A/N this chapter is a little slow, it's mostly just introduction and exposition like stuff. I wasn't planning on doing  an Allegiances but I will if you guys want me to. Don't worry, it'll pick up in the second chapter.

"Keep your tail out!" Cloudstream barked at the two apprentices, circling them in the water. "Use all of your paws, kick with the back now!" The young cats struggled in the shallow waters of the lake, panting and kicking wildly. Cloudstream cut through the water effortlessly, shouting instructions over the water. "Ashpaw! Use your tail! Straight out like a rudder, directing you!" The small grey apprentice gasped and kicked out. "Cypresspaw, use all of your legs, don't just flounder around like a dry fish!"

"Cloudstream!" A voice called from he shore. The white she-cat looked up to see her friend Flamewind standing with a few pieces of fresh kill.

"Flamewind!" Ashpaw called out and began paddling for land. Cloudstream nodded to Cypresspaw and struck out for shore with her apprentice. When they got on land, Ashpaw was shaking out her wet fur and prancing around Flamewind.

"She is making excellent progress. They both are." Cloudstream said to her friend. Both apprentices glowed with pride.

"Of that, I am sure." Flamewind replied smiling at Ashpaw. "Come, it is growing dark, you should get back to camp. You can hunt on the way. " the orange tom picked up some fresh kill, and Cloudstream took the rest. Their two apprentices bounded ahead eagerly, making their way from the Training Pool to the MistClan camp.

~~~

By the time they reached camp, Flamewind's thrush, squirrel, and rabbit had been supplemented by two squirrels and a frog, caught by Ashpaw, Cypresspaw, and Cloudstream. They all put their kills on the fresh kill pile in the middle of the clearing. The apprentices scampered off to the apprentice den, and Flamewind and Cloudstream walked to the Warriors den. "Hi Greyflower!" Cloudstream called out to the passing grey she cat. The cat looked up distractedly and muttered a greeting. She turned to keep walking then turned back.

"Hey wait a second," she said. "Did you see Icepaw out today?"

"Sorry, no. Don't worry though, he's probably still out hunting." Flamewind replied. The grey she cat nodded a bit disappointedly and walked away.

"So how's Ashpaw been doing?" Cloudstream asked nudging Flamewind. "Brightstorm wants to know. I've told her she's picking up swimming fast, it'll be easier when their coats grow in more, but what about hunting and her warrior training?"

Flamewind laughed, "tell your overprotective sister that she'd doing fine! She has to let her grow up and trust in her abilities more. She has great instincts." They stopped by the fresh kill pile, the orange tom picking a squirrel and Cloudstream taking a frog. They settled in a shady spot under some rushes and began to eat. "I don't see why she is so protective over her. Sure this is her first litter, but she's not nearly as involved with Thornpaw."

"Yeah, but Ashpaw is her daughter. It's different, Thornpaw doesn't need or want affection from her."

"Neither does Ashpaw, she's very independent, if not a little too sure if herself. And anyways how should you know?" Flamewind said teasingly.

"Never you mind." Cloudstream replied haughtily. "Like you know any better, father."

"Hey! Some nice she cat could like me! Even if I haven't found her yet!"

Cloudstream's smile faded. She tsked disapprovingly. "You are so clueless!" Flamewind nagged at her, but the white she cat refused to say any more on the subject. "If you can't see it yourself, then she wouldn't want me telling you!" They finished their meal before Cloudstream stood up exasperated. "I'm going to see Goldberry's new kits." she said mock-scowling at him. "Something you'll never have, at this rate!" she said under her breath, winking at him. she laughed and jumped away from his swipe, trotting across camp to the nursery. Flamewind lay back down watching her dissapear with a grin.He swallowed the last bite of squirrel and was pondering going to see the new kits himself when a pretty brown she-cat stood over him.

