A/N: I'd like to make note of that in about three more chapters and an included epilogue, this story will officially be over. Anyway, on to the story.

Chapter 7: A Moment of Reflection

The end is almost upon us

A thick, white mist circled the ancient pines that framed the forest. It sprang up from nothing, crawling along the roots and leaves of the forest floor, before breathing its way around the thick stout trunks of the trees. Within the mist, silence hung heavy over the forest. The lush green canopy was obscured from sight by the fog, its color being swallowed by the blanket of whiteness that shrouded it.

The forest lay swamped, clouded over by an impenetrable shield of mist that refused to yield to any earthly force or power. The area was abandoned of any sound, as if the very thought of noise had been forbidden. There didn't seem to be any signs of life when suddenly, in heart of the nothingness, blinked two green eyes, penetrating the fog with a burning stare of intensity.

A slight part in the fog's defenses revealed the sparkling pelt of a ginger furred she-cat. She stood still, illuminated by a small bubble of seeable light radiating off her star speckled fur, which seemed to be keeping the fog's unforgiving mist at bay from her being. Her eyes were locked ahead, staring intently into the endless depths of the wisping wall of fog, as if waiting for some sudden movement or action to take place.

An overwhelming sense of unease had led her to this dense part of the forest, where very few cats ever dared to venture. She had tried fruitlessly on numerous occasions to delude herself into believing this was not even capable of being an possibility, but as she stood there, watching the minuscule, but small noticeable signs of shifting and wavering in the fog, her worst fears had just been confirmed.

"So, you've noticed it also, then, Brightstar?" a voice suddenly called from behind her. "The barrier is weakening."

Brightstar whirled around just as a sudden burning flare of light pierced through the fog, vanquishing the thick vapors. She shied away from the bright array of color, screening her eyes with a raised paw before the golden shine suddenly died away. Standing there, covered in the majestic aura of the stars that adorned his pelt, stood a golden brown tabby.

"This is certainly a surprise," Brightstar said, dipping her head to the new arrival. "I would have never pegged someone as lazy as you to actually crawl out of his hole, and make the tireless walk all the way here, Lionstar."

"I guess the same could be said for you, Brightstar," Lionstar said, walking over to join the fiery she-cat's side. "With all that's been happening down below in the forest, I expected you of all cats to currently be looking to see what that Cloudstorm character's been up to. Instead, I find you here away from your usual post at the barrier."

"It's not as if much can be done about, Cloudstorm from up here," Brightstar growled. "He's successfully managed to cut off communication with the Clans by destroying the Moonpool. And what's more, he was able to kill two more cats, one actually being a medicine cat apprentice, and get away with it. Did you know that Robinwing and Thornclaw still haven't managed to retrieve their otherworldly bodies? From what they've told me, it's as if a wall of thorns is shielding them from getting to them."

"Ah, but of course the Dark Forest is very resourceful, Brightstar," Lionstar noted plainly. "While we continue to lose followers from their meddling in Clan affairs, their numbers continue to soar, as they swiftly and quietly are able to recruit cats without our knowing."

"That's what worries the council," Brightstar hissed angrily. "Since the moment they were able to brainwash Nightstar and ShadowClan away from us, they fear contacting any other cats in the Clans, leaders included, in fear that may already be aligned with the Dark Forest."

"A curious ploy of action," Lionstar said, "But one," he added, flickering his tail towards the wavering cloud of mist, "that is not working."

"How soon do you think then?" Brightstar asked Lionstar. "How soon before you think they finally manage to break through."

Lionstar's whiskers twitched at the question, but otherwise he didn't answer. Not like Brightstar had expected him to anyways. Down below their influence over the Clans had slowly begun to slip with every cat the Dark Forest drew to their side.

It was that faith and belief in StarClan the Clans had that was the fueling force for the power that StarClan used to keep the Dark Forest from breaking into StarClan. But when the Dark Forest finally managed to draw enough believers away from StarClan, the barrier would shatter; and with it an army two times the size of StarClan, filled with cats bent on one thing, and one thing only: Destruction.

Suddenly, a soft angelic flutter of birdsong, echoed through the mist, causing Brightstar and Lionstar both to perk their ears.

"Well, I guess it's time to go argue amongst ourselves some more," Lionstar commented cheerfully to Brightstar.

