Okay, this took way too long. I'm sorry, I kinda just started this chapter and forgot about it until recently. But I'm not entirely dead! Please enjoy Heatherpaw and the gang.

- Mossy

Review Replies:

succulentsofa- MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA THAT WAS MY PLAN THE ENTIRE TIME. But yes, that chapter made me very sad as well. Felt awful to write :(

jabaredjf- Yup, Milkpaw's timing wasn't great there. But she's not quite as thick as Redpaw lol (I love my oblivious son)

Now, onto this chapter that took a ridiculous amount of time to wait for!

Heatherpaw raced on the ground, the wind ruffling through her fur. She was the wind itself, and when she leapt off the ground she just flew… That is until she woke up.

She jumped up, fur fluffing up in a start. The pale ginger apprentice looked around for any danger, feeling that someone, something was watching. She saw Swiftpaw sitting up as well.

"Why are you awake Heatherpaw?" the older apprentice looked at her. He was almost a warrior, his ceremony was due to be held tomorrow. He gave her a somewhat lopsided grin, but Heatherpaw felt like there was something more to it.

"What's the matter Swiftpaw?" she whispered, "Why are you awake?" She settled down and wrapped her tail around her paws.

"I…" Swiftpaw's smile faltered. For a moment Heatherpaw felt the sting of regret in the air, and an overwhelming sense of worry. "Nightmares," he whispered to where she almost didn't hear.

"Nightmares?" Heatherpaw cocked her head, "Why would you have nightmares Swiftpaw?" He was normally happy and carefree, there was nothing that ever bothered the tom.

Then it hit her, the reason just popping in her mind suddenly, "Hawkpaw." It wasn't a question, she knew the dream had been about him, her old friend who had left. The certainty was startling, making her uneasy.

She just… knew.

Swiftpaw's eyes widened, "Y-yes…" He coughed and narrowed his eyes at his sister, "Did Smallpaw tell you? That… I told her-"

"She didn't!" Heatherpaw exclaimed, not wanting to cause an unnecessary fight between the siblings. She sighed shakily, "It was… it was just a guess."

"An oddly specific one," Swiftpaw muttered, ears burning a bright red, "He… I cared about Hawkpaw, okay? I-I was going to tell him the day… the day before he left and…" He sniffed and Heatherpaw saw the gleam of tears in his eyes. "I miss him," he whispered, "He's gone and I dream of horrible things happening to him, because I just want him here."

"I miss him too," Heatherpaw nodded, "He was… he was a good friend. And he just left, and I hope he's happy."

"I want him to be happy with me," Swiftpaw whispered, and Heatherpaw sighed. She didn't know how to fix this, short of bringing Hawkpaw back. It was obvious, Swiftpaw had cared for Hawkpaw very deeply. She could sense the emotion- the anguish- within him. It was a deep chasm, threatening to suck her in-

What was wrong with her?

She took a deep breath, focusing on the den and her surroundings. The void within Swiftpaw was still tugging at her, consuming her. However, it's grip lessened and Heatherpaw was able to breathe normally again.

Swiftpaw was staring at her with a concerned expression, "Heatherpaw, are you alright?"

"I…" she looked at him, blinking, "I don't know, everything was all empty and…" Her voice betrayed her fear. She had been fine, what… What was wrong with her?

"It's… it's okay," Swiftpaw looked at her, "Do you need me to get Birdhop?"

"Birdhop, yes…" Heatherpaw swallowed, "Please." She watched as Swiftpaw left, the hollowness in her chest leaving. It was awful, that… that kind of hurt.

She shivered, and heard rain outside. Drops fell outside the cave that was the apprentice den. The entire clan slept in caves within the gorge that was their camp. It helped shelter them from the elements, and Heatherpaw was glad for it now.

Birdhop was fast on Swiftpaw's heels, running over to her. "Heatherpaw!" they exclaimed, "Swiftpaw told me you're feeling sick."

"Sick, yeah…" Heatherpaw blinked. That… that was it. "I don't think I need to see Grassflower though."

"Oh, well… I was going to offer to escort you if you needed," Birdhop licked their chest, "I mean… if you needed me to."

"I'm fine," Heatherpaw purred, "Feeling much better now."

"Alright," Birdhop shook some water off their fur, "It's a doozy of a storm out there."

"You're soaked," Heatherpaw laughed, looking between them and Swiftpaw, "Both of you."

