The pair finally slowed their pace, the medicine cat giving the tom time to breathe. The night sky was clear of everything, even light. The new moon was but a sliver obscured by the twoleg light they rested under. Empty thunderpaths and destroyed nests gave way to piles of debris amidst a row of abandoned ones, their walls and foundations still standing. The pair were startled by the rustling a friendly patrol made as it marched passed them; each belittling look made her uneasy, but they passed without a word. She took the time to adjust her medicine vest, shifting around the weight of a couple small fake-fur patches she picked up earlier. Only when she was certain the patrol was out of earshot did she motion to the tom.

"Are you okay, Wolfgang?" Blackleaf asked.

Still panting, he forced himself to keep going. Blackleaf kept her pace slow. The pair said nothing to each other as they crossed the barren thunderpath and down a narrow alley to the standing twoleg nests. The walls closed enough to make them bump shoulders when they walked through. Wolfgang quickly moved himself to the back. As they went, Blackleaf glanced back periodically; the tom's eyes were firmly on the sky and making every attempt to avoid her. She sighed, padding further ahead of him and waiting at the end of the alley. She emerged on a gray walkway running parallel to the thunderpath. The twoleg nests were packed together in a long row on each side, each having only minor damage. Their walls were much cleaner than the ones in camp. Some still had their colored paint and several different kinds of twoleg-speak etched into them. The area was relatively clear of snow, thanks to the holes that occasionally lined the thunderpath. But there was still enough piled onto the walkways to spot the pawprints of the patrol that passed them. Blackleaf glanced back again; Wolfgang was finally catching his breath. She approached him.

"Beautiful night, at least," she said. "Right?"

Wolfgang said nothing, letting the echoes of distant twoleg mechanisms fill the void.

Blackleaf's ears dropped. "The search from half a moon ago closed a tunnel in this area. Keep an eye out for those, too."

He nodded, but she did not look back to see it. For a heartbeat, he let his eyes rest on her tail dragging through the snow. She walked into the middle of the thunderpath and shook some of it from her fur. Wolfgang looked at her sagging posture and caught up to her.

"Blackleaf?" he said.

She almost stopped, but looked at him instead.

"Sorry."

"You don't have to be." she said.

"I called you… a 'frustrated little albino'."

Her head dropped lower.

"That was out of line," Wolfgang said. "And inappropriate of me to ever think of you like that."

Blackleaf shook her head. "I got angry with you. I should've been more patient."

"Why? I took it way too far." Wolfgang snapped. He shook his head, keeping his eyes on Blackleaf's. "I don't want you believing I think something's wrong with you."

Blackleaf felt her heart flutter through her chest, just for a moment. The tom's eyes shined brighter than the twoleg lights around them. She could not let them go, and only did when he went over their surroundings.

"I know what it is to be in your position," Wolfgang said. "And you shouldn't have to put up with it from me. Can you forgive—"

"Yes!"

Blackleaf leapt close and rubbed against his chest. He pushed her away, flattening his ears once he calmed down.

"I'm—"

"I got excited," Blackleaf said. "It was something I wanted to… Let's just talk about something else."

Wolfgang was panting a bit. Blackleaf stopped, but he did not, forcing his way forward at an even slower pace. She pointed her ears to the sky, to her surroundings, but there was nothing to distract her from the breathing of the older tom. So she focused on him again until he caught his breath and noticed, taking pace just a bit ahead of her to avoid eye contact.

"Can I ask you something?" Blackleaf said.

"You can order me to speak," Wolfgang said. "You don't have to ask me anything."

"I don't want to order you. I want you to tell me willingly."

"That depends what it is."

"Earlier this evening, you mentioned one of your friends died."

The tom shook his head, sniffing his surroundings and closely checking every corner along the thunderpath before his fur puffed out.

"He wasn't a friend," Wolfgang said. "But he was one of the last of eleven from AchseClan before Littlestar disbanded it and surrendered. He was badly injured, and Burn sent him off earlier than the rest of us."

"The hamburg rogue leader?" Blackleaf said.

