Thunderstar was quiet as he stared up at Silverpelt. He had been rejected by Violet Dawn moons ago, and while he took the rejection well, he still felt hurt by it. He had vowed to himself to never take a mate, but he felt the loneliness of not having one, and he craved the security of a mate.

He wondered briefly what life would be like if he had his siblings and mother with him still. He knew they were long dead, but it didn’t stop him from wishing they were here with him. Surely it would make things easier for him. Perhaps they’d help him find his way.

The quiet traipse of pawsteps through the forest had him turning. A cat he recognized as a ThunderClan warrior was padding towards him. Specifically the cat he liked romantically (even if he wouldn’t admit it to himself).

“Thunderstar? You’ve been out of camp for a while,” they meowed gently. “It’s rather late. Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

“I could say the same to you.” When they gave him a look, he let out a soft mrrp of laughter before continuing, “I’m just looking at the stars.”

“Is that so? Is something on your mind?”

“Kind of. I’m thinking about Storm and my siblings.”

“”Storm”? Was that your mother?”

“…Yes. She and my littermates died when a twoleg den fell on us. I’m the only one who survived.”

“I see. Is there something that brought these thoughts on?”

The ginger tom shrugged. He didn’t feel like spilling out all of his feelings to this cat, regardless or whether or not he had a crush on them. It wouldn’t feel right to bother them. Still, it couldn’t hurt, could it?

“Thinking about Violet Dawn’s rejection did, I guess.”