Crowpaw grunted as he turned for what must have been the fifth time that minute. A dull irritation crept over his fur, he buried his eyes under his paws, desperate for the darkness to lull him away.

'Trees they will uproot, rocks break, the earth itself tear apart.'

His eyes shot open again, scowling. He sighed softly, staring out of the cave. It was long into moonhigh, the white luminescence twinkled around the water casting sparks around the mouth of the cave. The air was calm with the night, with a smooth breeze brushing the ends of Crowpaw's fur. It was one of the most peaceful nights Crowpaw could remember. Still, he could not sleep.

Not knowing what he knew now.

'They do it for build new Thunderpath—go here, there, more faster.'

Crowpaw felt his teeth grit. Those Twolegs… For all he knew, they were destroying his home right now, just so they could build another one of those stinking, black death traps. Did they care so little for the world around them? Was their greed really that cruel?

The apprentice's ears flattened and he gently rose from where he had been trying to sleep. There was no point now. He looked around, hoping he hadn't woken the others. His heart settled when he saw that no one had stirred. Tawnypelt and Brambleclaw slept beside each other, having seemingly forgiven each other for what had transpired previously. It looked like both had settled on that they had gone too far with what they had said, and now it looked like they had never said anything hurtful at all. A little way away, Feathertail, Stormfur and Squirrelpaw slept together in a small pile, the apprentice snug between the Riverclan siblings. Crowpaw felt the trace of a smile as he watched Squirrelpaw snore softly.

They all seemed so peaceful.

Deep down, Crowpaw felt a slight bewilderment. How could any of them sleep when they all knew that the Clans were on the verge of destruction? But he realised he had to consider how tired everyone was. Especially when most of them had just survived the deep blanket of the tide. Of course, they needed their rest.

'When you reach home I think you will find that even your Clan leaders will listen.'

A chill rattled inside Crowpaw's bones.

He just hoped that it wasn't too late for the forest.

The grey cat shook his head, he wasn't going to get anywhere by sitting around, tossing and turning. Most likely, he would just wake up those who wanted to get some sleep. His eyes closed in on the serene light of the moon again and he began to walk towards it, making sure only the softest parts of his paw were silent on the cave floor. Maybe a little air would do him some good.

He padded away, stopping when he felt his paws meet the damp pebbles and he felt the whispery air caress his fur. The waves were now gentle, stroking the land with a gleaming tide and Crowpaw could tell it wouldn't suddenly change any soon.

He sat down on the pebbles staring out. They had made it. They had made it to where Starclan had led. They had done it all for the good of their clans! And now... this badger was telling them that it was all for nothing?! That their home was going to be ripped apart and covered like the bones of their prey?

How were they supposed to lead them to a new home? Even though Midnight had said that their leaders would listen to them, Crowpaw couldn't help but be sceptical. Even though he had been chosen, his clan most likely didn't know that, for all they knew he was just an apprentice who had run away for days without a word. If he just told Tallstar that the whole clan needed to leave without a second's hesitation, the Leader would probably just punish him with his claws. How was Crowpaw meant to convince his clan?

If the whole group told the same story, maybe the clans would listen. But Crowpaw cringed as he remembered what he had thought of his new friends when he had first met them. He knew what the clans thought about outsiders. He certainly knew his clanmates wouldn't be so quick to trust the others, especially if it meant leaving their home itself.

Where would they even go?

Crowpaw felt the anxiety coil in his blood. He couldn't the destructive images out of his head; cats screaming and fleeing as monsters tore away at their home. The face of his mother among them. Sickly dread twisted inside of the apprentice. There had to be a way this would work out. Starclan wouldn't just abandon them like that. Right?

They'd been through so much. It couldn't be for nothing.

It infuriated Crowpaw that he didn't even think he sounded reasonable to himself.

"You know," A deep voice whispered, "You really should get some rest?"

Crowpaw jolted, turning on his heckles. Once he saw who it was, his worry transformed coldly. He turned away, back to the peace of the water. "You need some as well. Yet, here you are."

