Over a moon had passed, and Mosspaw had grown much. He no longer felt like the small apprentice in his clan.

            Skycloud had continued to show Mosspaw memories. He'd learned about her apprentice and kit days, he'd learned about Smokestar and his siblings, and how they were Rosefur's second litter. He had learned about Skycloud's warrior days as well.

            Mosspaw sighed, padding around the forest. He had been looking for Moonpool, though he kept either going past it or on another route. It seemed as if he would never find the pool that would lead him to the cat and what he was really searching for.

            Mosspaw had expected to be back at SnowClan by now, but he still wandered in the forest, learning more about the past as the hours dragged on.

            At times, Mosspaw was homesick, wanting to return to SnowClan. He missed everyone terribly, especially Fernpaw, but he knew this mission was important, and he had to go through with it.

            Wind blew in Mosspaw's pelt as he padded through the forest. The sun had just begun to set, and Mosspaw was hoping for more memories tonight.

            Hungry, he searched around for something to eat. Maybe a squirrel or rabbit would fill his stomach, and he headed farther into the woods, searching for something to eat.

            The sound of a twig snapping caught his attention, and he turned, spotting a mouse eating away at a berry.

            Slowly, he approached it, crouching down towards the mouse. All at once, the mouse looked up, noticing Mosspaw. Mosspaw then leapt, barely catching the mouse.

            He ate it quickly then headed around the forest, looking for a place to sleep for the night.

            His stomach still grumbled, but he ignored it. He knew shelter was far more important, and he found an empty burrow, probably dug by a fox.

            He climbed in slowly. No fox laid inside, and the scent was stale. This fox would obviously not be returning soon.

            Yawning, Mosspaw curled up in the burrow, resting his chin on the ground. He shut his eyes, his breaths becoming more steady now, and he fell asleep.

            Mosspaw dreamt he was back in StarClan with Skycloud, and at the sight of his mother, he ran to her, a large grin upon his face. He wondered what he would learn today! His mother had still not mentioned anything with Blacktail or Mossclaw, and he hoped he would learn about them tonight.

            "Hello, Mosspaw," his mother purred.

            "What will I be learning today?" Mosspaw asked, sitting down in front of his mother.

            "Do you have any questions to ask me first?" Skycloud asked, sitting down by Mosspaw. "How is your journey?"

            "Well, have I passed the Moonpool? I've been searching for nearly two moons, and I still can't find it," Mosspaw complained.

            Skycloud laughed. "It is closer than you think, and no, you have not passed it. You'll reach it in a day or two."

            "How will I know where it is when I get there?"

            "You'll just know," Skycloud replied.

            Mosspaw smiled, and he gazed up at his mother. Her eyes sparkled, and Mosspaw almost saw himself in his mother.

            "We will be learning about Blacktail tonight," Skycloud replied.

            Mosspaw wanted to cheer, though he decided to not show any signs of happiness. He had a feeling Blacktail was not a particularly happy memory, and he slowly nodded.

            "Cindertail and Ashclaw will not be mentioned in these memories because they happen to go better with another cat."

            Mosspaw knew exactly who Skycloud was talking about. Mossclaw, his father.

            "Are you ready?" Skycloud asked.

            Mosspaw nodded. "Yes, I am."

            With those words, he touched his nose to Skycloud's, and everything faded.

            Mosspaw sat in the nursery of the old SnowClan camp, watching Petalkit and Cloudkit tumble around while his mother sat up against the den, watching the two.

            A sudden voice came from outside the nursery, and Mosspaw watched as a young black tom with bright green eyes padded into the den. Blacktail.

            "Hello Petalkit, Cloudkit, and Skykit," he spoke, a young brown tabby she-cat following after him. "This is Thornpaw," Blacktail, or rather Blackpaw, said, introducing the young she-cat. "She wanted to meet you three."

            Cloudkit and Petalkit gave a cheerful 'hi' while Skykit slowly whispered a greeting.