They set off at a brisk pace, traversing the fog from the glow of their starry pelts. Brightstar was not looking forward to another council among her fellow StarClan cats. The meetings never got them any further on deciding how best to deal with Cloudstorm, or a way to counter the Dark Forest's plan to invade them. If anything these meetings only grow the single one emotion that every cat of StarClan shared.

Fear.

Have you ever wondered what it'd be like to die again? Well, the same sentiment of fear was shared by every cat of StarClan. They were afraid. No matter how much Brightstar would have wished it wasn't so, it was true. In the course of a single moon, Cloudstorm had managed to rock the very foundation of their power, weakening the cats of StarClan far more than any of them thought possible.

Cloudstorm was relentless and out for revenge, something Icefrost had taken great lengths to exploit. Without fear or worry of the backlash, Cloudstorm went about the Dark Forest's plans killing three cats in the process, with two of them being medicine cats. It was an ingenious ploy if Brightstar had ever seen one. Distract the prey with a threat, while all the while the true predator is sneaking along the sidelines ready to go in for the kill. If they didn't decide upon something fast, Cloudstorm may actually get his wish.

Sunlight suddenly sparkled from above through the treetops, as light penetrated through the deep forest canopy. Brightstar and Lionstar increased their paced until there was a sudden clearing in the trees, and they found themselves overlooking an endless lush green meadow stretching for countless foxlengths on.

Brightstar and Lionstar trudged on, whipping through the grass in racing blurs of red and gold. Finally, as they came to a dip in the land, they could hear a murmur of voices from down below. Slowly making their way down, Brightstar and Lionstar suddenly found themselves in a hollow, similar to that of the ThunderClan camp, surrounded by a cluster of cats.

The council meetings were always this crowded, with only cats of leader or deputy status in their past life allowed to attend. Some cats like Lionstar could never be bothered to attend something as wild as this, but considering what was on the line here, it appeared the golden brown tom had thought otherwise. As Brightstar maneuvered through the throng of conversating cats, she suddenly bumped into a tall brown tabby tom with sharp piercing grey eyes.

"Greetings, Hawkgaze," Lionstar cheerfully greeted the silver eyed tom.

"Ah, Lionstar," Hawkgaze said, dipping his head to the golden brown tom in respect, "A pleasure to see you, as always."

Brightstar hadn't bothered to greet Hawkgaze. There was a more personal matter on her mind than the usual greeting, and from the look in his eyes, Hawkgaze knew what was coming next.

"How is she?" Brightstar asked.

"How do you think?" Hawkgaze responded in an annoyed tone. "You've done everything within your power to ensure that she's out of the loop of everything that's going on, and she's fed up with it. She's just as involved in this as the rest of StarClan, Brightstar, if not more."

"Precisely," Brightstar agreed, with a flick of her tail. "And that's the exact same reason why I'm keeping her out of this."

"If I may intrude for a moment," Lionstar spoke up suddenly. "Brightstar I think Hawkgaze may have a point. "With all the heavy hits we've taken later, she may be the only one left who has a chance of calming the beast."

Brightstar opened her mouth to respond, but just then, a large pitch black tom rose on top of a boulder in the middle of the hollow, bringing everyone there to a hushed silence.

"There is no chance in putting it off any longer," the tom spoke in a booming voice that shook the air, as he trailed his dark green eyes over every single cat in attendance. "For those of you who have watched the Clans down below, you saw the chaos that the Dark Forest inspired. For those of you who have journeyed to the barrier, you saw it wavering. There is no longer denying it. The Dark Forest will be upon us in the coming days, and we must be ready. But that is not why this meeting has been called to. I ask you my fellow Clan cats, what is your final verdict upon the fate of the dark gray tom known as Cloudstorm in the upcoming battle?"

"Kill the exiled traitor!" a cat suddenly screeched from behind Brightstar, and the cry immediately brought on the cheers of approval from everyone else.

"Yes!" another growled. "He's the cause of all of this. Take him down, and the Dark Forest no longer has a main head to follow anymore." Yowls of approval sounded off at this as the cats of StarClan let their rage be known.

"Is this what you all agree upon, then?" the black tom spoke over all the yowling.

