Leafpool dreamed. She was standing in a dark forest. The forest was silent. Then she felt a pelt brush hers and a familiar scent washed over her.

"Spottedleaf, It's all my fault. I'm sorry I'm so sorry" Leafpool wailed

"Hush" Spottedleaf whispered "I am not here to blame you. I am here to show you something"

Leafpool pricked her ears. Inspite of her misery, she was interested. "What?"

"This" Spottedleaf said flicking her tail towards the trees "Is the forest of truth. When you are here you may seek out one truth. Ask the trees a question, they will answer. It will come in handy for you, Leafpool" and with that Spottedleaf faded.

"Wait. Spottedleaf! What do you mean, ask the trees?" but she was already alone. "Ok so I'm alone here"

A scent washed over her but no pelt came. "You are never alone" whispered a voice.

Leafpool woke up. She was lying sprawled in her nest. All around her the camp bustled, awake and getting on with the day. But Leafpool wasn't moving, she felt too tired, too miserable. Oh Crowfeather she wailed inside How can I not think of you, when I cannot control my dreams, and dream I do! She was the camps least favorite cat. A traitor, who broke the warrior code. How can I go on without you, Crowfeather, my love who I can never see again and Cinderpelt, my mentor who is dead because of me!

"Leafpool" Her fathers voice carried through the bramblesshielding her den. "Leafpool you need to check on Sorreltail. One of her kits won't suckle"

He strolled in and saw her in her nest. A sorowful look crossed his face. "Come on Leafpool your clan needs you"

"No they don't. You all probably think I'm a traitor. I broke the warrior code. Nobody wants to see me" Leafpool mewed quietly

"No we don't! That's the most mousebrained thing I've heard! You are not, listen to me Not a traitor because, inspite the hurt it caused you, you came back to your clan. That shows the most deepest loyalty any cat ever had." Firestar meowed. He leaned in and licked her ears, in long comforting motions. She started to purr. "Now what do you think about making sure your best friend is ok? Yeah?"

"Ok," she sighed. She was feeling better, but all her hurt, all her guilt, was still there underneath. She padded out of her den and down a small inclinment to the nursery. As soon as she stepped in a sense of security over came her. Never said the small voice inside her. Never have kits. You are not allowed to. She sighed and padded across to Sorreltail.

"Sorreltail" She touched the queen lightly on her shoulder "are you ok?"

"Yes I'm fine. A bit tired but fine. It's this one I'm worried about." She stroked a small, golden kit softly with her tail. "She won't suckle"

"Now let's see what I can do for you" Leafpool leant over and got to work. Neatly licking the kit, sniffing it for signs of illness or injuries. The kit squealed as she licked its leg. She burrowed into It's long fur and found a splinter. "Aha" she kept licking untill the end of the splinter was clearly visable the pulled. It came smoothly out followed by a small spurt of blood, but the kit seemed happy.

"Thank you Leafpool" Sorreltail touched her nose as the kit began to knead her belly.

"No problem" Leafpool sighed feeling down again.

She bent out of the nursery. She saw her sister pad over to her.

"Do you feel like going hunting. With Brambleclaw and me?" She asked

They made up! Leafpool wondered if she'd be intruding on their space. "If you don't mind" Leafpool meowed

"Of course I don't" she touched her sisters nose "I'll go get Brambleclaw"