Her paws clawed desperately at the rock. The wind whistled through her tabby fur. Eyes wide with terror, Leafpool screamed, "Help!"
In the next instant a cat was bending over her, staring with huge eyes. Crowfeather.
He sank his teeth into her scruff and began pulling her. For one horrible, precarious second, Leafpool felt them both going over; then he tugged with surprising strength, and they both sprawled up over the rocky precipice.
"I must be the last cat you'd want to save," she commented lightly. Crowfeather's eyes burned into hers. "Is that what you think?" Her attention was already somewhere else. How was Hawkfrost doing? No, she couldn't feel for him; it was wrong, it was so wrong, he was the one who caused this rebellion in the first place...
Crowfeather's confession drew her back to reality. She locked eyes with him, stunned. Did he think she loved him? He must have, with the way he was looking at her! Had her love for Hawkfrost shone in her eyes while they were lying there?
That must be it. Her mouth gaped; she tried to say that it was all a mistake, they couldn't, he had gotten it all wrong, but she was too soft of heart for that. Her protests died in her throat as ThunderClan warriors came rushing to her aid.
Leafpool heaved a great sigh, feeling the rain spatter all over her coat. She loved Hawkfrost, who didn't love her. Crowfeather did love her, and thought she loved him, when she didn't. Things had gotten so complicated in the space of a few minutes.
"StarClan," she whispered, so softly that only she could hear, "If you're still there, please, tell me what to do."