"Yeah. Those two should've ended up in LeafClan, like the others who left before our clan was disbanded. One of the captives is a hamburg rogue who fled before the Axin Mess. It's all he told me willingly. Everything was poison after the sky-monsters attacked, so it made sense that he died so suddenly. … I can't even be sure Burn is still alive, given most of his fur was gone when he left."

"Fleetheart said there were many rogues, strays, kittypets, and deserters who left hamburg early," Blackleaf said. "If they all left around the same time, they would've ended up on UnderClan's side."

Wolfgang finally caught his breath. "I used to take bridge and river patrols. Before you were born. Even the chance at spotting them… UnderClan is good at hiding their ranks. So, I gave up. Accepted that I'll never see them again, or they didn't make it to berlin at all."

Blackleaf shook her head. "But the Axin Mess survivors have a lot of experience. UnderClan is secretive of their senior members. We don't even know who their deputies or… or their medicine cats are. If they were accepted into that clan, they would be made seniors, too."

"I'm not holding my breath," Wolfgang said.

"Clementstar is a former kittypet from a faraway place. He would want the help of those with so much experience."

"Breathing poison air and being hunted in the night isn't much of an 'experience'," Wolfgang growled.

"No, no," Blackleaf's ears flattened as she rushed in front of the tom. "I'm sorry again. I didn't mean it like that—"

"Settle down, little one," Wolfgang said. "It's okay."

She did, but her ears stayed down. She stepped out of the tom's way and both continued on the path. He looked at Blackleaf several times, waiting for her to speak, before checking his surroundings. The area's twoleg nests were deteriorating in condition the further along they went, some having the roofs and walls collapsed like the ones closer to their camp. The area was a bit brighter with the light shining through the destroyed nests easier. Not a whisper came from them. He returned to the young cat, who did not make a sound.

"Do you not like being called 'little one'?" Wolfgang whispered.

"Don't worry about it," Blackleaf said, checking the area for herself. "But, aren't you concerned? Letting everyone know you consider enemies as friends."

"They aren't enemies to me," Wolfgang said. "And I would give anything to speak to them before we all go to StarClan."

"But Solestar will know."

"I don't care what Solestar thinks. And neither should you."

Blackleaf held back a growl. "What do you mean by that?"

"You know what I mean," Wolfgang said. "She's manipulative and indecisive. No one even remembers how she was appointed leader."

"She lived through the same twoleg war you did," Blackleaf said. "I think she deserves a bit more credit than that."

The tom nodded. "No one, and I mean no one, came out of that ready to lead. Have you ever even asked what happened to this clan before Solestar?"

"She doesn't like to talk about it," Blackleaf snapped. "And most of the warriors who were around during the Great Sky War are dead now."

"What about—" Wolfgang took a deep breath, coughing a bit. Blackleaf's ears relaxed. "Look. I don't want to argue with you again. We both have strong feelings about Solestar. Let's just leave it at that. But no, I don't care if she knows I still think about AchseClan, or its former members. They're more of a clan to me than any of these Shadows, that's certain."

Blackleaf's ears flattened. "What about me?"

Wolfgang stopped, keeping his eyes forward.

"I'm a loyal, clan-born Shadow."

"You know what I mean—"

"Leaftail's a loyal, clan-born Shadow, too. That she-kit apprentice you mentor and her friends are clan-born. And Angelika is just as much one as anyone else in our clan."

"I shouldn't have said that aloud," Wolfgang said.

"But you would still feel it," Blackleaf said. "I just wouldn't have known how you really felt."

"It's not like you're here mocking me like most of the others. And you're one of my friend's kits."

Blackleaf let her vest slide back to expose her shoulders. Wolfgang was still looking forward, fixated on one gray nest near the thunderpath's intersection.

"Can you help tighten my vest?" She said.

"Not now," Wolfgang said, padding forward.

"Why not?" Blackleaf said. "It needs to stay tight in case we start climbing or running."

He waved her away. "Can't you tighten it yourself?"