            Mosspaw watched as Cloudkit and Petalkit began to play with Blackpaw and Thornpaw, though he noticed his mother still sat on the side of the den, not taking part in any of the games.

            After awhile, Thornpaw padded over to the young Skycloud. "Why don't you play with your siblings, Skykit?" she asked.

            Skykit shrugged. "I just don't feel like it, I guess. I'd just rather watch."

            Mosspaw turned, seeing Thornpaw's odd expression at this reply. "Suit yourself," Thornpaw said as she turned away.

            The scene changed now, showing a few sequences of Skykit staring longingly at Blackpaw often, and the scene changed again.

            A sudden yowl frightened Mosspaw as Icestar rushed into the den. "The river is flooding! Everyone out now!" she screeched.

            Mosspaw watched as Rosefur grabbed Skykit by the scruff and allowed Cloudkit and Petalkit to climb onto her back. The mother and her three kits successfully made it up a tree, resting on the branches.

            Mosspaw turned, suddenly seeing Thornpaw and Blackpaw scrambling to get onto a slippery rock. Thornpaw made it up slightly, then slipped, plunging into the water. Blackpaw dived into the water to rescue her, and when he came back up, he placed the unconscious Thornpaw on a rock.

            Blackpaw tried to crawl onto the rock now, but the water pushed him away, and Mosspaw's heart nearly broke when he heard his mother's horrific screech. "BLACKPAW!" she yowled.

            More sequences came, showing days pass by as Skykit mourned and wept, even becoming an apprentice, though Mosspaw did not believe her apprentice ceremony did not make her feel any better about losing her friend.

            The scene changed, showing a cold leaf-fall day where Icestar returned with Blackpaw and Thornpaw during sunset.

            "Blackpaw!" Skypaw screeched, running to the black tom.

            "Wow, I didn't know you'd be so excited," he laughed.

            Mosspaw watched as Skypaw frowned. "I-We missed you a lot," she said.

            Blackpaw gave a smile then padded past her with Thornpaw. He assumed Thornpaw and Blackpaw had an interest for each other, and he frowned as he noticed Skypaw's expression. It seemed she had just realized their interest too.

            "Oh no," Mosspaw whispered.

            The sequences continued, showing Blackpaw become a warrior with Thornpaw and another cat. It showed Blacktail eventually becoming mates with the now-named Thorndapple, and Mosspaw felt a pang of sorrow for his mother.

            As the sequences continued, the next one showed a white she-cat carrying the injured Blacktail into the cave the cats were taking refuge in on their journey to a new forest.

            "BLACKTAIL IS INJURED!" the she-cat screeched.

            Mosspaw watched as the medicine cat began to fix him up, and he sighed as Skypaw waited by the black tom until he woke up. When he did, he muttered not Skypaw's name, but Thorndapple's, and Mosspaw groaned at Skypaw's sorrowful expression.

            Once Skypaw asked him the story, he explained Thorndapple had met another cat, and he had become jealous, yelling at her. Thorndapple was supposed to tell something to him, but she had padded off with the other tom before Blacktail had a chance to hear. He then explained he thought she was expecting his kits.

            Skypaw's eyes widened, and Mosspaw could literally feel her heart breaking into pieces. Mosspaw knew Skypaw would've never treated him this way.

            "I'll find her," Skypaw spoke.

            Blacktail argued against her, but Skypaw would not back down. She headed out into the cave, trying to figure out Thorndapple's scent. Cloudpaw arrived behind her, and the brother and sister headed out, looking for the two together.

            Thorndapple sat with a gray tom, and Skypaw could tell Thorndapple and the other cat were falling in love, just like Blacktail had said.

            Thorndapple did not want to hear about the tom, but Skypaw spoke to Thorndapple with anger and rage, explaining how much Blacktail loved Thorndapple, and how Thorndapple was acting selfish.

