It had been half a moon since Hawkhowl's exile and things were slowly falling back together. Tigerstar's demeanor had completely changed into something much more mellow, however Dawncurl wasn't stupid. She knew her father's act was just that; an act. He couldn't risk another stain on his reputation.

Frostbird's kits were also apprenticed and in her favor, Dawncurl was chosen as a mentor. Truth be told, she wasn't surprised. She had been sticking close with her father and he seemed to rely on her more than his own deputy, however Flowerbee never complained.

Risingpaw was her apprentice's name. She was a pale cream she-cat with green eyes, and she carried a relatively strong personality. Either way, Dawncurl was satisfied.

To be honest, life carried on and Dawncurl wasn't as guilty about lying as she thought she'd be. She ruined a cat's life, yet she continued on with her own. It almost gave her closure with her mother's death.

In a way, it was almost empowering how easily her clan believed her words without a single doubt and she honestly felt worse about her lack of empathy for the situation then the actual situation itself.

The worst part was, Dawncurl wasn't even entirely sure her father was innocent.

But she knew Hawkhowl was.

~~~

"Redpaw is respectful. I think he'll make a great warrior." Doveflutter spoke as she walked side-by-side with Dawncurl, sage eyes staring ahead of her.

"I agree," she spoke, "definitely the most responsible out of his littermates. Risingpaw is fierce, though."

"She reminds me of you." Doveflutter chuckled and Dawncurl sent her a playful eye roll.

"In your defense, it's a good thing." The calico prompted and the two made brief eye contact.

"How so?"

"You guys have your similarities, and some of my favorite traits in her, are in you." Doveflutter shrugged, and Dawncurl flicked her ear as she felt her cheeks instantly flush with warmth.

"Didn't know you thought so highly of me." Dawncurl mused as she sent her friend a playful smirk and Doveflutter just rolled her eyes.

"Don't get too cocky now." She spoke.

The two warriors spent the rest of the evening together and it brought Dawncurl a wave of nostalgia of her childhood. If she had told her younger self that she'd become so close with her nemesis, she would've flat out refused it.

As nightfall settled in, Doveflutter had brought Dawncurl to a little cavern where the moonlight was able to shine through, making the hanging icicles glimmer.

"This is pretty. When'd you find it?" Dawncurl queried, meeting dim sage eyes.

"I don't know, I just did." Doveflutter shrugged, however she offered her friend a faint grin. "You're the first cat I showed, though."

"Really?" Dawncurl smirked. "Careful Doveflutter, your inner fan is jumping out."

"Shut up." The calico groaned as she nudged her friend away, resulting in them both laughing in response.

The two had agreed to spend the night inside the cavern, and Dawncurl was in no mood to retort. Besides, the walk home would've been long and she was tired. She had settled down a few mouse-lengths from the calico who she supposed fell asleep until a gentle voice spoke up.

"I'm cold."

Dawncurl froze, blue eyes fluttering up to meet soft green eyes, however she didn't say anything. She didn't need to. With hesitance, she slowly approached the mottled molly and settled beside her, their fur brushing as she laid down. She felt awkward at first, and the two just shared a shaky laugh but it didn't take long for her to feel comfortable.

As Doveflutter's breathing slowed and the calico fell into slumber, Dawncurl just stared at her and she was filled with butterflies. It was a feeling which brought her excitement, one that she had been tucking deep into her mind for so long.

She cared about her in a way that was foreign to her, and she wasn't exactly sure what it was, but she knew Doveflutter was special.

Maybe it was her mannerisms, or the way she grew fidgety whenever she was nervous. Maybe it was the way her sage eyes rounded whenever she was listening to you talk and Dawncurl always found herself getting lost in them. Maybe it was the history they shared, the whole love-hate thing. Dawncurl wasn't entirely sure, however she did know one thing; Doveflutter was there, and in that moment, that was enough.

In that moment, that was all she needed.

~~~

"That was so boring," Risingpaw muttered as she followed Dawncurl back to camp, "I couldn't care less about learning the warrior code."

"You're supposed to live by that code. Without it, you aren't a true warrior." Dawncurl explained as she met her apprentice's green eyes.

"Being a warrior means being brave and strong! Not learning about stupid rules all day."

"And who told you that?" Dawncurl queried.

"You."

