Stormfur gave a last nudge to Brambleclaw's grave. They had buried the ThunderClan warrior beside the waterfall, where the mist churned the soil into mud.
Squirrelpaw still crouched beside the mound of earth, head bowed. Stormfur padded up to her.
"Squirrelpaw? It's time to go."
The small ginger cat turned toward him.
"Fine" she meowed flatly. "I'm coming."
Stormfur guided her back to the others, supporting her when she stumbled. The once-lively apprentice dragged her paws as if they were made of stone, her eyes staring sightlessly at the ground.
Will her pain ever be healed?
Feathertail watched Squirrelpaw with concern. The apprentice had drawn into a world of her own, oblivious to anything but pain.
Her love was that strong. But she never realized it until now.
Feathertail glanced at Crowpaw, shuddering at how cloud she had come to losing her love.
I would die for you.
No matter what, her love for the WindClan apprentice would never go away
Never.
They traveled all that day, stopping only to gulp down a hawk that Tawnypelt caught. The sun was setting blood-red behind them when the ShadowClan cat finally called a halt.
The night air was chill and damp. Feathertail curled up close to Crowpaw, his warm fur pressed into hers.
"We'll be fine" he meowed quietly, rasping his tongue across Feathertail's ear. "We'll get through this-together."
Feathertail purred, and the two shared tongues until sleep overtook them at last.
A long stretch of water opened before her, filled with a thousand stars. Wind whispered in the trees like voices murmuring words too quiet to hear. A yowl shattered the peaceful scene. There where screeches and screams, like cats in terrible pain.
Feathertail gasped in horror. A monster burst out of the trees, tearing them like a warrior would tear prey. It hurtled towards her, mud splattering from its great black paws. But she was frozen, unable to move. A wail sounded above the monsters roaring, a cry of despair. Feathetail choked with horror.
"Graystripe!"
He must be in the monster!
But there was no answer. Feathertail dashed after the monster, racing furiously. But is way no use-the monster sped up and vanished.
She woke, shivering. Stormfur was on watch. Feathertail crept over and whispered in his ear.
"We've gotto get home." She explained her dream.
Stormfur's eye filled with dismay, but he shrugged.
"It was just a dream."
"It was more than that, I'm sure" Feathertail insisted.
"Well, if it was, there's nothing we can do."He licked her ear. "It'll be fine."