Briar'Leap and Chamomile'Heart as apprentices

“Briar’Paw? What’s wrong?” 

Chamomile’Paw knelt down gently beside the apprentice, placing her tail over Briar’Paws front legs. Briar’Paw pulled her legs back, moving her face away from Chamomile’Paw, looking over Chamomile’Paw could see that her eyes were puffy. She sucked in a breath, moving closer to the she. “Is everything ok?” She whispered, worried about her friend. 

“Barley’Star says I’m going to become the new medicine apprentice” 

Chamomile’Paw nudged the she, smiling, “hey! That’s so cool, you’ve always wanted to be a medicine cat!” 

Briar’Paw nodded, before she burst into tears, placing her head under her front paws. Chamomile’Paw sat up quickly, leaning over Briar’Paw with worry. “Hey? What’s wrong, i thought you wanted to become med?” 

Briar’Paw nodded from under her paws. Chamomile’Paw could hear her sniffling, her body shaking slightly as she breathed. 

“I do, it’s just, I didn’t realise what I would have to give up” 

Chamomile’Paw looked over with confusion, gently putting her head beside the she’s paws so she looked in her eyes. “What do you mean?” 

“I’ll never get to have a mate” Briar’Paw whispered, before pulling her head back under her paws, laying a tail over it for extra covering. Chamomile’Paw tilted her head, confused at the she’s sudden outburst. She had never wanted a mate before, so where did this come from. All there lives neither Chamomile’Paw nor Briar’Paw had ever talked about any apprentices they had crushes on, in fact they tended to stay away from that topic all together. Any mention of future kits or getting a mate caused Briar’Paw to act all weird, so Chamomile’Paw had quickly learned not to talk about that stuff. Which was fine with her as she had no interest in the sort. So to have Briar’Paw bringing it up was definitely quite strange. 

“Do you have a crush on somebody in the clan?” Chamomile’Paw whispered, lifting up the she’s tail with a paw so she could see her face. Briar’Paw sniffled, her face wet with tears. After a moment, she nodded, looking at Chamomile’Paw sadly. Chamomile’Paw nodded, suddenly feeling sad herself. She didn’t know why she felt so sad to hear Briar’Paw had a crush, but she assumed maybe she felt bad for Briar’Paw. 

The two apprentices layed for a long time, both staring at each other. Overhead the golden sky began to darken, making it harder for Chamomile’Paw to see Briar’Paws face.  

“Who’s your crush?” Chamomile’Paw whispered after a while, not wanting to know the answer but hating to see Briar’Paw in so much pain. Briar’Paw instead shook her head, looking away from Chamomile’Paw.  

“Come on, you can tell me,” Chamomile’Paw prompted, but instead Briar’Paw stayed quiet, shaking her head again. 

“Is it… Spruce’Paw?” Chamomile whispered, moving closer again, “Earth’Paw? Willow’Paw?” 

Briar’Leap shook her head, looking at Chamomile’Paw sadly. 

“Is it…someone from outside the clan?” Chamomile’Paw started thinking of all the apprentices outside the clan, going through each one. It couldn’t be Snow’Paw surely. At least, Chamomile’Paw hoped it wasn’t Snow’Paw. She didn’t think she could manage Briar’Paw having a crush on the biggest idiot the four clans could create. 

Briar’Paw instead just shook her head again, which made Chamomile’Paw hiss softly in frustration. 

“Well it has to be someone from the four clans, there isn’t anyone else around” she whispered angrily. 

Briar’Paw continued staring, not saying anything, which made Chamomile’Paw even angrier. 

“I don’t understand why you won’t just tell me, is it really that bad?” Chamomile’Paw looked over, sitting up, “Look, I promise I won’t tell Barley’Star, ok? I just want to know who it is” 

Briar’Paw slowly sat up, looking toward Chamomile’Paw. Slowly, she said one word. 

“You” 

“What?” Chamomile’Paw looked over with confusion. “What do you mean ‘you’?” 

Briar’Leap hissed in frustration, tears springing to her eyes, “I mean you you idiot! How could you not get it?!” She stood, flicking her tail with frustration, “out of all the cats in all the clans, the only one I want is you!” 

Chamomile’Paw looked over with shock, watching as Briar’Leap, seemingly in slow motion, burst into tears and ran off, outside the clan and into the night. The she sat, going over what the apprentice had told her. Inside, her stomach was fluttering with relief and nerves, and she felt like she was going to throw up.  

Of course! How couldn’t she have seen it before. By Star’Clan she was so stupid. Chamomile’Paw quickly stood, galloping after Briar’Paw. So many words were going through her brain but she didn’t think she could say any of them in a way that made sense. But by Star’Pelt she was going to try. 

“Ah!” Chamomile’Paw ran straight into Briar’Leap, causing the two to topple over. Chamomile’Paw quickly stood, shaking with nerves she tackled the young she before she could run off again, tears springing to her own eyes. “I like you too!” She yelled, her voice breaking with sobs. 

Briar’Paw stopped struggling, looking up wth shock. 

“R-Really?” 

“Really” Chamomile’Paw whispered, taking a paw off the apprentice so she could stand.  

Briar’Paw stood, turning to face Chamomile’Paw. The two stared at each other, the breeze gently flowing in between their fur.

“How long have you liked me?” Chamomile’Paw whispered. 

“Since we were kits” Briar’Paw responded, “How long have you liked me?” 

“I only realised I did just before,” Chamomile’Paw laughed nervously, not taking her eyes off the she, “you’ve seriously had a crush on me for that long?” 

Briar’Paw laughed, nudging the she with her tail, “your such an idiot”