Softpetal was padding back to camp from the gathering and was excited to see Snowfall. She still couldn't believe he didn't want to return to his camp.
"Wait up." A cat called from behind her. She slowed down and Tigerfoot appeared next to her.
"Hi." He meowed breathlessly. She rolled her eyes and butted his shoulder with her head. "If you wanted to walk with me you could have just done it. I like walking with you."
The tabby tom looked down bashfully. "I like walking with you too."
Softpetal batted his ear playfully and ran ahead of him. Tigerfoot laughed and chased after her. She stopped suddenly and he bowled her over.
"Sorry." He apologized. Softpetal looked up at him kindly and he licked her muzzle gently. She squirmed out from under him uncomfortably and he seemed to realize what he'd done. The happiness faded from his eyes and they sat in silence.
"I'm so sorry." Tigerfoot mewed, obviously upset.
"No." Softpetal interrupted. "It's my fault. I've been leading you on. I just don't think Whitefoot would want it."
Tigerfoot nodded sadly and they walked back to camp silently. When they passed through the bramble covered entrance, Softpetal dipped her head politely to Tigerfoot and padded into the nursery.
"Sotpetal! Softpetal!" Her kits cried. "We missed you."
She licked Smallkit on the head wearily. "Kits, why aren't you asleep?"
Snowfall yawned quietly from a corner. "They were scared and Darkfang had fallen asleep. Her kits were very restless last night and they kept her up. Unborn kits seem to be a pain. Well, I don't have to tell you that do I?"
Softpetal rolled her eyes with joking annoyance. "Did you have to keep them up though?"
"I was telling them stories of Windclan." Snowfall explained. He nodded a goodbye and padded out of the nursery.
"Okay, nest-time, kits." Softpetal ordered, shuffling her kits to their nest.
"Hey, we're four moons old. We know where we sleep." Honeykit growled grumpily. Softpetal snorted and the kits curled into balls by her belly.
"I think Snowfall misses Windclan." Smallkit yawned and Lionkit nodded sleepily in agreement.
"I know." Softpetal replied. "Good night, I will see you all in the morning." She watched as her kits drifted off to sleep and then did so herself.
"Wake up." A voice whispered. Softpetal groaned with annoyance and rolled over. She opened her eyes and realized that she was in Starclan.
"Welcome." Whitefoot meowed happily. Softpetal licked him gently on the nose and then realized that Darkcloud was beside him.
"Hello." The pretty black she-cat mewed stiffly. Softpetal rolled her eyes and touched noses with her, trying to be friendly. "I think you and I should try to get along, seeing as when I join Starclan I will be spending time with you quite often. Darkcloud stiffened in surprise and opened her eyes up wide. "Wow, I didn't expect that. I would be fine with that."
Softpetal nodded excitedly in agreement and then turned to Whitefoot. "Why am I here?"
"It's because you wanted my approval to be with Tigerfoot." Whitefoot explained. "Personally, he always kind of annoyed me, but my opinion isn't exactly important is it? I am dead after all."
Softpetal's jaw dropped. "What? Starclan has changed you."
"No it's being dead that changed me."
Darkcloud shook her head in dismay. "Whitefoot has not changed at all. He's just acting like this to push you away. You should be with Tigerfoot and Whitefoot and I are okay with all of it."
Softpetal jumped up and down happily and licked Darkcloud's cheek thankfully.
"Goodbye." Their voices whispered as they began to fade away and Softpetal fell back asleep.