Straightfur wakes up to a dark, starry sky, with the fog still blanketing the camp. He is exhausted and weary, and just wishes to be left alone. However, he remembers what Transpants had told him earlier in the evening about the three spirits, and knows that any attempt to fall back asleep would be pointless.

Straightfur sits up in his nest, noticing for the first time the empty nest beside him. Had that been for Transpants, before the tom mysteriously died in this strange world? Straightfur wasn't sure, by he knew that it made him feel even lonelier.

A warm breeze begins to blow through the den, and Straightfur knows that the first spirit is about to arrive. But what he isn't prepared for is a glowing Rainbowstar to drop through his ceiling.

"Rainbowstar! What, are you dead in this world too?" he cries, seeing the stars scattered along her fur. She laughs, and shakes her head.

"Oh Straightfur, it doesn't matter! This is a dream after all. I'm still alive and kicking in the real world, so isn't that good enough?" she replies offhandedly. She shakes her pelt, and glitter falls to the ground. "Besides, we have more important things to talk about. You feel like you don't belong, Straightfur? Well, I'm going to show you some of your past Christmases, and then we'll see!" Without warning, she grabs Straightfur by the scruff, and they go flying up through the ceiling.

"Rainbowstar! Let me go! I can't fly like you can!" Straightfur begs, struggling against the rainbow she-cat's grip. Rainbowstar lets out another laugh, and they descend through the fog. When they land, the camp is in its normal arrangement, and all of the cats are younger.

"There you are, Straightfur, in the nursery. You always did spend the leaf-bare months alone, didn't you?" Rainbowstar mews. Straightfur peers into the den, only to see a black and white kit playing by himself.

"Stupid mossball. Won't even stay together," the kit grumbles, then throws the clump of moss against the wall. He looks longingly outside, where the other kits are playing. "I could go ask . . . no, they probably wouldn't want me anyways". Straightkit hangs his head, clearly upset.

"Why are you showing me this, Rainbowstar? I already know what happened," Straightfur asks angrily. Rainbowstar places a heavy paw on his shoulder, forcing him to stay still.

"Just watch, Straightfur," she orders. They watch as more moons pass, and Straightkit becomes Straightpaw. But he is still sad. His father doesn't cheer for him, only his sister. He knows why. His mother died giving birth to him.

Straightpaw's first Christmas Eve arrives, and he is sitting in the apprentice den, alone. Just as Straightpaw is about to give up hope, his sister runs into the den.

"Come on, Straightpaw! What are you doing? Come play with me, Aropaw, and Gaypaw!" Acepaw exclaims. Straightpaw looks at her happily, hope in his eyes.

"Really?" he asks. Acepaw nods, and he follows her out of the den and into the snow. The four apprentices play together, and Straightfur feels an overwhelming wave of nostalgia and sadness come over him.

"She has always done her best to make me feel better, even though her methods aren't always right," he tells Rainbowstar. The she-cat nods in understanding, and picks him up by his scruff again. They fly straight up, and when the fog obscures their view of the scene, they fly back down. Now, it is Christmas morning, and Straightpaw stands before a younger Pridestride.

"Come on, Straightpaw! We're having a group training session for all of the apprentices!" Pridestride announces. Straightpaw jumps up and down excitedly.

"Really? Let's go!" the young apprentice exclaims. He dashes off into the forest, closely followed by Pridestride.

"I was Pridestride's last apprentice, you know," Straightfur tells Rainbowstar somberly. Rainbowstar nods, and they follow the two cats into the forest.

Flagswag is going through some battle moves with Aropaw, who catches on easily. Meanwhile, a young Pansand is trying to control Gaypaw, who is bounding all over the place.

"Ah yes, I remember this. Giving Pansand such a hyperactive apprentice might not have been the best idea, but it did teach him how to take control of situations," Rainbowstar mews. Straightfur averts his gaze from the scene, as Straightpaw looks around.

"Pridestride? Where's Acepaw?" Straightpaw asks. Pridestride motions back to the camp, where they had come from.

"Sorry, Straightpaw. She has medicine cat training to do," Pridestride tells him. Straightpaw looks disappointed for a few moments, but Gaypaw tackles him. Aropaw joins, and the three apprentices begin to scuffle.

"You do know that she never wanted to leave you, right, Straightfur? She would've loved nothing more than to play with you three, but she had a higher calling," Rainbowstar mews softly. Straightfur nods, then turns away from the scene.

"Can we just move on to the next scene, please?" he asks hoarsely, refusing to look any more. Rainbowstar grabs him by the scruff again, and they fly up into the air.

They eventually land back down. When Straightfur sees a hopeful Straightpaw sitting on a log, holding a slightly wilted flower, he panics.

"No! Take me back, Rainbowstar! Not this one!" he wails, as he tries to run away. Rainbowstar holds him down, forcing him to watch as a pretty silver tabby comes out of the trees.

"Hiss!" Straightpaw exclaims, leaping off of the log excitedly. He offers her the flower, which she takes. "Merry Christmas!" Sobs wrack Straightfur's body, as he watches the scene unfold.

"Merry Christmas, Straightpaw," Hiss mews back quietly. She shuffles her paws in the snow, unable to meet his gaze. "I have something to tell you". Straightpaw's eyes widen with hope, and he steps closer.

"Did you decide to come live with QueerClan? I know they'll accept you, Hiss! Please say yes," he pleads excitedly. Hiss shakes her head, and looks away.

"I'm sorry, Straightpaw. My family . . . we're migrating. My father decided that it was time to move on," she apologizes. Straightfur collapses to the ground, still sobbing as Straightpaw's face falls. Hiss runs off into the forest, and Straightpaw chases after her, leaving the wilted flower on the cold snow.

"Take me home, Rainbowstar. Just take me home," Straightfur begs. Rainbowstar grabs him by the scruff one last time, and they take off into the air. Then Straightfur is falling, falling, falling, and he wakes up in his nest in the two-roomed den with a shock.

Written by Mack
Edited by Moon