Hello! I'm back. :) I'm trying to pick up my pace on updating.

Unfortunately, the only person who reviewed last chapter was my ever loyal reviewer, Featherpool16, however, I appreciate the fact that she did. She's reviewed every chapter here so far and was very helpful when I first started writing. Thanks you, Featherpool! ;)

Anyways, here's another chapter. Perhaps I'll get more reviews? :O

...

I shivered. Something was wrong. The willow shouldn't be this cold, especially with Foxpaw curled around me. He was my warmth, and now I was cold. Where was he?

"Hello?" I call out. I couldn't see. All around me felt empty and barren. Even my voice echoed as if I were in a tunnel. "Hello? Foxpaw? Cloudeyes?"

"...!"

My ears perked. I'd heard something. Someone. I didn't know where to go, though. What was going on? What was happening?

"Someone, please, help me! I can't die! I can't..."

The voice of an obviously very distressed she-cat reached my ears, and I looked around wildly, still blind, in an effort to see what was happening. Nothing.

"Hello?!" I call again. "What's wrong? Can I help you? Where are you!?"

"No...No! Someone help me! I'm hurt! Help me!"

I began to run blindly in a vast direction, following the screaming. The she-cat sounded desperate. I had to help her!

"That she-cat was very desperate when she died, Tinypaw. Very desperate. She was scared, too. Very scared."

I stopped. I'd heard that voice before. It was the white she-cat!

"Why are you doing this?" I cry. "Let me help this cat! She's obviously hurt?! Let me see! I need to get to her! LET ME SEE!"

And just like that, I could see. And then I suddenly wished I was blind again.

"It wasn't as painful as it looks. It was more of a fading ache than anything. But there was still suffering."

Blood. Thick, red, fresh blood. It was everywhere. A growing pool of crimson. Choking me, staining my fur. I gasped for breath. A sharp pain tore at my neck. My windpipe was gone. Then I thrashed, and my leg cracked off the wall side, breaking in two. There was pain, and fear, and hurt. I couldn't think straight. What was happening?

"I didn't know, either. But I wanted to save them-the kits. That was all I knew. All I'll ever know."

Then...Darkness. And then a flash of light. Then I was standing in a bed of clouds. A small pool surrounded by rocks sat in the middle, the water inside glowing. The white she-cat was laying beside it, looking in. She looked sad, for some reason.

"What...?" I moan, feeling sick. My head hurt.

"I apologize. The headache will go away in a bit. I just wanted to show you, so that maybe you'd understand."

I looked up. The white she-cat was right in front of me, smiling tiredly. She was just as beautiful as I remembered-Silky white fur, delicate paws, a neat face, and the most beautiful blue eyes I'd ever seen.

Her words finally met my ears. "What? Understand what?"

"Those were my thoughts," the she-cat said slowly. She sounded exhausted. I supposed dying again would take a lot out of someone, even a Starclan cat. "The day that I died, those were my memories. My feelings. It all seems so silly now. I was so oblivious, even then."

"Oblivious?" I say aloud. "What of it? And what are you trying to teach me? Why did you show me that? It was so personal,"

The beautiful cat closed her eyes and let a soft sigh escape. "I showed that to you so you would know how it feels to die, knowing you let fear rule your entire life, and that was why I died. Fear altered my perception, and I was too afraid to stand up for myself. I know better, now. And you should, too."

I frowned. This she-cat wanted to help me. Why?

"Who are you?" I say instead. I was tired of the riddles. "And why do you want to teach me? Help me, even. What have I done to get such treatment?"

"I swore to your mother I would protect you and love you as if you were my own." The she-cat said. She opened her eyes. They were wet with tears. "I promised. And I will do just that, no matter the distance."

I gasped is shock. "You knew Snowfur? You knew my mother?!"

The white she-cat gave a soft laugh. Her eyes sparkled again with sadness. "In a way, yes. I knew Snowfur, still do, but I also knew your mother."

It took me a moment to process what she'd said. I narrowed my one good eye in confusion. "I don't understand. Snowfur IS my mother, yet you talk as if..." My eyes widened. "...As if they're two separate cats."

A nod was my only response. Then, "It is your waking time, now, Tinypaw. I've answered enough questions today. Do continue your quest, though. And don't forget the prophecy!"

Prophecy. Right. I was trying to ignore that.

"Can't I just-" I started, but suddenly everything faded away until I was left blinking my eyes open to...reality.

I moaned quietly to myself and rolled over, sighing. What was a cat to do?

"Stupid life," I whine, "can't you just leave me alone for once?"

There was no answer. I didn't expect one. Life just wasn't fair in general.