Reviews:

Talon - Kind of. They also served the purpose of giving Stormfire some friends, and establishing why he doesn't hate DarkClan (which I intend to test). Plus, I feel you mang; I'm the same way. -_-

Misty - Hm, sharp eye! There are many more that'll be posted throughout the story; see if you can find them all!

Nightmares

The sky was a beautiful mix of gold and red. Golden, puffy clouds drifted across the sky, driven by the soft and chilling wind that ruffled my fur. I inhaled deeply, relishing in the scents of the forest: prey, flowers, and undergrowth. Everything was so wonderful and amazing, I didn't want to leave.

I padded through the forest, the crunching of leaves beneath my paws soothing my heart. Trees towered above my head, clothed in gold and brown and red leaves. Leaf-fall was my favorite season – the scenery it brought was amazing.

Stretching, I gazed up at a big tree. Its trunk was wide and strong, and its branches were cloaked with leaves upon leaves. The grass beneath it was soft as can be, feeling like cotton beneath me.

I leapt up the trunk, digging my hooked claws into the bark. I leapt from branch to branch, a new wave of satisfaction washing over me every time I went higher. Finally, with my breath coming in exhausted gasps, I reached the top.

I could see the sun as it sank behind the horizon. The sky had gone from a golden-red to a golden-purple. I lay on my branch, my heart fluttering at the beauty I was witnessing. Birdsong could be heard everywhere, and another wind stirred my fur. I breathed a contented sigh, letting my eyes droop.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

My eyes flew open. I knew that voice… but he was dead. Turning my head, I was met with a rich silver pelt, glowing amber eyes, and a warm smile.

"G-Graystorm?" I stammered, my breath catching in my throat. So, this was a dream… disappointment and excitement fluttered in the belly.

"Of course, furball!" Graystorm purred, tapping me on the nose with his paw. "Who else would it be?"

I couldn't believe it… he- my father was actually here! Happiness swelled inside me, making my breath quicken and water brim at my eyes. A purr rumbled in my throat – and that was something that hadn't happened in a long time.

"So, I take it you're happy to see me?" Graystorm meowed, another smile stretching his features. It was the joking side that everyone in the Clan loved. It made my eyes water even more; I had to blink to keep the tears from slipping out.

"No…!" I mewed sarcastically, "What gave it away?"

Graystorm laughed, which made me laugh as well. It was impossible for you not to laugh when Graystorm laughed. It was like a sunset: amazing and golden.

"So, what exactly are you doing here?" he asked, pressing down on the branch. It dipped a little under the force. "This is pretty high up; I thought you were afraid of heights."

"Afraid of heights?" I exclaimed. I knew that was untrue. Tree-climbing was my favorite hobby! "Who beat you the last time we raced, again?"

"Beginners luck!" Graystorm insisted, his eyes sparkling. He looked around, surveying the tree. "You're lucky we're at the top, otherwise I'd race you again, and then I'd prove to you who's the better climber. In fact, it was I who taught you to climb in the first place!"

"And the apprentice beat the mentor!" I laughed, giving him a small nudge.

"Yeah, I guess I taught you too well," he purred, returning the nudge. "At least something good came from it," he flicked his ears at the receding sun, "we get to watch the sunset."

I sighed, taking in the view again. Sunset, leaf-fall, and my father – this couldn't get any better. "Yeah, sunset and leaf-fall – my two favorite things. Right behind you, of course."

Graystorm tilted his head to the side, his amber eyes questioning. "I thought leaf-bare was your favorite season?"

A thorn of sorrow pricked at my heart. It was true. Leaf-bare used to be my favorite season. The snow made everything look clean, and the cold kept the air crisp and fresh. In addition, it brought a plethora of fun games to play! But now… whenever I thought of leaf-bare, all I could think of was the day Graystorm…

No! I didn't want to think about that. It didn't matter – he was here with me now; that's what mattered.

"Well, it was," I mumbled, not meeting my father's gaze. "It was… until you…"

There was a long pause.

"Until you let me die?"

I flinched. Had I heard correctly? Did Graystorm blame me for his death? It wasn't my fault... was it? Anger roared inside me, but it was greatly overshadowed by the hurt and sorrow. I stared at Graystorm, my eyes wide and hurt. He was staring back at me - glaring at me. My heart clenched in my chest, and tears threatened to leak from my eyes.

"Let you die?" I choked, my sentences coming in a flurry of stammers. "I-I didn't let you die; it was my effort to save you that got me exiled in the first place!"

Graystorm's eyes seemed to turn to chips of ice – they were cold and hard. He got to his paws, claws unsheathed. "No, it was your lack of loyalty to your Clan that got you exiled."

I pinned my ears against my head, trying to shut him out. I began backing away. "That's not true!" Anger and hate swirled inside my chest – both directed at myself. Had I let Graystorm die? I'd tried to save him! Maybe if I'd tried harder…

"Yes, it is!" Graystorm hissed, baring his teeth. He took a step forward. "Stop lying to yourself!"