"I'm having trouble reaching the strap. It's near my belly. You just have to push it towards my head so I can grab it."

He sighed, turning her direction. Blackleaf quickly rolled over and stretched her head towards her chest, spreading her paws. Wolfgang looked at the strap, which had come loose from its housing near her hind legs. She curled her long tail between them and tried pushing it forward before looking at him.

"A little help?" she said.

"My Stars," Wolfgang mumbled. "Out of context was an understatement, Fleetheart."

"So, you and Fleetheart were talking about me with she said our argument could be taken out of context."

"What?" he said.

"You and Fleetheart are hard of hearing. Not me."

"Later on that," Wolfgang said, walking away. There's a hole up ahead."

"Seriously, I need my vest tightened." Blackleaf struggled to her paws and followed, trying to balance the bag's weights evenly.

"You might want to take it off," Wolfgang said softly, his fur spiking. "I told you, there's a hole ahead. In that gray twoleg nest, under some of the rubble."

Blackleaf dropped to her belly and started watching her sides. They had reached an intersection in the thunderpath. On their left was a gray twoleg nest, completely hollowed out. The wind hardly whistled through the small holes in its walls, but the lights next to them still worked. Wolfgang was close to what remained of its entrance, his fur spiked and his tail low. He held back his raspy breaths best he could before taking the first step into the nest. Blackleaf approached as quick as she could without letting her vest slip off. The light shined right through large holes in the wall and right onto what the tom had seen: a hole in the ground painted green around the rim. The block of wood that covered the hole was partly off its housing, exposing the darkness below. Wolfgang entered the nest, keeping his paws as quiet as their surroundings. Each creek of the floor made Blackleaf weary about putting her extra weight on it. Before stepping inside herself, she took one last look at her surroundings; nothing. She felt her heartbeat pounding just turning her head back towards the inside. She finally reached her paw over the small stone lip that surrounded the nest and onto its floor.

"It's clear."

She zipped inside and behind Wolfgang, who jumped away from her.

"That was me," he said. "Doesn't smell like there's anyone else."

"Is it marked?" Blackleaf said.

"Not either way." Wolfgang tapped at the wood cover, scratching away some of the green. "It's a twoleg shelter."

"How do you—"

Wolfgang pried his head under the tilted wood cover, heaving against it. Blackleaf walked over and, avoiding the sharp edges in the floor, pushed against it herself. When it moved up a bit, she reared up over him and pushed the rest of the way, sending the cover sliding onto the floor. Wolfgang was quick to jump out from under her when she landed on his shoulders trying to keep her vest balanced.

"The twolegs colored the entrances to their shelters," Wolfgang said, peering inside. "The only thing under the backlands are their underground tunnels."

"Do you think this is the tunnel UnderClan used to get into our territory?" Blackleaf said.

"Maybe. The warriors who patrolled a while ago should've found it."

"Then was it wise to uncover it?"

Wolfgang shot a glance at her. "We will reseal it. There's a pile of red-stones in the corner there."

"If I'm going to be moving stones, then tighten my vest first. It'll go faster if I'm not stopping to balance the stuff in there."

The older tom started sniffing the hole. The musty odor wafted with the stale air of the twoleg nest. He jumped onto the raised lip and poked his head inside.

"Hey," Blackleaf said. "Are you going to help or what?"

Wolfgang's ears flattened. "This might be my only chance…"

"What are you talking about?"

"A patrol. A single survivor… anyone."

He climbed over the lip and onto the first step leading down. He froze, sticking his tail in the air and waving it towards Blackleaf.

"But we need to stay absolutely silent," he said.

"Hey, no," Blackleaf whispered. "Get back here."

He was already climbing down, carefully making his way down the wet, gray-stone steps and out of sight. Blackleaf glanced around and growled. Balancing the vest, she climbed over the lip and after him.

"I said stop," she said.

