Try

Just past halfway done, woo! This story started off as just a fleeting thought while I was trying to overcome writers' block on my other story, Grief, but I really like how it's turning out. This chapter contains slight FireSand, one-sided FireCinder, and a bit less one-sided DustCinder. Please review!

Disclaimer: I do not and have never owned the series Warriors by Erin Hunter.

Cinderpelt sighed as she padded into her den, mouth full of herbs. Even after a moon, she still expected Yellowfang to be waiting in the den for her when she returned. As she began to sort the herbs she had collected, another cat padded into the den to sit beside her.

"How are you?" the tom meowed softly. She knew he was referring to Yellowfang's death.

She turned to face the amber-eyed warrior. "I'm doing just as well as any other day… it's hard, but I'm getting used to being alone in here."

Dustpelt smiled at her. "Want me to break something so you get to see me all the time?" the brown tabby meowed cheekily.

The blue-eyed medicine cat smirked. "I don't think I could put up with you all the time." A thought occurred to the she-cat. "How do you think Fireheart is doing, since Sandstorm died…?" she asked concernedly.

All traces of warmth faded from the warrior's eyes. "I'm sure he's fine," he meowed, stifling a growl from rising in his throat.

"Are you sure?" the smoky-gray she-cat didn't seem to pick up on the sudden hostility in the other's voice. "He seems so out of it lately… although he has been coming in to visit me more often, so I suppose that's a good thing!"

And I've been coming here to visit you since I saved you from yourself, but that doesn't matter; I'm not Fireheart, am I now? the tom thought angrily. Instead of voicing his thoughts, he nodded silently as the medicine cat continued.

Cinderpelt continued to excitedly discuss Fireheart. "Earlier, he told me he was sorry for not coming to visit me as often! Although he only said we were friends… that's still better than when he was with Sandstorm, right?"

"Cinderpelt!" the dark tabby hissed, startling the medicine cat into looking up at him. "There's more to life than just wishing for Fireheart to like you."

The blue-eyed she-cat flattened her ears. "What are you talking about? You know I love Fireheart!"

"Well maybe there's more that you're missing in life, because all you'll ever do is pine after a cat who doesn't love you!" Dustpelt snarled angrily. "You're a medicine cat, for StarClan's sake! You're not even supposed to have a mate, ever! All you do is throw yourself at him, over and over again, and he barely acknowledges you. Who knows, maybe there's some other cat right under you nose who could be a better mate than Fireheart would ever be!"

The smoky gray medicine cat hissed back, "But there isn't, because Fireheart is the only cat who I would ever want! I'm not even friends with any of the other toms in this Clan, except you , Brackenfur, and Fireheart!"

The amber-eyed tom recoiled, as if she had hit him. "Fine," he spat, "I'm sorry for caring about you! Come find me when you realize that there's more to life than just Fireheart." With that, the broad-shouldered warrior stormed out of the medicine den, leaving Cinderpelt alone.

The blue-eyed she-cat stared after the tom's retreating figure. Maybe he was right… after all, he had heard her complain about Fireheart and Sandstorm more times than she could count. And he had saved her, back when she was still Cinderpaw… had she let him down by choosing Fireheart over him, her friend? Did he hate her now?

Tears welled in her eyes at the thought of him hating her. Life without him, her closest friend in the Clan, would be lonely… Suddenly, she felt more alone than she ever had as she sat in her den that was no longer shared with Yellowfang. What had she done? I'm so sorry…

I'll find a way to fix this, the medicine cat promised herself. Just then, she heard footsteps coming closer to her den. Her ears pricked as she turned to the entrance, hoping it was Dustpelt returning.

She sighed discontentedly when she saw, instead, a bright ginger tom. "Hello, Fireheart," she meowed, faking cheerfulness.

"Hi, Cinderpelt. Have you had any dreams from StarClan recently?" the deputy asked eagerly, not noticing the strain in the she-cat's voice.

She smirked a little, knowing what the green-eyed warrior was trying to ask. "No, Fireheart," she meowed, "I haven't heard anything from Sandstorm."

Fireheart wilted noticeably. "Oh…" he meowed sadly.

"Don't worry," Cinderpelt mewed comfortingly, "Remember, no matter what she'll always be with you. Eventually you might even get over her and find some she-cat even better."

The ginger tom perked up a little. "You really think so? Thanks, Cinderpelt. I don't know what I'd do without you," he meowed, smiling a little.

The medicine cat returned his smile. "No problem, I'm here any time you need to talk. Now go, I'm sure you have duties to attend to."

As the deputy nodded and turned to pad out of her den, she let the artificial smile drop. What was wrong with her? Fireheart visiting usually made her feel better no matter what, but now she felt lonelier than ever… She glanced out to the camp, where she saw Dustpelt chatting amicably with Fernpaw as they left for the training hollow. Sighing, she retired to the back of her den. Will you ever forgive me?

Sorry, but I tried; it was never mine,
But I can still pretend, I guess it all depends;
I'm still a little crazy all the time,
But I can try to hide it, that's still mine...