Rainfall paced the cave tensely. The sun had almost risen, and there was still no sign of Berrypaw.

Be patient, young warrior. He will come. Whitestar murmured in her ear.

As if on cue, Berrypaw padded alone into the cave, looking very down and small without his former mentor by his side.

"Berrypaw," Rainfall ran to him and touched noses with the young cat.

"Berryfur now," he said quietly.

"Berryfur," Rainfall corrected. "I waited for you."

"Thank you Rainfall. Go take a walk. Your joints are stiff from the cool air."

Rainfall nodded. She was going to go anyway. She told Snowstorm she would be late that day, and would come early morning.

"Snowstorm!" Rainfall ran forward when she saw him, and touched noses with the young tom.

"Oh, Rainfall, it's great to see you." Snowstorm murmured.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing, any day with you is great."

"Something's wrong."

Snowstorm sighed. "My sister's kit got stolen by twolegs."

"How long has Patchfur had kits?"

"About five moons."

"You didn't tell me?"

"No, I forgot, I love seeing you so much, and well you know. One of them got attacked by something in the dark, then her only tom that was left, Stormkit, was stolen."

Rainfall touched his shoulder.

"Rainfall?" A disbelieving voice sounded from the border.

Rainfall whirled around. "Oh, um, Poppyfern, hi, um," Rainfall stuttered. The red she-cat stood in disbelief on the border.

"What are you doing here, with him?" she faltered.

"I-I—"

"Poppyfern?" Nightstream padded through the undergrowth along with Ashpelt, and—

"Firepatch!" Rainfall cried. The ginger and white tom stood shaking, pain shone clearly in his eyes.

"I can explain," she stammered. "I-I—"

"Rainfall," Snowstorm silenced her. His tail slid over her back, comforting her.

"Rainfall, you, you need to come back home now." Nightstream said quietly.

"But," Rainfall stared desperately at Snowstorm.

"I'm coming too."

"No," Nightstream snapped. "Rainfall needs to face this alone."

"Snowstorm," a gruff voice sounded from behind them. "You need to come with us." Spiderfoot and his patrol stepped from the bushes.

"I'll meet you at the border later," Snowstorm murmured. "It will all work out okay."

Rainfall was led by her Clanmates. Her head hung, all of her life gone.

What have you done StarClan? Why did they find us?

Rainfall padded into the cave, and Nightstream ran up to Dawnstar to tell her the news. Rainfall sat sadly in the clearing.

"Rainfall!" Sunheart ran up to her. "What happened?"

Rainfall just looked sadly at him.

"Rainfall," Nightstream padded down from Dawnstar's den. "Dawnstar wants you."

Rainfall padded shamefully into Dawnstar's den.

"Rainfall, is it true?" Dawnstar asked.

"It is Dawnstar."

"I thought you were better than this. You've disappointed your Clanmates."

"I regret disappointing them with every breath, but I do not regret seeing Snowstorm."

"So I suppose you will still see him, despite being caught."

"Yes, Dawnstar."

"Then I can only exile you. I hate doing it, I hate it more than anything, but it cannot work with us. Snowstorm and you can go somewhere you can be together. You will be welcome here, if you decide, but I cannot guarantee your deputyship will remain."

"We will not come here. No one would allow it, and you know that Dawnstar."

"I know."

"Will you find Tinypaw a good mentor?"

"Who would you like?"

Rainfall thought for a moment. "Breezeflight. Can Breezeflight be deputy too? I-I think StarClan chose her to be deputy, after the rain opened up, a breeze blew it away."

"I suppose you're right. Very well."

"May I say goodbye to my friends first?"

"Of course." Dawnstar tapped noses with her. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Dawnstar."

Rainfall jumped down. Sunheart was waiting for her.

"It's okay Rainfall. Nightstream told me." He murmured.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I understand completely."

"Thank you. Watch over everyone for me."

"Okay."

Tinypaw ran up. "You lied to me?"

"I'm sorry, I-I—"

Tinypaw reached up and touched her nose. "It's okay Rainfall. I forgive you."

She went to Firepatch next, but he hissed, and walked away.

"He's grieving," Mistycloud murmured behind her. "He'll never forget you."

Runningbreeze ran up to her. "I'll walk you to the border."

"Okay," Rainfall sighed.

"You know what?" Runningbreeze sighed as they started their walk.

"What?"

"You know Snowpaw and Berryfur?"

"Yes."

"They are my kits. I gave them up, so no one would be suspicious of me."

"Why would they be suspicious?"

"There was a third. He is still alive."

"Why isn't he here?"

"He's with his father Tigerstripe, in MoonClan. I loved Tigerstripe, just like you loved Snowstorm."

"I won't tell," Rainfall murmured.

"Thank you, I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone." She touched Rainfall's nose with hers. "Good luck, Rainfall."

Rainfall blinked, and dipped her head. Runningbreeze hared away into the bushes. Snowstorm was there, standing on the border waiting for her.

"Ready?" he queried.

"Ready," Rainfall countered.

"Good, let's go."

And the two cats padded off toward the edge of Clan territory. When they reached it, Rainfall looked back.

I'm leaving everything behind! Why did this happen?

"Don't look back Rainfall. Looking back will just bring more pain."

"But where will we go?"

"We will go out of Clan territory, we will go to the forests beyond."

"You know we won't stay long."

"I know."

Suddenly, everything disappeared from around Rainfall. A hiss of a striped tom, and blood pouring from Berryfur.

Stripepaw, he looks exactly like Tigerstripe. Tigerstripe, Runningbreeze, wait—she thought. Snowpaw and Berryfur are Runningbreeze's and Tigerstripe's kits, and Stripepaw, the third.

"No!" Rainfall screeched. She whirled around and took off toward the spot where she had seen Stripepaw and Berryfur.

"Rainfall!" Snowstorm screeched.

Rainfall saw the striped tom hissing at Berryfur foxlengths away from where Rainfall had been standing with Snowstorm.

"Stop!" she leaped on Stripepaw, and knocked him away from a shocked Berryfur.

"Rainfall?" Berryfur said, stunned.

"Don't you lay a claw on that cat! Ever!"

"Why not?"

Rainfall shoved her muzzle in his face. "Just listen to me! Never touch him! You will face the wrath of StarClan!" She raked her claws across his muzzle. "Get out!"

He hared away into the bushes. "This isn't over, Rainfall! I'll be back!"

Berryfur looked up sadly, seeing Snowstorm, his look turned to rage.

"First Sweetleaf left me, why must you leave too?" he seethed.

Rainfall looked at him sadly, and he calmed down. He touched her nose, and whispered gently in her ear, "Ever since I met you, I've loved you. I didn't want to, but who can stop love? I promised myself I wouldn't break the medicine cat code, so I became friends with you. We will always be friends."

He gently blinked at her, then jerked his head toward the hills. "Go! If someone catches you they will kill you!"

Rainfall briefly nodded, then ran off, following Snowstorm.

"Goodbye Rainfall!" Berryfur called. "Come back soon," he added, under his breath. "I don't know how long I can survive without you."