Snowfeather awoke the next morning with her mother's words still inside her head, and she knew her mother was right. Snowfeather wasn't the helpless kit in the nursery anymore, but a strong she-cat. Why had she not seen it before?

            Snowfeather padded outside to see the sun had already risen. They had probably left patrol without her. Why had Rivertail not woken her up?

            She padded outside, seeing Nightstar eating a mouse near her den. Snowfeather padded towards her leader, scared to what Nightstar's reaction might be.

            "I'm sorry I missed morning patrols. I didn't mean to oversleep. They've already returned, haven't they? I can be on evening," Snowfeather said.

            Nightstar tilted her head and stood up. Snowfeather winced. She didn't know what Nightstar would do to her.

            Snowfeather was surprised to feel the she-cat's tail gently lay on her shoulder.

            "It's fine. We took you off morning today. Rivertail told us what happened yesterday, so we knew you needed to rest. If you really want to be on evening patrol, you can," Nightstar said.

            "Oh, yes, I'd enjoy that," Snowfeather said.

            "Alright, I'll see you then!" Nightstar said. "I lead that patrol, so don't mess around."

            Snowfeather laughed. "I won't." She padded off towards the fresh-kill pile where she saw Rivertail waiting for her with a squirrel. Lionstripe sat with Skyblossom, but he lifted his tail and smiled when he saw her.

            "Sleep well?" Rivertail asked, pushing the squirrel towards her.

            Snowfeather nodded. "My mother visited me in my sleep last night. I'm no longer upset about seeing my sister," Snowfeather said, taking a bite out of her squirrel.

            "That's good," Rivertail told her. "You planning on hunting with Lionstripe today?"

            "I'll try," Snowfeather told her. "I woke up to a late start."

            "Well, you better hurry. Skyblossom is getting extra close to him today," Rivertail said. "And I think he's enjoying it."

            Snowfeather's eyes widened, and she finished her squirrel, padding over to Lionstripe. Skyblossom moved aside, eyeing Snowfeather with anger.

            "Want to hunt today?" Snowfeather asked.

            "Sure," Lionstripe said. "I'm busy right now though. How about the evening?"

            "I have evening patrol, but after we can go," Snowfeather said. "Sound good?"

            Lionstripe nodded. "Alright, I'll see you then."

            Snowfeather began to pad away, when Lionstripe spoke again. "Hey, Snowfeather!" he said. Snowfeather turned around.

            "What?" she asked.

            "Keep that smile," he said.

            Snowfeather smiled and turned around, padding back to Rivertail. Rivertail let out a laugh as Snowfeather sat down next to her.

            "Nice job. I'm sure Skyblossom was about ready to kill you," Rivertail said.

            "Who cares?" Snowfeather asked. "What's important is that we're going hunting this evening. I can't wait!"

            Rivertail nodded. "Well, good luck with your love story there."

            Snowfeather spent the entire day with Rivertail. They played with the kits in the nursery, went hunting, and had fun.

            The sun was beginning to descend now, and Rivertail padded into the warriors den to get some rest. She would be going on morning patrol, and she needed her sleep.

            "Snowfeather!" Fishstorm's voice yowled, and Snowfeather padded over with the other cats for evening patrol.

            As Snowfeather gathered with the rest of the patrol, she felt out of place. She was used to the cats on the morning patrol, not these cats she barely knew the names of.

            Before she could complain, however, the patrol took off, and Snowfeather was forced to go with them.

            The sun was vanishing as they walked, and Snowfeather knew it would be a matter of time before the stars began to shine. The sky was already beginning to turn an indigo color.

            Snowfeather had to admit, the evening patrol was boring, and she hated patrolling in the dark. Cats chatted about their day while Snowfeather walked in the back, looking down at the ground. Each pawstep she took seemed like an eternity, and it was as if the patrol would never end.

            Some cats managed to catch a mouse or two, but with leaf-bare on its way, there wasn't much prey to go around. This was odd for Snowfeather. Last leaf-bare, all she had focused on was feeding herself, but now she had a whole clan to feed, which was much more important.

            The patrol finally ended by the time the stars lined the sky. Snowfeather arrived back in camp, and she smiled to see Lionstripe waiting for her. She ran to him in joy, and he smiled as she came to him.

            "Ready to go?" he asked.

            Snowfeather nodded. "More ready than ever! Let's go!"

            Snowfeather and Lionstripe padded back into the forest, though this time it was different. Snowfeather ran around with Lionstripe, though it wasn't much fair with his lightning speed. She laughed and giggled as they went through the forest together. It was hard to believe he might have feelings for Skyblossom.

            Snowfeather and Lionstripe casually walked through the forest now, side-by-side. They were out of breath, and they had decided to instead hunt for some food.

            "Leaf-bare is coming," Snowfeather said.

            "In a moon or so," Lionstripe agreed. "It's hard to believe."

