FireClan had just welcomed two new recruits:

REEDWHISKER- a slightly tall but lean black tom with hazel-brown eyes (he came with his sister to the Clan after their father who they were caring for died- they had nothing to hold them back- he's sweet and honest- young: 12 moons)

DAWNSTREAK- a pale brown she-cat with a streak of white fur on her shoulder going on to her chest- one purple eye, one grey-blue eye (she's fierce but kind to those she trusts and loves watching the sun go up, then down- young: 12 moons)

The two had been at the camp for a moon when they had finished training- the same time Shellpaw and Lightpaw finished their training, too. Thye had finished quickly- as they'd had two mentors, and Shellpaw became Shellheart and Lightpaw bacame Lightcloud. (Dovesong, by the way is the same age as Reedwhisker and Dawnstreak, and Shellheart and Lightcloud are 8 1/2 moons old)

Author's Note- for the next two chapters, Dovesong will be the main character or the  chapter will be by her point of view. Most other chapters will be a third person's point of view.

Dovesong rose from her comfy nest with a yawn. Her eyes glinted in the bright, golden morning sunshine. Crowfeather, Rosestar and Lightcloud were already up. Rosestar had not yet chosen the Clan's deputy, but wanted to wait until the next green-leaf when apprentices would get one mentor and the Clan would've really settled in. (Two seasons: Fall and winter) Dovesong had obviously caught Rheedwhisker's eye. He spent half his leisure time talking to her, or just watching her. Dovesong seemed to like him. Not romanticly, though. She thought of him as a best friend. Dovesong's mind had never come to the conclusion of a mate. Maybe once or twice. But how could she be sure? Anyway, most cats, she thought, take a mate at the earliest of 16 moons!

**********TWO DAYS LATER- 10TH OF MAY**********

Rheedwhisker's nose twitched. Dovesong! He thought happily, almost leaping up from his nest next to his sister and Crowfeather. Crowfeather opened an eye, studying his movements, as if trying to anticipate what the tom was doing. And he did. "Gotcha eye on Dovesong?" He rasped, sleepily. Rheedwhisker felt his fur hottening. "Mmmhmmm...." He managed to mumble- meaning yes, of course. He stumbled across the clearing, straightening his chest as he neared Dovesong. "Hi, Dovesong!" He purred enthusiastically. "Oh... Uh.... Hi," Dovesong acknowledged him slowly. They chatted awkwardly a bit. Poor Rheedwhisker could clearly see that telling her about his feelings about her was not in the near future of the next ten minutes. No, this was a subject for later, unfortunately for him. As they departed, he sighed sadly. Would he ever get the she-cat he loved? Or would he have to wait... Wait... And get her later, or get rejected and wait for another cat, another chance...?

"Dovesong!" Wolfstreak called in a rasping, croaking voice. He shook his thick pelt of grey fur hard, making tiny brambles and bits of moss stream all directions. "Yes, Wolfstreak?" Dovesong meowed very formally. "We need to talk a bit, young'un..." He twisted his head to nod at the entrance of the camp. They walked a little ways together and then stopped to talk behing a big rock besides the stream's narrowest part. "Yes?" Dovesong said nervously. Wolfstreak began, "Rheedwhisker... Do you like him?" Dovesong cocked her head. "Well... Yes, he's a very nice friend of mine," Wolfstreak shook his head sharply. "I know he likes you. He watches you all the time. He always jumps up when he sees you." His voice grew snappy. "And if you could just put two and two together-(!) then you would see just how much he really cares for you! You give that tom a chance, Dovesong. He's good and kind and respects you. He's what you need!"