"I can't do this anymore, Fallendrop. I'm sorry."

"What? Goldenstep, wait..."

"No. Fallendrop, this wasn't a real relationship! It was just..."

"What? Fake? Shut up."

"No, no, not fake, it was-"

"You know what? I believe you. Now go meet whoever you've been meeting with."

"You... you knew?"

He laughed cruelly. "It was obvious. You knew I don't sleep well. Every night, I heard you sneak out to meet your secret mate."

She looked nervous. "Um... I'll leave now. Sorry, Fallendrop."

He hissed at her as she left.

Fallendrop felt a growl rise in his throat and fought it down. A thin stream of moonlight hit Frostlight and Goldenstep's faces, illuminating them with silver.

He shut his eyes.

Moments later, a gentle breeze brushed his nose and he cracked open his eyes.

Goldenstep was nervously picking her way over various paws and tails strewn across the floor of the warrior's den. Fallendrop got ready to confront her.

But a small voice in his head whispered, No- go find out what she's doing.

Fallendrop quietly waited until she left the den. Then he stood and crept out behind her.


Goldenstep's fear scent was on almost every stray leaf poking out along the trail. Fallensplash wrinkled his nose at it. After a few more paces, he heard voices.

"Hush! Someone will hear us!"

"Babe, we're fine."

Fallensplash's eyes widened. Was that Brambleflame? From ShadowClan?

He pushed himself into a bramble bush and poked the spiky tendrils out of the way for a better view.

He was right- it was Brambleflame. The tom was pressed firmly against his ex-mate. Fallensplash felt disgusted. His mate was meeting a tom while in a relationship. Again.

Goldenstep purred and laid down. Brambleflame settled down next to her and they gazed at the stars.

Fallendrop felt something tug at his heart. The voice whispered again. Your brother would like to see this. He's the reason she left you.

He shut his eyes firmly, hoping with all his might that it was all a dream. Come on. Tell your brother

Brambleflame whispered, "You're so beautiful." Goldenstep giggled.

Don't hesitate, go for it.

Goldenstep's gentle purr froze Fallendrop. He opened his eyes and gazed at the clearing. Goldenstep was nuzzling Brambleflame while he licked her cheek.

Fallendrop squared his shoulders and took a step.

Backwards.


"Come on, just a bit farther." Fallendrop urged his sleepy brother.

"Why-" Frostlight yawned- "-did you have to wake me up?"

"Because. Now hurry!"

Fallendrop led Frostlight to the path and they walked for a while until reaching the bramble bush. Fallendrop felt a smile coming on. He tensed his jaw and quietly pushed his brother into the bramble bush. A shadow slipped in after them.

Brambleflame and Goldenstep were still cuddling with each other. Fallendrop let himself smile as he pushed aside the tendrils.

At first, Frostlight was shocked into silence. Then Fallendrop noticed the tears streaming down his cheeks, and the heaving breaths his brother was taking.

Brambleflame paused and glanced at their hiding place. Goldenstep raised her head and sniffed. Fallendrop had to hold back a bout of laughter.

"Who's there?" she called.

Frostlight said nothing, just let out a pain-wracked sob. Fallendrop smiled gleefully at the expression on Goldenstep's face.

Goldenstep cautiously made her way to the bramble bush and pulled a blubbering, teary Frostlight out. Fallendrop backed farther into the bush.

"I-I thought y-you l-loved me-e!" Frostlight cried.

Fallendrop laughed silently. He vaguely noticed that Brambleflame had left.

Goldenstep opened her mouth to say something, but faltered.

Fallendrop composed himself, then burst out of the bush with a shocked expression on his face. It was fake, of course.

"Goldenstep! You- you broke my brother's heart!" he cried in a hurt voice. Inside, he was cackling hysterically.

Goldenstep looked scared. "Um... well-"

Fallendrop narrowed his eyes. "Was it fake, like our relationship was?"

Goldendrop opened and closed her mouth several times, then nodded.

Frostlight wailed and curled into a ball. Fallendrop gently guided his crying brother to his feet and hissed, "Now the Clan will know how fake your life is!"

Goldenstep looked bemused, then her facial expression quickly changed to horror. "You wouldn't," she murmured.

Fallendrop let himself laugh this time. "Oh, I already have." He flicked his tailtip twice.

Out of the bushes rose the Clan's biggest gossip, Cloudshine. She had a satisfied and somewhat shocked expression on her face.

"Good job, Cloudshine. Now go back to sleep and tell Minnowsplash and Gingertrout about this in the morning."

Frostlight looked confused. "But... but..."

Fallendrop hit him hard on the head. Frostlight passed out with snot bubbling at his nose.

Fallendrop dragged him away with a large grin on his face. At the edge of the clearing, he paused and said, "Oh, Goldenstep- if you say anything, consider yourself dead."