Shrining heart.

Larkwhistle turned to the nest beside her, it was empty.

Oh Nightclaw, I miss you.

Her brother, Nightclaw, had always stood beside her, and been her best friend.

Well, apart from Skypaw.

"Larkwhistle!"

Oh no, not Depthpaw,

"Hello!" Depthpaw was an apprentice who would usually bother Larkwhistle, and today was the worst day possible.

"Don't bother me," She growled, "Not today."

"Want to play?" The apprentice asked, ignoring Larkwhistle's cold welcome.

"Play?" The elder was too full of grief to play, "Nightclaw has died!"

"Was he your mate?" Dapthpaw asked.

"No," She mewed, "That was Toadfur, he's dead to." Larkwhistle unsheathed her claws as she thought of Toadfur. He died a few moons after he became a warrior, killed by greencough.

"Nightclaw was my brother." Her green eyes clouded with grief.

"Did you have any other litter mates?" When would this apprentice shut up?

"There was Speckledkit, she was too small to survive her first moon."

Larkwhistle turned away, "Leave me be."

Depthpaw padded out, tail drooping.

Larkwhistle growled under her breath, how dare the stupid apprentice remind her of all that she had lost?

Speckledkit was first, then she lost her best friend, Skypaw, when a Duskclan patrol attacked, her mother and father, Silverfin and Aldertail where lost in a mudslide, then is was Toadfur, the only one of that season to die of greencough, and now, her brother, Nightclaw.

"Why?" She asked, "Why is everyone I love taken from me?"

Larkwhistle got little sleep that night, only to be woken up by Depthpaw.

"Wanna play Larkwhistle?" He asked, jumping up and down.

"No," Larkwhistle's mew was cold, "A day won't change anything." This apprentice knew nothing of grief.

"Fine then, I'll see you tomorrow!" Larkwhistle hissed as Depthpaw ran off.

I must say, She thought, I admire his determination.

The next day, Larkwhistle cracked.

"Your father was the last apprentice Nightclaw had before becoming an elder."

"Wow!" Depthpaw's eyes where round with excitement, "What else did he do? Would he play with you and Skypaw?"

"He would, he was always their for me," Her eyes clouded with grief.

Taking a hint, Depthpaw padded out of the den, and Larkwistle was surprised to find herself missing the young apprentice.

Larkwhistle and Depthpaw became friends, Larkwhistle soon worried for him. Every time Depthpaw went out of camp to hunt or go on a patrol, Larkwhistle would not sleep, eat or move her eyes away from the camp entrance, she was too worried something would happen to him.

One fateful day, Larkwhistle was restless. She rose out of her nest, and dragged herself towards the camp entrance so sit by the river.

This was the place Toadfur and I fell in love.

Larkwhistle and Toadfur were only together for a few moons before his death, however she still missed him more than ever.

It's funny. She thought, a moon ago, I would have growled and hissed when I thought of my dead loved ones, now I am glad. I feel their love whenever I think of them, I keep their memories alive in the stories I tell Depthpaw…

It was the young apprentice who brought Larkwhistle out of her shell, he was the one who taught her to love in the memory of others.

"Thank you, Depthpaw," She whispered to herself.

"You took your time," Larkwhistle looked up to see Toadfur. "Who knew it would take you so long to learn to love us, even in death." The tom's eyes gleamed.

"Oh, Toadfur!" Larkwhistle croaked, overwhelmed by emotion, "I never stopped loving you." She touched her nose to Toadfur's. "I missed you."

"We never left your side," Larkwhistle looked up to see Skypaw's spirit drift down to her, "When you got your warrior name, I was their. Every time you told Depthpaw of our adventures, I was their, listening."

Lakwhistle looked further into the clouds, and saw Silverfin and Aldertail step forward, with Speckledkit bouncing around their heels.

"Come walk with us, sister." Nightclaw stood before her, his pelt was no longer grey with old age, and his amber eyes shone with compassion. "It is time."

"What about Depthpaw?" Larkwhistle was reluctant to leave the apprentice, "I don't want him to be alone."

Nightclaw went back to her sisters side, "Depthpaw will be fine," His mew was reassuring, "He will mourn, then he will rise, and will live in your memory."

Larkwhistle looked at all her fallen friends and family, "Just as I failed to do with all of you," She blinked, "I have learnt, and I think I'm ready." She mewed before following her brother into Starclan.

Thank you Depthpaw, I cannot thank you enough for all you did.