He ignored her, continuing all the way to the bottom. The smell of fresh mud was almost overpowered by the fowl wafts ahead. The tunnel was big enough for a twoleg to crawl through. The walls were not carved of the usual stone and instead were wet and hardened with studs and small rocks pushed beneath the surface. Those embedded into the ground were already stamped flat, but made her cautious every time she found one jagged bit out of place. There was a small light further down, illuminating the hole that was crashed through the gray-stone wall that would have blocked their way. The proper tunnels were on the other side of it, and Wolfgang was heading towards them.

"Stop," Blackleaf growled. "That's an order—"

Wolfgang turned around and shoved a paw in her muzzle. She smacked it away, but he did it again, growling as close as he dared to her. They stared at each other for a bit before Blackleaf nodded and he put his paw down. He glared down at her, but she did not flinch. Wolfgang turned away to hold back his panting, but kept going. Blackleaf kept her tail low, but did not drag it like the tom did his. Wolfgang checked around the first corner they saw, a small indent in the wall that was practically obstructed by the shades of brown around her. He sniffed at the contents of several bags and boxes made from wood and fake-fur, all scattered and left open to the elements. Once the tom passed by them and continued towards the hole at the end of the tunnel, Blackleaf sniffed through them. She pushed over one of them, making a loud crack against one of the studs in the ground. The tom glared briefly, but Blackleaf was still unphased. She slid a brown, clear-stone vial towards her bag, along with the fake-fur it was wrapped in. The vest slipped towards her side and into the mud when she bent down; catching it covered some of her with it. Wolfgang paused at the slops, but shook his head and continued through the hole.

"Hey, Wolf—"

Blackleaf held her tongue. The older tom was already out of sight. She was quick to follow, jumping through the hole at the end and into the tunnels proper. Her paws sank in a mess of mud and water. Her nose immediately failed her, flooding with the scent of fresh marks and a pile of dead rats nearby. Parts of the red-stone walls were smeared with their blood. The whole tunnel closed in, being too small for a large twoleg to fit. There was only one light that flickered near the end; the shadow of a cat waved past it. Blackleaf leaned forward, still trying to catch its scent, before approaching. She could hardly see anything ahead except for the large indent in the wall to her left. But she managed to hear the panting of her companion ahead, grunting and growling occasionally. She charged forward and rounded the corner to the indent. A massive shadow snagged her vest and carried her away from the light, slamming her against a wall.

"No—"

It slammed its head into her muzzle, pinning hers to the wall. She struggled to open her mouth but eked and mewed a few times.

"Get away from her!"

Wolfgang slid across the corner and into the shrouded cat. Blackleaf fell into the mud. She barely shook it off before a paw kicked her in the face. She slid out of the hole she came in through. Shaking it off again, she heard the hisses of both cats struggle.

Wolfgang reared up, but the shadow pushed him over and bit his paw. He hissed, smacking its muzzle several times. Before Blackleaf could stand, it snatched her up by the vest and dragged her down the tunnel.

Blackleaf kicked at it, biting its tail as it waved by. The fur was too long. It tossed her forward, straight into the light. It cracked and flickered as she slid into the mud. The shadow began pressing her into it, barely letting her breathe.

The tom crashed into the shadowy cat again, both tumbling into the mud. Blackleaf surfaced and coughed out the mud before being pulled up and thrown down again. Wolfgang grappled its back and bit down on its neck. It hissed and fell, both kicking up too much to see.

It effortlessly tossed Wolfgang into a wall. Blackleaf leapt onto its back, clawing her way through the mud in her claws to gain hold. The shadow spun around, slipping her off, and smacked Wolfgang in the muzzle. It headbutt him and reared him up until he hit the ceiling. He fell into the mud, forcing himself to his paws to be met with a kick to the head.

Blackleaf grappled him again, but slid from his back. The shadow cat loomed over her and leaned close. She kicked and clawed at its belly; it didn't flinch. When Wolfgang got up, it wrapped its jaws around her neck and chocked her until her limbs were limp, tail flicking, and her muzzle pried open without a sound.

"Wait!" Wolfgang said. "I… I surrender. Don't kill her."