"Hey, Flamewind." Briarpelt said, smling. "I was going to take Thornpaw out later, show him the borders again you know? They were just appointed, he'll need a good refresher." she smiled at him and gazed at the orange tom's face. "I was wondering fi you wanted to bring Ashpaw with us?"

Flamewind jumped to his paws. "Oh yeah! That sounds great Briarpelt!." the she cat smiled, her queer blue-green-grey eyes brightening. "I'll ask if Cloudstream wants to bring Cypresspaw too. All the new apprentices could use another tour of our borders."

Briarpelt's smile faltered slighty, but she covered it quickly, and for a moment Flamewind thought he saw something flicker in her eyes, but dismissed it as a trick of the light. "Oh, oh sure!" she said smiling once more. "Yea, that would be good." she ruffled her fur and turned to go. "Well, I, uh gotta go,um, talk to Thornpaw." she turned and walked rather quickly to the apprentice den.

Flamewind stood and stretced. Then he padded to the nursery, peeking his head in. He entered the small, cozy den and smiled at the tiny kits curled in Goldberry's soft belly fur. They mewled pitifuly and Goldberry licked the soft kit's fur. One was a tiny, sandy gold just like her mother, and the other was a brown tabby tom. Cloudstream was talking in a low voice to Fallowtail, whose three kits were nearing six moons, and currently scrabbling over a ball of moss.

"Cloudstream!" Flamewind whisper-yelled. "Briarpelt asked me to go on a border run with Ashpaw and Thornpaw." Cloudstream purred, she and Fallowtail giggling. Shestood gingerly, stepping around mothers and kits.

"Its about time, I mean-"

The two warriors had gotten out of the nursery and were standing outside, Flamewind continued as if Cloudstream had never said anything. "We're going in the morning," the two cats walked towards the Warriors den. "I asked if you could come with Cypresspaw, Briarpelt said yes of course--Cloudstream?" He had kept walking a few paces before he noticed that his friend had stopped.

Her blue eyes were wide and her muscles tense. "What?" She yowled incredulously. "You did what?"

"Wha--hat?" Flamewind stammered "what did I do?"

She looked incredulously at him. "You are a mousebrain!" She pulled him into a corner. "Tell her no!" She whisper yelled, her eyes flashing." I am by no means going with you and Briarpelt. Take Cypresspaw if you want, but I am not going!"

"What? Why not?!" Flamewind said, completely confused. "Don't-don't you like Briarpelt?"

Cloudstreams eyes flashed and she stood for a few moments, then took a deep breath. "Go tomorrow with Briarpelt, and the apprentices. Tell her I've got a-a patrol or something, whatever!" Cloudstream whipped away and disappeared into the warrior den.

Flamewind sighed and shook his fur out. He walked to a rock where many warriors usually ate. Cedartail and Riverpelt were chuckling and called him over. "Hi Cedartail, Riverpelt." He said with a sigh.

The two senior warriors laughed. "What's going on with you and Cloudstream?" Cedartail asked.

"I just don't know! I only told her Brisrpelt asked me and her on a patrol wi the apprentices and she started yelling at me!" Flamewind said exasperatedly.

"She yells at you so much you'd think she was your mother!  Or a least your sister." Riverpelt commented, chewing a rabbit.

"Or your mate!" Cedartail chimed in loudly.

Flamewind shrugged. "I don't know what's so bad! I just told her I asked if she could take Cypresspaw with me and Briarpelt tomorrow too." The two older toms looked at him for a moment then burst out laughing.

"You went and messed that one up real good, now didn't you!" Riverpelt said in between breaths. Flamewind was thoroughly confused and embarrassed.

"What?!" He said a bit sharply, his face growing hot.

"Cont you tell?" Cedartail said sobering slightly. "Briarpelt fancies you!" The two toms laughed at his expression and walked to the warrior den, leaving a stunned Flamewind behind.

A/n soooo what did you think? Good? Bad? Constructive criticism is always welcomed!