"Oh," Dawncurl paused, "well I meant that's a big part to it."

As they entered camp, Dawncurl sent (more like forced) the fiery apprentice to fetch food for the elders until she was met by a familiar pale she-cat.

Leopardlune.

"Hey." The warrior murmured, her eyes not meeting Dawncurl's once.

"Hey you." Dawncurl spoke, her voice light as she stared at her former friend.

"Can we maybe talk?" She murmured, amber eyes still fixated on her paws.

Dawncurl was quiet for a few moments before finally caving and letting the other she-cat lead her out of camp, the two walking in complete silence until Leopardlune paused and finally met her gaze.

They just stared at each other and Dawncurl held her gaze harshly, annoyed that she was wasting time, until she finally spoke.

"Okay, it was petty and stupid and I was being overly jealous and possessive. I didn't think we'd be in it for this long but then your mom died and everything with Hawkhowl happened and I didn't know how to deal with it or how to comfort you." Leopardlune just started venting, rushing over her words as her paws shuffled beneath her anxiously.

"The reason I didn't talk to you wasn't because I was still mad, but more so I didn't really know what to say," Leopardlune sighed, "ever since Swanflutter's death, I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to be there for you. It's not really a you thing, it's a me thing. I suck at comforting people." Leopardlune ranted, a nervous laugh leaving her jaws as her unsure gaze met Dawncurl's blue eyes.

The two held each other's gaze for a few moments before Leopardlune spoke again.

"I miss you, D. You're my best friend and I need you in my life," she paused, "and I'm sorry."

Dawncurl stared at her, and she felt another wave of nostalgia hit her and a brief montage of memories with the other molly flashed before her eyes. After keeping her waiting for several painfully long seconds, a sheepish grin crossed Dawncurl's face which resulted in a relieved smile from her friend.

"I guess I missed you too."

"Oh don't flatter yourself, you totally did. I'm the best cat ever." Leopardlune hummed in a singsong tone, however her eyes shone much more confidently than before.

"Look who's flattering themself now." Dawncurl mused, however her eyes were nothing but playful.

"Just being honest." Leopardlune smirked as she started walking, flickering her tail in motion for Dawncurl to follow. The white she-cat didn't hesitate as she matched her steps with the bengal.

"So," Dawncurl started, "how have you been? Any exciting news I've missed out on?"

"Nothing much. I've been hanging out with your brother a lot, he's not as hardcore when you get to know him," she paused before looking back to her friend, "but I guess you knew that."

"Not really," Dawncurl sighed, "me and him aren't that close."

"Right," she paused awkwardly, "anyways, what's been up with you?"

Dawncurl was quiet for a moment. Honestly, a lot has been up, she thought.

"I have an apprentice, her name is Risingpaw."

"Frostbird's daughter, right?"

"Yeah, I've been pretty busy with her. She's," Dawncurl paused briefly, "definitely something." She mused, Leopardlune laughing in turn.

They were quiet for awhile after that, though Dawncurl was caught completely off guard by her friend's next query.

"So, what's up between you and Doveflutter?"

Dawncurl felt her body go stiff at the question, another set of butterflies erupting in her stomach as she met her friend's knowing gaze.

"Nothing."

"You're such a bad liar," Leopardlune giggled, "D, I'm not stupid."

"You sure about that?" She deadpanned.

"Positive." Leopardlune hummed, however her narrowed gaze didn't falter and Dawncurl was forced to actually think about the question she had been avoiding herself.

What was going on between her and the brazen calico? They were friends, right? What else could they be? It made Dawncurl's head hurt. However the more she thought about it, the more she realized her friendship with Doveflutter was much more different than her friendship with Leopardlune. In a way, she found herself much more intimate with the calico and oddly, much more vulnerable.

Doveflutter was compelling; addicting even. Thinking on it deeper, Dawncurl found herself mesmerized by her every move and the butterflies which fluttered around in her stomach while in her presence. Even any mention of her name made Dawncurl enlivened.

Then she thought of how protective she grew over her, even while the two were at odds. She remembered their escape from SpringClan and how defensive she got over her when Creamlily had her pinned. That protective nature of Dawncurl only seemed to grow since then.

Doveflutter became apart of her routine and she had grown to be her only constant.

"I think I'm in love with her."