Brambleclaw gave a toneless laugh. "So quick witted."

Crowpaw didn't say anything. He didn't have the energy. Out of every cat that he could be alone with, this one was the worst. His fur prickled as he sensed the cat approaching, briefly tensing for an attack. But the Warrior just padded beside Crowpaw, sitting down with a blank, calm expression. The grey cat waited a moment, then let himself calm down. But he was still ready for anything funny this cat wanted to try.

"I couldn't sleep." Brambleclaw said lethargically. He sounded so weary that Crowpaw resisted the urge to immediately say something cutting. Instead he settled for bleak interest. Anything to prevent a fight.

"Why? Have you still not recovered from your fall?" Crowpaw asked, trying to be as calm as he could. It wasn't easy; he still saw no reason to trust this cat after how he'd treated him throughout the journey.

Brambleclaw shrugged heavily, "I'll be stinking of salt for moons, but there's no more pain, at least."

Crowpaw nodded, but he felt his brow ice. "Hmm, good."

There was a long silence. Nothing broke through the air except the gentle breeze rippling the water. Crowpaw eventually allowed himself to loosen. Examining Brambleclaw, he looked different. Less hardened. His tail was flat against the pebbles, unmoving, and his fur was streaked down, still glossy from the water. With the dim, despondent expression he made, as if he were looking at nothing at all, there wasn't anything that replicated the cat that had tried everything to look like a leader.

But looks were deceiving. Crowpaw knew that. He never knew what lied behind the Warrior's eyes.

Brambleclaw's eyes went to the floor, unsure, awkward. "Um… have your wounds healed?"

Crowpaw felt a stinging surprise. He turned on the Warrior with a cold bemusement. He wants to bring that up now?! Was he mocking him or something? No… What was stranger was that Brambleclaw looked… nervous about it. That was what the twitching of the fur on his tail spoke anyway. Crowpaw almost felt the desire to step away from the tom loom over him. But his pride shut that down quickly enough.

"Yeah," Crowpaw said hazily, trying to sound stronger than he felt. He was stubborn that way. "They're fine now. I've had worse." There was still a bite to his tone. The memory of that encounter left a scar in Crowpaw's mind that wouldn't heal so quickly.

He expected Brambleclaw to frown or grumble, taking what he had said as some kind of insult. But the Tom only nodded, sighing in what sounded like… relief? The grey apprentice craned his head, eyeing the larger cat in confusion. What in Silverpelt was going on here? A trick?

"Right. Good." Brambleclaw faltered, his tail curling into himself. He looked to Crowpaw in a number of quick, questioning glances, ripe with uncertainty. Crowpaw only looked on, shifting away a little.

"What's wrong with you?" Crowpaw dared to ask.

Brambleclaw cleared his throat, exhaling. He looked like he wanted to, but his eyes couldn't land on Crowpaw. "About what happened?" The tom said, sounding like he was trying to cough up his words like a hairball. His amber stare glinted against the dark night.

Crowpaw looked up to the Warrior, uneasily patient.

The Warrior took a soft breath, his fur prickling uncomfortably. "When I attacked you." Crowpaw tensed. "Um…" The Warrior managed to meet Crowpaw's gaze, his face heavy with uneasiness. "I owe you an apology." Brambleclaw conceded, his voice strangely calm and peacefully solid.

Crowpaw was neither. He was beyond words.

Of all things, this cat, who had openly hated Crowpaw for days, was actually apologising for something. Or was about to anyway, it looked. The apprentice couldn't keep his jaw from dropping half-way. It was not just the words. Brambleclaw looked and acted so differently than normal that Crowpaw found himself believing that the warrior meant it.

Or was about to. Crowpaw still scowled distrustfully at the tom. Fox-dung! There's no way that he'd apologise out of nowhere! Whatever game Brambleclaw was playing, Crowpaw wasn't going to fall for it. All the Warrior needed was some resistance and he'd go back to before.

