Redbreeze padded through the forest, the ground dappled with greenleaf sun. He had woken up before any of the other newly appointed warriors, so he decided to take a walk. While he didn't want to leave Fawnheart' side, the calico tom was growing restless yet again. He had to get out; he was going to wake the entire den up with his paws' movements.
The Gathering is tonight, he thought. I wonder if I'll be going. Or if any other cats will be going... Redbreeze hadn't been to a Gathering since his first night as an apprentice. It's been so long.
The young tom heard pawsteps behind him. He parted his jaws to taste the air around him before identifying Waterpaw, his sister. The two cats were the same age, but Waterpaw hadn't earned her new name yet because she was in training to become a medicine cat.
"Redbreeze! What are you doing?" Waterpaw asked.
"I could ask you the same thing, Waterpaw. I'm just taking a walk. Why did you follow me?"
"I didn't get a chance to congratulate you, furball," Waterpaw said accusingly yet playfully. "And, by the way, I'm called Waterlily now. Sweetfeather took me to the Moonpool to get my name last night."
"Oh! Congratulations to you too, then." Redbreeze continued walking. Waterlily caught up fast.
"So..." Waterlily looked around to make sure nobody was watching. "How are things going with Fawnheart?"
"What?" Redbreeze stumbled backward. "What do you mean?!"
"You know what I mean. Everyone can see you're head over heels for her," Waterlily teased.
"I am NOT!" Redbreeze felt his pelt grow hot with anger and a hint of embarrassment.
All Waterlily replied with was a look full of nothing but smugness.
"I guess I kinda like her..," Redbreeze admitted. "She couldn't possibly feel the same, though. I'm the dumbest cat in the entire Clan. StarClan knows how I got my warrior name."
"Stop that," Waterlily said, more seriously this time. "You're the most likeable cat I know. What terrible things did you do?"
"Well, after my vigil I headed straight for the apprentices' den," he began. "I couldn't keep still all night. Everyone probably thought I was being disrespectful. How could anyone like me?"
Waterlily began to laugh. "Shut up, furball. Don't you know everyone is bored out of their mind during the vigil?"
"What?!" Rebreeze was shocked. I guess we feel the same way, but I'd never say it out loud, the tom thought. "Do you think she likes me?"
"Of course," Waterlily responded. "I saw what happened in the warriors' den!"
Redbreeze's heart lurched. "R-really? That wasn't anything else?"
"Redbreeze, Rebreeze, Redbreeze." The young medicine cat sighed. "You're dense as a rock, you know that?"
"If you think she really likes me, that's fine, but I'm gonna figure it out for myself." Redbreeze started walking again, quicker this time.
"Where ya goin'?" Waterlily trotted up beside him.
"Will you stop following me? I came out here to think," Redbreeze spat.
"Suit yourself. But stop putting yourself down, would you?" The young she-cat padded away in the direction of the camp. I wish I could, he thought bleakly.
