Waterpaw's Point of View

Waterpaw saw Halfcrest eyes widen then narrow when he saw Firepaw walking beside her. This won't be easy. Oh course, every part of her body was protesting against what she was about to to but she had already decided; it was for her and the clan's good. Halfcrest would never consider joining Riverclan and as much as she loved him with all her heart, even though just realizing it, she couldn't join Windclan.

"I didn't know you were bring extra," he said bitterly and crossed the border. I almost told him to stop but his pelt had gently brushed mine and involunterrily, I purred.

Firepaw watched me and I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and moved away. I heard Halfcrest low growl and as if a signal, my eyes went to the ground. This is going to hurt….a lot.

"I want to tell you that, Firepaw is my mate. Not you, not Shadowheart, Firepaw."

Halfcrest stared at me in shock, "Waterpaw, I said I was sorry," he hesistated then he sighed, looking down and bearing his head, "Please, Waterpaw."

Now Firepaw and I were in shock. Halfcrest was a warrior, a proud one too. For him to pled in such a manner…he was really doing this with all his heart. He gave up his pride and even himself as a warrior…

I looked away. I didn't deserve it because what I was about to do was awful, "No. I said I was with Firepaw."

"Waterpaw." A voice I never thought I'd hear again spoke through the woods and Shadowheart walked next to his brother and hissed in disgust, "But your head up. It's not worth giving up your pride as a warrior."

Halfcrest stayed there for a moment, then he looked up his eyes meeting mine.

I saw everything. Sincerity, guilt, pain, hurt, and love. Oh Starclan…why do you have to do this to me!

I took a gulp and didn't know what to say. Actually, what I wanted to say was all decided: Halfcrest…you don't have to do that. I'm cruel and awful…but selfishly enough to want to be with you too.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, tears falling down. I was ready to say what was on my mind. It was only about Halfcrest and I.

But he took my words for a different meaning. He glared at Firepaw, "You!"

Just when Firepaw sheathed his claws, the most disgusting smell hit our noses. I felt the ground vibrate and knew what was coming.

"It's a fox! I've-."

"Shhss!" Shadowheart hissed and backed us all away. Halfcrest urged me back behind a tree while Firepaw stood guard. I could protect myself! I pushed Firepaw out of the way and stood my ground.

A fox came out. Or should I say, THE fox. It was huge. I'd never imagined an animal that big…not even the LionClan that were thought to be half the sizes of the two-legs.

We all took a step back and it caught our smell.

"RUN!"

"ATTACK!" Shadowheart and Halfcrest bellowed. Shadowheart running straight for the fox. Halfcrest had us half way away when he saw his brother had charged the fox and got thrown against the tree.

"That idiot!" he left us and turned back, "Stay there! Please!" He ran so fast for a second I was sure he was Windclan. He clawed the fox in various places, never in one place. He used the fox's slowness against him. He mirrored the actions of a fly, once place everywhere, so by the time the fox got out to the previous place, Halfcrest was already at another. He sank his claws in the fox's leg and it reared up its hind. Halfcrest climbed and got to his eyes, clawing madly then falling back down again.

My eyes widened and I ran toward him, "Halfpaw!"I lunged and pushed him out of the way. At first, it was like pushing a stone block. But he moved and I felt sharp, piercing claws against my belly. I screamed in pain and fell down, my eyes not opening.

Starclan, please don't let me die. I want to be with Halfcrest! I want to say what I want to say!

I heard Halfcrest voice in the background but I couldn't focus. Searing pain was running all along my body and I knew what pain and suffer was. I sank my claws into the ground as a pelt touched mine.

"NOO!" It hurt!"Don't touch me!"

"Waterpaw, it's just me. Come on," he tried to move me only to feel my paw in his face. Pain, pain, everywhere! When I moved, when I talked…when I breathed!

"Breath waterpaw!" Shadowheart hissed menacingly.

I did. And I closed my eyes, pressing it shut. When I opened it, I was in a bright, fuzzy forest. Everything was a little blurry and unfocused.

"Waterpaw…just like your father." A fuzzy white cat chuckled and jumped over a rock, walked to me. My eyes widened. I'm in Starclan! No!

"Relax, Waterpaw. I'm just here to heal you. I was the previous Riverclan medicine cat…I owe your father my life. I will pay that debut with this."

She striked me down. I flinched and whimpered. I couldn't scream anymore. I was tired or the pain…I realized I wasn't feeling the pain anymore. It felt like butterflies were flying all along my stomach…

The medicine cat raised her paw, "You are now free of pain and have been blessed by me," she smiled warmly and bounded away, turning back only to say sadly, "I'm sorry for your loss."

My loss?I blinked and again, there I was in the dark forest, the fight still going on. I tried to get up only to have someone push me down.

"Don't get up!" Halfcrest. He was on the verge on panic and was muttering to himself, "Not going to leave…"

I was about to reply when I heard a cry. It wasn't a scream or a yell. It was a cry…a soft one…ne indicating the end of something. I hoped it was the fox's but I knew it wasn't. I turned around just in time to see Firepaw thrown down. I looked at his body expectantly…I refused to let it sink in. I kept looking at his rigid body. Then, it relaxed.