"No!" a voice suddenly cut through the cries of the others, snapping everyone's attention towards its owner. "No!" Hawkgaze growled angrily. "Cloudstorm is merely a pawn of Icefrost's used to draw our attention from the bigger issue. Icefrost has caused all of this to happen. Do you hear me? He wants us to focus on Cloudstorm, so that he can sneak in and tear us apart from the shadows. If there's any cat we need to be focused on, it's him."

"That maybe so, Hawkgaze," the black tom relented. "But then are you saying that Cloudstorm should be pardoned for his crimes, placing all the blame instead on Icefrost?"

"No!" a speckled she-cat suddenly shouted, coming to stand center stage amongst the cats. "That filthy murderous tom is responsible for the deaths of not one, but two of my Clan's cats. He has spat in the face of StarClan, calling us fools, and he is responsible for the destruction of the Moonpool. A scared object of the Clans! He will die, and die by the claws of the very tom who sired him!" she sneered, glaring viciously at Hawkgaze.

Brightstar blinked in surprise at the sudden challenge from the former WindClan leader, Galestar, and turned to see Hawkgaze's horrified face.

"What say you then, Hawkgaze," the black tom asked, as the rest of the assorted cats zoned in on his pelt. "Come the day of the battle, will you do your duty as a member of StarClan, and slay Cloudstorm?"

Hawkgaze looked around at the group of awaiting faces, a stricken expression etched painfully across his face. Brightstar could almost see the inner turmoil raging inside of him on what to do. On one end he could relent to agreeing to kill Cloudstorm, but somehow deep inside, Brightstar didn't actually believe he had it in himself to slay his own kit. If he didn't do it, he would lose face and faith among his fellow cats, something that wasn't easily recovered, especially during a time like this. Brightstar couldn't be sure what Hawkgaze would decide, but when he spoke, his answer actually surprised her.

"If this is the will of StarClan, then I will oblige to the request. Cloudstorm will meet his end by my claws, and my claws alone."

"Then it has been settled!" the black tom's voice boomed across the hollow. "Place guards at the barrier, and ready yourself for war my friends. StarClan will prevail!"

The other cats let loose with their yowls of agreement, but Brightstar couldn't bring herself to join in. With a blink of surprise, she realized that Lionstar was no longer by her. Looking around, she saw him in deep conversation with Hawkgaze, who had his head bowed low, as if ashamed to face anyone.

Sensing that there may be something she could do to help, Brightstar journeyed over to join the two toms.

"Hawkgaze," she began. "Are you sure this is what you want? If it's too much of a task for you to handle, I'll take over for you. No one else has to know, but us. I give you my word. Besides it's me that he wants to kill anyway, not you. So-"

"NO!" Hawkgaze cut her off with a defiant snap. "No, Brightstar, I alone will carry this burden. I just gave the members of StarClan my word. I had a paw in bringing Cloudstorm into this world, and it will be that same claw that ends his ambitions of conquest here."

(Scene Shift)

What am I doing here?

That single thought rang a ripple of echoes throughout my mind, as I stood in the gaze of the morning sun, overlooking the daily routines of the ThunderClan camp. The morning air was sharp and crisp, refreshingly cool as it filled my lungs with a soothing whisper. Sunlight glinted off the beads of dew sitting in the grass, casting a glittering effect of colors to sparkle across the ground.

Down below from my perch, hidden on top of the hollow, the Clan was bustling with activity. A hunting patrol just returned from a trip in the forest, stocking the freshkill pile high with a bundle of prey. The queens all lay out amongst each other sunbathing, all the while animatedly chatting, as the elders entertained the eager kits with tales from the past. Across the hollow near the medicine cat den, I saw Redwillow tending to a group of apprentices' scratches, who'd all had the misfortune of getting snagged in a thorn bush while out playing in the forest.

From my hidden perspective on top the hollow, I noticed a dramatic change in the behavior of the cats of the Clan. There was a buzz of unrepressed excitement and happiness radiating from everyone, something that had been absent during Leaf-bare. The Clan had suffered through a tough ordeal this past winter, but with Leaf-bare finally now receding into a distant memory, it appeared ThunderClan was looking forward to the dawn of a new horizon.

So then, why was I here?