The mystery cat moved closer to the light. Both it and Blackleaf were covered head to tail in mud. The vest slid from her shoulders and into the mess. Its eyes blended with the rest of its face. The growl it made shook the medicine cat as he bit down harder. Wolfgang's ears flattened at the sight of her muzzle opening wider, trying to scream. The tom stepped back, letting the mystery cat move further into the light. He eyed the cat's paws for a while before holding his ground.

"I knew it," he said. "You're an Axin Mess survivor."

It growled, clenching Blackleaf's neck harder.

"No, look at my paws. So am I! You aren't one of the ones who left early by the looks of it."

He dropped the medicine cat, coughing and scrambling behind the safety of her larger companion. The mystery cat stepped fully into the light. The mud covered them, but there were several large bald patches near its legs and chest. The flem from its mouth was mixed with Blackleaf's hair.

"I would've never killed her," it whispered.

Wolfgang shook the mud from his head and chest, approaching the mystery cat.

"My Stars had I known it was you – it's me. Heavyclaw."

The tom's eyes went wide.

"I see you now," Heavyclaw continued. "I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you."

Blackleaf shook the mud from her fur, Wolfgang ignoring the bits that got on him. The size of the other tom rivaled that of a wildcat, almost reaching the low ceiling. One of his ears was clipped off, while the other was missing half. The bald patches on his fur were visible in the light, Wolfgang moving back towards the hole he entered from. Blackleaf stayed close, keeping an eye as Heavyclaw walked behind him with her medicine bags in his mouth.

"I can't believe it," Wolfgang said, his forelegs shaking. "I gave up, I thought I'd never see any of you again!"

He set the vest down. "I didn't think I'd be able to speak with you like this." Heavyclaw's voice was deep, and he kept it quiet. "Are, are there any others—"

"No," Wolfgang said. "It's just us."

Blackleaf dashed past him and snatched the vest, sliding it over her shoulders and having one paw in the tunnel they entered from.

Wolfgang shook his head. "There's no need to hide. I swear, he won't hurt you."

"Anymore," Blackleaf growled.

"I'm so sorry about that," Heavyclaw said. "I… I thought taking care of the apprentice first would—"

"Do I look like a kit to you?" Blackleaf stepped into better light, shaking enough mud away to reveal the white fur underneath.

"My Stars…" Heavyclaw dropped low. "I just attacked the moment you came in range. You aren't injured, are you."

Blackleaf's tail stayed tense. "Why do you care? Killing or taking me would've been great for UnderClan."

"That doesn't matter right now," Heavyclaw said.

The medicine cat's ears perked up.

"I should introduce myself, I guess."

"I already know who you are. Fleetheart told me about you once."

"Fleetheart! Is she fine? She is still healthy, right?"

Wolfgang nodded. "About as healthy as any of us can be. Speaking of…" He pointed to the large tom's face.

"The journey to berlin was not too kind to me," Heavyclaw said. "But I am grateful I at least lived long enough to see your face again… And you must be, um, Blackpaw, if I'm not mistaken."

"You are," Blackleaf said, adjusting her vest again. "I'm Blackleaf, since your clan already knows about me."

"She's Christa's kit," Wolfgang said.

Heavyclaw's one good ear perked up. He approached, sniffing in her direction. She backed away, claws threatening to hit him. He looked into her eyes, his own almost covered in wet fur. They started to quiver.

"Oh no…" he whispered. "Christa would kill me if she learned I attacked you."

"Attacked is an understatement," Blackleaf growled, still backing away. "You almost killed me."

The large tom stepped back and bowed. "I truly am sorry for that. I would've never killed you, I swear on my life. I just… didn't know who you were… You are a sight to behold. I am glad to know Christa and the others made it safely."

"Not all of us," Wolfgang snapped.

He stared off down the tunnel. Heavyclaw looked at him for a while, until he appeared to understand. His ear fell and he lowered his head to whispered to himself. A breeze from outside began to whistle down the tunnel, breaking the cozy warmth for a moment. Wolfgang bared his teeth, his paws clenching as he took a deep breath to calm himself. Blackleaf walked up to him.

