That morning, Dovewing tried to avoid Bumblestripe. She felt like she kept getting him in trouble. But Tigerheart... Wasn't the same. He seemed... Very proud of himself. That just shows how much he likes me, she thought.

When she was walking to the fresh kill pile, Bumblestripe kept staring at her with an unreadable expression. She averted his gaze.

But just her luck, Lionblaze assigned a border patrol that included her, Blossomfall, Mousewhisker, Berrynose, and Bumblestripe.

Dovewing decided to stick with Mousewhisker, who was quiet and didn't like to talk much and made it seem awkward. "So Mousewhisker," she said, trying to sound casual. "If you got to change you name, what would you change it to?"

"I like my name..." Murmured Mousewhisker. And that was the end of their conversation.

Blossomfall overheard and said, "I would be BlossomSTAR!" She announced.

Bumblestripe looked at his sister. "That would be the end of Thunderclan."

Blossomfall growled and cuffed his ear teasingly. Dovewing laughed out loud, but stopped herself. Bumblestripe looked at her with a gentle gaze.

"Alright everyone," Lionblaze stopped. "Let's check here."

They had stopped around the Windclan boarder. There was also a Windclan patrol nearby.

As they approached the border, the Windclan patrol confronted them.

"Keep your paws off our border!" Breezepelt snarled when they had reached them. "This is Windclan territory!"

"We haven't stepped across the border for your information," Berrynose meowed. "We are simply on a border patrol."

Heathertail glared at Lionblaze. "Yeah right, I don't trust this patrol," she said, casting a wary glance at Bumblestripe. "I heard he attacked a Shadowclan cat at the gathering."

"He did nothing of that sort," Lionblaze replied curtly. "If he did, then he did it for a good reason."

Bumblestripe looked at the ground in embarrassment. Dovewing felt her neck fur rise angrily.

"Alright, that's enough Heathertail," said Crowfeather, who was watching silently. Breezepelt glared at his father and turned away.

But Dovewing growled at Heathertail. "Bumblestripe is a good cat," she retorted. "He was just trying to protect me, that's all."

Crowfeather raised his brows in interest, but said nothing more.

Heathertail looked like a cat that had gotten it's fur cut off. Angrily, she spun around and trotted away.

Breezepelt snarled. "Back off mange-pelts! Thunderclan is full of cats who want to take over the clans," he sneered before following his mate.

Crowfeather sighed. "I'm terribly sorry for their behavior," he apologized to Lionblaze. "Ever since the battle against the Dark forest, Breezepelt has felt nothing but hatred against me, and Heathertail pads after him. He thinks I love you more because of Leafpool."

"It's fine," Lionblaze said calmly. "They are always like that."

Crowfeather nodded in thanks and left to go join his clanmates. Blossomfall huffed angrily. "Breezepelt thinks he knows everything," she mewed, annoyed. "And Heathertail can't insult my brother like that!"

Mousewhisker nodded. "I agree," he meowed softly.

Bumblestripe blushed. "Thanks for defending me Dovewing," he murmured while they were walking back to Thunderclan.

"No problem," she said, trying to sound calm. "You deserve it. I'm sorry for ignoring you the whole day."

Bumblestripe purred happily. "It's okay. I forgive you." He mewed as they padded alongside together back home.