AN: Tiggy isn't such a demon after all, eh? And I'm really fond of those two stories for some reason…I'm a sap for love, I guess. And I'm glad I helped you out there, N/N. :D

TigerxSplash? Eww, ewe w. Ew ew ew. First off, Dustpelt was a new warrior when Ferncloud was an apprentice; at the least, they were separated by six moons in age, and at the most they were separated by about a year. Since cats can live seven or eight years and still be in their prime, a year or so doesn't make much of a difference. Second, Tigerstar is almost as old as Bluestar when he died, and she was always known as an older cat. Now he's been in the Dark Forest for several years at the least (since roughly this story takes place somewhere after The Power of Three) so if he was still alive, he'd probably be around elder status. Third, Splash is three and a half moons old. That would be like a forty year old man dating an eight year old girl. He was leader before she was even conceived. Ewww.

But thanks for the complimant, NeonTigerValentine. xD

C h a p t e r 19

Tigerstar watched Splash as she slept, her sides rising and falling much faster than Gingerstep's. Even as he watched, her tail seemed to almost flicker, as it had ever since he had first noticed it. The fading had spread nearly to the base of her tail now, and it was all Tigerstar could do to stop himself from waking her up, to make the fading stop. But, that wouldn't do any good, and she wasn't in any real danger, yet. There were only three tests left, after all.

Love, he reminded himself, glancing at Gingerstep. He had to find out how to beat that test. He yawned, resting his dark, broad head on his large paws. He could feel the weariness rising up within him, and knew that he too would soon drift off. Idly, he thought about Splash's stories. She really was a good storyteller; her eyes lit up as if with wonder when she spoke, and the movements of her paws and tail, as if she was trying to shape her story with them, were somehow endearing.

Love had been the theme of Splash's two favorite stories, Tigerstar reflected. The first had been about the courage of confessing your love, and the second had been about how love was not confined to simply your mate, but to your kits as well.

And then, suddenly, Tigerstar realized what the test was about. Love wasn't just for mates – his love for Goldenflower didn't mean he couldn't love anyone else. Cats were also supposed to love their kits, as the cat of the North star did.

Then, Tigerstar sighed quietly. He didn't love any of his kits, truly. Brambleclaw had been a disappointment, Mothwing was pathetic, Hawkfrost had ultimately failed in his missions, Tawnypelt had refused to join him, or to even allow him into her dreams after he had died. All of his kits had been disappointments, and although Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt had been Goldenflower's kits, he truly felt no love for them. They had both turned away from him.

So who, then? He did not love his own kits and he could not love Gingerstep. Who else was there for him to love? He thought of Splash's story for a moment, and then his gaze slid to the silver kit, still fast asleep. His pelt prickled slightly as he watched her, a strange sort of glowing feeling in his chest. He shook himself, and then closed his eyes, falling asleep quickly.

* * *

They continued moving along the next day, although Gingerstep was oddly quiet. She still walked with a slight limp, but it appeared that her leg had healed, for the most part. Splash chattered away, while Tigerstar tuned out; by the end of the day, he couldn't honestly have told Splash whether she had been talking to him or to Gingerstep the entire time.

Instead of settling down for the night, they decided to keep going, and carry Splash. Tigerstar offered to carry her, much to both she-cats' surprise.

Gingerstep and Tigerstar padded along in silence together. Tigerstar thought he saw something on the horizon, and he frowned, feeling rather confused. It looked almost as if a giant lump was on the horizon, or maybe a large spike. He decide that once they were closer, he would see what it was, but they walked for hours and it didn't seem to get very much bigger.

"What is that?" he asked Gingerstep finally.

"The mountain," she replied, as if that explained everything. Tigerstar waited for her to elaborate, but she did not.

"What mountain?" he growled, feeling irritated. For all that he had changed, he still had a short temper. Gingerstep simply blinked at him.

"The mountain," she said. "The one that StarClan is on top of. At the peak, there is mist, and the north star hovers directly above it. You can't go into the mist unless you've completed all of the tests, or you die."

Tigerstar blinked at the smudge on the horizon, suddenly feeling very small. "It must be small, to be so tiny looking at so close a distance," he said. Again, Gingerstep looked amazing.

"It's huge," she said. "That's the only reason we can even see it from here. We've still got several days before we even reach the foot of the mountain, let alone climb it."

Tigerstar blinked in surprise, and Splash shifted slightly in his mouth, reminding him of his urgency. He felt an odd tug at his heart at the thought that she might very well fade before they reached the mountain.

I'm only concerned because it would mean I'd be stuck here too, he told himself, but even he didn't believe that.

* * *

They settled down for the night, and then walked all through the next day, before stopping sometime around early evening to rest a short time.

Tigerstar watched Splash closely, with a sinking feeling; her entire tail was beginning to disappear even when she was awake now, although according to Splash she could still move it around and feel it; it was simply as if it was invisible. Eventually her entire body would go "invisible" and then it would simply disappear, and it would be as if she had never existed. The only remaining bit of her would be in their memories. Tigerstar closed his eyes, unable to watch her tail fade and reappear as she moved it. The very idea of Splash disappearing…it caused him pain.

Why? He demanded himself, feeling suddenly curious. Yes, she is my ticket to StarClan, but why else should I care? Why do I feel like I do? I shouldn't care about her at all! I should have made this journey long ago, alone. Or better yet, I should have taken my second chance at life! But I chose to stay with her…why?

He couldn't seem to puzzle it out, to understand it; it was a strange mystery to him. Finally, he sighed quietly and glanced at Gingerstep. She was a she-cat; perhaps she would know the truth of it.

He waited until Splash was asleep, and Gingerstep was nodding off, before he stood and sat beside the ginger she-cat. She blinked, coming awake suddenly.

"Yes?" she asked quietly, staring at him with her gentle golden eyes.

"I…I need your help," Tigerstar said, uncurling his pride to ask. He had never liked asking for help, especially after Scourge; if he had never came to the black tom for help, he might still be alive, after all.

"Yes?"

"I've been feeling a bit…off," Tigerstar said slowly.

"Do you think you're beginning to fade?" Gingerstep asked anxiously.

"No, not like that," Tigerstar said quickly. "It's a bit of a…glow…whenever I look at her."

"Her who?" Gingerstep said, and it seemed as if her voice was strangely soft, as she gazed at him.

"Splash," Tigerstar said. Abruptly, Gingerstep's golden eyes seemed to grow cold.

"Splash?" she echoed, her voice oddly toneless.

"Yes," Tigerstar said, taking no notice of her sudden change in emotion. "I'm not sure why, exactly, but I feel…protective of her. It's natural, since I can't get to StarClan without her, but the very idea of her being hurt or fading…it makes me feel…." He trailed off again, and shook his broad head.

"You love her," Gingerstep said, and again her voice was soft. Tigerstar looked up sharply.

"What?" he growled. "Goldenflower—"

"Not that kind, you furball," Gingerstep said, and flicked his nose with her tail. "She can't be your mate or anything like that, no. You love her like a father would. You're protective of her, you care about her…I should have been able to see it, there are signs. She adores you, you know."

Tigerstar nodded slowly. "I…know," he said. "What should I do?"

Gingerstep simply blinked at him, and laughed quietly. "Whatever your heart tells you," she said simply. "You're the only father she has right now. She's depending on you, just remember that." And with that, Gingerstep yawned and closed her eyes, and Tigerstar could tell from her breathing that she was asleep. Troubled, he moved back to where he had been, resting his head on his paws, feeling confused and worried. He loved Splash? How had this happened? He hadn't meant for it to happen, he had tried to stamp out those weak feelings…and yet, somehow it had.