Applewhisker's Life

Chapter 3

                                                                                 (At the Gathering)

"Hi Applepaw!" Mewed Crystalpaw, a friend from RiverClan. "Hi Crystalpaw!" Applepaw welcomed her friend warmly. "Is Splashpaw still being annoying?" She asked. Crystalpaw shook out her silver fur and snorted. "Of course he is! How can Splashpaw not?"

"Are you guys talking about me?" A dark shadow looked behind them. "Sorry!" Crystalpaw mewed. "Well, hurry up. We're leaving." Splashpaw mewed impatiently. "Ok, ok, keep your fur on." Crystalpaw rolled her eyes and flicked her tail in farewell.

"Applepaw!" Snowfoot, her temporary mentor, called to her. "Coming!" She scampered off quickly. Back at Camp... "Quailstar has decided to let you have your warrior assessment today!" Snowfoot mewed. "Great!" Applepaw bounced toward Onepaw and Dawnpaw. "Onepaw! Dawnpaw! I'm having my warrior ceremony!" She mewed happily. "That's great!" Onepaw exclaimed. "I can't wait!" Dawnpaw mewed excitedly. "What do you want your warrior name to be?" Dawnpaw, Applepaw's best friend asked. "I don't know. I'll be happy with any name Quailstar chooses!" Applepaw purred.

"I would like my warrior name to be something... unique. Like, Dawnbright or Dawndash." said Dawnpaw. "When are you having your warrior name?" Applepaw asked. "I don't know. Hopefully I'll have it soon." replied Dawnpaw. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, join here under the highledge for a clan meeting!" yelled Quailstar. "Applepaw, from this moment you'll be known as Applewhisker! Onepaw, from this moment you will be known as Onewhisker! Dawnpaw, from this moment you will be known as Dawnfire." "Dawnfire! Onewhisker! Applewhisker!" The cats below yowled.

"Dawnfire!" Applewhisker called. "I think Onewhisker likes me!" "Well, it is pretty obvious. He's been padding after you since he was like a kit!" Dawnfire mewed knowledgeably. "Well... I... I liked Redpaw then. Then he died and I, I don't know what I think about Onewhisker." she said. "Applewhisker. You do like Onewhisker." said Dawnfire sternly. "Applewhisker!" said Onewhisker shyly. "Um, I was wondering if we could share a nest." "Of course!" said Applewhisker, with a glance at Dawnfire. "And... could we be mates?" he asked. "Yes!" said Applewhisker. "Oh Applewhisker. I've always loved you. All I'm saying is, I'm glad you are my mate." "Me too." Applewhisker breathed in his warm scent and felt as if she would never turn away.

"Um. Sorry to disturb you guys but we have to go to our nests. Applewhisker, do you even remember that you and I were chosen to go on the dawn patrol tomorrow?" Dawnfire mewed irritably. Applewhisker looked at her in surprise, her friend never acted this way, Dawnfire was always calm and quiet and never shouted at other cats.

"Dawnfire?" Applewhisker asked slowly, "are you alright?" "Of course I am!" Dawnfire snorted, "and you, Onewhisker, should be going to your nest." Dawnfire made Onewhisker's name sound like crow-food. "What's gotten into you?" Onewhisker dug his claws into the ground. "Onewhisker." Applewhisker pressed against his warm body, feeling that his muscles were tense with anger.

"Calm down." He relaxed against her.

"Well, I'm going back to my nest!" Dawnfire marched away. "Let's go to our nest too." Applewhisker led Onewhisker back to the warrior's den. Onewhisker slid into their nest after her and mewed, "good night, Applewhisker." She nestled deeper into their nest. It was getting harder to stay awake. Onewhisker's snoring was pulling her to go to sleep. She suddenly saw eyes glinting in the darkness.

"Dawnfire?" She mewed. "Why are you still awake?" "I could ask the same question to you." Dawnfire mewed. "Anyways, you probably don't even care, with your mate. You guys are probably discussing life plans and don't have time for me." mewed Dawnfire. "What?! Of course I have time for you! In fact, Onewhisker told me that Ashheart was padding after you, but he was too shy to say anything!" Exclaimed Applewhisker. "Wait, really?!" Asked Dawnfire "I guess I was just jealous... Ashheart, hmmm. Ok." She mewed thoughtfully. "Trust me, it's true," said Applewhisker. "I guess he is kind of handsome." Dawnfire mewed.