind him repeated the question, and he barely recognized it as Otterstep's. The world was beginning to spin around.

Suddenly, another warrior appeared by his side, Amberpaw turned his head to look at them, soon realizing that it was his sister, Heronwing.

With several cats now surrounding her, Streamtail began explaining, stumbling over her own words. "We were fishing, and-" she paused to take another breath before continuing, "She went farther downstream and the storm started and-and I couldn't find her. And I kept looking but I couldn't find her and we have to go and find her right now. She could be - she could be hurt, and-"

Otterstep cut her off, replying with a simple "Let's go", before they all went sprinting towards the river, with Streamtail in the lead.

Amberpaw felt betrayed. Clearly Otterstep hadn't sent out a search party, as it was now late at night, or possibly even early morning. Why didn't Otterstep do what he said he'd do? Why didn't Streamtail get help sooner? Why is this happening? Oh Starclan, please, don't let Featherpaw be dead.

A sense of numbness infected Amberpaw as they reached the river. It was enormous, and roared like a lion. There's no way she could survive that, none of us could, he thought, despair jabbing into his heart. Yet he searched anyways, hoping, praying, that he would find Featherpaw.

Long after the storm had ended, and just as the sun's pink rays began bleeding into the sky, Amberpaw found her.

Her pelt was messy and caked with mud, staining what was once white to a dull, decaying brown. Her mouth and eyes were open, but her eyes didn't see, and her mouth didn't speak. Featherpaw lay completely still on her side, never to move again.

Heronwing was at his side in a few moments, completely silent as she put her ear to Featherpaw's chest. Heartbeats passed by like moons, and finally, Heronwing stood up, giving Amberpaw an empty look and shook her head.

The world crashed down around Amberpaw, and his legs gave way beneath him. He didn't register anything happening around him. Everything was a blur as he rested his head on top of hers. Sorrow and grief raked their sharp claws across his heart as he reached over with a paw and closed her eyes, then her mouth.

Amberpaw didn't know how long he lay there beside he. Time was meaningless, the moving forms behind him were meaningless, everything was meaningless. Yet, after a while Amberpaw did arise, though he didn't leave.

Instead, he sat there beside her for a while, watching the sunrise. It was the most beautiful sunrise he'd ever seen. Splotches of pink stained white, fluffy clouds. Orange light, bits of yellow trailing behind it, bled into the sky. A few stars still lay at the opposite ends of the sky, and as the sun finally broke free from the ground, they winked out of sight abruptly, all except for one that twinkled for just a few seconds longer, as if it were signaling him, and then too was gone, fading into the reaches of night and darkness. It was a heavenly sight, and no amount of description could do it justice except for one word.

Ethereal.

And so he knew she was with him.