The last time I'd made my leave from the Clan territory, it was planned to be my last. Yes, it had been planned to be my last pawstep on ThunderClan, but from some strange occurrence of events that I couldn't even begin to fathom or understand, I found myself being drawn back here guided purely by instinct.

Whatever was the reason for me being here, I hoped it hurried up and happened soon. With just the night of the gathering two days away separating me from my intended showdown with StarClan, I had a prior engagement awaiting me with someone special, and under no circumstances was I going to miss that for the world.

"This is troubling news, Rowanclaw," a voice suddenly sounded from my right. "For the sake of everyone among the forest, I truly hope that you are wrong."

I swiveled my attention across the camp towards the highledge, where settled on top, I saw the forms of Rowanclaw and Brackenstar exit the leader's den. They were talking in hushed tones, but from my point positioned on the hollow straining my ears, I was able to decipher the low echoes from their voices wafting across the camp.

"That's the word that we've gathered from a recent rumor surfacing from the WindClan camp," I heard Rowanclaw mutter to Brackenstar. "I'm not much one myself from believing in gossip of some random Clan apprentices, but there is cause to be worried here."

"This has all the signs of dark times in store for the Clans if what you tell me is true, Rowanclaw," Brackenstar responded with a rasp.

I strained my ears harder to catch what Rowanclaw responded to Brackenstar with, but the sudden laughter from some kits below disrupted my ability to overhear it. When Rowanclaw had finished speaking, it appeared that he was waiting for Brackenstar to make a decision on something, but the aging old tom simply shook his head, and turned his attention down to the cats below.

"We'll wait until the night of the gathering to see if there is any truth to these rumors before acting," Brackenstar told Rowanclaw, focusing his attention on the small group of kits now wrestling together. "Besides," he added, as a flicker of happiness sparked across his face. "We have a more joyous occasion to attend to today."

I had no idea what joyous occasion Brackenstar was speaking of, but later on that day, as the sun made its way in the sky to hover directly over the Clan, I got my answer.

"Will all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highrock for a Clan meeting," Brackenstar's voice rang out, strong and true across the camp. The Clan suddenly came alive like a wildfire just let loose through the camp, as they all came to attention, gathering below Brackenstar. "I've called you all together for one of the most important traditions in the Clans. Five kits have reached their sixth moon, and I now call them all forward to be apprenticed."

A tingle of surprise rippled across my pelt, as my eyes immediately focused on the fiery ginger pelt of one small kit among four others, walking proudly to stand before Brackenstar. I watched, almost in a stupefied trance, as kit after kit was apprenticed before my eyes, until only the ginger she-cat was left.

"Cherrykit," Brackenstar meowed, "from this day forward until you receive your warrior name, you will be named Cherrypaw. May StarClan guide your paws on the right trail to becoming a warrior."

"Cherrypaw, Cherrypaw, Cherrypaw!" the Clan cheered, causing a breath of warmth to spread across my chest. For a moment I was unable to place this strange yet familiar feeling, until with a yowl of joy I realized it was happiness, pure, unrestricted, or forced happiness for Cherrypaw, as I suddenly found myself joining in with the excited cheers from the rest of the Clan.

In that instant, just for a moment at least, I felt like I belonged there. Sitting up here on top of the hollow, I no longer felt like the estranged stranger that I knew within my heart I was. The surge of joy that pulsed through my body felt foreign at best, but also very, very real.

How long had it been? I wondered, as I watched as Gorsetail was chosen to be Cheryypaw's mentor. How long had it been since the last time I'd actually felt true happiness like this. The answer came with a resounding echo of my deceased mate's name, and that was what finally killed the warmth.

My body reverted back to its usual hollowness, and with a resolute look forward, I watched as the Clan began to disperse with the end of the ceremony. My eyes focused on Cherrypaw, as she happily touched noses with her siblings and mother. Out the corner of my eye, I saw Rowanclaw make his way through the crowd and quickly join his family, lovingly touching noses with each of his kits in turn. The scene left me in utter disgust, and without a look backwards, I made for my leave.

The sight of seeing Rowanclaw so happy and content with his title of deputy and loving family to greet left me in a state of complete dejection at realizing that I was watching a backwards reflection of what could have possibly been my life. It left a burning fire of hate in my heart at knowing that all that was only a farfetched dream now because of what they did.

