The sun was setting over the forest, the branches of the pine trees shivering against a cool breeze. Mistybreeze sat beside Revengeheart, watching as Foxshadow dealt the killing bite to a frog.

"Nice catch!" Mottledface purred across from them, his tail swishing over pine needles. Not far from the brown warrior, Amberpaw stared at him in awe.

"Wow!" She exclaimed. "That's the biggest frog I've ever seen!"

Foxshadow's eyes gleamed. "Not bad, eh?" He bent to grab his catch, then padded over to her and dropped the frog at her paws. "You'll need energy. After sundown you'll do some battle training."

Unease twisted Mistybreeze's belly as she watched Amberpaw crouch and eagerly rip a chunk of flesh from the frog. The warrior code says that the elders must be fed first... It had been a couple days since she'd earned her warrior name, and Poisonedsap's kits had been apprenticed. Though Revengeheart, Mottledface, and Blackstorm spent most of the day training their new apprentices, they allowed Mistybreeze to join them.

But the way her friends trained their apprentices seemed... Wrong. They allowed their apprentices to eat what they caught, and focused on battle training. They knew little to nothing about the warrior code. Mistybreeze knew nothing about being a mentor, but remembered how she and Coldpebble had been trained by Stripednose and Song.

What would they say if they saw this? She wondered as Amberpaw raised her head and licked frog blood from her lips. What would Depthstar say if he saw this?

"Revengeheart." Mottledface stepped toward the black legged tom, breaking Mistybreeze out of her thoughts. "How about we take Spiderpaw and Falconpaw to the training clearing and see how they do?"

The apprentices flexed their claws and exchanged an excited look. Revengeheart hesitated. "You can take them. I'll join you later." He turned to Mistybreeze, an unreadable gleam in his eyes. "There's something I need to do first."

Mistybreeze's fur prickled in surprise. "Hmm?"

"Would you like to go for a walk with me?" Revengeheart asked in an unusually soft tone. "I want to talk to you about something."

The way he spoke troubled her. This isn't like him... Is something wrong? Her stomach began to churn with worry. "O-okay."

"Perfect." Revengeheart brushed past her, waving his tail briefly to the others. Mistybreeze watched thoughtfully as he paused between two pines, looking over his shoulder at her. The glow of sunset bathed his white fur in gold and reflected in his glittering amber eyes. "Are you coming?"

Mistybreeze stared admiringly as he stood so majestically in the sunlight. He's really a great cat. She padded forward to join him, and he continued onward.

She and Revengeheart walked side by side through the forest. Neither said a word as they moved through the trees, their shadows casting over them like massive stripes. The silence was broken occasionally by the chirping of a bird. Mistybreeze looked at her companion curiously. What's wrong? What does he want to talk about that the others can't hear?

She was about to voice her concern when Revengeheart paused in a small clearing and turned to her. "You know, Mistybreeze, you're a very special cat to me." He spoke quietly and softly.

Mistybreeze met his gaze, her heart skipping a beat. Never before had she heard him speak so softly. So humbly. What he had to say was not about himself. It was about her. "I-I am?" She was so taken back her voice came out as a squeak, and she flattened her ears in embarrassment.

"Of course." His eyes gleamed. "You're clever, kind, great at hunting. You're the only cat who really knows me." He hesitated and shuffled his paws. "And that's why I have something important to ask you..."

What? Is this really happening? Is he... Mistybreeze's breath caught in her throat as she waited for his next words, praying to StarClan she was right about what they would be.

Revengeheart's glittering amber gaze rested on hers, his face half concealed by the shadow of a pine tree, while the rest of his body glowed in the light of sunset. "Will you be my mate?" He asked, his usually rough voice smooth as honey. "You're the only cat I want by my side."

The forest seemed to whirl around her as she grew light headed, her heart racing with excitement at his proposal. "Y-yes!" She exclaimed, a loud purr rumbling in her throat. "Of course I will!"