"You don't say." Crowpaw hissed toxically. "For what? How you attacked me for no reason, or for being a condescending mange-pelt." He waited for the snarl, the claws, waited for Brambleclaw to show it was all an act.

It didn't come.

Brambleclaw dipped his head, stung, but understanding. "The former, but I'm sorry for that as well." He mewed. The usually fierce gleam in his eyes was replaced by a dull dejection. Crowpaw's fur flattened as he felt his breath catch. Brambleclaw actually looked like he was being serious.

Brambleclaw took Crowpaw's silence as an awkward motion to continue. "I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that. That's not something a Warrior should do." Brambleclaw's voice was low but it still flickered with honesty. "It's just," The Warrior sighed, "When I saw you on top of Squirrelpaw like that, I just lost it. I-I didn't trust you."

Crowpaw didn't say anything, he was still too stunned.

"After how much we'd argued since the beginning, I didn't see a reason to. After all, let's not mention what happened the first time we met." Brambleclaw's voice tensed and Crowpaw had the sense to give him that. Looking back, he might have gone overboard when he'd pounced at Brambleclaw just because he'd called Windclan out on stealing prey, even if it had been to help vulnerable cats. Crowpaw wasn't entirely proud of either now. "I know it doesn't excuse what I did after, but I just didn't trust you after that, I didn't see a reason to, it never looked like you liked me either. So, when I saw you and Squirrelpaw getting closer…"

Brambleclaw paused, his face contorting painfully. At that moment, Crowpaw felt disgusted as he began to feel some kind of reason surround the cat. Empty, pointless reason. But reason nonetheless.

But Crowpaw wasn't going to let it go that easily. He wasn't so soft hearted. "Don't tell me it's all because you felt sorry for yourself! Even if you didn't like me, it was still no reason to go after her about it! You had no right to treat the rest of us like we were inferior!" Crowpaw didn't raise his voice, he had enough respect for the others to let them sleep, but he was still hard and poisonous. "You must have some idea of how you made her feel, you can't be that stupid."

It was hard to tell if Crowpaw's words had made Brambleclaw angry or depressed, he sunk in on himself regardless. "I know."

"Oh, did you? And that makes it better?!"

"No."

The toneless answer made Crowpaw's anger strain. "So, why'd you do it then?"

Brambleclaw sat silent. There was a storm of thoughts and emotions inside his amber stare. A self-striving tug of war between his senses, as if unearthing something secret. His tail swung against the pebbles, scattering a few into the water. A flurry of rippled creased along the surface, quivering in the stream.

"Okay. I owe you one, so I'll tell you." Brambleclaw faced the cat. "I'll just trust you not to repeat it to anyone, alright?"

He'd tried to make it sound lacking, but Crowpaw could feel something behind his words. He'd felt it himself after all. It wasn't easy to trust someone you'd distanced yourself from.

"Before, we'd left Thunderclan," Brambleclaw began, his tone twisting. "For some reason, it seemed like Firestar didn't want me and Squirrelpaw to see each other. Every time we tried to talk, Firestar got involved and told her to keep away from me. It had come out of nowhere." As he carried on, the frustrated pain became more and more clear. "I thought it was just him being protective at first, but then… I began to wonder if there was a reason to it. If he… was protecting her, for some reason, from me."

Crowpaw kept silent. He found himself wondering how he would feel if Tallstar had treated him like that, like a cat that couldn't be trusted.

It would hurt.

The Warrior inhaled unsteadily.

"I couldn't understand it. I would never have tried to harm her." Brambleclaw looked up at Crowpaw with a desperate flash. "I know what you think of me, but I don't hate Squirrelpaw. I do just want her to be safe. So, when she came along with me on the journey, I thought," He sniffed, a guilty air lingering over him. "I thought that if I could keep her form getting into trouble, I mean you know how stubborn she can be, I could prove Firestar wrong. That's why I thought it would be best to be… tougher on her." When he sighed, it showed he knew how wrong he was. "I just wanted to keep her out of danger, even if it meant wounding her pride a little."