Only now, as I began my long trek for my intended destination, did I realize that StarClan had successfully eradiated any chances of me having had a future. That, in many ways is a very demoralizing realization. But for me it only helped fuel the flames of hate and rage that I would finally once and for all be able to unleash upon those accursed starry furred fools.

The walk from the ThunderClan camp was agonizingly slow for me. During the battle with Buzzardflight near the Moonpool, she'd managed to fracture my right paw with a vicious bite that's left me limping. This made traveling a great hassle for me, but Goldenshine had promised I'd be able to walk fine in a few days; and just in time for what was to come, too.

I traveled through the deep bracken of the forest at a more leisurely pace than of what I was accustomed to. A soft breeze had begun to blow, causing the leaves in the trees to flutter. The branches above me crackled with life, from the various squirrel scurrying from branch to branch, or occasion serenade of birdsong. The earth below my paws felt soft and cool, thankfully easing a bit of the stiffness from my aching paw. The peaceful nature of the forest was enough to lull me into a sense of comfort, letting my guard down and embrace the familiar smells and sights of my former home.

My mind filled with the happy memories from back then when I was just a newly named warrior, proudly hunting for his Clan. I remember how I couldn't help joyously yowling to the heavens above every few moments, and the pure joy that I felt at finally being a warrior.

'Cloudstorm.' I remembered reciting giddily to myself, time after time again. Just the very sound of my name was enough to send a proud flare of pride washing across me. There couldn't be a single greater thing in this life than being a warrior, I cluelessly believed at the time. Nothing came close, I had sworn. But that was of course, before I had met her. My dear, Amber-

Suddenly, the sound of a twig cracking behind me tore me away from my memory, before I whipped around with claws unsheathed to face the threat. What I was greeted by, however, was the farthest thing from a threat at all. As a matter of fact I was more irritated than threatened, as standing before me trying not to look any more obvious than a bird with two heads, was Cherrypaw.

My irritation with finding her here tailing me was only overshadowed by the surprise at finding her here. "Cherrypaw, what are you doing out here away from the Cl-" I had begun to say, before being tackled in the chest by a bright bundle of fur.

"Cloudy, it's you!" I heard her happily shout, through a mouthful of my fur. "I wasn't sure if it was you had I really seen on top of the hollow, but it was! You came! You really came to my ceremony!"

I was at a loss for words, but more importantly, also of breathe, too. The waves of utter joy and happiness radiating from Cherrypaw were overwhelming me. I was completely clueless on how best to react to the situation.

"You really came," she whispered, stepping back to stare into my face, as her eyes glowed brightly.

"Uh, yeah, w-well, I did promise, remember?" I stammered, unable to meet her excited gaze.

What was wrong with me? I've stood face to face with Brightstar, swearing to destroy her and all of StarClan without batting an eye. I'd mentally battled for the right of my own sanity against the scourge of the Dark Forest, Rosethorn, and had returned to the waking world victorious. But then, could someone please explain why, after all that, I couldn't gain the courage to look an apprentice in the eye?

Gratefully enough for me, it appeared Cherrypaw was oblivious to my discomfort, as she chatted in rapid session how great it was to see me, and a flurry of other things that I failed to understand. Finally after she'd managed to tire herself out, I was able to respond.

"It's great to see you again, too, Cherrypaw," I replied, giving the ginger my first genuine smile in moons. If nothing else, I was truly proud to see her become an apprentice, and I wanted to portray that sentiment to her best as I could with that smile. "Wow, someone's gotten bigger since I last saw her," I noted, much to the pleasure of Cherrykit.

"Do you really think so?" she asked excitedly, puffing herself up to her fullest height.

"Immensely," I complimented before adding teasingly, "Last time you were the size of a mouse, but now I'd say you've finally managed squirrel."

"Hey!" Cherrypaw growled at me, crouching down into a pouncing stance, her hindquarters wiggling in the air.

"What, is the squirrel getting angry?" I teased good-naturedly, while mimicking her crouch. "

"I'll show you who the squirrel is," she challenged, and launched herself at me.

Even though, with an injured I wasn't anywhere near my natural speed, I was still able to easily to dodge Cherrypaw's sloppy attack, before quickly nipping her on the hindquarters.

