A few days had passed since Fang had arrived. The tom had been playing well with Mosskit, and Skycloud would smile as Mosskit eagerly chatted about his new friend.

As for Skycloud, she had gotten to know Tooth a little better. He didn't seem like such a bad cat after all. The past few days were the best times she had gotten along with him.

Mosskit awoke early and began to play with Fang again, leaving Tooth and Skycloud alone.

"Wow, he really likes Fang," Tooth observed as they watched the two play in a pile of leaves.

Skycloud nodded.

"It's a shame Fang is leaving soon," Tooth sighed.

"He is?"

"Well, he's old enough to roam free now. He's been wandering with my sister and her kit, but he decided to come visit for a few days. My sister's kit, Fire-he's a bit older than Fang-will be going off with Fang. I think they plan to join a clan," Tooth explained.

"It's possible," Tooth argued. "I don't know if it will work out for them though."

"Were you born in MoonClan?" Skycloud asked.

He shook his head. "No, I was born in BloodClan with my sisters-sister, I mean. When I was an apprentice, my father was going to receive his nine lives to become leader, but Moonstar made him believe life would be better in MoonClan. So our whole family joined MoonClan. We all changed names, except my mother. I used to be called Flightpaw, my sister Icepaw, and my father had just been named Whitestar."

"Wow," Skycloud gasped. "Seems like you didn't have a choice, then."

"No, I didn't. I was going to miss my clan and friends, but I was told I would gain great warrior skills, and I was told that MoonClan would receive the whole forest. I thought my father would take over MoonClan after the battle, but he was a coward and left with his mate to somewhere else."

"That's a shame," Skycloud said. "But what about your mother?"

"Moonstar killed my mother before the battle," Tooth said sorrowfully.

"I'm sorry," Skycloud replied sadly.

As the sky began to turn a dark indigo blue, and the moon began to shine, Mosskit came inside with Fang.

"Good-bye, Father," Fang told Tooth. "I'll be leaving now."

"You can't leave!" Mosskit whined. "I thought we were friends!"

"We are friends," he said softly. "But I can't stay forever."

Mosskit sighed and laid down in his nest, sulking. Fang ave one more good-bye and left.

Skycloud laid down next to Mosskit until he eventually fell asleep, but Skycloud unfortunately could not find sleep. Tooth was still up, watching from the opening of the den.

Skycloud padded towards him, concerned.

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

"No," he answered honestly. "My whole life has been me becoming the best warrior. Moonstar tried to get a rogue to kill me, Moonstar tried to kill me, and I've almost been killed multiple times. I never really wanted to dedicate my life to killing cats after MoonClan. I never even enjoyed MoonClan that much."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry once again about your mate, Skycloud."

Skycloud sighed. "We weren't mates," she admitted.

"But you were expecting kits!"

"I had a mate before Mossclaw. He died, and I didn't want another mate, but then I fell in love with Mossclaw. I was expecting his kits, and I was going to tell him when..."

"I'm so sorry," Tooth groaned. "It's all my fault."

"It was his destiny," Skycloud decided.

Skycloud suddenly felt that warmth towards Tooth again, almost the same as Mossclaw. Tooth turned towards his her, his green eys wide and filled with love. Skycloud laid against the tom, grinning as he nuzzled her affectionately. She was falling in love with the tom. Perhaps this is what Mossclaw had wanted.

I love you, Tooth, forever and forever, she thought to herself as he licked her ear.

Suddenly, the affection was broken by a yowl.

"MOMMA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Mosskit hissed.

"Mosskit," Skycloud began, but the tom had already raced out of the den into the woods.

"COME BACK!" Skycloud shouted, racing after the tom and into the woods. She found him by a tree in tears.

"Sh, it's alright," she coaxed.

"You told me he was evil, Momma. I thought you loved Daddy."

"I do love Daddy, and you know that Mossclaw-Mosskit, I mean. Sometimes, we have to move on though. Just because Fang left doesn't mean you'll never make a friend again, right?"

Mosskit nodded.

"It's the same love, Mosskit."

"I guess I understand now," he sniffed. "You still love Daddy, right?"

"Of course I do," she purred. She picked up the tom by the scruff and padded back inside the den.

She sat Mosskit down and he quickly fell asleep. Tooth sighed moments later.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"I've known for awhile what the right choice is. Skycloud, you're free to return back to your clan."

"You mean it?!" Skycloud gasped, excitement flooding through her.

Tooth nodded slowly, though he seemed sad about it.

She pranced around the den like a young kit, shouting, "Thank you! Thank you! We'll leave tomorrow! Thank you!"

Tooth seemed hurt, but Skycloud was so excited that she didn't notice. She was going home. That was what mattered.