It was night-time, finally. It had past a quarter-moon since Fernstalk had become the deputy. She still wondered if she should step down.

But for now, she needed rest.

In the morning there had been many events happening.

First, was a fishing spree.

There were so many fish in the more shallow part of the river where the cats crossed to go to the meeting place of the clans, and they decided to hunt all day.

No more birds in the Telling Trees, just fish.

Fish came in all sizes. Big and small, silver and pink. Some were even huge!

The huge one went to the kits and elders. It was really big to feed all of those cats!

And next was Pondkit, Poolkit, Waterkit, and Streamkit's apprentice ceremony, the thing that they had been living for.

Pondpaw got apprenticed to Peachwave, Poolpaw got apprenticed to Ficklepaws (to get her mind off of things), Waterpaw got apprenticed to Junipertunnel, and Streampaw got apprenticed to Beetlecloud.

And another thing had happened. Another ceremony.

Harepaw, Drop-paw, Runningpaw, and Screechpaw were made warriors.

Harepaw had been renamed to Haresneak for his ability to be very low to the ground (lower than normal cats) and still be quiet.

Drop-paw was light-heartedly named Dropskies. Her fur reminded the cats of a sky in a storm, but her personality was the opposite of a storm. This reminded cats that not all storms are harsh.

Runningpaw was upsettingly named Dustyjump, because when she would make something that seemed to be a beautiful leap, would either start or end with dust flying everywhere.

Many cats pitied her, but Treeleaper had made her choice. She wanted Dustyjump to work on her leaping so that she could be renamed to something beautiful.

Screechpaw had finally been named Screechwave, because when he screeched he screeched. It was like a wave hitting a rock in a fashion like nails on a chalkboard.

Fernstalk was tired by the end of this, and was not the most tired cat in the clan.

The new apprentices didn't get any sleep because they were so happy.

The new warriors didn't get any sleep because they were watching over the clan for the night.

Treeleaper and Gorsesky didn't get any sleep because of the kits who were whining about not being apprentices yet until moon-high.

Driftrain didn't get much sleep because of nightmares. Not omens, just regular nightmares.

Fernstalk had been up all night thinking about Falconprowl.

What happened to him? Why wasn't he at the ceremony for the apprentices and warriors?

Why wasn't he around anymore?

Fernstalk tossed and turned all night, not getting even a hour of sleep. Yes, she got a little sleep, but not much.

She hoped that all the other cats were asleep because she could hear nothing except the crickets chirping in the night.

Fernstalk sighed, trying to think of something else besides Falconprowl, but found out that she couldn't. Oh well.

She forced herself to think about the fish, but it made her think more of Falconprowl. He didn't eat anymore. She caught a glimpse of him padding away before dawn. You could see his ribs sticking out.

It was horrifying.

It was one of the worst experiences that Fernstalk had ever had.

A bit worse than Ebonykit's death, Deerkit's cunning escape, or Barktwist's journey to StarClan.

They were just friends.

But a father or a parent or sibling is worse.

It was just as bad as Lilacwishes's death, but watching Falconprowl have a slow and painful death was so heart breaking and paw twisting.

Fernstalk didn't understand it.

She just couldn't.

It was hard to understand, and yet, even though she wanted to understand it should couldn't.

And then Fernstalk's mind switched to something else.

Where did the darkness inside of me go?

Why don't I have a dark humor anymore?

This is bad.

Of course, nobody knows if it was that bad or not.

But a few cats from above did.

"Snakedrift!" a mew echoed from above. "Get your lazy butt over here!"

A black Tom with a white mask and rump and a few speckles grunted.

"What do you want," Snakedrift asked, his mood drifting from annoyed to worried.

"It's about Fernstalk."

Snakedrift rolled his eyes.

"Of course it's about that puny little gray tabby she-cat who thinks that she's better than every single cat in the world." he snarled. "I mean, who else would it be, Barktwist?"

The gender-fluid brown tabby kept a blank expression on his face.

