For reading enhancement, listen to "The Way" (Instrumental) by Zack Hemsey with headphones while reading this chapter. Trust me on this one~

"Pup!" Brackenfur yowled.

Without a second thought, the golden warrior turned and peered over the edge of the cliff on a section that wasn't loose. His amber eyes scanned the cliffside for any signs of life. Growing more horrified by the second, Brackenfur began to dart his gaze across the tormenting dark water below, fearing the worst. "Pup!" He called again, helplessly.

Brackenfur stood still as he waited for confirmation of life but when he received no response, he wailed in agony. He drew back from the ridge and began to frantically pace back and forth along the edge. His mind was running full sprint like a rabbit in new-leaf. This couldn't be happening. This could not be happening.

"You absolute fox-heart!" He cried out loud to himself, stumbling over his own paws. "You maggot-ridden, mouse-brained, crow-food eating-" Brackenfur's slew of self directed curses were interrupted by a sharp whimper. Halting immediately in his steps, the distraught warrior pricked his ears. When he heard the same cry again a few moments later, the tom sprang to the edge of the ridge. Cautiously, he dared to peek over the edge of the cliff.

As he scanned the area once more, he still couldn't see any sign of hope. "Pup!" He yowled again, throwing his head back and forth. "Are you there?" Brackenfur received another whine from the small dog, yet, he still couldn't find where it was located.

He's still alive! I've got to find him!

"That's it, keep talking to me!" He called, leaning dangerously over the edge. "I need to know where you're stuck!" As the pup cried out again, one of Brackenfur's ears instinctively swiveled to pinpoint the source. Standing directly over the sound, the golden brown warrior was dismayed that he still couldn't see the small dog. However, the steady stream of whines coming from the dog confirmed that he was somewhere right below his paws.

Cautiously, Brackenfur began to lower himself, tail first, down the side of the cliff. Where are you, little warrior? Determination conquered the fear blazing through Brackenfur's pelt. The tom squinted his eyes as loose grit showered him across the face. Slowly, he began to scale further down the cliffside, following the sounds of the crying pup. He tried not to think about the raging torrent of agony below him, even though he could feel his tail getting splashed with the icy water. One wrong step could send him crashing down and that would be the end of him and the pup.

When the crying became the loudest, Brackenfur frowned in confusion. He looked to his side and saw nothing but dirt and a few bits of moss clinging against the wall. But he's so close; he has to be right here! Hesitantly, the golden warrior reached his paw out and grazed the side of the cliff, his remaining paws gripped tightly against the dirt. His paw slipped inward and he was soon surprised to come in contact with something soft and warm. The pup let out an almost triumphant whine, seemingly content to have Brackenfur in his presence again.

"There you are!" Brackenfur sighed in relief. The pup was sitting in a small indent on the cliff, his orange and white fur completely covered nose to tail with dirt and other debris. From the crevice, there was a ledge no longer than a fore-leg jutting from the cliff. The young dog must have hit it on his tumble down and rolled into the hole.

"Hang on, don't move," Brackenfur coaxed, shifting his position. "I've got you." Carefully, the golden warrior extended his neck and grabbed the scruff of the small creature. Once he was sure that he had gotten a good hold, Brackenfur looked up. He was dismayed to see just how far he had climbed down; the top of the cliff spanned about three tail lengths away. It was not going to be easy getting back up. Brackenfur's heart dropped when he felt the soil shift slightly in-between his claws. I have to get us out of here now!

As much as the golden brown warrior wanted to scramble back up the wall, he forced himself to move one paw slowly at a time. The pup was straining the muscles in his neck but he ignored the pain and pushed on. His next move caused a loose rock to tumble away from his paw and fall down the wall. Out of the corner of his eye, Brackenfur watched in horror as it splashed into the water to never be seen again. Pressing his ears flat along his head, the tom grunted with effort as he continued to climb upward, grit spraying down below him after every move.

After a few agonizing moments, Brackenfur had finally broken through to the top of the ridge. He grasped his front paws on the edge of the cliff and immediately hoisted the pup onto the surface above. Sorry in advance. He gave the small scrap a forcefully push with his nose, causing it to roll further away from the looming danger and to the safety of solid ground. Utterly exhausted, Brackenfur struggled to lift his hind legs over the edge. The muscles in his shoulders bulged with effort as his back legs scrabbled against the surface wall. He could feel sand, dirt and other debris clogged between his claws and fur, and the warrior wanted nothing more to do than to wade through a stream to cleanse himself. When Brackenfur finally managed to get one hind leg over the edge, he let out a sigh of relief.