"Who are you talking about?" she said.

"Don't worry about it," Wolfgang said.

"I told you, I'm—"

"Not this time, Blackleaf," he snapped. "Not now just… just let me catch up with Heavyclaw. It may be the only chance I see him."

Heavyclaw glanced about for something else to focus on, coming to Blackleaf's vest. "Um, your vest is too loose to carry anything."

"I know," Blackleaf growled. "Someone was supposed to help tighten it."

Wolfgang was still looking away.

"You knocking me senseless doesn't help," she continued. "But what are you even doing down here, anyway? This close to our territory."

Heavyclaw narrowed what showed of his eyes.

"We will seal the tunnel right when we leave," Wolfgang said. "You shouldn't have to break the loyalty of your adopted clan. But it seems like you've been down here for—"

"Three days and four nights," Heavyclaw said. "I was specifically looking for this place."

"And this is the tunnel where your comrades infiltrated our camp?" Blackleaf said.

Heavyclaw hesitated, but nodded. "I cannot tell you where I rank in the clan, or why I'm here. I have already betrayed Clementstar enough by just talking to you."

"We are still clanmates in my eyes," Wolfgang said. "I would sooner betray Solestar than you."

Blackleaf glared at the two.

"Those are troubling words," Heavyclaw said.

"I wish I could tell you the half of it," Wolfgang whispered, taking another deep breath. "I wish…"

Heavyclaw nodded. "When I finally return to camp, I will sleep peacefully for the first time in a long time. I patrol far from our borders, and news comes slowly. Seeing you like this, and the kin of my former clanmate, is the greatest gift I could hope to receive in my remaining life… I want you to make it through this, Wolfgang. We spent so long surviving two wars. I would be devastated to hear you, or Fleetheart, or any of them, die in one like this."

"What do you mean 'one like this'?" Blackleaf said.

"I mean one out of hatred instead of survival," Heavyclaw said. "No matter what, I will always think of you as my apprentice, Wolfgang. I can't help but worry about you."

Wolfgang's breathing calmed. "You always knew what to say… Sometimes, I dream we are all together in the same clan. So that we can all see each other. And reminisce… and say goodbye—"
"We will all be together in StarClan," Heavyclaw said. "We will all roam the moors of silverpelt. And say hello at last. StarClan was not with us in hamburg, but we must believe their world is better than this one the twolegs ravaged."

The tom kept his eyes to the ground. "Do they still believe?"

"Every last one of them," Heavyclaw said.

Blackleaf sniffed the air, moving closer to Wolfgang. He stepped away.

"I smell fresh blood," Blackleaf said. "Wolfgang, your leg—"

"It's fine," he barked. "It's just a scratch."

"I found some stuff while I was down here," Heavyclaw said. "Some of it is twoleg medicine. Feel free to take it with you."

"You're also injured," Wolfgang said. "Your neck."

Heavyclaw shook his head. "She can't. Her scent will come back with me to UnderClan."

"She doesn't have a scent. She can help you."

"I didn't offer," Blackleaf growled.

"Stars above she's scentless, too!?" Heavyclaw approached, sniffing the air. The medicine cat growled at him. "I-I didn't notice. My nose isn't as good as it used to be… But tell me, do you truly have no scent?"

"Why does it matter so much to you?" Blackleaf said.

"It… It shouldn't. It's just a curiosity. Littlestar had no scent. And now you, her kin's kit, also have no scent. Do you also believe in StarClan?"

"What kind of medicine cat do you think I am?"

Heavyclaw sighed. "It is good to know there is some joy to remain in my life."

Wolfgang's ears perked up. "You're okay, though. Right?"

"It isn't me. It's…" Heavyclaw looked behind him, motioning the pair to lean closer. Blackleaf did not, but swiveled her ears towards the tom's. "Things are about to get desperate for UnderClan and the Shadows. The fighting will soon resume, worse than before, and you may be called to battle… The Axin Mess survivors cannot betray Clementstar to spare your life."

"As long as I live, they won't get anywhere near the others," Wolfgang said.

