Cloverfrost pressed her nose against the cool, crystal clear waters of the Starpool, a shiver running down her spine as she lapped at the waters her ancestors had drunk from before. I must share tongues with StarClan, She grimly thought. Before SwiftClan falls apart like VineClan and FinchClan… The idea of sharing tongues with the spirits bored her; why would StarClan bother to help the Clan, when they were too busy with their own affairs? Why send a former medicine cat who has no desire to return to this accursed place?

The albino she-cat shut her eyes, allowing the darkness to take a hold of her. She knew this process all too well. Cloverfrost would see some starry cat related to her 'destiny', they'd give her 'advice', and forcefully kick her out of their domain. Petty mouse-brains. Blinking her eyes open, she awoke to nothing but an empty void, as if she was on air. Is this some stupid StarClan trick? Whipping her head around to face her back, a brightly colored tortoiseshell cat padded up to her, their green eyes brimming with sorrow. Taking a whiff of this stranger's scent, Cloverfrost took a few paces back, her neck fur rising.

"No need to be afraid, my dear friend. Don't you remember me?" The cat spoke, their voice a hushed whisper. Cloverfrost narrowed her eyes, analyzing this cat. It can't be Palefern or Nutfang, She concluded. They may be tortoiseshells, but they certainly don't have patterns that colorful. Shutting her eyes, Cloverfrost winced in pain. Her heart seemed to shatter into tiny bits and pieces, leaving her to writhe in despair at the memories flooding back to haunt her. I remember you too, friend. "Tell me, why have you been so angry with your new Clan?"

Cloverfrost shook her head, looking away from them. "I'm not angry at all. I'm perfectly fine in SwiftClan. The tyrant Warblerstar is dead, and Swiftstar has helped us find peace after the Vine Massacre and Warblerstar's tyrant reign. What should I be angry about?"

"You're lying," They hissed, although their voice intermingled with concern. "Do you not trust me with your secrets and doubts?"

With a soft growl, Cloverfrost shut her eyes. "I do, Houndwillow. But some are better left unsaid."

Houndwillow took a step towards Cloverfrost. "And some things are better left said. Tell me. Why is it that you feel such anger towards them?"

"I will not say what it is, nor is anything bugging me. Let me go back to SwiftClan so I can share the news," Cloverfrost huffed, stalking away from Houndwillow. "SwiftClan is in strong paws, and nothing will go wrong. I have no doubts." Houndwillow glowered her, their eyes gleaming with growing anger.

They spat, "You're lying to my face, once again! Tell me, Cloverfrost. What is it that is so horrible that you feel the need to keep the truth from me? When did you change? Why do you ignore my pleas?"

Cloverfrost whipped her around to face them. "It's none of your business!" She roared, rearing back on her haunches. "Just leave me be!"

Houndwillow sighed, backing down. "So you wish to reject me? That's fine, I guess. But I only wanted to help." The tortoiseshell began to fade away into mist, much to Cloverfrost's surprise. I thought you were joking.

"Houndwillow, I didn't mean to- I'm sorry. Please, will you stay?" She choked out the words, grief welling up in her chest. Cloverfrost really didn't want Houndwillow to leave her; it'd been so long since she'd seen them. No reply came. "Please."

The former VineClan cat sighed. "Fiiiiiine. But no more lashing out at me, okay? I don't like that." Cloverfrost only nodded; there was no use in arguing. At once Houndwillow appeared again, their eyes narrowed. "You heard me the first time. Why?"

Cloverfrost shuddered. Could she really tell Houndwillow how she felt? About all of these feelings bubbling up inside of her, all of those conflicting storms brewing up inside of herself? Her friend's eyes shone with irritation and worry. She had to now. There wasn't any turning back at this point.

The albino she-cat lowered her head. "The Clan has betrayed me far too many times to count." Houndwillow tilted their head, clearly confused. "Back when we were FinchClan, I was bullied just for having a strange white pelt and these strange pink eyes. For something I can't control. That was when I realized how judgemental the Clan really was. Then Warblerstar took power. I ran away with you, and I thought that was the end of it once we joined VineClan, never to be bothered with those mange-pelts ever again. But I was so wrong…"

"FinchClan attacked VineClan, as I'm sure you remember. And why? Because Warblerstar was jealous that Amberbloom loved you and not him! And then they took you away from me, the last remaining piece of my sanity! Houndwillow, I can't live in the same camp with those…those murderers. FinchClan may have turned to SwiftClan, but it will always be the heart of darkness within the forest."

Houndwillow licked Cloverfrost's forehead, sighing. "But not all of the FinchClan cats tried to kill, you know. Some of them didn't want to do it. They were only following Warblerstar's orders." Sure, following orders. What a lovely excuse for their crimes.

Cloverfrost spun around, her tail lashing. "How can you say that about the cats who wanted you dead? Surely you'd feel anger towards them too?"

"No, I learned to forgive long, long ago. I cannot change others or their actions, but I can forgive them. I only hope they learn from their mistakes and move on," Houndwillow murmured, sounding slightly wistful. I doubt it. "You'll learn one day, Cloverfrost."

Cloverfrost sighed, caving into Houndwillow's protests. I don't want to keep this argument going for too long. "I guess," She meowed, her tail tip twitching. "But don't expect me to forget what they did so easily."

"I don't. Just…do this for me, alright?"

She grunted, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm not making any promises." FinchClan still betrayed me. I'll never forget the pain they gave me. Houndwillow might've forgiven them, but I can't. Not after…all they did.