A/N: So..., I love this series, and it is dedicated to a friend. This is a fantastic pairing and my first ever attempt at this style and subject.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, only the plot I have devised.

Cinderheart and Hollyleaf were nearly inseperable. After Lionblaze and Heatherpaw had gotten discovered in the tunnels, and Lionblaze had finally stopped seeing her, Cinderheart suggested she and Hollyleaf play and train in them. Hollyleaf was skeptical at first, but the other she-cat persuaded her that they wouldn't be breaking the warrior code, if anything, they would be becoming better warriors for their clan.

They went and played almost every night, growing closer and closer.
Often times Hollyleaf caught herself thinking about the gray tabby. Sometimes she worried that Cinderheart was distracting her, but then she told herself that it was okay, because it was Cinderheart!

One night, as they were playing, Hollyleaf stopped and turned to say something to her Clanmate, but then Cinderheart pounced on her and they were rolling in the dust and dirt. Laughing, she rolled them over so she was on top, pinning Cinderheart's shoulders with her forepaws. Cinderheart went limp and Hollyleaf hopped off just as Cinderheart kicked up powerfully with her hind legs, missing Hollyleaf by mere inches.

Panting, Cinderheart sprang to her paws.

"We should probably get back to camp," Hollyleaf mewed.

Cinderheart nodded and padded up to her friend, their pelts brushing, Hollyleaf purred softly, relishing the closeness of her Clanmate. Then Cinderheart continued on, waiting a few pawsteps ahead for Hollyleaf.
Heaving a soft sigh, Hollyleaf padded after her.

- After death of Ashfur and Gathering where Hollyleaf declares her heritage -

She plunged into the tunnels, where she and Cinderheart had played and trained for so many moons. She scrambled out of the way as the entrance caved in behind her. There was no way Cinderheart would like her now. Especially not if she ever found out what happened with Ashfur.

She ran, her paws thudding on the cavern floor. Cinderheart wouldn't love her. She ran faster, into new tunnels.

Eventually, she stopped running and just laid on the cold ground, drawing her tail around herself. She closed her eyes, slowly slipping into sleep, her dreams troubled by her Clanmates rejections, the one that hurt the most, was Cinderheart's.

- Cinderheart -

Cinderheart laid in her nest, Hollyleaf's was cold, yet her scent still lingered. She closed her eyes. She missed Hollyleaf, so much. She dreamnt of her, back to when they were playing in the tunnels moons before, when Hollyleaf had been about to say something, but she had pounced on her, so her words were never spoken. She wondered what her friend was going to say.

Lionblaze had become close lately too. She wanted to talk to her friend about him, but the few times she had, Hollyleaf had been annoyed, and... jealous? But why would she have been jealous of her brother? It was probably his fighting skill, Cinderheart decided. It was natural to be jealous, he was one of the best fighters in the clan.

Her dreams spiraled back to her and Hollyleaf's nighttime training sessions. Hollyleaf's hind legs were incredibly strong, she could jump almost as far as Spiderleg! And he was one of the longest legged members of the Clan. She purred in happyness, remembering how much she enjoyed hunting and training with Hollyleaf.

When she woke, the realization that Hollyleaf was gone, hit her like a physical blow. She stared at the empty nest, a deep pit of loss opening up insider her. On her other side, Lionblaze blinked open his eyes, and saw her gazing at his sister's empty nest. Wordlessly, he trailed his tail along her flank before shaking moss from his pelt and padding out to see if Brambleclaw had anything for him yet.
She sat a while longer, gazing at the empty nest, before finally standing and stretching, carefully grooming herself before she heard Brambleclaw summon her to go on a hunting patrol with Brakenfur, Squirrelflight, Sandstorm, and Foxleap.
She padded out of the den, sadness dragging her paws and clouding her blue eyes.