Crowpaw thought about his words, and even though he could see where Brambleclaw was coming from, he still couldn't help but feel angry at him. He hadn't wounded her pride, he'd been clawing away at her confidence!

"That's-"

"It was a stupid idea, I know. And when I saw it wasn't working, I just got carried away. I just wanted everyone to be safe, to get here as quickly as we could without anyone getting hurt." Brambleclaw's paws tightened, "But I went too far. I know that. Instead, I just ruined everything between me and Squirrelpaw, and she… she started hanging out with you. The cat she'd wanted to rip the throat out of when we'd started."

Brambleclaw let out a laugh, less humorous and more tragic. Despite himself, Crowpaw could feel his fur lying flat, and a small discomfort setting in his gut.

Oh good Starclan, no. Was he seriously beginning to sympathise with this cat?

No it couldn't be.

"When that happened, I just felt angry. Annoyed that she was staring to get along with a cat she hated and was treating me like some kind of rogue."

"And that's why you kept acting like a fox-heart?" Crowpaw asked, calm enough to be genuine, but hard enough to show he didn't accept it entirely.

"Partly." Brambleclaw conceded, "I wanted to… I wanted to prove, to myself I guess, that I could lead you guys well. I wanted to show that Firestar was wrong not to trust me. So when it just seemed we were going nowhere, I got so frustrated, and Squirrelpaw hated me, and everyone else looked like they didn't trust me anymore, and I-" He stifled a sharp grunt, holding himself back as he heard his voice beginning to rise. He took a couple of deep breaths, lifting his closed eyes to the sky.

"I just wanted everything to turn out okay. I thought I could keep control. I didn't realise that they thought I was acting like-"

There was a break in his voice and for a moment Crowpaw thought that the warrior was about to cry.

The sympathy turned to pity.

It was stupid and he would probably regret the very idea that he was about to do this.

But Crowpaw sighed and let his voice turn soft.

"She doesn't hate you."

Brambleclaw ha suppressed any tears that were about to spill. Now he was just staring at Crowpaw, as surprised as Crowpaw that the apprentice could sound gentle when he wanted to.

"She hated what you said, because it was harsh fox-dung!" Crowpaw growled pointedly, taking a small satisfaction in how Brambleclaw winced. "But just because she was hurt that you were doing it. For some strange reason, she, ugh, she admired you." Was it always this hard to tell the truth? Starclan, the things Crowpaw found himself doing these days. "She was hurt. But… they wouldn't have if she hated you. We both know that."

It didn't look like Brambleclaw knew whether to look relieved or guilty at what Crowpaw had told him. All he did was let out a shaky, high, breath. "I didn't realise.."

Crowpaw felt the irritation come back over him, making him frown. This cat must have flea-dung for a brain. "Of course you didn't, vole-heart! Starclan, have you even realised how much pressure she feels she's under?" If he was revealing too much, he would have to regret it the next day. All he wanted to do now was make sure this idiot understood what he had done.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you stupid? She's trying to prove herself to your clan! She feels like you all compare her to her father!"

Brambleclaw's face froze like he was still under the water. "What?"

"Did I stutter?" Crowpaw snapped, "I don't know what you cats have said to her, but it's affected her. She doesn't believe that she can live up to Firestar's name in your clan. And, Starclan knows, you didn't help with what you've been saying to her over this journey!"

"I-I didn't-"

"I know you didn't know, you idiot!" He didn't have the patience to go over that again. He stared straight into Brambleclaw's breaking expression, burning him with his blue glare. "You can say you meant well with what you did, and maybe you did, but it doesn't matter. You said it, and you hurt her, that's the end of it!"

And it was for Crowpaw. It seemed to be for Brambleclaw as well. Neither snuck a glimpse at the other. A cold silence had shrouded the night. The Windclan apprentice was fine enough. He had said his piece and given the tom what for. And even though he understood the Warrior a little more, he still wasn't going to absolve the fool.

Then Brambleclaw spoke up again, and he sounded hollow. "I didn't know there were cats comparing her to her father in our clan."