I clenched my teeth. More water kept piling at my eyes, making me try harder and harder to keep it from spilling. I held my breath to keep myself from sobbing. "I'm not lying to myself! I'm not a liar!"

"Prove it!" Graystorm screeched. "Stop running from the truth!"

I tried to take another step back, but my hind paws touched air instead of wood. I lost my grip on the branch and plummeted to the ground.

The impact sent the air rushing from my body. Pain gripped every fiber of my being, and I couldn't hold back a screech of agony. Graystorm was right beside me, watching me suffer.

The once leaf-covered ground was now turning black, going from soft and comfortable to dark and oily. The air went from swirling and sweet-smelling to still and reeking of death. All the trees turned black and began to droop, their leafless branches digging into the earth. The sun sank behind the horizon, the sky turning to an inky expanse of nothing.

"Get up!" Graystorm growled, his voice harsh and commanding. I obeyed, sucking in a gulp of air with the effort. I sat hunched, my legs trembling. More water gathered at my eyes, and this time, I couldn't hold them back. Tears fell to the ground, mixing with the oily soil.

"Please, stop!" I begged, my voice nothing but a half croak, half screech. But, Graystorm wasn't listening. He stalked toward me, eyes burning with fury. Fear warped itself around me, and I started to back away again, my entire being shaking.

"You let me die!" my father roared.

"No, I didn't!" I insisted, hoping with all my heart that he would believe me, that he would stop this torture. "I tried to save you; I tried to help!"

Graystorm's lip curled, his face taking on a look of disgust. "All you do is try, you never do anything! You're no son of mine! My real son would've saved me!"

My heart cracked. My father's words echoed in my ears, repeating themselves over and over: You're no son of mine! You're no son of mine!

"Please, stop!" I rasped, more tears leaking from my eyes. I couldn't help myself; I started sobbing. "I'm sorry! I-I… please stop!"

Graystorm's eyes changed. They turned from a deep amber to an icy blue. His silver fur began to grow paler and paler until it turned white. I instantly recognized this cat – the cat that I'd been forced to kill.

"F-Frost!" I gulped, trying to catch my breath.

My friend's eyes were glistening with anger. He arched his back and hissed, "You killed me!"

Dread boiled in my belly. I took a deep breath. "I had to!" I pleaded. "If I hadn't, then-"

"Stop making excuses!" Frost screeched. "You killed me, just like you killed your father!

"It's all your fault!"

"No!"

My eyes flew open. I bolted to my paws, my head whipping back and forth. My breath was coming in agonized gasps, fueled by the terror that gripped my heart. I'd had another nightmare. I tried to calm my raging thoughts: Was it true? Was it my fault Frost and Graystorm died? I'd tried to save Graystorm…! And I'd killed Frost; I could admit that much. But, I'd had no choice! If I hadn't…

I curled up into a ball, my tail fur touching my nose. It was still nighttime – the sky was black with small dots of white gleaming in its expanse. I drew in a few shaky breaths. I didn't dare close my eyes again – I feared another nightmare.

Getting to my paws, I leapt from the tree I was sleeping in and exited the camp. A cold wind ruffled my fur, but this time I shivered with fear. I trotted through the forest, flinching at every groan from the branches in response to the wind.

I trekked through the forest, soon growing weary from all the walking. I finally came to the DarkClan border, which I crossed without a second thought.

I already knew where I wanted to go – it was just a matter of actually getting there that posed a problem. No doubt DarkClan would scent me in their territory; but I didn't care. I needed to do this. I probably still had enough DarkClan scent not to be noticed anyway.

There was no moonlight in the sky, only the gleaming of stars. The black trunks in the dark seemed to reach out toward me, trying to pull me under the earth – I was probably just seeing things. Truth be told, I didn't mind the idea of them pulling me under. I wanted nothing more than to curl into a ball and forget everything that was happening around me. But, I had a job to do, a promise to keep, and I was going to die before I broke that promise or abandoned that job.

Finally coming to my destination, I stopped at a small mound of earth. The scent I was looking for was so faint here, it made me want to cry. There was only the slightest sliver left, it broke my heart that the cat who lay here was almost gone forever – no scent, no pawsteps – everything would be washed away.

I curled up next to the small pile and looked up at the stars. I couldn't help but wonder if the cat buried here was watching me right now. Was he right next me? Maybe I just couldn't see him; or maybe he just doesn't want me to see him. I wouldn't blame him: I'd be disappointed in myself as well. But still, deluding myself into thinking he was there put hope in my heart, so I did just that.

I shifted on my belly, trying to get comfortable. Heaving a sigh, I watched the horizon, waiting for the sun to come up. I glanced at the mound of earth, and found myself to talking to it – or rather the cat beneath it.

"I'm sorry for letting you die. But, I promise I'll make it right. When I'm done, everything will be OK. When I'm done, you finally be proud of me… father."