The words just slipped from her mouth and for a second she wasn't sure she even said it, but the shocked look on Leopardlune's face was enough to add to her own horror.

"I-" Leopardlune was interrupted.

"I didn't mean to say that." Dawncurl muttered, her voice apathetic.

"But you did." Leopardlune spoke blankly, however Dawncurl was confused as a smirk crossed her friend's face.

"Don't get so smug about it." She muttered.

"Do you think she feels the same?" Leopardlune then queried, however the question was something Dawncurl wasn't really interested to know. She wasn't sure she could handle the answer.

"Probably not."

"Oh come on, she's been all over you," Leopardlune gushed, her eyes sparkling as she continued, "she literally followed you like a lost puppy ever since you two came home from SpringClan."

"Lost puppy?"

"A saying I heard someone say once, stop changing the subject," Leopardlune rolled her eyes, "my point is, I think she's felt the same long before you have."

"You really think so?"

"I know so, and I'm going to be your wingman." Leopardlune boasted.

"I can't think of anything worse."

"I'm actually quite qualified for the job, thank you very much." Leopardlune retorted, however it resulted in the two just giggling.

"StarClan I forgot how annoying and excessive you were." Dawncurl groaned.

"And I forgot how subtle and obscure you were." Leopardlune retorted in turn, Dawncurl choking out a dry laugh in turn.

"I've missed you so much, Leo."

~~~

Another layer of snowfall covered the ground in a gelid white blanket which glistened in the cascading moonlight, illuminating her path as she padded through.

Dawncurl was nervous for lack of better words as she padded through the slope, Doveflutter's hot breath on her heels. She felt naive almost and with every step she could feel her body catching on fire.

What if Doveflutter didn't feel the same? What if she was jeopardizing their friendship? What if she was ruining one of the best things in her life?

Eventually, they made it to the cavern Doveflutter had brought her to before, but to Doveflutter's utter shock, the den was covered in lotuses and water hyacinths, which were the only flowers her and Leopardlune were able to find during leaf-bare.

"Dawncurl," Doveflutter exhaled, her sage eyes rounded in warmth as her gaze scanned the den which was irradiated by the moonlight, "it's beautiful."

"Yeah, that's the point." She mused, trying to make herself more confident with humor. It didn't work.

"What's the occasion?"

"Um," Dawncurl could feel herself getting all choked up as she finally stood in front of the brindled molly and met her laurel stare, "that's a very good question."

"You're so awkward." Doveflutter mused.

"I am not." Dawncurl retorted.

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"I love you."

Dawncurl felt everything in her still and for a second, she could swear her heart had completely stalled. She forced herself to keep her gaze on the calico, desperately reading the shimmering sage depth ahead of her.

"Dawncurl-"

"I'm in love with you, Doveflutter. I don't know how or when it happened but I know my feelings are real," she paused, her body seeming to completely fall into panic mode, "you are one of the few things I'm wholeheartedly sure of."

If Dawncurl's heart was stalled before, it definitely wasn't now. She was terrified Doveflutter could hear the relentless drumming inside her chest.

"Everything about you captivates me and I can't keep forcing the feelings away. I'm not strong enough to push away something this intense," Dawncurl paused as she felt herself jumbling her words, "it sounds sappy and I know I'm going to regret this in the morning, but right now, I regret nothing. I love you, and I've never been more sure of something in my life."

Silence.

It was nearly intoxicating and Dawncurl felt the need to hold her breath. This was the most vulnerable she had ever made herself and she hated it. She hated being vulnerable. She hated being unsure. She hated her lack of control in the situation.

"I thought," Doveflutter paused, her words shaky yet comfortingly thrilling, "I thought it was just me."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Dawncurl queried, her crystalline gaze nearly pleading before Doveflutter released a buoyant laugh as she instantly embraced her and Dawncurl felt her body instantly melt into the calico's soft coat.

"I love you too."

｡ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈•ﾟ｡

MY BEST GIRLIES! Okay so this was supposed to be another plot-filled chapter which helped move the story along, but so far these last few chapters have been that so I decided to delve more into personal relationships so I could write a much more fleshed out and decent love confession, and mend Dawncurl's relationship with Leo.

I hope you guys enjoyed regardless! The next chapter will be falling back into the chaos of it all. Either way, any and all feedback is appreciated. <3