This story is inspired by Never Forget You by Zara Larsson and MNEK.
Sandstorm was thinking about Firestar. Again. I used to be so happy when he was around, but now that he's in StarClan, I feel like no one loves me. I watched him leave, but I can't get over him.
Graystripe looked over at Sandstorm. Not again.
"Sandstorm, tell me what you're feeling. It will make you feel better."
"Okay. Well, you see, Firestar was my everything. In a way, time hasn't changed a thing. I still love him, and he still loves me from StarClan. I shouldn't tell you this, as this is one of my deep secrets, but…"
"Continue." To be honest, Graystripe really wanted to hear what she had to say.
"I'll never forget him. He is always by my side. Even right now. The deep secret is that from that very first day, even though for a long time it wasn't obvious, I knew that we were destined to be. It's just instinct, you know what I mean, right?"
Graystripe just nodded, thinking about Silverstream. Millie is my mate now, Millie, Millie, Millie.
"Graystripe?"
"Hmmm?"
"Did you hear anything I just said?"
"Ummm… No."
"Well I said that I know in my heart that I will never forget Firestar and that he will always be by my side, even when I join him in StarClan."
"That's a… Nice thing to say about Firestar." Graystripe was cursing himself in his head for saying that.
"Well, it's true. It's funny how we're free from each other, not that I would want that, and yet we're still together in a weird way. I wonder if he would still be alive if he had fought harder."
"I wonder that too, Sandstorm." Graystripe had finally said something comforting! "I guess that was his destiny, just like it was your destiny to be his mate."
The silence that followed Graystripe's words seemed to last forever. It probably would've if Bumblestripe didn't interrupt.
"Here, I've got some fresh - kill for you both. Give me a yell if you need anything else, okay?"
"We can manage fine on our own." Sandstorm snapped at him.
Bumblestripe quickly said goodbye, and hurried off.
"You didn't have to be so rude to my son, you know." Graystripe sneered at Sandstorm.
"Where were we? Oh yes, did I tell you that I will never forget him? Or that time hasn't changed a thing?"
"Ermmm… You did."
"Oh, okay. Why do you think that I would stop thinking about Firestar?"
"I don't think that." Graystripe was getting uncomfortable, it was obvious by the way he was squirming around.
"You're lying aren't you?"
"No! No! No! I wouldn't lie to you!" Sandstorm gave him an unconvincing look. "Fine, I might of not told the truth about that, but you talking about Firestar is getting kind of boring, don't you think?"
"Ummm… No because I'll never forget him and he is listening to us talk right now because he is right by my side. Can't you see him?"
"Uhhh… No…"
"Well he's right here, so you better not say anything bad about your best friend from now on!"
"Hi Firestar… I didn't mean anything that I said about you." Graystripe felt so awkward talking to an invisible cat.
"Anyway, the day we first met him, when he was still Rusty, I knew from the moment he walked into the camp that we were meant to be together."
"You already told me that too."
"Whoops. Anyway, I felt it, I loved it, everything that we did together. All along I knew that we shared a very special bond. Sometimes, things happen that breaks your heart, but the way I've stayed strong is by showing how connected I am to Firestar. I just can't hide my connection with him."
"I wish I knew how to cope with Silverstream's death. I can't show my connection with her like you can, because I have a new mate now, but I know she's always watching."
"I know I've told you this before, but I'm going to tell again, just so you remember. I'll never forget him, his achievements or anything I know about him, and you shouldn't either. You were a big help to him. He probably wouldn't have ever achieved the things he did if it weren't for you."
"Thank you Sandstorm. That was very touching."
"I'll never forget him, in ThunderClan, or in StarClan. He will always be with me."