"You'll have to be quicker than that if you want to catch me, little squirrel," I taunted.

Cherrypaw narrowed her eyes determinedly, and launched herself at me again. Once again I was able to foresee her latest attempt, and easily dodged. "You're not getting any closer, little squirrel," I danced around her, wincing slightly from the pressure on my injured foreleg. "Maybe you would have a better chance if you closed your eyes."

Cherrypaw growled, as I mockingly stood standing superior in front of her. She crouched lower than the first two times, digging her claws deep into the ground. I stood still, flicking my tail tauntingly for her to bring it on, and she sprung. Her game plan was terribly similar to the first two attempts, but when I tried to jump out of the way, my injured foreleg buckled from the sudden pressure on it, and I stumbled right into Cherrypaw's launch, falling back to the forest floor with her weight on me.

"Hah, who's the little squirrel now?" Cherrypaw challenged proudly.

"Nice job," I wheezed, as she climbed off of me. For only being a newly name apprentice, Cherrypaw sure packed a lot of power hidden under that small frame of hers.

With a bit of difficulty, I was able to climb back to my paws, but not able to hide the wince of pain at putting weight on my foreleg, immediately alerting Cherrypaw.

"Oh, no, I didn't hurt you, did I, Cloudy?" she asked in a worried voice.

"No, no, this happen a while ago," I promised her. "It's a little sore, that's all."

As Cherrypaw let out a relieved sigh, I couldn't help but realize this was the first time in moons where I'd actually not been serious and just having fun. Fun? Wow, it'd been a long time since I'd just let loose and played around. It wasn't that hard to believe, considering all that I'd been through these past moons. I hadn't done much more than obsessing over StarClan during these last six moons, but for whatever reason being around Cherrypaw had suddenly, if only for a moment at least, allowed me to actually let my hardened exterior of war to subside for the time being.

I'd enjoyed just being in Cherrypaw's presence this entire time that I failed to notice how much time had gone by. With a shock from glancing above, I saw an orange sky, marking the signs of sunset. What had I been this entire time? I was going to be late!

"I have to go," I told Cherrypaw, before abruptly turning to leave, running as fast as my leg would allow.

"Wait, what?" Cherrypaw said in surprise. "You're leaving already?"

"Yes, I've got somewhere very important to be right now," I told her, mentally cursing myself for having lost track of time.

I didn't hear a response from Cherrypaw, so I assumed she had gone on back to the Clan. Moments later this proved to be wrong, as the ginger apprentice pulled along beside me, matching my pace.

"I'll come with you," she said casually, as if I'd just invited her along.

"What, no. Go back to the Clan before someone starts to realize you're missing," I told her. I didn't need a companion for where I was headed next, and personally didn't want one, even if it was Cherrypaw.

"Where are we headed?" she asked, ignoring my command, much to my displeasure.

I growled outwardly, wondering why briefly I was the one who had to deal with this stubborn cat. "If you must know, I'm going to meet an old friend of mine."

"Are they a Clan cat?" Cherrypaw inquired curiously.

"Yes- she was," I responded evenly, ignoring Cherrypaw's curious stare. It wasn't something I wished to explain. There were already too many unanswered questions about me that Cherrypaw wondered about. The most obvious had to be how I knew so much about the Clans, when it was clear from my smell and name that I clearly had to be a rogue.

Cherrypaw tried unsuccessfully many more times to get out the location of our destination out of me, but I was tight lipped for the remainder of the trip. All the while, we never once left ThunderClan territory, but as we drew closer and closer to our destination, my mood began to darken; and Cherrypaw noticed it.

My pulse began to quicken, as my heart started to race wildly out of control. For once, an emotion I wasn't at all familiar with, was brewing in the pit of my stomach.

Nervousness.

I literally felt my will give into it, drenching me in a wave of jitters. I stumbled slightly, and Cherrypaw immediately dashed forward to help me steady myself.

"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, gazing into my haggard face.

"Yes," I answered in a huff, shocked to find myself suddenly out of breathe. "Yeah," I wheezed for air, "I'm fine."

I could tell from the skeptical and increasingly worried expression clouding her face that she hadn't believed a word that I'd just said. Either way, however; I had to keep going. I needed to make it there before sundown.

