Snowmist padded over to the freshkill pile and picked up a frog. She turned around and returned to Marshtuft. When she saw the huge mouse that he had chosen she let out a meow of laughter.

"You're already fat enough without that mouse." Snowmist teased, prodding the slightly fat Marshtuft with one white paw.

"Hey! A noble and strong warrior like me must keep up their strength." Marshtuft huffed with mock indignation.

The white warrior just rolled her eyes and began munching on her frog. Her eyes strayed across the clearing and she blinked in surprise when she saw Wolfstar, her father, glaring at her through slitted eyes.

When he caught her staring he lashed his tail angrily and stomped into his den. "Who made dirt in his freshkill?" Marshtuft exclaimed, having noticed the ShadowClan leader's strange behaviour.

Snowmist shrugged and shoved her friend, "Remember that time we put fire ants in Dawnwhisker's nest?" She said, purring at the memory.

Marshtuft joined in, "Yeah! We had elder duty for a whole moon that time!" The two friends purred for a bit, recalling their apprentice days. Then, Snowmist saw her sister beckoning her with her tail.

"I have to go, want to hunt together at sunhigh?" She asked, twitching her tail. Her friend nodded through a mouthful of mouse.

Snowmist padded over to her sister and settled down in front of her expectantly. "What is it?"

Lakefur glanced around to make sure no one was listening. She leaned in to whisper "Have you noticed Wolfstar glaring at you and Marshtuft whenever you eat prey, chat, or hunt together?"

Snowmist nodded, "What do you think he's mad about?"

"I think," Lakefur whispered hesitantly, "I think, he thinks you and Marshtuft might become mates."

Snowmist jerked her head back so suddenly that she received a few curious glances from the cats eating prey in the camp clearing. "What?!" She screeched-whispered. "Why would he be so mad about that? "

Lakefur shifted her paws uncomfortably, "Well, he has never liked Marshtuft. He thinks that he's unloyal because Scorchclaw joined WindClan"

"Marshtuft shouldn't be held responsible for his brother's actions! It's not his fault Scorchclaw fell in love with some pretty she-cat from WindClan! Besides, me and Marshtuft are just friends." Snowmist protested.

She got up angrily, ignoring Lakefur's attempts to stop her and strode to the leader's den.

"Wolfstar!" She yelled, startling her father.

"For StarClan's sake Snowmist! Why must you barge in so suddenly." He scolded her, wiping the last remains of his prey from his whiskers.

Snowmist glowered down at her father, "Why do you think me and Marshtuft are becoming mates? Even if we were, it's none of your business!" She spat

Wolfstar rose to his paws and loomed over his daughter, glaring down at her.

"Don't. Talk. To. Me. Like. That." He growled through gritted teeth. "You are my daughter and you will respect me."

Snowmist glared right back at her father but kept her mouth shut.

"You have only been a warrior for 4 moons, it is my responsibility to keep toms like Marshtuft away from you." Wolfstorm meowed, his fur bristling with anger.

Snowmist have a growl of disbelief. "You don't have to watch me like a kit! I'm a warrior now, I don't need you to watch every movement I make."

Wolfstar let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes for a few heartbeats.

"Listen, if you want a mate that's fine! Just don't go running around with Marshtuft. I don't want him influencing you. From now on I forbid you to spend more time with Marshtuft."

Snowmist hissed, furious that her father had insulted her best friend. "Me and Marshtuft can do what we want! If you think this way about one of your own warriors then you don't deserve to be leader!"

The angry white warrior strode out of the den, leaving a baffled Wolfstar behind. She didn't stop until she was well out of camp.

There she began clawing and slashing at the pine trees.

"That stupid, good-for-nothing, foxheart! How dare he stick his big, fat, stinking nose into my business!"

She dug her claws into the forest floor, churning up the ground as she sheathed and unsheathed her claws.

Snowmist took a deep, shuddering breath and lifted her head, her eyes cold and hard with determination.

She walked back to camp, forming a plan in her head as she walked.

By the time she got back Marshtuft was waiting impatiently for her.

"What took you so long? I thought we were hunting together at sunhigh." he meowed, pointing up the sky with his tail.

