I'm sorry.

I couldn't save Dashpaw, my best friend, the one who I told all my secrets to, the one I trusted and loved like a brother, my partner. We fought countless battles together, we could always tell what was on the other's mind. We were inseparable, brothers in all but blood. We had never lost a battle, we could take on the fiercest warrior in the forest as long as we fought together. We acted as one in the heat of the battle, I being the brains, the cunning, Dashpaw being the strength, the main opposition. Together, we were feared just as much as Darkstar, the ruthless leader of Shadowclan. I stood powerless in the end, forced to watch him die.

I'm sorry.

I couldn't save Mistpaw, my friend, my clan mate... my love. I owed her my life, and I would have gladly given it in her place. She was a skilled healer, despite the fact that she wasn't a medicine cat. She had retrieved me when I had fallen through the ice and revived me when I lost consciousness. She tended to each wound I received in battle, whispering comforting words into my ear. She didn't deserve to die the way she did. I can still hear her screams as she torn to pieces- literally.

I'm sorry.

I don't blame them. Sunpaw, Mistpaw's brother, and Frostpaw, Dashpaw's sister, hate me to their very core. They shoot me looks of such pure and utter hatred that I'm forced to turn away. They make my life impossible, tormenting me in anyway possible when no one is watching. I don't hate them for the wounds they inflicted on me; I deserve more. Much more then a broken foreleg and a ripped ear. They don't apologize, and I don't force them. I deserve it.

I'm sorry.

The clan has shunned me, turned their backs on me when I needed them the most. I'm nothing but a failure in their eyes, nothing but a hopeless cause. They have moved on with their lives, barely bothering to remember my name. I'm not a clan mate to them. I'm no more important than a passing rogue.

I'm sorry.

I slowly get to my paws and creep out of the den, keeping to the shadows. I'll not burden them any longer. They consider me that, I can tell by the way they look at me. I'll just steal out of their lives quietly, like I had never existed. I'll find a dark corner somewhere to curl up and sleep. With any luck, I'll never wake.

I'm sorry.

There's one more place I have to see. I need to visit this place, to bid farewell for a final time. I've put it off for so long, but I feel like I'm ready. Though all this place carries is nothing but broken hearts and shattered dreams.

I'm sorry.

I hesitate for a moment at the entrance of the graveyard, placing one paw unsteadily over the border. This is where the clan's fallen warriors are buried, their stories passed down from generation to generation so that they are never forgotten. There has been the legendary Firestar, the noble leader of Thunderclan, or Yellowfang, the strong-willed medicine cat of Shadowclan. I'm searching for two specific graves though, two that will soon be nameless and forgotten.

I'm sorry.

I pause at the foot of Dashpaw's grave. Mistpaw's grave lays right beside his. I keep my head bowed in respect for the fallen, remaining silent as I honor my friends. I want them to know that I miss them, and I still care for them. A relentless question pounds in my mind, but I push it out. This moment is for Dashpaw and Mistpaw.

I'm sorry.

I can't take it any longer. "Do you blame me?" I don't care that there is no one to hear, I have to know. "Do you?" There is no answer of course. I turn around a couple of times and settle down, stretching out on top of both graves so that one paw is touching each. I let my eyes close and let myself slowly slip away...

I'm sorry.

A faint rustle in the bushes jolts me awake. I snap my eyes open, instantly on high alert. Deep down, part of me wishes that something will be come barreling out of the bushes, prepared to end my life. I've got nothing to lose.

I'm sorry.

A brown tom with black markings on his face pads out from the bracken. I recoil in fear at the mere sight of him. Why? After all, he's just an ordinary everyday tom, right? Wrong. That is nothing close to an ordinary tom. That- that's Dashpaw! I realize this in a brief instant, springing to my paws.

I'm sorry.

Wait- there's something wrong with this picture. This isn't Dashpaw. He's dead. This is nothing but a cruel mind-trick. I come to this realization quickly and sink to the ground once more. Apparently Starclan hasn't taken enough from me. First my friends, my family, my love, and now my sanity. I close my eyes slowly, determined to never stir from my spot.