My limp became increasingly worser, as I forced my way forward to the point I was no longer walking on it, and simply hobbling my way onward.

"Cloudy, don't you think that you should maybe rest for a while," Cherrypaw meekly suggested, but a snarl filled growled from me, silenced any lingering questions about that.

My breaths were coming out in short, ragged bursts now, giving the illusion form anyone nearby listening, the sound of a snoring badger. I suddenly lost the energy to hold my own tail in the air, and simply let it trail limply behind us.

My body knows where I'm headed, I realized with a jolt. The feeling of dejection had crawled its way back up into my chest, making it ache with a soundless wail of agonizing sorrow and self-pity. We were close. Suddenly, the forest parted around us, and I and Cherrypaw found ourselves standing at the border that divided ThunderClan from RiverClan.

"I don't think your friend's here, Cloudy," Cherrypaw said, suddenly looking fearful at finding herself in unfamiliar settings.

"N-no," I wheezed painfully, dragging myself to a small turf of grass, that unlike the others wasn't lushfully green. "No, she's right here." And with that, I collapsed to the ground.

"Cloudy!" Cherrypaw yowled in terror, racing over to me. "Cloudy, what happen? Are you okay?" she cried hysterically. However, as much as Cherrypaw wailed for me to get up, her voice was receding to nothing more than an annoying whisper.

"Help me! Help, it hurts!" screamed the dying she-cat as blood pooled from her body. "Help me please, I don't want to die! Cloudstorm, please do something!"

I watched in shocked, helpless to do anything but watch. She screamed hysterically in pain and I could only gaze into her fear stricken eyes as she cried. She was dying right in front of me and I couldn't do a thing to stop it. She was calling my name, pleading, crying out in desperation for me to do something to save her, but I could only watch in horror. My mind couldn't comprehend what was happening; it was too much to handle.

Her blood began to stain the forest floor red, and I barely even registered that my paws were beginning to get soaked in it. This wasn't happening; it couldn't be. I swore to protect her. I told her the night I declared my loved that I would forever protect and keep her safe from harm. I swore it! But why now when she needed me most I was unable to do a thing but watch in a horrified trance.

I could see the life began to drain from her eyes. She was losing the will to keep fighting, I could tell. The pain was too intense. I crouched by her side and licked her face in vain desperately trying to draw a response. I wanted her to say something. Anything! Anything to keep her with here with me. She suddenly gazed at me with an expression clouded by pain and whispered the words that would forever haunt my nightmares.

"Cloudstorm….pl-plea-se….Cloudstorm, please kill me."

Suddenly, the grief rushed over me in a stampede of pain and sorrow, and I found myself lost in the memories.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Cloudstorm," the beautiful medicine cat replied sweetly to the stupefied tom.

"Thanks for your help, Cloudstorm. My mentor would have had my pelt if I hadn't been able to deliver all these tansy leaves on time."

"Stay still!" the medicine cat berated the squirming gray tom. "Yes, I know it hurts, but that's what you get for running face first into a thorn bush, mousebrain."

"It's not fair!" the she-cat wailed to the dark gray tom in anguish. "Why couldn't I save her, Cloudstorm? My sister, my only sister and I couldn't save her."

"I wish you'd be more careful," the she-cat told the dark gray tom, tending to his wounds. "You're a good friend of mines, and I'd hate to have something bad happen to you.

"Deputy!" the she-cat squealed in surprise. "Oh, Cloudstorm' I'm so happy for you," she happily cried, before without realizing it, leaned forward to lick the dark gray tom's muzzle.

"We can't keep doing this," the she-cat whispered miserably. "It's against the warrior code. Worse, what if someone were to find out?" she whimpered, staring fearfully into the gray tom's eyes.

"You what? Oh, Cloudstorm, please this is hard enough, don't you go spewing lies to make me stay! Do I what? Why would you even ask me such a thing? No! I-….Yes…. I do love you Cloudstorm. I always have."

"Cloudstorm, I don't know how to say this, but I'm pregnant."

"Stop worrying yourself, you big gray furrball," the she-cat told her mate, with a loving lick. We'll figure out what to do with the kits when the time comes."

"Cloudstorm," the she-cat rasped out, in agonizing pain."Pl-plea-se….Cloudstorm, please kill me."

