Hi all! Before we start, a shoutout to Random Fan's Sis for the review! This one's a little short but it's still a good one. Unlike the other chapters, there is no time-skip from the last one. This happens immediately after the last one finishes.

Thanks for reading!

"Spiritpaw, no!" shouted Moonpaw across the camp to the young cat running towards her. "You can't come! Darkstar, you can't let him come. He's a good cat!"

"Moonpaw, calm down. I- I don't know, but it might be good to have a companion come with you. Spiritpaw, do you really want to go?" Darkstar asked.

"Yes, with all my heart," he replied honestly.

"And you understand that after you leave, you will never come back to Thunderclan, and if you do, you are at my warrior's mercy?"

"Yes," repeated Spiritpaw.

Then, by the powers of Starclan, I banish you both from Thunderclan forever!" That last part echoed in Moonpaw's mind and brought on a rush of memories from every 'talk' she eavesdropped on.

"Leave," growled Darkstar.

Holding back tears, the pair padded through the entrance tunnel for the last time in their lives without looking back.

They didn't want to rush their departure, so they silently made their way to the edge of Thunderclan territory. At the Thunderclan-Windclan border was where they truly said their farewells. Spiritpaw spoke first.

"I will never forget the wonderful times I had here, but now I have to move on. I give my thanks to the friendly cats who raised me and trained me to be the best cat I can be. Thank you."

Moonpaw felt she could barely say her thanks to the clan that rejected her, but she pulled together and, through her sobs, came up with something suitable.

"I give you great respect for letting me sleep in your dens and eat your prey for the first eight moons of my life, and to Darkstar for making a difficult decision and choosing the good of the clan over one cat's happiness. It takes a strong leader to create a clan that everyone feels happy and safe in and, now that I'm no longer a part of it, that is what you have done. Thank you for all you have done for me." Spiritpaw brushed his tail down her flank and sat down, gesturing for her to do the same. They rested there for an indefinite amount of time that could be seasons or heartbeats before Spiritpaw spoke.

"Where shall we make our den?" he asked. Ah, typical Spiritpaw. Always thinking productively. Thinking ahead. Not skewed by emotion.

"There's a patch of woods behind Windclan territory. Sometimes I go there if I need space, and I've never seen a patrol pass by there. They may not even know it exists."

Nodding approvingly, Spiritpaw agreed to stay there the night and explore for possible better areas the next set off and, wanting to keep her mind busy, Moonpaw started a conversation.

"Why did you come with me?" she asked.

"I wanted to," he replied simply.

"Why did you want to though?" she pressed.

"I couldn't bear to never see you again,' he admitted.

"So you chose me over your loving family and clan?"

Suddenly Spiritpaw looked her straight in the eyes, his piercing gaze clouded with hurt and grief. "Don't you want me here?" he hissed. "Don't you even like me being around?"

"O- of course I do!" she stuttered. "That's not w- what I meant."

"Shut up and leave me alone." He turned away dashed ahead, flashing her a sharp glance before he disappeared into the bushes.