I apologize, my adoring (and slightly less adoring) fans! My internet was…unavailable, no reason given, and I was unable to upload anymore chapters. I also have not written any more chapters. Updates will probably proceed as usual from here on, though you have my deepest apologies for my annoying absence.

Also, notably, I edited the Prologue so it includes a note, as SCWW so requested. He's credited to the theory, because it's an epic theory…and he came up with it. *cough*

Chapter Eleven

It was a dark day, and storm-clouds were rich in the sky. Gorsestar had just taken Shortpaw out for yet another hunting assessment, and he swore if he didn't get his warrior name soon he would go crazy. His muscles were aching and he was so ready to sleep by the time he returned to camp that he almost didn't see Robinsong passing by.

"Hello, Shortpaw…" she mewed, sounding faint…as if all of her life had been drained away.

"Hello, Robinsong," he replied firmly. She nodded as if approving of something that had little or no effect on her, and padded away staring at her paws. Shortpaw still felt terrible. Not for killing Shadowwind, but for telling her. He'd just needed someone to confide in, and then she asked him…

"Shortpaw, can I talk to you, please?" Longpaw asked, looking embarrassed. Thistletail was looking on, smiling, from a safe distance. This can't be good…

"Sure," he replied, and she turned around.

"In private, if you wouldn't mind. I don't want some people listening in." she shot a cheeky glance at Thistletail, who turned around and pretended to be playing with the ground. It didn't look very convincing. Shortpaw followed Longpaw into the apprentices' den, and the two of them sat on the ground there. Shortpaw had to fight off the temptation not to fall to sleep on the comfortable bedding…

"Sorry, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" Shortpaw asked. Longpaw stared into space for a little while, before looking back at him and laughing loudly.

"Well I wasn't going to say anything, because I didn't know whether it was a bit deal or not, but then Thistletail told me to tell you anyway even if it wasn't a big deal just in case-"

"Longpaw, what are you talking about?" Shortpaw asked, far too tired to think as fast as she was babbling.

"Shortpaw, I love you." She mewed, staring at the ground. Shortpaw wasn't sure what to say.

"Th-thank you." He chanced, feeling incredibly awkward.

"That's okay… I won't force you to do anything. Now I think Thistletail wanted to go hunting… I'd better let you rest." She left the den quickly.

Shortpaw didn't know what to do… It really couldn't be such a big deal, could it? But what could he tell her? He didn't know what he felt… Did he feel the same way about Longpaw? These questions and dilemmas floated around in his mind seemingly forever as he lay in the apprentice's den. A thunderstorm had started outside, and eventually the gentle pattering of the rain helped him to sleep…

* * *

"Wake up! Shortpaw, wake up!" Brookpaw screamed. Shortpaw whipped up in a second – what was going on?

"What? Why did you wake me up?" he droned, sleepily, but the other apprentice was already gone. He contemplated going back to sleep, but Brookpaw seemed to have had a sort of urgency about her. She may have had the ability to speak a million words a day, but the tone of her voice had actually been somewhat…serious.

He crawled out of the den to see that it was a while since sun-down. The clouds were still looming over the sky, and the thunderstorm was still deeply in effect. Lightning pierced the skies at seemingly random intervals, briefly illuminating the camp for short amounts of time. Cats were running everywhere, as if they were under some sort of attack. Some where hysterical, some were angry, some were just silent.

Shortpaw followed the nearest cat he could see – Barkface, his scent told him – to a point where everyone seemed to be congregating.

"What's going on?" He asked Barkface as he ran.

"Shut up," the medicine cat tried to say without moving his mouth – he was carrying poppy seeds. Why was he carrying them? Shortpaw continued to follow him by scent, until he reached the mass of WindClan cats. Thistletail was in the center of them, looking as if she had just had her heart torn out.

"Thistletail, you have to tell us. What happened?" Robinsong demanded. It seemed she had pulled herself together to help Thistletail…but why?

"L-Longpaw…" Thistletail stammered. Her eyes seemed more distant than ever. "The gorge at RiverClan's territory…We were…and I…I couldn't…I couldn't…" Shortpaw's own eyes grew distant and his stomach caught in a knot. Thistletail looked as if something were caught in her throat. The whole Clan was silent with shock and grief. "She fell," Thistletail choked out, and panic was let loose.

Shortpaw was struck with fear and sadness. Longpaw had been his closest friend… Why had this had to happen? What had he done wrong to deserve this?!

"We should wait until Thistletail is better…" Lionfang mewed to Gorsestar. The leader nodded his head, sadly, and turned to the other Clan members.

"As some close friends need some assistance today, the vigil will be held tomorrow… There is no body, so the elders will not need to bury it. You may go back to your dens to sleep now."

"Shortpaw, I'm so sorry…" Brookpaw mewed, sympathetically. Her, Streakpaw and Whirlpaw were standing beside him, sadness clouding over them. But they didn't really understand. How could they?

"Go away." He hissed. "Leave me alone!" Streakpaw looked as if he was about to say something, but Shortpaw unsheathed his claws and hissed louder. The other apprentices slowly backed away, then hurried away to the apprentices' den to avoid the rain and get some sleep. Thistletail was hysterical, Ripplebrook and Robinsong escorting her to Barkface's den.

Everything had gone all wrong… One moment… One accident and Shortpaw's whole life felt meaningless. And the others were trying to be sympathetic. Did they know how it felt to lose the one cat they truly loved? Did they know… I loved her… Shortpaw realized, feeling as if the burden of the world had suddenly been thrust upon his shoulders. He sagged to the ground, shivering not from the storm but from sadness, letting thought consume him…

Why had it really been so shocking? Why hadn't he just gone on the patrol with them? Why hadn't he just…told her?

"It's my fault…" Shortpaw murmured. It seemed longer than forever until sleep finally grasped him.