One after another the memories flashed by, each one more painful than the last. I had to come back here. One final time, I had to relieve my reason for living, the reason for my pain, the reason for her death. If I was going to face StarClan, I first had to come to terms with the nightmares that haunted my dreams at night. I had failed to save her; I had failed to do a single thing to save her life. However, no matter what, I was going to make everything right, no matter what!

I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to save you. But in two nights with the rise of the full moon, I am going to avenge you. I'm taking the fight to them! I will avenge you, Amberh-

"Cloudy!"

My eyes snapped open, and I inhaled deeply, taking in the fresh air of the night. I sat up, realizing at once from the pitch blackness around me that it was night.

"Cloudy, you're okay!" a voice cried, before a ginger bundle slammed into my chest. "Oh, Cloudy, I didn't know what to do. You just collapsed, and I was out here all alone without any way to help you. I'm so sorry!" she cried into my chest, causing me to look down at her.

"Don't worry," I told her in a soft tone, before giving her a quick lick. "I'm fine now. Come on, let's get you back home."

The walk back was silent. I wasn't sure, but I think my fainting episode had made the once chattery Cherrypaw weary of me. In retrospect, I couldn't really blame her. I would guess any cat her age would be a little on edge after having someone expectantly faint on them.

Finally we came within sight of the camp, and we stopped to face each other. Last time me and Cherrypaw had stood here, she was only just a kit. And now she stood, as a freshly name apprenticed of ThunderClan with the world before her paws. This time, I think we both knew that this would be our last time meeting. I was already so proud of the cat she'd turned out to be so far, but from here our paths went in two completely different directions.

I opened my mouth to say something, anything, something of value to take with her as she lived her life, but I found myself at a loss for words. Taking hint of what I may have possibly wanted to say, Cherrypaw dashed forward and buried her face deep into my chest.

"Goodbye, Cloudy," she murmured softly. "I'll miss you."

I bent down and licked her head, inhaling the smell of her scent. I would miss her too. She'd never know it, but thanks to her this had been the happiest time of my life in a long time. I opened my mouth one final time determined to say something, with a grass of leaves alerted us to the presence of another. We jumped away from each other, and watched as the body of Rowanclaw materialized from the darkness of the shadows.

As soon as he saw me, I noticed a spark of recognition flashed across his eyes, formalizing that he remembered me from all those moons ago. We stood staring at each other, neither one making the slightest twitch of bat of an eye to let the other on to what were thinking. Cherrypaw glanced from her father to me in utter bewilderment, completely oblivious to the dangerous tension currently hanging in the air.

I wasn't too keen on fighting Rowanclaw so near to the ThunderClan or in front of Cherrypaw; she didn't need to see that side of me. But if Rowanclaw attacked me, I would have no other choice but to oblige him. And with me in the current that I was in, it didn't bode well for me coming out unscathed. Suddenly, Rowanclaw took a pawstep forward, and I immediately tensed. However, what he did next not only surprised me, but Cherrypaw as well.

"Thank you," he said dipping his to me in respect, while I sat there baffled trying to figure out what had just happened.

"Well, well, well, the infamous Cloudy I presume, then," he said, a twinkle sparkling in his eyes at the pronouncing of my name. "You may not know this, but you saved a lot of lives that night you decided to help my daughter and bring catmint back to my sick Clan. You have no idea how fearful I was of possibly losing the lives of not only losing my mate, but my daughter as well."

I stood there, slowly beginning to understand what Rowanclaw was doing before returning the favor and dipping my head in favor to him. "You're welcome. I only did what I thought was right, and it appears that paid off."

"Come on," Rowanclaw said to Cherrypaw. "Your mother's been worried about you, and I'm not going to be the one to explain that you snuck out to say hello to an old friend."

Cherrypaw sighed in resolution, walking to join her father at his side, but not before waving goodbye to me with her tail. I returned the gesture, nodding her to go on before turning to go my own way.

"My StarClan light your path, wherever it may take you, Cloudy," I heard Rowanclaw's parting words not far off.

I had to resist a small shake of my head at the fact that he didn't know how foreboding his words were. I knew exactly where my path would take me, and inexplicably enough, StarClan had been the one to lead me all the way there up to their very end.