Crowpaw was about to interject again, once again wanting to cut down this whole 'didn't know' excuse that he'd already gone over. He paused and rethought Brambleclaw's tone. The disbelief and hidden pain.

Crowpaw's snarl thinned as Brambleclaw's blank expression suddenly became much more anguished. An obvious, but forgotten, fact crept up to sting Crowpaw's back.

Whatever snappy comeback Crowpaw wanted to say had evaporated. All that came out now was a thin resolution. "Well, now you know."

"If I'd known before I would have said something." Crowpaw believed him, he had to, it was sense. "Because…" Brambleclaw's voice trembled away again, and it became much more evident that he was blaming himself a little more. "…I know."

Crowpaw knew that Brambleclaw knew. Even if he was a mouse-brained furball, he couldn't deny that Brambleclaw knew all too well what comparisons felt like.

"It's not quite the same, but I can see why that hurts her." Brambleclaw mused quietly. "It hurts when cats see someone else when they look at you. When you try your hardest to prove that you would do anything for your clan and all they see is…"

When Brambleclaw spoke up again, Crowpaw knew he was facing him. Crowpaw looked back at him. The Warrior's expression was dim, only flickering with a trace of hope.

"Do I look like my father to you?"

Crowpaw had never know Tigerstar, he'd only heard stories told by his clan. He'd heard of the cat who had almost brought an end to the clans themselves. But he knew Brambleclaw, albeit a little, potentially the worst of him, but he still knew what he saw.

"No, just a rabbit-brain."

The corners of Brambleclaw's lips turned a little. He nodded, with an unknown gratefulness. "That's good."

Crowpaw didn't think Brambleclaw was a bad cat, just one who had been incredibly stupid and had a lot of making up to do. However, Crowpaw realised with an embarrassed flick of his whiskers, that he had some things to say as well. Just to be even with the tom.

"Anyway, um, I'm… sorry for attacking you when we first met, and you know, for acting a little harsh when this all started." Crowpaw's eyes blazed momentarily, "Don't get me wrong, you deserved it sometimes! But, not at the very start." He trailed off, tail waving slightly. If he wanted Brambleclaw to change from this point on, he had to do a little admittance himself. It was fair enough.

The Thunderclan Warrior's eyes opened up in shock, and Crowpaw made sure that he still didn't look like he liked the cat. They were starting over, not patching up and licking each other like littermates. But that seemed fine by Brambleclaw as he smiled thinly and rose up, relaxed for the first time. "Water under the cave." He spoke naturally, "It's like Midnight said, we've become one in this journey. Whether we like it or not." Brambleclaw's voice dropped with a hint of playfulness that Crowpaw didn't know entirely how to take in.

He changed the subject, "So, again, why are you out here?"

"I told you, I couldn't sleep. Probably for the same reason as you." The assured tone of his voice wasn't so condescending this time. More respectful and acute. Crowpaw suddenly felt a lot smaller.

He also remembered what it was that had brought him out here in the first place, and his anxieties bit at him again like the frost of winter.

"Well," Crowpaw faltered, "What do you think? Don't tell me you're not worried about what Midnight said."

Brambleclaw shrugged weakly, "Of course I'm worried. It's my home too, you know."

"So, what are we going to do then?" Crowpaw asked. He was looking for anything at this point, all of his own answers just made him more frustrated. "According to what Midnight said, there might not even be a forest to go home to."

"Maybe." Brambleclaw admitted grimly, "But even she doesn't know what's going to happen." He looked up towards the blinking stars. "There's something else at power here, something more than Starclan itself."

Crowpaw listened with a growing dread. An empty discomfort chilled him. The thought of anything being more powerful than Starclan went against everything he knew. He wanted to deny what Brambleclaw had said, but he didn't have the strength or will to do so. Even though she was a stranger, Crowpaw believed what Midnight said.

"That's crazy."

"Isn't it just." Brambleclaw exhaled, "Whatever it is, we've got to follow what she says, we have to trust what she's been told." Crowpaw knew that deep down. Even if he wasn't optimistic about this in the slightest, they had no choice but to carry on. "That's the only hope we have of saving our clans."