She pushed her head forward into his thick white neck fur, and he let out a rumbling purr. "I'm happy to hear that."

He gave her shoulder a brief lick, and Mistybreeze drank in his scent, overwhelmed with joy. The one cat she admired, who had shown her such kindness and companionship felt the same way about her. But was there any question about it? They got along so well, StarClan must have intended for them to have a future together. As setting sun fell into darkness, Mistybreeze knew one thing for certain. This is the best moment of my life.

***

That night, Mistybreeze's dreams were full of warmth and happiness. She found herself laying in a field of flowers, sunbathing beside Revengeheart. She purred and rolled over, admiring the bright yellow flowers before her. They're so bright, like the sun! She closed her eyes, relishing under the warm sunlight, then opened them again. Her heart skipped a beat.

Suddenly, they were no longer flowers, but the yellow eyes of Bloodfur, glistening with sadness. The same eyes she'd seen after her warrior ceremony. Startled, she scrambled backwards into Revengeheart, who let out a sharp hiss.

Mistybreeze jolted awake, startled when she felt a warm body against her rear and the hiss continue outside her dream. She spun to see Coldpebble crouched in his nest, his drowsy blue eyes flashing with alarm. "Hey, get off my tail!"

"Oh!" She realized one of her hind paws was planted firmly on her brother's tail and quickly scrambled forward to her own nest. I must have backed up into him in my sleep. "Sorry!"

As her brother gave his tail a few quick licks, she peered outside the entrance to the warriors den. It was early morning, and many warriors were already awake. Mistybreeze turned toward Revengeheart's nest, pricking her ears hopefully, but it was empty. Maybe Cobratail sent him on the dawn patrol. She rested her chin on her paws, purring quietly as she thought of the black and white warrior.

Coldpebble arched his back and yawned as he stretched his legs. "What's up with you?" He asked in amusement. "You've been purring in your sleep all night."

"I have?" Mistybreeze flicked an ear back in embarrassment. How many other cats noticed?

"Yes!" The dark gray pointed tom purred. "So what's gotten you so happy?"

Mistybreeze hesitated, her pelt hot with embarrassment. But she was so excited, she just had to tell someone. She knew she could trust her brother. She moved out of her nest to crouch beside him. "Well... Yesterday Revengeheart asked me to be his mate." She was unable to hide the joy in her voice, her heart warm as she remembered the moment.

"What?" Coldpebble's blue eyes widened. "What did you say?"

She let out a purr of amusement. "What do you think I said? Of course I said yes!"

"Really?" Mistybreeze was surprised when she saw no excitement on Coldpebble's face, only pure shock and disbelief. "You took Revengeheart as a mate? I'm no she-cat, but I think you're crazy!"

She bristled defensively, surprised at his disapproval. "What do you mean? He's a great warrior!"

"Great warrior, yes." Coldpebble twitched his tail. "But is he a great cat?"

"Of course he is!" She snapped to Revengeheart's defense. She couldn't believe her ears. "You just don't know him like I do."

"Right." Coldpebble glanced at his paws, clearly troubled. "Well... I just hope you made the right choice."

She felt a pang of guilt for snapping at her brother. He's only worried about me. But of course I made the right choice. There was no question about it. Her anger faded as he stood and started toward the mouth of the den. Coldpebble paused and looked over his shoulder. "Be careful, Mistybreeze. I have a bad feeling about that cat." When she didn't respond, he looked away and continued into the clearing.

***

A quarter moon had passed since that morning. Dark gray clouds blotted the evening sky as Mistybreeze padded through the trees, the ground cold and damp under her paws. In her jaws she carried a crow she'd been lucky enough to catch before it flew off. The cool air carried with it the scent of rain, hurrying her. I want to get back to camp before the rain starts. And Revengeheart won't like a wet crow!

When she reached the camp, she saw that most cats were sharing tongues and eating prey in their dens, preparing for the rain. By the medicine den, Dewstorm and Creampaw had lain oak leaves out in the sun to dry. Now, they were carefully moving them into the den where their work wouldn't be ruined by the rain. Mistybreeze scanned the clearing for her companions.

