Ebony growled as she watched the animals leave. That was six less animals to feed and protect the Clan. How could Fern betray me like that? And that mouse-hearted Russet trying to be tough to impress Fern. . .

The sky above was streaked blue and clouded with pale gray clouds. Swift Blossom was checking over Ebony's pelt for any serious wounds. I've never seen Sparrow act out like that before either. I thought she was loyal to me.

"You feel alright? I couldn't find anything in your pe –– " Swift Blossom was a kind animal, and her personality fit the exact stereotype of a doe. Skittish, delicate and kind.

"I'm fine." Ebony spat.

Who will take Fern's place now? It must be Timber. He was a strong animal, but, she had to admit, a poor hunter. It was always another animal that hunted for him. He was kind of useless.

As she cautiously returned to her nest with animals crowding her, asking if she was okay, and settled down uncomfortably. Something stabbed her flank abruptly and she swept a thorn out of the den with an swift, angered paw.

Thoughts started to reel in her mind as she settled in her nest, animals slowly calming down around her. Whisper, on his way to his own nest, brushed her tail.

Ebony angrily shot up, seeing a startled blaze of fear in his eyes. Whisper clearly was going through something, probably about his sister leaving the Clan. It was the mouse-brain's own fault for leaving with that traitor.

His yellow-amber eyes were blazing back at Ebony's gaze. He was acting a lot like Sparrow.

They're siblings, bird-brain. That's how it works.

Whisper returned to his nest, leaving Ebony to herself. In the den, the animals –– Whisper, Burnt Elm and Timber –– were silent. Outside the warriors were buzzing with excitement.

"I just don't believe Fern would do that!"

"Maybe you should get to believing it, you soft, following kit."

"Oh I'll show you soft when your pelt is––"

"Stop it, your acting like newborns." A sharp growl silenced the bickering animals and Clear Sun padded into the den, his amber eyes blazing like the setting sun with justice.

𖠇 𖠇 𖠇

Time had passed as Ebony lied in her nest, partially awake and partially asleep. A deep headache was interrupted as Clear Sun exited the den with a curios look in his eyes.

Burnt Elm noticed Clear Sun leaving and sprung after him, his cream-colored fur rippling and eyes filled with a solid determination. Red lie in the corner of the den; she had been restless ever since she lied down.

Red lifted her gaze to Burnt Elm, eying him cautiously. "Ebony?" She whispered.

"Red." Ebony replied, sounding about more annoyed than she wanted to sound.

"Uh –– have you sent them on patrol?" Swift Blossom lifted her head and blinked drowsiness out of her eyes, looking in the direction of Burnt Elm's nest.

"I let animals hunt when they please, just as long as it's not at night."

"Oh. Okay." Red awkwardly stood up and ducked out of the den, her paws scraping heavily over the grassy floor.

Swift Blossom flicked an ear. "Ebony, we need to talk," shooting a look at the perked ears of the sleeping frame of Whisper. "In private."

𖠇 𖠇 𖠇

With Swift Blossom in the lead, the duo travelled through the trees into a clearing, a giant dead ash tree sprouting up from the center, eerily similar to the one Blue was found in.

What in the stars could she have to talk about, so far from camp and so private?

"I had a dream." Swift Blossom stated, gazing down at Ebony with wide eyes. A quick shadowy movement in the background caught Ebony's attention for a heartbeat. Just prey.

"Everybody has dreams."

"This was different! It was. . . like a prophecy!"

"You probably just had a dream. Your mind can conjure up some interesting things."

"No! It was Blue, me and you all in a row and Timber was there. . ." Swift Blossom faded into silence, her heartbeat quickening and the dream replayed in her head.

"It was a dream." Ebony growled, turning tail and padding back to camp, her chin high.

"No! Ebony! Listen! Please, just listen!" Swift Blossom begged and begged helplessly, but Ebony walked away.

Suddenly a cry rang out the forest, followed by a sharp thud and the sound of pawsteps. Ebony bolted back to camp, uncaring about the noise she made by trampling on the dry leaves.

Ebony exploded into the camp, barking wildly. "I need help! Is any one willing to go?"

Feather Pelt and looked up from the bird he was sharing with Minnow and Storm. Shaded Clover sprung to his paws, leaping towards Ebony.

"We can go." His tone was flat and strange, but any help was good.

"Maybe we should get another to come." Ebony didn't really trust the dark-furred male.

"Okay. Willow! Can you join us?" A mischievous glint flashed in his yellow eyes and Willow padded up, the pair touching noses.

"Let's go." Fear and regret stirred in Ebony's belly, slowing her pawsteps and making her head dizzy. Was Swift Blossom really dead?

The burning Sunhigh sun scorched her black pelt, adding onto the heat from her fear. The shadow moved unnaturally swiftly through the undergrowth and around the trunks of the weather-worn trees. What was. . ?

She, locked in place, bristling with fury, stood tall and strong and stared into where the frondescence rustled. Even with the intimidating look and all, fear of her fate and what rustled ahead still made her regret ever making a group.

When she said those few words it left scars of confusion across her trusted warriors' faces. She really never did want to be in this situation.

It hurt to say.
But she said it anyways.

She loved all of the animals she had met in the group, but with her unhappiness, it felt like if whatever was inching closer to her could be her escape from the dark world she lived in.

All of the sudden, a shape leaped toward her shoulders. She couldn't lie anymore.

No.
Not to herself.
Not to others.

She was so unhappy with what she was doing with her life, even with her rank and bloodline.

Still not knowing what the shape pinning her down was, she knew there must be a heart in the attacker. Somewhere.

"Just do whatever you need to." She heard her own voice crack in sorrow and felt a sudden weight off her shoulders.

Just give me mercy.

Her eyes slowly opened.
Him. The one tha ––

Claws slashed her flank and blood spattered the ground and a sharp pain stabbed the back of her throat just soon after.

"I'd hate to see you like this, love. I won't forgive myself or ever see you again, but revenge. . . was just to sweet. So vulnerable, you were. I know your style. Your mind. You would have too."

I would have said an unforgettable phrase back to his face, but all that I could do is cough up blood and have my eyes fade into darkness.

I awoke in a bright place. It was empty. It gave me a few heartbeats to process.

I could have fought back. Why didn't I suspect that from that venom-heart.

It wasn't time to be upset.

Why did I ever choose to leave him? I still loved him. He was the one. . . I could have sworn.

It wasn't time to be regretful.

I miss you. I want you back. I want the group back. Where in the stars even am I?

But it wasn't time to be remorseful.

It was time to just be happy with what she had. Though she could never get those times back again, she was still in the hearts of all the group warriors. All except, that one.

She won't be forgotten in a long while.