The stars twinkled brightly outside the warrior's den as I purred and rubbed myself against Brackenheart, my beloved mate. He purred back half-heartedly, his eyes looked distant, faraway.

I frowned. What could be bothering him right now, during such a beautiful evening? "What's wrong?" I asked him.

Brackenheart instantly snapped out of his trance and smiled at me warmly, but even a kit could tell that it was forced, "I'm fine, dear. Nothing's wrong."

I knew how I could cheer him up, but before I could speak, Brackenheart suddenly stood up, "I need to go," he murmured, "I'll come back soon." He slipped out of the den, leaving me alone in my nest.

I narrowed my eyes. Not again, I thought. Brackenheart was always leaving at this time, slipping away into the forest. Why can't he let me know why he's leaving?

I stood up, shaking the moss out of my pelt and trotted outside. I was not going to let him abandon me again at this time. I managed to glimpse Brackenheart walking toward the camp entrance. He stopped and looked around, as if waiting for some cat.

Finally another cat joined him at the entrance, and they quietly walked out of the camp. I silently bounded after them, suspicious. What did he have to do with that cat? Some nasty thoughts floated up into my mind, but I pushed it away. Brackenheart could not, would not.

But would he?

I hid behind the bushes as I stalked them farther, deep into the woods. They finally stopped in a beautiful clearing lit by moonlight. That was when I could see them more clearly. Brackenheart was sitting beside a pretty young black cat with long fur. My sister.

Brackenheart had snuck out, so far and so deep into the woods just to meet my sister, Hollyflight. My fur started bristling. What did Brackenheart have to do with her?

Brackenheart suddenly playfully leaped onto Hollyflight, and started tussling with Hollyflight. I watched as Hollyflight playfully swiped Brackenheart's nose, giggling, only for Brackenheart to retaliate by swiping gently at her ear. Finally, when they were done. Brackenheart sat right beside Hollyflight. The two twined their tails together as they watched the moon.

My blood felt like it was boiling. Get away from my mate! I wanted to scream at Hollyflight. The nasty thoughts resurfaced in my mind and seemed more and more real each moment.

Was Brackenheart truly cheating on me? Did he never like me, only my sister? Did he only use me as a substitute mate?

My suspicions were confirmed when Brackenheart turned toward Hollyflight, and promptly said, "I love you, Hollyflight. Will you be my mate?"

Right then and now, my heart shattered. Before Hollyflight could answer, I barged out of my hiding spot. Brackenheart leaped up in surprise, his eyes uneasy, "Uh, hi Mapleleaf."

"Why? Why would you do this to me?" I cried, tears rolling down my cheeks, "Every night since last moon! You didn't even have the wit to admit to me that you didn't love me, Brackenheart. I hate you."

Brackenheart's eyes widened, guiltiness in those deep blue pools that I once fell for. "I do love you, Mapleleaf," he mewed softly, but I didn't believe him anymore. Anger and grief rolled inside me.

"And you," I hissed at Hollyflight. My sister shrunk away from me. "You knew he was my mate, and yet you too went behind my back?"

Hollyflight opened her mouth to say something, but I have had enough. "I hope you have a great life together," I snarled, before rushing past them back into the forest. My tears flowed freely as I dashed past tree and tree. Finally, I stopped at the foot of the Great Sycamore. The tallest tree in Thunderclan territory.

I had made my choice.

I leaped onto the trunk, and started painstakingly climbing up the tree. Thunderclan wouldn't miss me, especially those traitors Brackenheart and Hollyflight. I was just one warrior. One worthless warrior who couldn't even keep her mate from losing interest from her.

I continued climbing until I reached the highest branch. I could hear my tears patter on the ground so far down below. Bunching up my muscles, I leaped off the branch.

My thoughts whirled inside me as I fell. Time seemed to slow down as the wind rushed past me. The ache in my heart grew greater and greater. Thunderclan would grieve, sure, but they would never know the truth about why I was lying broken at the bottom of the tree. They would never know how Brackenheart chose my sister over me and how those two shattered my heart.

Then I remembered. I remembered that I had never told Brackenheart what I wanted to tell him at the beginning of the night. What I wanted to tell him to cheer him up.

I was expecting his kits.

Not that that matters now anyway, I thought bitterly. I told Hollyflight that. She would tell Brackenheart. I closed my eyes as I neared the ground.

The last thing I felt was pain bursting through my body, then nothingness.