Yeah, I'm alive. I won't be very active here as of now, unless I decide to start up a new story sometime. I dunno.

In this short one-shot, Bluestar says goodbye to her old friend, Echolight, before the latter dies. Echolight belongs to my best friend, and is a fan character.

"Bluestar...?"

The leader turned and looked over her shoulder at the medicine cat. "Spottedleaf. What's the matter?"

"Echolight doesn't have much time left."

Bluestar stood up and faced Spottedleaf. She felt a dull ache in her chest, like it was packed with stones. "Is she still stable?"

"For now," the pretty she-cat mewed, "but she doesn't have long before she joins StarClan. You'd better say goodbye while you can, Bluestar. I'm sorry."

Bluestar's ears lowered. Her old friend's health had been failing for some time now, but it did little to prepare her for the truth.

Echolight was going to die.

"Thank you."

Bluestar padded past her, hopped down from the Highrock, and ducked into the medicine den.

Echolight was laying in a soft nest, as Spottedleaf had tried to make her as comfortable as possible.

Bluestar nearly cringed at the sight of her friend; her breathing was ragged and labored, she was terribly thin, and her eyes were dull and tired.

"Echolight?"

The old she-cat looked up slowly. "Bluestar."

Bluestar walked closer, settling in front of Echolight. "Are you ok?" the leader asked gently, "Spottedleaf told me... you don't have long."

Echolight wheezed, sighing softly. "She's right... I don't. But I'm... I-I'm glad you're here."

Bluestar frowned, her heart aching for her friend. "...I am, too." She looked down. "I'm going to miss you..."

Echolight smiled a little and closed her eyes. "Don't think about that... just enjoy the time we have left."

Bluestar looked at her. "Ok."

Echolight raised her head to speak a bit louder. "Do you remember when we were kits, and saw snow for the first time...?"

"I do." Bluestar's whiskers twitched humorously. "We were so excited."

"We were." The brown tabby laughed lowly. "When we became warriors... we were so proud. I remember it like it was yesterday."

Bluestar smiled, tears gathering in her eyes. "I remember it, too. It was a special day."

"...and when... when we played with Whitekit-"

Echolight coughed many times suddenly, and Bluestar winced. "You should rest, old friend. You're weakening."

Echolight stared hard at Bluestar. "You're my best friend. I'll never... never forget you. I'll be watching over you."

Bluestar was startled. "Echolight..."

Echolight reached her head out a bit and touched her nose to Bluestar's. "I'll never forget you."

Bluestar sniffled, shutting her eyes. "I won't forget you, either... not ever."

Echolight laid her head down, seeming satisfied and relieved. She looked like she was going to fall asleep.

"Thank you, Bluestar... thank you..."

She took a deep breath, relaxing completely, and passed away without suffering in the least.

Bluestar bowed her head, tears running down her cheeks. "Goodbye, Echolight."

She stood up and touched her nose to her old friend's pelt one last time.

"Rest well."