No…

No…

My loss? It sunk in. My loss.

I sat back down on the ground and looked at it. The ground was made of dirt. Firepaw's body was laying on it, covered in dirt. He wasn't dirt.

I heard a high-pitched shriek and the fox ran through the woods and away.

Firepaw doesn't belong in the dirt. I walked over to his body and nudged it with my muzzle. A low cry escaped me as I sat down by it and touched his tummy. Nothing…

"Firepaw?" I asked as if expecting him to answer me.

I saw a fuzzy light again but this time, it was the shape of another cat. Firepaw…

"No! You're not in Starclan!"

He smiled sadly and rolled his eyes, "Calm down…yes I am."

"I killed you," I looked down at his body again. I didn't regret my actions trying to save Halfcrest but if I hadn't…Halfcrest would be the one dead.

"I'm sorry," I said.

Firepaw raised an eyebrow and jumped over his body, standing in front of me, "Do not apologize for something you don't regret. It's sad that I died but," Firepaw looked me in the eye with the same sparkling orange eyes, "I died for you…I love you Waterpaw. This is the most honorable way to die for me…knowing I did everything I could to save you."

He chuckled and bushed a leaf of my pelt, "It's weird…when we were kits, I couldn't wait for you to open your eyes. It was extra special because I saw them first…I was making fun of you and you opened them with a glare."

He chuckled again and I watched him in amazement, "I fell in love with you moons ago, Waterpaw…but obviously," his eyes flickered to Halfcrest who was watching us with narrowed eyes. He turned back to me and smiled sadly, "You love someone else."

"But we're not going to train together anymore!" I knew it was childish of me since I caused his death but he'd promised we'd be warriors together, "You promised." I lowered my eyes sadly. Why was this happening? Why couldn't I have fallen in love with Firepaw instead and lived happily ever after like everyone did?

"I will," Firepaw rolled his eyes and smiled happily, "There's nothing to do in Starclan from what I see…I'll be in your dreams," he looked at his paws, counting, "Beside you, at the gatherings, in training…"

I laughed humorlessly, "That's the spirit," he said halfheartedly, "I know you don't love me back but please do me favor…after all, you do owe me," he looked back at his body. I looked back at him. He could be cruel sometimes…, "Just be Waterpaw. And laugh…and smile and use those pretty eyes of yours. Okay?"

I stared at him. What? I laughed, tears falling. Halfcrest pressed his pelt to mine in concern but I just kept laughing.

"I never thought you were crazy Firepaw…," I looked back and smiled, "If you're going to be happy then," my eyes went back to his body, "I'll try my best."

He smiled and burhsed his muzzle to my side, glancing at Halfcrest, "I don't own her…but I'm putting her in your care."

Halfcrest's eyes softened, "Thank you."

Firepaw grinned widely and looked to the left, "I'm going to explore in my new body! See ya later Waterpaw!"

He disappeared. Just like that…I never thought Firepaw would be the first to vanish. He's not gone. He's still here.

I smiled and stopped Shadowheart when he was getting Firepaw's body, "I'll do it…"

Halfcrest looked at me in amazement, "You are truly something incredible…you called me Halfpaw…before."

I nodded, "I don't know why…that's the first thing that came to my mind."

He nuzzled in my fur and purred, "Thank you."

I looked down a bit embarrassed, "Welcome…" I saw Shadowheart watching us with a blank expression. I opened my mouth to say something when I was interrupted. Again. We all bunched to our hind legs, ready to attack.

"Don't kill me you idiots!" Shiningstar steped out of the shadows and glared each of us down, "You will live in hell if you lay a claw on me."

Halfcrest and Shadowheart's eyes widened. I rolled my eyes and looked back up, "Shinningstar…I can explain."

She stalked up to me, "You! I thought you were getting over it all!"

I shrugged, "I'm sorry. I couldn't-."

"I can't leave the clan like this! We can't! Because of you, we have to delay our journey. Mother has been ripping her fur out waiting for us in anxiety!"

"Then she shouldn't have left us in the first place!" I screamed back.

Halfcrest and Shadowheart's eyes widened even bigger, "Mother?What?"

"We're sisters," she glared death at them both, "You have messed with my sister and I am sick of you! Get off this territory now. I will definitely bring this up during the gathering, don't you think I won't."

Shadowheart glanced from me to Shinningstar, obviously confused, "We were-."

"Leave. Now," Shinningstar's voice turned bloody cold. Halfcrest looked at me and met my eyes. I smiled and he did too, pressing his muzzle to mine before following Shinningstars command.

"I love you."

He disappeared next to his brother. Who knew when I would see them again? Those toms…

"And you," I gulped as Shinnigstar's anger turned to me. Her gaze rested on Firepaw's body and she went rigid.

"What. Did. You Do, Waterpaw," she watched me, her eyes huge and for once, I saw fear in Waterpaw's eyes.