"You haven't been completely lost to the Axin Mess," Heavyclaw said. "The others first, just like in StoneClan… Stay close to Christa's kit. I'd hate to see her harmed in any of this."

Blackleaf growled, stepping up to Heavyclaw. "Don't for a heartbeat think that I am one of you. I am a loyal clan-born medicine cat to the Clan of False Shadows. To my comrades."

Wolfgang pulled her away by the vest. Blackleaf's claws scraped past the mud and onto the stone beneath it. The light down the hall flickered and dimmed a bit, the low hum it started making buzzed through their ears and out towards the twoleg nest they entered from. Blackleaf's ears swiveled back; one of the lights outside on the surface also began to buzz. Heavyclaw dipped his head, backing away from the pair.

"It would be selfish to impose my memory of Littlestar onto you," Heavyclaw said. "You share her scentless trait, but not her mind or body. I'm sorry for even thinking otherwise."

Wolfgang's eyes softened, looking over the loose vest that the medicine cat continued pushing over her shoulders with each movement she made.

"I beg you not to tell Solestar of my presence, or our meeting. Or the others. I swear I am here with no ill intentions."

Wolfgang shook his head. "Fleetheart, Flyfoot, and Christa would never put you in danger like that. And no one else would know."

"It's dangerous enough that one with no ties to the Axin Mess is present. Or that I stayed for this long."

"She won't tell anyone! Please, just say more about the others."

"It is already past moonhigh. And both clans always double their patrols for new moons. It only increases the odds we are accidentally discovered."

"No, wait! There are no patrols near us, I swear—"

"Wolfgang. It's… unfortunately time we went back to our clans."

The tom sighed. "I'll… You're right about Blackleaf."

The medicine cat looked at him.

"You know who she reminds me of," Wolfgang said softly. "And she isn't her, either. I promise, I won't let anything bad happen to her, or the others. And I'll keep this to myself."

"Oh?" Heavyclaw said.

"Yeah… thanks for being a great mentor. Even now."

"Your resilience makes me proud, Wolfgang. Take care of those you love."

"I will… Goodbye, Heavyclaw."

The large tom dipped his head towards Blackleaf before rolling in the slosh, reapplying his muddy coat. He looked at the pair one last time, and purred, before padding down the tunnel and around the lit corner. Wolfgang lingered until he could no longer hear the careful sloshing. Closing his eyes, he mouthed something to himself. Blackleaf had already went through the hole in the gray-stone, returning to the original tunnel. She was sniffing at the twoleg stuff that was piled to the side, just as she found it.

"Blackleaf," Wolfgang said, following her.

She pushed her vest up.

"I'll help you bring that stuff to the surface. You'll want to take that thing off to help me seal this tunnel."

x

xxx

x

A slight breeze flowed across the area, whistling through every little hole in what was left of the twoleg nest. The pair slid the last red-stone they could find over the raised lip and into the hole. Blackleaf stuck her nose in what remained of the tunnel's opening as Wolfgang kneeled under one of the boards he previously pushed aside. There was just a small dot of light coming from the mess of stones they threw into it. The foul smell of the dead rats still lingered and the warmth of its stale air enticed her to sniff for anything else before moving. She helped the tom lift the wood cover he moved to get in. She looked up; the stars were nowhere to be found, and the moon sliver had moved a bit.

"We tell Solestar about the hole," Blackleaf said.

"Yeah," Wolfgang said. "I think Heavyclaw's mission was to expose it. UnderClan would never be able to surface and seal it themselves. And there must be a path underground that leads from here to their camp."

"Smaller warriors can slip through the crack we couldn't get. More will come when its day to block that."

"Good… I just want to sleep for a while. And think."

The tom shook his fur, bits of dried mud flinging about. Blackleaf did the same, glancing at the fake-fur she had wrapped around Wolfgang's injured leg. He walked towards the medicine vest, picking it up and dropping it next to the medicine cat.

He sighed. "Let's get this over with."