"If they listen to us in the first place." Crowpaw complained bitterly.

He expected Brambleclaw to rake him across the ears, but the Warrior just nodded with a sad smile. "We have to try at least." Brambleclaw sounded like he trusted his words as much as Crowpaw; it was oddly comforting.

At least Crowpaw knew he wasn't the only one with doubts. Still, it was kind of unnerving that it was Brambleclaw he had this in common with. It was almost dirty.

"What are you two doing?"

The silence had been so peaceful that the sudden and new voice made both Toms startled. They clutched their racing hearts and turned to the cat. While Crowpaw sighed in relief at the sight of the ginger molly, Brambleclaw instantly looked like he would prefer his chances in the water.

Crowpaw ignored this, for his own sanity. "What are you doing up?"

Squirrelpaw yawned, "I thought I heard someone leaving the cave, and when I tried to get back to sleep I picked up on two toms having a, not so quiet, 'conversation'." The cat frowned slightly. "Thanks for the wake-up call. A little early though, don't you think?" She waved her tail towards the ebony canvas above them.

Crowpaw snickered but still apologised. "Sorry about that."

"Don't worry about it." Her emerald eyes burned like a small fire in the pitch black shadow. They looked between the two, narrowing a little. "So, what's going on? You two aren't going to start fighting again, are you?"

"No, of course not!" Brambleclaw ushered, his tail flaring defensively. He saw Squirrelpaw's gaze burn on him, and he calmed down, making his fur lie flat. "We were just talking."

"About what?" Squirrelpaw said, craning her head distrustfully.

Crowpaw interjected before Brambleclaw had the chance to say anything that could make this worse. He didn't particularly want to, but if thing were going to get better, he might as well give the mouse-brain a little help. "He was apologising for earlier." Crowpaw avowed, ignoring the shocked expression on the Warrior. "What? It's true, isn't it?"

Squirrelpaw somehow looked more surprised. Her tail flared in obvious awe, and her eyes widened to the size of rabbit tails. She glanced back and forth from one tom to the other, her mouth hanging to the point where her whole tongue was visible. "Really?"

"Yeah." He moved a little closer to the Warrior so Squirrelpaw wouldn't see when he flicked him with his tail. "Also, he wanted to thank you for making sure he didn't drown."

Squirrelpaw somehow managed to make her eyes even wider. She turned to Brambleclaw, obviously sceptical.

Thank Starclan that Brambleclaw was able to adapt quickly. The Warrior was able to make one small, thankful, nod to the apprentice. Crowpaw turned away with a sniff. He still had boundaries to set. Brambleclaw rolled his eyes and padded over to his clanmate.

"Yeah, um," Brambleclaw rose his head up to look tall, then noticing how much he towered over her, he relaxed his neck down a little. They almost seemed to be face to face. Squirrelpaw blinked in surprise. "Thanks for helping me. That was really brave of you."

Squirrelpaw looked up at her clanmate like he was a ghost himself. "Uh, you're welcome." She said with an arch expression.

Brambleclaw smiled, then he made himself look taller for a moment. "But don't do anything like that again. It isn't worth the risk!" On Squirrelpaw's immediate frown, Brambleclaw lowered his voice again, quickly finishing. "Please. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

Squirrelpaw still looked displeased, but she didn't bite back at him. "Okay." She sighed, "As long as you don't fall into anymore rivers." She ended slyly.

Brambleclaw uttered a whispery laugh, "I'll try not to." There was a brief pause. "And I'm sorry for how it's- how I've acted so far." Again, Squirrelpaw looked perplexed. "It's going to be different from now on."

Crowpaw gazed over the open water. He's right about that.

He didn't hear Squirrelpaw reply. But he did hear when Brambleclaw began walking away, the crunch of pebbles fading to the soft patting of stone. "I'm going to go and try and get some sleep. You two should probably think about that as well, when you're ready."