It was, unfortunately, a premature celebration.

Almost at once, the ground began to give away under the new added weight from the warrior. Yowling in terror, Brackenfur was thrown completely off balance and began to slide back down the cliff. Panic stuck the tom as the he slipped further and lost sight of the top of the cliff. He tried to reach out for better footing but caught hold of nothing but air and loose soil. Brackenfur closed his eyes as he realized there was nothing else he could do as he began to fall.

At least the pup is safe, came a bittersweet thought. This is just the simple consequence I have to pay to atone for my sins. I hope StarClan finds it in them to forgive me.

Suddenly, Brackenfur felt something sharp snag one of his fore-legs and he stopped falling all together. The abruptness of the snag caused the tom to swing back and slam against the wall of the cliff, the wind effectively being knocked out of him.

"Come on!" A she-cat's voice yowled. "Now is not the time to stop fighting!" Confused and dazed, Brackenfur strained his head to look up. Blinking against the showering debris, he was met with the sight of a gray she-cat teetering over the edge of the cliff with an unsheathed paw clenched on his leg. Her other foreleg was tucked stiffly against the cliff for whatever little stability the ground could provide.

"Cinderpelt?!" Brackenfur yelled in disbelief.

The ThunderClan medicine cat grunted with effort as the weight of the heavier tom began to drag her over the edge. Her lame leg was proving to be a severe disadvantage. "I'm losing my grip!" She growled through gritted teeth. "Brackenfur, you have to climb - now!" Finally returning to his senses, Brackenfur fought with the might of StarClan to find some type of sure footing. Desperation coursed though his pelt as he still couldn't locate anywhere safe to hold onto. With every passing heartbeat, Cinderpelt was being dragged further and further over the edge.

"I can't find anything!" He cried, glancing back up to meet Cinderpelt's squinting blue eyes. "You have to let go of me, or we'll both fall!"

"No!" The gray she-cat yowled, tightening her grip. Brackenfur hissed in pain at her claws dug deeper into his skin, he was sure that it was drawing blood. "I will banish myself to the Dark Forest before I let go of you!" Cinderpelt's ultimatum filled Brackenfur with both admiration and anguish. She was his clan mate, and she was willing to lay down her life if it meant saving him. Still scrambling to find footing, Brackenfur watched in horror as he saw the beginnings of Cinderpelt's hind legs peer over the edge. Any moment now, the courageous she-cat would break free from the top and tumble over the edge of the cliff with Brackenfur.

Suddenly, the distraught tom heard a surprised yelp come from Cinderpelt and soon, Brackenfur felt himself being pulled further and further up the side of the cliff. At last, the golden tom saw the cover of the forest off in the distance as he was pulled to safety. The dragging didn't stop until the dirt-covered warrior was well away from the dangers of any lose soil. Spluttering to catch his breath, Brackenfur glanced up in time to see a blazing red tom release Cinderpelt's neck scruff from his mouth.

"I refuse to lose anymore cats to that dreaded gorge!" Firestar exclaimed, concern flooding his green eyes as he sniffed over his two panting clanmates. "I came to look for you both when I noticed that the medicine cat den was lacking in your presence. What in the name of StarClan happened?!"

Cinderpelt coughed up a mouthful of soil before shaking her head. Her blue eyes were haunted as she stared at Brackenfur, as if she was recalling a terrible memory. "I-I don't know. I was returning to camp from herb picking when I heard yowling. I rushed over here as soon as I could and saw Brackenfur slipping over the edge." She broke eye contact to stare at her own paws. "I was able grab a hold of him right as he fell over, but if you hadn't come when you did Firestar… we both would have gone over." She shivered noticeably and Firestar pressed his pelt comfortingly against hers in hope of offering support.

"Hey," Firestar offered softly, "He's okay, you saved this one. You may not be able to save everyone, but you have always tried your best. StarClan couldn't ask for more." Cinderpelt gave a sigh and nodded her head against his fur in agreement. Brackenfur looked on, confused as to what his leader meant.

Had Cinderpelt not been able to save someone before? Is that why she was so determined to save me? Brackenfur figured it was best not to ask.