I'm sorry.

A sharp claw prods my side. I clamp my eyes shut, digging my claws into the ground. This is a dream, just an illusion. Whatever's doing this, it's not really there. I shift uncomfortably, trying to block out any emotions that are rising.

I'm sorry.

"Wake up Rippedpaw, wake up!" The speaker thrusts his paw into my side, shoving me with his muzzle. After a few unsuccessful attempts, the speaker sighs. "Sorry to have to do this." In a brief instant, the speaker has my tail in his jaws. He clenches it tightly, jerking it back. Searing pain floods my body, and I jerk up my head angrily.

"What the heck is wrong with you?" I roar. "Do you have any idea how much that hurts?"

A look of amusement crosses the speaker's face. I'd recognize that look anywhere, that familiar glint of green eyes. I still refuse to believe it though, until he speaks. "Looks like you haven't changed a bit. I'd would've thought that temper would have smoothed out a bit, but I guess that you can't get everything you wish for..."

"D-Da-Dashpaw?!" I stammer, almost afraid to believe it.

"It's me. Sorry to disappoint you." Dashpaw says, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

"What are you doing here? I mean, last time I checked you were-"

"Dead? Yeah, I've been getting that a lot." Dashpaw said this casually, as if discussing the time of day. He leapt into the air, leaving me in awe. He simply disappeared, nothing but a gust of wind to those below. He slowed down and landed, shaking out his pelt. "That right there? That the only perk of being dead; I don't have earthly limitations."

"Are you a-" I trailed off not wanting to say ghost.

He tossed his head back and laughed. "No. This is just a short stop, just to see if everyone is fine."

My face fell. "So you're not staying?"

Dashpaw shrugged. "Sadly no. I'll go into detail later. But anyways, how you been? Is everyone ok back at camp?" He tried to sound like he could care less, but excitement laced his tone.

I thought for a moment. "Twistedclaw was made deputy after Sparrowtail retired to the elder's den. Wisppaw was made a medicine cat, now known as Whispwind. Thrushtail also got his first apprentice, Pinekit. We all really, really miss you and Mistpaw though. Especially Sunpaw and Frostpaw, they miss you the most."

Dashpaw flicked his tail towards my nicked ear. "She did that, didn't she?"

I turned my head away, unable to meet his gaze. "It's nothing."

"Don't lie to me Rippedpaw. I know you too well. I'll have to talk to her about that..." Dashpaw's voice trailed off. His gaze sharpened, and he straightened out. "I have to go now. Nice seeing you again."

I rush forwards, my thoughts jumbled in my mind. "Wait- there's something I want to ask you. Two things actually."

Dashpaw met my gaze, his head tilted to one side. "What is it?"

"If you can come to me, then can-" I pause, not sure if I should continue. "Can Mistpaw come?"

Dashpaw's gaze softens. "She can come, but she doesn't want to." Seeing my crestfallen look, he continues. "You have to understand, she's hurting a lot. She loved you, much more then you know. She can't be with you, not until you die. And she knows that you'll probably find someone else, and it's killing her inside."

I bite my lip, wishing I could hold her close and tell her that there's nothing to fear. There'll never be another, I knew that ever since I laid eyes on her. "If you see her where you're going, tell her I said, Hey. Tell her that I miss her and that I- promise."

Dashpaw flicks his ear in understanding. "Ok. What's the second question?"

"Do you blame me? Was it my fault that you died?"

Dashpaw turns his head away. "I'd never blamed you. Not for a minute."

He slowly turns away and trots into the forest, humming a merry little tune. I follow him, feeling the need to say something, anything, before my friend disappears from my sight forever. "I'm sorry." The words flutter in the air as soon as they fall from my lips.

Dashpaw turns his head, meeting my gaze squarely. "I forgive you."

So, I'm having a little writer's block, so I decided to type a oneshot. Maybe I should make a book of them? I hope you like it. If you did, review, if you didn't, again ,I don't care, REVIEW!