"Mistybreeze!"

She turned her head quickly and saw Revengeheart crouched by the thorn bushes waiting for her. She hurried over and settled beside him, dropping the crow at his paws. "Here you go." She purred.

"Thanks." Revengeheart crouched and ripped off a wad of black feathers before digging in. It wasn't uncommon for him to ask her to bring prey for him. Though she knew he was capable of hunting for himself, she didn't mind. We're mates now. Of course we should do things for each other. He'd do the same for me, but I just can't bring myself to ask anything of him. Being my mate is enough.

"You're it, Flintkit!"

Mistybreeze flicked her ear at the squeak and looked toward the nursery. Greenpine sat by the den, watching warmly as Ebonykit poked her brother in the shoulder and dashed off. The orange tabby kit laughed and started chasing her around the clearing.

As the kits ran past the warrior's den, Flintkit tripped over a stone and let out a squeak, tumbling over and letting out a wail. Greenpine's eyes flashed with alarm, but Mistybreeze was faster. She shot over and crouched by the sobbing kit, gently nudging his shoulder with her muzzle. "Are you alright?"

"My paw hurts!" Flintkit whined as Greenpine reached him, giving his head a comforting lick. Ebonykit hurried to her brother's side, her eyes wide and anxious.

"It's alright Flintkit, you're alright." Their mother reassured him.

The orange tom kit whimpered. "No I'm not! I'm dying!"

"It's probably just bruised," Mistybreeze meowed gently. "Don't worry. Me and Coldpebble tripped too sometimes when we were kits."

Flintkit stared up at her, yellow eyes round. "And you still lived to be warriors?"

Mistybreeze let out an amused purr. "Yes, we did. And so will you."

"Come on, it's time you took a nap anyway." Greenpine purred, then blinked warmly at Mistybreeze. "Thank you."

She nodded and watched as the tabby queen guided her kits back into the nursery. I'm sure Flintkit is fine. But maybe Dewstorm should take a look at him anyway? What if-

"You'll be a great mother."

Revengeheart's meow so close to her ear startled her, and she spun to see him sitting behind her, his amber eyes shining. "I can't wait to have kits of our own. You want some, don't you?"

"Oh..." With a start, Mistybreeze realized that she'd never thought about having kits before. She liked kits, sure. But having her own to raise...? The thought made her stomach churn. There's so much responsibility! I don't think I'm ready for a family. I just want to enjoy spending time with Revengeheart.

"I-I'm not sure." She admitted, shuffling her paws. "I don't think I want any right now. Maybe when we're older, but..."

Revengeheart stared at her, his amber eyes flashing with something unreadable. "Hmm." He hesitated for a long moment. "You need some time to think about it."

I just thought about it. Mistybreeze blinked. "But I-"

"It's time." Poisonedsap appeared at her side, startling her. Suddenly, she and Revengeheart were no longer alone. Blackstorm, Foxshadow, and Amberpaw flocked around them.

"Are we all ready to go?" Mottledface prompted as he stepped to Revengeheart's side, followed by Spiderpaw.

"Ready to go?" Mistybreeze's eyes flicked from cat to cat, wildly confused. "What do you mean? Where?" A raindrop landed on her nose, and she became aware of the rain pattering around them, quickly growing heavier. The sky had darkened. The storm had begun.

Poisonedsap narrowed her eyes at her before glancing over at Revengeheart. "Is she coming?"

"Of course." Revengeheart flicked his ear. "It's time she was introduced."

Introduced? Mistybreeze's heart pounded with unease as heavy raindrops fell onto her back. "To who?" She dared to ask as thunder rumbled in the distance.

Revengeheart seemed unbothered by the rain as it slicked his white pelt to his muscular frame. He looked almost amused as he answered Mistybreeze's question, thunder crackling over the dark pines behind him. "Deserve's Army, of course!"