Silence passed between the ruffled cats as they all took a moment to calm themselves. Only the sound of the breeze gently rustling the branches of trees could be heard and the sound of the water crashing wildly in the gorge further back.

"Brackenfur," The ThunderClan leader started, his voice filled with worry. "What were you doing out here?"

Brackenfur flattened his ears, his eyes downcast. He still couldn't believe that he had been the cause of putting his trusted clan mates in danger. "I…" He didn't finish his thought as he suddenly remembered why he was out here at the gorge in the first place.

Oh… Great… StarClan!

"Where is he?!" Brackenfur yowled, springing to his paws. He began to stagger from side to side, his center of gravity completely skewed. Firestar and Cinderpelt flinched at the golden tom's rapid outburst as he began frantically checking rock after rock.

"Where is who?" Firestar asked, just as confused as Cinderpelt looked.

Brackenfur let out a hiss of frustration, ignoring the question. "I need to find him!" He cried, continuing his search. Stumbling over his own paws, Brackenfur sniffed determinedly at every corner. He had to be here somewhere! Where are you, little warrior?

The golden warrior froze as he heard a familiar, high-pitched whine come from somewhere very close to him. Skirting the edge of a pile of grass, Brackenfur finally found the small dog in a clump of dried shrubbery. The poor scrap was covered with even more debris, almost completely camouflaged with his background.

"Oh, thank StarClan…" Brackenfur breathed, his heart lurching up to this throat. Without a second thought, he lunged forward and scooped the pup into his paws. Sitting up on his hind legs, the relieved warrior brought the dirty creature to his chest and brought his cheek down to gently rest against the tiny form. "I'm sorry," He whispered. "I am so, so sorry." He gave the pup many vigorous licks, not caring about the grime, and for the first time, Brackenfur purred to him. The golden warrior's head spun as he felt a strong flow of sentiment course through his pelt, causing him to sob tears of many different emotions.

He felt angry, for allowing himself to think so irrationally. It's what started this whole mess of a scenario in the first place. He felt shame, for almost going through with his ridiculous plan to "set things right again." He felt guilty, not only for putting the pup's life at risk, but his and Cinderpelt's. He felt happiness, seeing that the pup was alive and, although filthy, okay. He felt prideful, for the pup acted courageously and selflessly, even though his life had literally hung in the balance. And lastly, he felt extremely grateful that StarClan had enough mercy to forgive the mistakes of his wrong-doings.

Firestar and Cinderpelt exchanged perplexed looks as they watched the golden warrior hug the small scrap for several, long heartbeats. "Why is the dog here?" Firestar asked slowly. "What's it doing so far from camp?"

"Him," Brackenfur declared, glaring with his amber eyes. "Not it. He's not an it." The ThunderClan leader flattened his ears, unsure of how to respond to the golden warrior's growl. He hadn't meant to offend or anger the younger tom.

Eventually, the red tabby dipped his head in understanding. "Him." He corrected, causing Brackenfur's hard gaze to soften completely.

"Brackenfur…" Cinderpelt started, taking a step forward. "You need to tell us what happened. What happened with you," She glanced to the tiny form still held in his paws. "What happened with… him."

Brackenfur nodded slowly, gently placing the pup back on to the ground. He kept a protective paw close to the small bundle of fur. The golden warrior let his shoulders sag in exhaustion, the night's slew of events catching up to him faster than what he was willing to accept. He body felt like it was being pelted with sharply pointed rocks and as his adrenaline wore off, he felt just how badly his fore-leg had been shredded by Cinderpelt's heroic act. He didn't mind though because without it, he wouldn't be able to feel any pain at all.

That's because I would be dead.

Lowering his head in shame, the exhausted tom closed his amber eyes. "I've done something terrible…" He started, his voice no louder than a whisper. The golden warrior couldn't bear to meet their eyes as he spoke, so he stared at the ground instead. Firestar and Cinderpelt had listened intently, not once interrupting as Brackenfur recalled the events of what happened after his search patrol returned to camp. Whatever they may have been feeling as he further explained, they kept their faces neutral.

I will make up for my faults, Brackenfur affirmed. Every mistake I make doesn't come with worsening consequences; it comes with opportunities, and it's my job to make sure that I take every single one.

next chapter - acceptance

Brackenfur learns more about his clan mates than he ever thought possible.

A/N:If you're enjoying the story so far, be sure to drop a review, follow and favorite so you won't miss a future update!