I just want to say THANK YOU to all my reviewers. It means a lot to me. :)

So, here's the next chapter.

Stormfur was woken by Feathertail gently prodding him.

"It's time to go on."

Stormfur struggled to his paws and turned to Squirrelpaw. The ginger cat was hauling herself to her paws. A light of determination flickered in her eyes and was gone. Stormfur felt a stab of pain at the thought of the lively apprentice she once was, and his heart ached at for all that had been lost.

They struggled on all that day. Stormfur's paws were bleeding, leaving streaks of red as he dragged himself forward. Squirrelpaw was stumbling, and he pressed his side against her, steadying the apprentice.

"Tawnypelt?" he called to the tortoiseshell. "We have to stop soon."

The ShadowClan cat halted. "If you want to sleep on the edge of a cliff, you can" she meowed icily.

Stormfur looked down and gasped.

The trail opened before them into a wide gorge. A river thundered along below, looking as thin as a mouse tail. Its distant roaring filled Stormfur's ears. "H-how can we get across that?"

"There might be a way" Crowpaw pointed with his tail. "Look over there."

Following the WindClan cat's gaze, Stormfur saw the walls of the gorge curved inward about six fox-lengths away. The gap there looked narrow enough for a strong cat to jump.

But what if we miss? He shuddered, imagining falling down into the river to drown, if he wasn't dashed to pieces by rocks… Dimly he heard the others talking.

"Stormfur? Do you think we should risk it?" Tawnypelt was asking.

"If there's no other way. We have to get home as fast as we can" Stormfur meowed. He hoped he sounded like he meant it.

"I'll go first" Crowpaw meowed, padding up the gorge.

"Be careful" Feathertail meowed anxiously. Stormfur let out a hiss of annoyance. Then his gaze traveled to Squirrelpaw.

Do I have any right to be mad at them?

He shook himself. He was just looking after the apprentice when she needed it, he told himself. He knew better then to start a serious relationship with a cat from another Clan.

Or do I?

Crowpaw had made an enormous leap, landing two tail-lengths from the edge on the other side.

"Come on" he called, waving his tail. "It's nothing."

Feathertail took a deep breath and jumped. For a horrible instant Stormfur thought she wasn't going to make it. Her front paws caught the edge, but her back legs churned empty air.

Crowpaw reached down and hauled her up, and she pressed against him, trembling.

Tawnypelt crossed without any difficulty. It was Squirrelpaw's turn next.

"You can do it" Stormfur breathed into her ear.

"I know" she meowed, staring at the gap.

Then everything happened at once. An eagle dove straight for Squirrelpaw as she leapt, crashing into her and knocking her off balance. The apprentice plunged into the gorge. Without hesitation Stormfur launched himself after her.

Squirrelpaw was falling, falling. Rocks scraped against her pelt, tearing off the fur. Blood dripped in her eyes, blinding her. Twisting, the apprentice saw she was rushing nearer and nearer to the foaming waves.

She hit the water with a jolt. The icy shock took her breath away.

The waves pounded at Squirrelpaw, drawing her under. Water filled her mouth and nose; her lungs where bursting. Struggling wildly, her head broke the surface, and she drew in a quick breath of air before she was pulled under again. Blackness crept over her, dulling her senses.

Maybe I should just give in. At least I would be with Brambleclaw again.

Squirrelpaw's struggles were weakening. She couldn't hold on much longer.

A faint mist grew behind her failing eyes. As it grew closer, Squirrelpaw saw it was a cat, a large powerful tabby with stars gleaming in his fur.

Brambleclaw?

"Squirrelpaw, your place is not with me" Brambleclaw meowed. "You must live for the ones who need you." His eyes glowed with love and regret. "They- and one in particular-need you more than I do. Live. Live for me."

Squirrelpaw's head came up again, and she gulped in air.

"Brambleclaw-"

But the StarClan cat had vanished. All of Squirrelpaw's grief came rushing back, stronger than ever. But she felt alive again, more so then she had felt since Brambleclaw's death.

His final words echoed in her ears.

"Live for me."

And with that she began to swim, a final desperate race for the shore.