The sun was already a mouse length further than its highest point. Snowmist didn't say anything. She just jerked her head to the entrance and passed out of camp again, leaving a bewildered Marshtuft to follow.

They walked together in silence until they reached the burnt sycamore.

"Are you ok?" Marshtuft meowed, sensing that Snowmist was upset.

"It's Wolfstar!" She finally burst out, "He has forbidden me to spend time with you."

Marshtuft looked shocked, "Why would he do that?"

Snowmist shifted her paws uncomfortably before speaking rapidly, keeping her eyes trained on the ground the whole time.

"He thinks we want to be mates and he doesn't exactly love you after-" Snowmist hesitated, "After what Scorchclaw did" She finally mumbled.

Marshtuft stiffened, his eyes blazing.

"What Scorchclaw did doesn't change my loyalty towards ShadowClan! How dare he!"

Snowmist nodded in agreement, her pelt bristling with anger.

"That's why I made a plan."

Marshtuft leaned forward eagerly as Snowmist explained her plan.

"We must get revenge on my father, but not in a drastic way. We don't want to get him killed, but I know something that would be worse than getting hurt."

"Having his pride hurt." Marshtuft breathed, catching on.

"That's why I have formed a plan that will embarrass him in front of the whole clan! We'll pretend that we're mates!"

Marshtuft frowned, clearly expecting something else.

"Mates? Isn't it a bit... early?"

Snowmist scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Not for real, mouse-brain! Only to infuriate him. We'll just pretend to."

Understanding lit Marshtuft's eyes, he gave a grunt of approval and nodded.

They talked out the final details of their plan before hunting down a couple of pieces of prey and returning to camp.

As soon as they entered the camp Snowmist pressed close to Marshtuft, letting his long fur drape over her slim body.

Marshtuft purred as if she had told him something funny. They received a few odd glances from the ShadowClan cats in the clearing but most of the cats just ignored them.

"When do you think he'll come out?" Marshtuft whispered into his friend's ear.

She laughed loudly but replied in a serious tone.

"I'm not sure, but he has to come out to announce the cats going to the gathering tonight."

Marshtuft nodded and gave her a lick on the ear.

They were suddenly bombarded by a herd of kits.

"Hi!"

"Can you teach us the hunting crouch?"

"Have you fought a badger?"

"Tell us a story!"

"No! Play with us!"

The 5 kits bounced around the couple, showering them with questions.

Snowmist purred and tried to answer as many of their questions as she could while Marshtuft stiffened and folded his paws under himself.

As the group of kits clambered over them Marshtuft gazed at them with a look of warmness.

"Their so small," He murmured to Snowmist. "What if I step on one?"

The purring white warrior rolled her eyes and gave her friend a teasing prod.

"Everykit who want a badger ride climb on top of Marshtuft!" She yowled at the kits, who burst out in excited squeals and purrs.

Marshtuft glared at Snowmist at first but as the kits climbed on he gave a roar while standing up.

The kits yowled in excitement and fear as they clung tightly to his long fur.

Marshtuft stomped a full circle around the clearing before collapsing dramatically in front of the purring Snowmist.

"Help me! These ShadowClan warriors have slain me!" He yowled, trying to push the giggling kits off.

Snowmist batted him lightly on the head, scoffing. "What? A brave warrior like you can't fend off some kits?"

Marshtuft hauled himself upright with a grunt, sending the kits tumbling down.

Before they could continue in their game the queens came out of the nursery and called their kits over. With much protest and whining the small kits finally gave in and followed their mothers into the nursery

Snowmist opened her mouth to speak but at that moment Wolfstar strode out of his den and leaped onto the high rock.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Clanrock for a meeting!"

Cats began to pad out of their dens and gathered under the Clanrock, looking up at the large gray leader expectantly.

"The cat going to this moon's gathering are-"

As Wolfstar began to rattle off a list of names Marshtuft draped his tail over Snowmist and pretended to whisper something in her ear.

She gave a short meow of laughter and rubbed her cheek against his shoulder.

Wolfstar narrowed his eyes and lifted his hackles slightly but continued naming cats without wavering.

"All cats that are going make sure that you eat and rest, gather by the camp entrance at sundown."

Wolfstar sprung down from the Camprock and began making his way over to them.

Snowmist looked around frantically before shoving Marshtuft to where Lakefur and Smokesong were chatting.