The Windclan cat nodded over to the Warrior, "Sure."

Brambleclaw nodded back. Comfortably. He looked more like a Warrior to Crowpaw than ever before. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Crowpaw found himself meaning it.

As the Warrior strode back into the cave, Squirrelpaw stared on as if he had grown a fifth leg. When he disappeared back into the mouth, she looked to Crowpaw, still stunned. "Who was that cat and what did he do with Brambleclaw?"

The grey cat laughed again. It sent a shiver down Squirrelpaw's pelt. "It's still your clanmate, I'm afraid. Looks like he's beginning to grow a brain."

Squirrelpaw rose a brow, looking back to the cave. It had been such a change. She hadn't seen that Brambleclaw in a while. "Did you say something to him?"

"A little. But give him some credit, he actually came to me to say sorry."

"Did he mention me?"

"Only what he said to you."

The ginger cat close her gaping mouth. So, Brambleclaw actually did feel guilty about what he had done. He'd wanted to apologise, and meant every word, unlike that excuse he'd done in the beginning of the journey.

That was… good.

She suddenly felt lighter, if just a little happier.

Maybe the news Midnight had given them had made him rethink his actions. That could be one positive at least.

Well, when she ignored the obvious one anyway.

Squirrelpaw let a smile grace her muzzle, strolling up to sit beside her friend. "That's a welcome change."

Crowpaw scoffed, "That's something we need."

Oh, so that was why he had come outside. He really was more sensitive than he let on. She curled her tail around his back, stroking it soothingly. "Hey, it's going to be fine." She mustn't have sounded convincing as he didn't react, not really. He just gave her a small, pitiful trace of a smile, then looked back out to the open darkness.

It wasn't like she could blame him. She was terrified herself at the thought of what could have already transpired. Not a moment had gone by when she hadn't thought of the safety of her parents or her sister, her whole clan.

But she had to keep calm. It would do no good to just expect the worst. They had to have faith in Midnight's words, they had to trust in Starclan's judgement, however little it seemed they would protect them.

"We're here aren't we. That's got to mean something." Squirrelpaw purred.

"I hope it does." Crowpaw made it clear how little hope he had.

"It does. Starclan didn't just bring us here for nothing." She believed that, at least.

"How can you be so sure?"

Squirrelpaw gave him a wry look. "How are you so sure it has been for nothing?"

Crowpaw narrowed his eyes but his still chuckled. "That's not really an answer."

"It is to me." The ginger cat mewed, nudging him playfully. She took more notice of how soft his fur felt against her paw. At least her assurance seemed to have some positive effect on the cat, the mistiness in his eyes had waned significantly, he almost didn't look tired.

Crowpaw exhaled, flicking another pebble into the water. "Sometimes Squirrelpaw, I envy your blind optimism."

"Blind!" She pronounced, pretending to look offended.

"Yeah, blind." Crowpaw jibed, toothily grinning at her. In his eyes, he really looked like he was happy. Squirrelpaw had to be happy as well. "It really does have its effects when it's needed. Even though it can get a little annoying."

Back and forth, back and forth. This was their friendship. This was them.

Only now, Squirrelpaw didn't feel playful. She just felt peaceful and thrilled.

"Well at least it has some use then." She said genuinely, just content. Crowpaw looked the same, but Squirrelpaw knew it wasn't the same for him. That was fine… kind of. As long as he was smiling at her, she could deal with it.

As long as she knew this could continue. Squirrelpaw had to ask that.

They looked out towards the beautiful night, both happier than they had been when they had started, but not entirely calm. "Crowpaw?"

"Mhmm." Crowpaw turned to her.

"When we get back to the clans, and when we find them our new home…"

Crowpaw scoffed lightly, "Don't you mean if?"

"No, I mean when." Squirrelpaw piped, looking up at him with a playful frown. Once again, her assurance seemed to work, as Crowpaw's scepticism left him, replace by an ever-glowing belief in her words. "When this is all over?" She took a small breath, feeling tiny under his expecting eyes. She had to push herself to not get lost in his blue glow. "Can we still meet up like this?"

