Ever since the day his mother died, nothing was the same. Her death was untimely and no cat ever saw it coming. Unfortunately, the clan had refused to reveal any information about the cause of her death to Galepaw. The young silver mackerel tabby felt he had every right to know the details about his mother's death, however, he knew that his clan only meant well. He didn't want his stomach to churn even more but anxiety prickled his pelt as he ran through all the possible ways she could have died. Tonight would be the fourth sleepless night that Galepaw would suffer through. He remembered being back in the nursery as a kit: his mother's gentle, even breaths, the warm feeling of her soft white fur against his own, the sense of security...

Nothing would be the same without her.

He remembered it all way too vividly: the sun was peeking from the horizon and a dewy mist clung in the air from the previous day's rainfall. The thickness of the foggy air clung to his long pelt and made his fur frizz slightly. He was heading toward the fresh kill pile to pick something for breakfast. Galepaw chose a plump mouse from the pile, his mind abuzz with ideas he had for his next training session with his mentor, Snaketail, a thin and lithe black tom with green eyes. Suddenly Cloudysky, Elmlegs, Blossompetal, and Deerpaw came into the camp entrance through the gorse tunnel, their eyes betrayed their shock and grief and Galepaw could sense the overwhelming feeling of sadness. It hung in the air as thick as the fog.

The apprentice's silver tabby fur prickled with unease as he watched Deerpaw padding over to him, her golden tail hanging low, dragging on the ground behind her. Her ears lay flat on her head and once she approached Galepaw, she lifted her head and her amber gaze met his.

"I-it's... Dovesong. She's... dead..."

As soon as the words had left her lips, his heart plummeted. His stomach flipped and his eyes widened in horror.

"No... No! You're lying!" He darted off in the other direction, heading toward the camp entrance.

"Galepaw! Wait-" He could hear Deerpaw's voice fade behind him as he burst through the entrance into the forest. Without even giving it a second thought, he just ran. He ran and ran, fighting back the tears that would inevitably come. He tripped over a gnarly root and when he landed on the other side he just lay there and sobbed. Galepaw felt like he had been lying there forever when raindrops started falling from the sky. They quickly picked up speed until it was pouring on the feeble figure that lie hopeless in the dirt.

His pelt was soon drenched and still, he had made no attempt to move. The pain was still all too real and the memory of his clan mates walking in the camp with sullen faces. Suddenly a paw prodded his side and he looked up between narrow amber slits while the rain battered the earth around him and saw Deerpaw standing over him, grief and concern clouding her eyes, "...Galepaw..."

He did not respond to her, only continued to look at her.

"Please come home... You'll get sick out here..."

"Just leave me alone! I'd rather die out here than go back!"

"D-don't be mouse-brained! The clan needs you, Galepaw! I need you!" Galepaw couldn't tell if those were tears streaming down the she-cat's face or just rain water.

"Why... Why did this happen? Why did she have to go..." He choked out the last few words and Deerpaw laid down next to him and rested her muzzle across his shoulder blades. His paws were muddy and so was his belly but he did not have a shred of care. Deerpaw rasped her tongue gently over his ears but all Galepaw could do was shiver from the cold and the sadness.

Tonight his moss nest felt awkward and lumpy. Just as it had for the past few nights. He tossed and turned, his mind racing with thoughts. If he dared close his eyes and dream, he would dream of her...

Galepaw and his mother had a strong bond. They always went out into the forest together to catch mice and she always showed him the best spots for sunbathing. She would sing him to sleep and eat meals outside the nursery with him and she always knew exactly how to make him smile. The memories that cycled through the young tom's head made his heart ache with grief.

Why, Starclan? Why did you take her from me?

Dovesong was one of the most popular warriors in ThunderClan. She was a skilled climber and hunted the best squirrels. Her death struck the clan with such shock but StarClan knows that no cat was as shocked as Galepaw. He didn't eat and still hasn't and his clan mates all walked on eggshells around him, careful not to say anything that might upset him further. This only reinforced the fact that she was gone.

He wished that he had the connection with StarClan that a medicine cat possessed so that he could speak with his mother but he knew that if he let his lids close over his bright yellow eyes he would have recurring nightmares of blood and fear and death. His mother was much too young to have died of natural causes and although Galepaw was just a naive apprentice, he knew this. The clan was hiding gruesome details from him. Those cats on the dawn patrol who found her body were particularly edgy around Galepaw.

There were things he wanted to know. Secrets he wanted to expose. Why would his clan, the cats he should be able to trust most, keep something so important from him? He knew deep in his heart that he probably would not be able to handle knowing the truth but something inside him cried out desperately for him to find out.

The tom closed his amber eyes and prayed to his mother in the star-studded sky above: Dovesong, I know you can hear me. I will get to the bottom of your death. I will find out the truth and I will avenge you. I love you so much...

After his silent promise to his mother, the tom suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and the milky, flowery scent of his mother flooded the dull apprentice den. For the first time in three days, Galepaw slept just as he did when he was a kit in the nursery with his mother.