"Well, I wanted you to be fine," Swiftpaw grumbled and went back to lay down next to Smallpaw.

"Thank you Swiftpaw," Heatherpaw called over her shoulder, giving him a sweet smile, "And… I do hope you…" She faltered, unsure of how to finish that sentence. What did one do after losing the cat they loved?

Birdhop looked down at her, "Heatherpaw? Everything okay?" They frowned, "I'm not looking forward to going back on in that rain."

"You didn't have to come," Heatherpaw scoffed.

"Sure I did," they muttered, voice soft, "I had to check on you." Heatherpaw felt her ear tips heat up.

"You don't have to go back out in the rain Birdhop," she whispered, "You could…" She thought for a moment, "You could stay here with me!"

Birdhop looked confused, "I'm a warrior Heatherpaw, I can't just-" They noticed the hopeful expression on the apprentice's face and couldn't say no. "Fine," they smiled, "Just… just cause it's raining."

"Of course," Heatherpaw grinned, "Thundering too!" Birdhop hummed in agreement, settling down in Heatherpaw's nest. Her eyes went wide.

"Birdhop, I didn't mean you sleep-"

"Come on," they grabbed Heatherpaw and dragged her into the nest. She let out a squeak. "If you want me in here, I'm going to be in here."

Heatherpaw grumbled, but curled up into the bigger cat's fur. "You're ridiculous," she muttered.

Birdhop smiled, "It gets lonely in the warriors den."

"Lonely?" Heatherpaw rolled over to meet her friend's gaze, "Oh because…"

"Yeah," they whispered, "I just always thought Hawkpaw would be there too."

Swiftpaw flinched. He turned to look at Birdhop, "Do you ever think…?"

"I don't know," the responded, voice heavy, "I… I told him not to go. I… I needed him here."

"You weren't the only one," Swiftpaw gave them a sad smile, "He… remember when he came into camp covered in burrs because Coltskit got stuck in a pricker bush and Hawkpaw had helped him out?"

Birdhop let out a snort, "I told him to be careful that day. Rootpaw kept grumbling because he had to pick prickles out ofy brother's butt."

Heatherpaw smiled at the memory, "He complained to Rosepaw, Mintpaw, and I for days!"

"I'm sorry about that," Birdhop chuckled, "Rootpaw can be a bit much."

"Preach," Swiftpaw rolled his eyes, "One time he yelled at Hawkpaw and I for stepping on the herbs."

"Sounds like him," Heatherpaw grimaced. Rootpaw was… particular about his plants.

"Yeah, Hawkpaw never knew where to put his paws," Birdhop settled down, resting their head in top of Heatherpaw's. It caused a warm feeling to spread through her chest.

She was glad to have such good friends.

"He stepped on my tail too many times," Swiftpaw nodded, expression bittersweet.

"I miss his jokes," Birdhop whispered.

"I miss his eyes," Swiftpaw choked, "They… they were… Starclan, I can't even look at the sky without thinking of him, they were so blue." He wiped his eyes with his paws, "I'm sorry Birdhop, I… I know it's harder for you…"

"No, it's…" Birdhop gave him a sad smile, "It's okay. I… I know exactly how you feel."

"Thank you," Swiftpaw whimpered, "I…" He broke down, crying. Birdhop's own tears pierce their eyes, and they walked over to pay them on the back.

Heatherpaw watched them, gaze not leaving the warrior. Birdhop… who'd lost their brother yet still stood strong. Birdhop, who'd gone out of their way to check on her, getting up from their nest and walking through a storm. Birdhop, who was now comforting Swiftpaw even as they themself were hurting.

She smiled and laid her head on her paws. They were amazing, and she wanted to always be there for them too.

She wanted to be there when they fell down, to help them back up. She wanted to share prey and let Birdhop make her smile every day.

"Heatherpaw," Birdhop looked at her, and the way they said her name was so gentle…

Heatherpaw smiled at her friend, "Yes?"

"Go to sleep please, I know Leafcatcher likes to wake you up early."

"Oh," she frowned. "Good…" She took a moment to just smile at the older cat, bright and bubbly. A smile she only reserved for her dearest friends.

"Goodnight Birdhop," she whispered.

Birdhop's eyes went wide and they turned away, smiling themself. Swiftpaw was slowly heading off to sleep as Birdhop stroked his fur.

"Goodnight Heatherpaw."