            Snowfeather nodded. "Indeed. I can't believe it either. Time flies quickly."

            Before he could reply, Lionstripe stopped in his tracks. Before Snowfeather could question why, he sprang, coming back to her with a dead vole.

            "Nice catch," Snowfeather told him.

            Lionstripe dropped the vole and smiled. "Thanks," he said, beginning to dig a hole to bury it. Once the vole was properly buried, they continued on their way.

            No more prey was caught on their walk, though Snowfeather didn't mind. She'd rather be with Lionstripe. It was true. She was in love with him, and she couldn't deny it. She still had horrible thoughts of Bear though and his betrayal. This time was different though. Lionstripe was different. He wasn't like Bear, but he was kind and gentle.

            Lionstripe gazed at her oddly, and it was then that Snowfeather realized she had been gazing at him for quite a long time.

            "What?" he asked.

            "Nothing," Snowfeather said, turning away.

            They continued into the forest, stopping at a nearby hill. The stars twinkled in Snowfeather's eyes, but Lionstripe's too. She sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. He purred, and she did too.

            They sat for awhile in silence until Snowfeather finally spoke. "You like Skyblossom better than me, don't you?"

            She felt Lionstripe stiffen. Suddenly, everything had become awkward. "That's not true," he said.

            "Then you like me better?"

            Lionstripe moved, beginning to pace around the hill. "I don't know," he said. "Please don't make me make this decision right now, Snowfeather."

            "What does that mean?"

            "It means I like you both equally, all right? Look, don't bug me about it right now. I knew I would have to make this decision at some point. I just didn't know I'd have to make it so quickly. Please, just let me decide this."

            "I'm sorry, and I will," Snowfeather said.

            "Let's just head back," Lionstripe told her.

            Disappointed, they headed back into the woods, walking near the camp. Snowfeather sighed, afraid Lionstripe maybe loved Skyblossom instead of her. Could it be true? Could this all be for nothing?

            They arrived back at camp, and Lionstripe headed straight towards the warriors den. Snowfeather could tell he had a lot to think about.

            Rivertail gazed at Snowfeather with confusion. "What was that about?"

            "I don't want to talk about it right now," Snowfeather muttered, heading into the warriors den. She walked right past Lionstripe, not wanting to talk to him.

            She curled up and laid her head on paws, though sleep couldn't come to her. She laid there, thinking about what Lionstripe's decision would be. She loved him, he should've known that. How was it all going to work out?

            Snowfeather spent nearly the whole night wide awake, barely getting any sleep. When the sun had risen, cats began to arise for morning patrol. Rivertail tapped her lightly, though Snowfeather was already awake.

            She padded outside with Rivertail, tired. She yawned loudly before grabbing some prey.

As she padded back, Rivertail looked at her, concerned.

            "Are you alright? It looks like you got no sleep."

            "I didn't," Snowfeather admitted, biting into a mouse.

            "Why not? Is this because of Lionstripe? You never did tell me what happened," she said.

            Snowfeather nodded weakly. "I have to go talk to him right now," she decided, dropping the mouse. "You can finish that mouse if you want."

            Rivertail, still confused, watched Snowfeather head away towards Lionstripe. He sat near the corner of camp eating a squirrel.

            "What do you want?" he growled as Snowfeather came over.

            "I know you have a lot to think about, and I know this is all hard and sudden, but I need to tell you something," she said.

            "What?" Lionstripe asked.

            "Lionstripe, I love you! That's what's important! I've loved you since when I first arrived here. I know you probably don't feel the same, but I had to tell you, Lionstripe. I will always love you, no matter what you say," Snowfeather wailed.

            Lionstripe stared at her in disbelief, and Snowfeather was about ready to turn away, when he suddenly took a step closer and nuzzled her.

            "I love you too," he whispered.

            "Y-You do?" Snowfeather asked.

            Lionstripe nodded. "I was leaning towards you. I just didn't know what Skyblossom's reaction would be. But now I know I am meant to be with you, and I know I love you."

            Snowfeather smiled and purred.

            "Snowfeather, will you be my mate?" Lionstripe asked.

            Snowfeather stopped in her tracks. She thought of when Bear had asked this, when they were in love. All the memories ran in her head, and she hesitated. "Yes, I will," she said.

            Lionstripe smiled. "I'm so happy! I have to go break the news to Skyblossom now. I'll see you later."

            Snowfeather nodded. "See you," she said, heading over to Rivertail.

            Rivertail smiled at her. "So..."

            "We're mates," Snowfeather told her.

            Rivertail nearly coughed up her mouse. "That's great! Congratulations, Snowfeather!" she said, smiling at her friend.

            Snowfeather smiled too, though she was afraid, afraid that Lionstripe would leave her just like Bear had.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, what do you guys think? Were you shipping this couple all the way? Are you happy they're mates? I am lol