This one's pretty short.*Yellowstar felt like an apprentice going through her first warrior's assessment as she waited for Fallensnow to join her in her den that night. She could hardly sit still. What did Downtail say? It had been so many seasons since Fallensnow turned her down. So many seasons, and Yellowstar had never stopped feeling the same way, even after she'd given up.

"Flower?"

Yellowstar's heart leapt. "Come in."

As Fallensnow pushed aside the lichen, a sliver of moonlight caught her fur, making her look like she was made of it. I've never seen anything so beautiful. Fallensnow gave her a warm, but nervous, smile.

"I talked to Downtail."

"I hope it wasn't too painful?"

"This has been a long time coming." Fallensnow hovered by the entrance. "He will always be Paletuft, Skypaw, Stormypaw, and Freezepaw's father. But he's no longer my mate."

"Does this mean--"

"What do you think of me?" Fallensnow turned her eyes away. "Giving you up because I thought I needed a tom to have kits. Because I thought if we raised kits together, like we'd dreamt, it would distract you from your leadership duties… I was such a fool."

"I never resented you for it, Snow." Yellowstar's voice caught in her throat. "I just wanted you to be happy."

"You practically helped raise Paletuft. She's never said it, but I think she sees you as a mother, you know?"

"I've always loved her like a daughter. She reminds me so much of you."

"Flower, I never stopped loving you. I'm sorry I waited so long."

"Don't apologize, Snow. You don't owe me--you--I feel the same way. I had no idea you did, too."

Fallensnow purred loudly and pressed her cheek against Yellowstar's chest until she felt dizzy with joy.

"Now," said Fallensnow, laying down against Yellowstar's side and grooming her fur, "tell me about Frecklefang and Wrencatcher."

Soothed by the soft, rhythmic lapping of her mate's tongue on her fur--my mate! My mate!--Yellowstar told her everything that had happened with the two young warriors.

"And that's when I decided," Yellowstar finished, "that tomorrow Cloudstep and I are going to the Moonpool. StarClan has kept too many secrets from me. I can't lead my Clan not knowing who I can trust."

Fallensnow frowned. "And Wrencatcher said StarClan spoke to him directly? Could he be lying?"

Yellowstar shook her head. "He was absolutely convinced. But it was only one cat that spoke to him… I bet not all of StarClan agrees." She sighed. "I wish Mapledawn was here. I wish I could ask her myself."

"Yellowstar, can I give you some advice? As a senior warrior, not a mate?"

"Go ahead." It was so easy to dip back into the familiar relationship of warrior and leader. Somehow, it didn't make her feel any less close to Fallensnow.

"Don't go to the Moonpool. Not yet. Just… Give Mapledawn a chance to come back. If you do go to StarClan--"

"They'll punish me?"

"I was thinking more along the lines of they'll just make you even more confused about who to trust."

Yellowstar sat in silence, thinking. I had not considered that. Why should StarClan be so forthcoming with her just because she asked when they'd been nothing but cryptic until now? It's just so hard to know what to do right now… Yet I've always made decisions without StarClan's guidance. Maybe Fallensnow's right. What would Willowstar say? It had been so many seasons since she'd seen the Clan leader before her. The last time they spoke was Yellowstar's nine lives ceremony, when Willowstar gave her a life for longevity--fitting since she'd lived to be almost 180 moons old, outliving two deputies, Frondtail and Thistleface, who retired before Yellowstar became deputy. After receiving her lives, Willowstar had praised her "steadfast, unwavering character and keen insight." That's the cat that took over FireClan and kept it safe for seasons upon seasons. She trusted my judgment, and I should trust it, too.

"Maybe you're right, Snow," said Yellowstar with a yawn. "There's no point in leaving my Clan undefended while BlackClan's preparing for war. I have to give Weaselclaw my decision before the Gathering. Until then, I'll focus on keeping my Clan safe." She licked the top of Fallensnow's head and the two curled up together to sleep.