A lithe pale blue-grey shape moved carefully across the lightly frosted landscape, carrying a small bundle of flowers. It navigated its way through a seemingly empty field, giving each small stone a wide birth.

Eventually, it came to a stop in front of a stone, dropping its flowers onto it. More flowers weaved artfully into a sort of ring, adorned its head. It began whispering, "Shallowpaw. If you can hear me... I hope you're happy. I hope you're happier than us... down here... isolated and alone..." It choked on its words and dipped its head, walking away. 

______________________________________

"Fallenpaw! Auburnsky!"

The cheer rang throughout the camp. Moonkit and Stagkit, growing fast at one moon old, bumbled to the front with wide eyes as Fallenpaw touched noses with Auburnsky.

As the cats cleared, Auburnsky led Fallenpaw out of camp. "So, Fallenpaw, ready for your official tour?" She asked, grinning. Fallenpaw nodded, brown eyes trained on the ground. Auburnsky flicked her tail.

"This is the training hollow!"

"These are the star rocks."

"This is the clearing!"

"This is the stream."

"This is the Grand Oak."

"This is the pond!"

"This... well, I guess you've been here." Fallenpaw nodded. It was where the owl had attacked. She glanced at the ground, eyes shaded. Auburnsky looked at her sympathetically. "I'm sorry. I- I shouldn't have brought you here."

"It's alright," She mumbled quietly. Auburnsky shook her head. "Um... Come on."

The short ginger she-cat led the apprentice to the grassy overhang. The flowers had died, wilted. Auburnsky sat on the very edge of the overhang, motioning for Fallenpaw to sit next to her.

"We call this place the cliffs. It-" Auburnsky was cut off by the sound of falling rocks just a few tail-lengths away. The deputy glanced over with narrowed eyes, standing. She crept closer to the edge, near where the trees cut off suddenly, into a drop-away. She looked down. 

"Hey!" Called the ginger she-cat. Fallenpaw watched curiously, wondering who her mentor was talking to until she heard a faint voice. "C-can you help us up?" It was a she-cat, probably slightly older than Auburnsky.

The deputy ducked down, pulling up a huge white ball of fluff with blue-grey spots. "Hurry up, Flare!" It called.

A ginger tabby she-cat leapt up, bright green eyes glowing with mistrust. She was hardly older than Fallenpaw, with long legs and a thin, waving tail. She stood next to the first cat with poise.

The first cat was huge, with long white fur dotted with blue-grey splotches. Her dark green eyes gave off a friendly glow.

"I'm Dream," She introduced herself, "and this is Flare." The ginger she-cat hissed. Dream continued, "There was a fire and we were separated from our group." Auburnsky flattened her ears, eyes glazed with sympathy. "Oh, I'm so sorry about that. My name is Auburnsky, and this is my apprentice, Fallenpaw."

Fallenpaw nodded from behind Auburnsky. Dream's eyes lit up. "Oh! You- you're clan cats! Y'know, there are some cats looking for you- that is if you're descended from the ThunderClan, RiverClan, y'know, those guys. They wanted to destroy you, saying you're cowardly and-"

"Where did you hear this?"

Only 500 words because I'm SO TIRED- but yeah cliffhanger DuN dUn DuN