"Snakedrift, this is importan-"

"You and your messages! Tell her whatever you need to. Just don't put all of your problems on me."

Snakedrift swore that he heard Barktwist mutter something about him being to rude and feisty.

"Fine, Snakedrift. But it'd be better if you also knew."

Snakedrift's white eyes glared at the brown tabby, his eyes full of hatred and... anticipation?

"I'll go with you, then, if you need me to."

Barktwist smiled their cheery smile. "Wonderful! Let's go right now!"

Snakedrift had to run to keep up with Barktwist.

As soon as Barktwist stopped, Snakedrift saw Fernstalk's body shape come into view.

It wasn't hard to tell that it was her.

"Good evening, Fernstalk." Barktwist meowed cheerfully.

Fernstalk tilted her head, filled with wonder. She looked behind Barktwist at Snakedrift.

Barktwist stepped to the side. "This is Snakedrift, a hardworking warrior who helped me when I had to bring you into the world."

Snakedrift watched Fernstalk blush very hard, and it made him want to blush. Either way, he thought, my fur is black and she wouldn't see it go red.

Fernstalk looked back at Barktwist.

"Oh, Barktwist, I've missed you! What happened to me? What must you say to me? Oh, Barktwist, please tell me!" She yawned. "It's been so hard coping with being the deputy of KestrelClan! And not even the Co-Deputy, but the deputy deputy."

When Fernstalk decided to take a breath, Barktwist plunged into his part of the conversation.

"Fernstalk, the darkness inside of you is gone."

Snakedrift amusingly watched Fernstalk open her mouth, blink, bang her head against the ground and look back up at Barktwist.

"B- Barktwist," she whispered faintly, as if she would faint. "You're not joking, right? This isn't one of your jokes, is it?!"

Barktwist shook his head. "I'm not kidding you. The darkness is gone."

He sighed.

"But at a price."

Fernstalk narrowed her eyes.

"A price? A price?! What do you mean by 'a price'?!" She yowled angrily, more upset than intended.

Barktwist calmly watched Fernstalk as she ranted about 'a price'.

"Falconprowl."

It was the only word that Snakedrift needed to saw for Fernstalk to understand.

She fell to the ground and started wailing.

"No, not Falconprowl! Oh, but it makes so much sense! But it can't be, can it, Barktwist? How does darkness just move from one host to another? It's just a huge parasite, isn't it."

Barktwist nodded.

"But I must tell you something." They took a deep breath.

"Beware of the two-legs. Be more afraid of them than ever before. You must be prepared."

And then, just as Fernstalk began asking more questions, she faded away back to her realm on the island.

As Snakedrift and Barktwist were padding back to where they watched over Fernstalk, Barktwist asked Snakedrift a very personal question.

"Do you like her?" Were the words of Barktwist.

Snakedrift felt a pang in his heart when Barktwist had said that. "I don't know, you tell me, you mind-reading-birdbrain!"

Barktwist smiled a quick and hesitant smile. "So you do."

Snakedrift waved his face in the air as if he was about to argue, but he didn't. He just kept quiet and awkwardly padded alongside Barktwist.

"Okay, yes, fine. I do. That's it. No more personal questions about me. Ever."

Barktwist laughed. "Fine. But, to make it fair, you ask me one personal question and I'll tell you the truth."

Snakedrift carefully chose his words in his mind, and then made up his question.

"What gender are you truly, Barktwist?"

Snakedrift knew that he chose the right question when Barktwist stopped.

"Don't you ever tell anyone about this," Barktwist growled. "and I won't tell your secret."

Snakedrift promised it, and then let Barktwist say their answer.

"I am truly female."

Snakedrift immediately asked another question.

"But, you sound more like a Tom!" Snakedrift meowed.

Barktwist gave Snakedrift a glare.

"You never speak of this to any cat, you hear me?" she yowled savagely. It frightened Snakedrift so badly, that he agreed and followed her rules.