The grey cat made a confused "mrrow". "Huh, I thought us three had already said we were going to do that. We can always meet at the gatherings."

"No." Squirrelpaw said quietly. She looked up towards the shimmering night and tried to pretend there wasn't something she thought was more beautiful. "I mean, meet like this. You know, every couple of nights. Just us three."

"You mean… in secret?" Crowpaw's voice was small, unsure, but clear with thought.

Squirrelpaw could only find the strength to nod. "Yeah. I don't know about you, but… I want to spend more nights like this. Looking at the stars with friends, not just every moon." It wasn't what she wanted most, but it was the most acceptable at least.

In her mind, Squirrelpaw expected Crowpaw to think long about her words. Expected that Crowpaw was more hesitant about what she was ready to do instantly.

He answered within two seconds. "Yeah." Once again, she could hear his smile. "I'd like that."

She didn't register his words until after three seconds. Her eyes spun on him in stark realisation.

He said he wants to continue meeting!

Squirrelpaw had to do everything she could from reaching over and embracing him right then and there. She still grinned though, wide and bright. This was going to continue, one way or another! He didn't even seem worried about his clan finding out about their friendship! There was a lot of things she wanted to say then and there.

She settled on a small, chipper. "Great!"

Crowpaw might have said something else, but all Squirrelpaw could focus on where his words. He wanted to see them again. He wanted to see her again. Her tail curled with a gleaming joy, shining almost as brightly as the stars above them. They sat there captivated for minutes, just staring out to the beauty of the night.

It was silent. But it said all it needed to for Squirrelpaw.

She didn't even notice the fatigue creep back in on her until she found herself yawning again for the fifth time in a row.

She heard Crowpaw chuckle, "Tired?"

She was, but she wanted to deny it more. "No." She attempted to say, but when she opened her mouth another yawn escaped. She grunted lethargically. "I'm fine."

"Clearly," Crowpaw hummed.

Squirrelpaw was about to retort again when she felt something warm ease into her side. She must have been tired, because she hadn't realised Crowpaw had rubbed closer to her until her head was leaning on his side.

"Yeah, you're just fine." Crowpaw joked, he just wanted to see her let go a little. She didn't need to push herself to act tough all the time.

Squirrelpaw would play his game and say that she was too tired to take her head from his shoulder.

But it was a lie.

It was because words were flooding through her head.

"I don't need to take credit from another clan either, Squirrelbreath!"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you angry."

"If you ask me, Thunderclan chose the wrong cat."

"Mouse-brain. You could have been killed."

It was because when she peered up, she saw the soft blue eyes, twinkling in the moonlight, she saw him the pearl white smile she had grown to love, and she basked in the delicate, flushed warmth of the cat she had fallen for.

She knew what this meant. What troubles it would mean. She also knew that this could be the very thing Feathertail felt for him, long before she did. Those thoughts were strong.

But his warmth was stronger.

So she settled into his kindness, smiling into his fur, hearing nothing in the serene night but the beating of her heart.

...

Right, so I have some good news and some bad news.

Good news first. And AHHHHHH, Squirrelpaw had admitted to herself that she has feelings for Crowpaw! Now we're really getting started! Also AHHHHHH Brambleclaw has apologised! Could this be the beginning of his redemption? Will he stick to it? We'll see. I certainly hope so, because I do like TNP Brambleclaw, I just see him as a character that has some flaws to overcome. He's explained himself, I'll leave whether he deserves to be forgiven or not to you guys!

Now some bad news.,, I'm going to take a small break from this story. DON'T WORRY! I promise I am not abandoning it! I just want to take a few weeks to write some original works of mine that I wish to put in my Creative Writing Portfolio. Somehow I don't think many Universities will accept talking cat fanfictions...biased fools. As I said, I will come back eventually, I just need a little time. I'm sorry if this disappoints anyone. I hope this chapter can offer a small apology.

Anyway, like always, thanks for reading.

I'll talk to you in a while.