Blackleaf slipped her legs through the harnesses and slid the whole thing over her shoulders. She rolled over on her back and leaned close to the loose strap between her legs. Wolfgang walked over and pulled it closer to her muzzle. She grabbed it and pulled tight, pressing the whole thing into her chest. The tom had already walked outside, taking deep breaths and looking towards the moon. She shook her head and padded towards him, making sure the green side of the wood cover was up before exiting the nest herself.

"I know it wasn't that hard for you," she said.

He waited a while, still catching his breath. "It's from moving the red-stone."

Once his breathing was normal, he started retracing their steps down the dimly lit thunderpath. When Blackleaf joined him, he flinched, but did not distance himself.

"Is it really that hard for you to be near me?" she said.

Wolfgang kept his eyes forward.

"What is it about me that makes you keep your distance? Do I remind you of someone?"

He kept to himself.

"Is it the one Heavyclaw mentioned?"

"I never told you, or anyone, about her. The Axin Mess survivors in our clan knew her."

Blackleaf's ears fell, and she kept her eyes ahead. The breeze flowed from her right, past her and onto Wolfgang. He sniffed at the air for a while, quietly in her direction.

"Heavyclaw was right," Wolfgang said. "It isn't right for me to think of you as her just because you share some traits."

"What traits?" Blackleaf said.

"You have an extremely faint scent. It's exactly like hers."

"Like when you're helping with my vest, among other things… Actually, if this is too much—"

"You'll just ask again," Wolfgang said, "and maybe when we aren't alone like this. I don't want to give the others any more about my life to use against me."

She nodded.

"Her name was Shortfang. She was my mate."

Blackleaf's ears perked up.

"She had stubby legs, hence the name, and sharp, brown fur. Very shy and usually alone, until our second war with LeafClan started. She injured the wildcat's shortest-lived leader, Eaglestar, aiding Longstar in his last fight. She was promoted to help integrate the rogues and pets into AchseClan ranks. She even lost an ear, and took it like a veteran. Things just kind of… grew from there."

Wolfgang paused, keeping his ears folded back.

"I'm not judging you," Blackleaf said.

"The snake-monster we rode to flee hamburg was attacked by sky-monsters. Bits of silverwood pelted her… She was hard to recognize, but she never complained. She died at the end of that day, on my back. Her scent and her voice are the last good memories I have of her."

"I'm—"

"Don't apologize," he said. "You had nothing to do with it… Axin Mess survivors hardly carry a scent, among other things lost. Catching Shortfang's on you just…"

"Was too much?" Blackleaf said.

"It's frustrating," Wolfgang growled. "Knowing that you are not her, but share so many of her traits."

Blackleaf took a deep breath. "I'm a medicine cat, Wolfgang. I'm here to help you live your best life. And, I know you won't just forget about her, or your former life. But I am not Shortfang."

"I know," Wolfgang sighed. "I should be the one apologizing to you… again."

"I'm not mad, and I won't judge you like the others… Sometimes, I even see a lot of you in myself."

"Because we both get angry easily?"

"Because we're both grounded. It isolates us sometimes… and maybe it doesn't have to be that way. Not with us."

Wolfgang seized up, a shiver running through his fur.

"I'm not just your friend's kit," Blackleaf said. "I'm a she-cat with my own aspirations. And my own preferences, and desires."

She saw his fangs bare slightly, before he swallowed and dared to glance at her. When she leaned close, he backed away. Ears flat, Blackleaf continued on her way. The tom hardly realized he stopped and followed, but at a slight distance. She hardly glanced behind her; each time disappointing with the tom looking at everything but her. Blackleaf's heart thumped through her chest. They were closing in on nests with undamaged walls again, and under the working lights next to the thunderpath. The breeze was coming from her right; he moved to her right. His ears darted about, head towering above her. When he started to growl, she stopped and faced him. His muzzle was sharp to her left, eyes wide and skimming every dark corner of a twoleg nest. Blackleaf saw a shadowy form dart under one of the dimmer lights. She caught a glimpse of a pair of green eyes – and a split tail.