Lakefur let out a purr of greeting when she caught sight of her sister and friend.

She scooted over to make room for the two, "Are you two going to the gathering? I am but Smokesong isn't." Lakefur meowed, shooting a regretful glance at the dusky gray warrior.

"We are, mind if we join you until we leave?" Marshtuft said, looking relieved that the furious Wolfstar was now padding away.

The four friends laughed and chatted until sundown, ignoring the many glares Wolfstar shot their way.

As cats began to gather at the entrance tunnel Snowmist, Marshtuft, and Lakefur rose to join them.

Marshtuft walked a mouse-length closer to Snowmist than usual, earning another smoldering look from her father.

Wolfstar led his clan out of the camp, his movements stiff and brisk. The couple followed as their clan padded through the tunnel.

They started a conversation, making sure to laugh and talk loud enough for Wolfstar to hear.

The moon was high in the sky by the time ShadowClan arrived at Fourtrees. Cats called greetings to each other, apprentices ran off to join apprentices from other clans, grouping together in small clumps.

Wolfstar sprang up on the Great Rock with a massive leap, landing beside the other three leaders, ShadowClan had been the last clan to arrive.

A loud yowl signaled the start of the gathering. The four leaders were sitting proudly on the tall rock, looking down on the clans.

Snowmist and Marshtuft settled down on a mossy spot near the middle, their tails twined together.

The WindClan leader, Falconstar, spoke first. He reported WindClan's news and sat back down, inviting the other leaders to speak.

After RiverClan and ThunderClan had shared their news, Wolfstar strode forward to make ShadowClan's report.

He announced the two new apprentices, Darkpaw and Toadpaw, and shared the birth of ShadowClan's newest kit litter.

As Wolfstar sat back down Snowmist rose to her paws.

"Wait! You forgot to announce one thing, me and Marshtuft are now mates!"

The cats surrounding the couple gave purrs and meows of congratulations.

Snowmist pretended to bury her face in Marshtuft's shaggy fur in shyness but was secretly looking at her father's reaction.

Wolfstar was fuming, sheathing and unsheathing his long claws slowly.

He gave a curt nod to the other leaders and jumped down from the Great Rock.

"The gathering is over!"

Cats began to break apart and regroup in their own clans, waving goodbye to the other cats with their tails.

Wolfstar led his clan out of Fourtrees, his tail lashing. The ShadowClan cats looked confused at their leader's angry attitude.

The cats arrived at camp just before dawn, they all headed for their nest and collapsed into them, exhausted from the long night.

Snowmist and Marshtuft moved their nests closer to each other, their pelts pressing against each other.

Snowmist awoke to the sound of Dawnwhisker organizing patrols. Her pelt felt cold and she realised that Marshtuft had left the den.

The white warrior padded out of the den and saw her 'mate' standing with a group of warriors, waiting to be chosen for one of the patrols.

"Morning!"

Marshtuft looked up and purred, "Morning!"

Snowmist saw Wolfstar watching her and padded up to Dawnwhisker.

"Could I go on the same patrol as Marshtuft?" She whispered loudly.

The ShadowClan deputy looked annoyed at being interrupted but put them both on a border patrol.

Snowmist smirked at her father and went to stand with her patrol.

As the border patrol of five cats padded into the forest Snowmist laid her tail on Marshtuft's back and called out to the patrol.

"We'll catch up later! I need to tell Marshtuft something!"

Nightmist, the patrol leader, nodded. Darkpaw let out a giggle and shared a knowing look with her brother, Toadpaw.

Marshtuft rolled his eyes at the two apprentices but followed Snowmist to a small creek.

"What is it?"

Snowmist looked him in the eye, "I think Wolfstar has had enough, it's time we stop being mates."

Marshtuft nodded, Snowmist thought he looked a little disappointed but shook the thought off.

"Yes, we can stop being mates." He rose to his paws and brushed past her. "For now" He whispered.

Snowmist sat staring at the gurgling creek, her heart pounding.

Author's Note: Wow, this is a really long chapter! I hope you guys liked it! It was meant to be funny and light-hearted, I'm not sure if succeeded.... Comment which character you liked the best!

(Word count: 2239 words excluding author's note )