Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. On my last chapter I posted, I said I would update next week. Little did I know, that was such a big lie. Here I am, two years later... finally updating what I said that I would do TWO YEARS AGO. In short, I was having problems logging into my account. I forgot my email password, so therefore couldn't reset the account password. I just kind of gave up on finding it, and I randomly stumbled across it this weekend. I logged in, and it worked. I am genuinely so sorry for this long two-year wait.

"Have you checked in with Spottedleaf and Silverpelt?" Swanstep asked.

Larchsky shook her head.

"Why did you cut me out of your life? What's wrong?" Swanstep was concerned about her friend's well being.

"My life." Larchsky meowed, bitterness in her joke.

"I'm sorry-" Swanstep began.

"No need to be sorry, it was not your fault. I'm not even mad at you." Larchsky meowed, turning around.

"Than what is wrong?" Swanstep asked.

Larchsky shrugged. "I guess everything's just been getting to me."

"Just stop loathing yourself, I look up to you. You helped me, I know it can be a little hard to believe; but we look up to you." Swanstep meowed.

"Thanks." Larchsky meowed.

"Can we be friends again?" Swanstep meowed, touching her tail to Larchsky's shoulder.

"Of course." Larchsky meowed, putting her own tail on Swanstep's shoulder.

Larchsky seemed to lift, as if an ancient wrong was made right.

"So, you're happy now?" Swanstep meowed with a smile.

"Um, so, yeah. I was just feeling really, at a low point in my life when you came. I befriended you, and I was happy. But ever since our friendship break-up, I've been just going back to that low point. Yeah." Larchsky meowed, shuffling her paws.

"Okay." Swanstep meowed. She didn't understand, but the least she could do is be a good friend; right?

They walked quietly together back to camp, not uttering a single word along the way.

"Thank you, Swanstep." Larchsky whispered under her breath.

"That's what friends are for, Larchsky. You should go tell Silverpelt and Spottedleaf about your worsening eyesight.. it's worrying." Swanstep meowed.

"I will.. and also, don't tell Scratchwind yet. I'd like to tell him slowly, by myself." Larchsky meowed gloomily.

"Don't worry, I won't." Swanstep assured.

She watched as Larchsky went to Silverpelt's den, hoping for the best.

"Swanstep!" Scratchwind meowed, barreling toward her.

"Scratchwind, hey!" she meowed.

"How was training Cloudypaw?" Scratchwind asked.

"Fine." she shrugged.

"Would you like to share a mouse with me?" Scratchwind offered.

"I guess.." Swanstep meowed.

Scratchwind picked up the mouse, they shared the meal in silence.

"What's wrong?" Scratchwind asked.

"Um-nothing. Just thinking about Cloudypaw's training. He won't listen to anyone but me." she meowed.

"Then how is he going to be trained?" Scratchwind meowed.

"Yeah, that's the thing." Swanstep meowed, relieved that Scratchwind had fallen for the cover-up lie that she had made.

"Hey Scratchwind, mind going on a patrol?" Snowspike meowed.

"Sure." Scratchwind shrugged, and pelted off after saying goodbye.

Swanstep finished the rest of the mouse. She would go check on Larchsky tomorrow, since she had not yet come out of the medicine cat den.

I hope she's okay.

Swanstep went to sleep with a mind full of worries.

In the morning, she checked on Larchsky, who was asleep.

"Silverpelt, how's Larchsky doing?" she asked.

"Well, that's an issue. I don't know how to fix her. I'm planning to go see the medicine cats from the other clans and see if they have dealt with something similar and can provide solutions." Silverpelt meowed.

"She'll get better, right?" Swanstep asked.

"I can't say. I've never heard of such a case like hers. Most eyesight problems are caused by a physical injury of the eyes. In Larchsky's case, she seems to have a disease. It's likely that she will lose her eyesight." Silverpelt meowed.

"Wait, she may not get better?" Swanstep meowed, horrified.

"I don't know yet, hope for the best. She's in StarClan's paws now. I'll have to go to Bluestar's den to tell Bluestar that Larchsky will be unable to do her warrior duties now." Silverpelt meowed.

Swanstep bursted out of the den.

Sageflower and Snowspike were sitting together.

"Swanstep! There you are, we were waiting for you." Sageflower meowed.

"Yeah, you'll never guess what happened!" Snowspike exclaimed excitedly.

Swanstep tried to seem normal, but she wasn't exactly in her usual cheery mood after hearing about Larchsky's possible loss of eyesight.

"What happened?" Swanstep asked, trying to seem excited for her friend's news. In reality, she was feeling hollow and worried for Larchsky.

"Sageflower has been given the task of training Cloudypaw." Snowspike said with a purr of amusement.

Sageflower glared at Snowspike.

"I know Cloudypaw isn't the most obedient apprentice, there's no reason to speak ill of my new apprentice." Sageflower meowed. Swanstep could tell that Sageflower was unhappy about being given such a difficult apprentice.

"Come on, Cloudypaw isn't that bad." Swanstep said, attempting to cheer her friend up.

"Easy for you to say, Cloudypaw listens to your every command because of his admiration for you. Bluestar should have assigned you to train Cloudypaw." Sageflower said bitterly.

"Hey, look at the positives. Bluestar wouldn't assign an apprentice to you if she didn't believe in your ability to train an apprentice well. Bluestar also wouldn't assign you Cloudypaw specifically if she didn't think you could handle him." Swanstep meowed encouragingly.

"You really think so?" Sageflower meowed.

"You'll be alright. I know it." Swanstep's confident words shocked herself also.

"Thanks. I really needed that." Sageflower meowed. The gratitude shone in her eyes.

"That was the most inspirational thing I've ever heard in my life. Please stop it, your positivity hurts me." Snowspike said jokingly. All three of the cats shared a mrrow of laughter.

So, my publishing schedule is still undecided. I'm not sure when I will be able to update, as I don't have as much time as I once did two years ago. I don't know if anyone will still read this story, but I want to apologize to the original owner of this story: Drizzlestorm313. I'm sorry that you didn't see any story progress for 2 years. Drizzlestorm313's new name is Drizzle The Rain Goddess. Just to let you know, I am STILL going to go through with my original promise that I WILL always finish what I have started. I will finish this story eventually, no matter how long this takes. Thank you if you read this.

~Waterfall