I have a confession to make...

Heatherpetal took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves. She wasn't too worried about the war against RiverClan for Sunningrocks -- well, she was -- but instead she was worried about something else. She paced back and forth in front of the apprentices' den, trying to encourage herself to go on in and search for Emberpaw. Her pelt felt even colder than the evening leaf-bare wind that blew against her nerve-bristled fur.

"But what would she say?" the young warrior murmured to herself. "Would she be disgusted in me? What if I lose my best friend? But I could lose her permanently during the battle! Oh, great StarClan, what do I do?"

I could lose her permanently.

That thought repeated itself over and over again in her mind. She didn't want to miss this chance to confess. Besides, if she did, maybe... just maybe... Emberpaw will feel the same?...

Taking one last deep breath, her mind finally made up, Heatherpetal poked her head in the apprentices' den. "E-Emberpaw? Are you in here?"

Emberpaw was deep in thought herself, though at this moment she was thinking of all the ways this war could end terribly, and was (thankfully) startled out of it by Heatherpetal calling into the apprentice's den. She stood and made her way over, not quite able to keep the look of worry off her face despite the presence of someone she trusted and... Well, more than that if she was honest with herself. "Yes? Is... Is something wrong, Heatherpetal?" she asked.

"Well, I guess that'll all depend on the outcome of... wh-what I'm about to tell you," Heatherpetal joked feebly. This was it. There was no turning back now. She gulped nervously. "Emberpaw, you're my absolute best friend in the Clan -- in my entire life -- and whenever I'm with you, I don't only feel comfortable. I feel... safe. Happy. Light-headed and warm and fuzzy inside, as if newleaf butterflies are fluttering in my belly. I-I never knew the best time to tell you how I feel, but knowing there may be death during the war, it would be mouse-brained not to tell you now." She could do this, she could do this! Just four simple, easy words. Words that will change everything. Please let it change for the good. Heatherpetal took one more deep breath and forced herself to look Emberpaw in her gorgeous amber eyes.

"Emberpaw, I love you."

For a moment after Heatherpetal's confession, there was a stunned silence.

In all the time she had known and cared for Heatherpetal, in the moon or so since she had recognized her own feelings for what they were and tried to ignore them, this was not what she had expected.

She hadn't even dared to daydream about Heatherpetal sharing her feelings.

She wasn't sure what to say, so she settled for something light. "...And here I was expecting I'd be the one to confess my feelings."

A spark of happiness crossed her face and refused to leave. "I feel the same way."

"You-You do?" Heatherpetal's eyes widened, and the sparkled with indescribable joy and shock. She could hardly believe what she heard. Emberpaw liked her back!

...This made her dread the upcoming war even more. Now that she knew Emberpaw loved her, she didn't want to lose her. She didn't want to lose her to begin with, but the feeling was much stronger. Her expression of happiness shifted into one of fear and sorrow.

"I-I'm afraid..." she whispered, her ears lowered. "I don't want to lose you. Not after this. Not after everything we've been through together."

"I'm scared, too... But..." Emberpaw struggled to put her thoughts into words. "There's always been danger. Remember the owl? There's always going to be danger. We can't keep these things from happening." She paused, realizing that just that part alone sounded awfully depressing. "There will always be something to be afraid of... But we don't have to face those things by ourselves." There were other things she wanted to say, but she wasn't entirely sure what they were. Anything, really, that would bring that joyous look back to Heatherpetal's face. Or at least make her not look so sad anymore. Happiness... Maybe that was a bit much to ask for in this time of war.

Emberpaw was right. As a Clan cat, there would be danger around every corner. The only thing anyone can do is do their best to survive and overcome the challenge. She smiled softly. "You're right. We're both strong fighters anyway, and if you need any help just let me know and I'll be by your side before you can say 'mouse'. That's a promise." She softly purred as she dared to press her muzzle into Emberpaw's cheek, drinking in her warm, sweet scent.

"The same goes for you. Just call for me, and I'll be there," Emberpaw assured her. "We'll be okay. We've made it this far, haven't we?" Sure, the things they faced hadn't been quite this severe... But there had been very real danger. And they had come out of that alive, if not unscathed.