            Hearing this, the gray tom gave Thorndapple's permission to go off, and Mosspaw watched as the scene changed, this time showing Thorndapple and Blacktail together in the cave.

            "I'm sorry," Thorndapple spoke.

            After an apology, Thorndapple then said to Blacktail, "I'm expecting your kits."

            Mosspaw's eyes widened, and more sequences followed, showing Thorndapple's stomach growing, his mother growing older as an apprentice, Thorndapple's only kit, a daughter, Skycloud growing more and turning into a warrior, and several images of Skycloud's early life as a warrior staring dreamily at Blacktail, knowing he'll never love her back.

            This scene changed now, showing Thorndapple and several other cats heading into camp.

            "Where are you going?!" Blacktail spat at the she-cat.

            "I can't tell you," Thorndapple replied.

            "I'm your mate, and you can't even tell me where you're going?"

            Thorndapple shook her head, padding off with the other cats and leaving her mate and daughter behind.

            Mosspaw realized how often the two had been fighting in the sequences, and he knew that maybe this was Skycloud's chance.

            Blacktail turned to Skycloud. "I can't believe she did that," he spoke.

            "I know this is sudden," Skycloud spoke.

            She's going to tell him the truth, Mosspaw realized.

            "But I like you, Blacktail. And I've wanted to be mates for awhile now."

            Blacktail's eyes widened, and he gave the same response. "Really?! I was thinking the same thing."

            Mosspaw watched as his mother and other tom nuzzled affectionately. It was just like Skycloud had wanted, but Mosspaw knew this would not last forever. After all, Blacktail wasn't his father, Mossclaw was.

            Scenes passed, and as Skycloud walked nervously with Blacktail in the forest, Mosspaw noticed her stomach had grown some, and he realized she was going to tell him that she was expecting his kits.

            A sudden sound of badger broke up their conversation, and Mosspaw watched as his mother took a step back, loosing her footing and grabbing onto the edge of the cliff, her feet dangling.

            "BLACKTAIL! HELP!"

            Blacktail ran over, and the badger swiped at him. He too lost his footing, though he fell over the cliff, not holding on. Skycloud let go to save him, and Mosspaw watched them down at the bottom now, scratched up some, but not much.

            A large crash came, and something came tumbling down the waterfall. Skycloud and Blacktail made their way over to the shallow water, finding the injured Thorndapple.

            "Thorndapple?" Blacktail asked.

            "Blacktail, it's you. I've been trying to find you," she weakly spoke.

            Mosspaw watched as Thorndapple explained how she had seen Skycloud and Blacktail and how she thought he had died going over the cliff. He learned more on how she had jumped off the waterfall to die with him, only to realize he had not died.

            "I still love you," she said, gazing at Blacktail.

            "You do?" Blacktail asked. He then asked her why she had jumped off the waterfall, and she replied that she had been unhappy with her life. She then spoke that she knew she would die, and before either could speak again, a yowl came from Lilypaw, Blacktail and Thorndapple's daughter.

            "NO!" Lilypaw shrieked, running through the water to her mother.A

            Skycloud turned to Thorndapple. "I'm sorry, Thorndapple. We became mates after you left and—"

            "It's alright," Thorndapple spoke, taking in her last breath.

            A shriek came from Lilypaw as she gazed at her dead mother. Lilypaw then turned to Blacktail. "Why? Why did she die?! Why did you let this happen, Daddy?! You're a terrible father!"

            Mosspaw gasped and realized how hurt Blacktail had become at these words. He watched as Blacktail turned to Skycloud, apologizing as he ran away.

            Suddenly, Mosspaw realized what he was going to do, and his mother did to. A shriek came from his mother as he leapt down the waterfall, landing in the water beside Thorndapple.

            "Blacktail," Skycloud began, running to the dying tom. The tom did not look at her though, but his daughter.

            "I didn't want you to do that, Daddy," Lilypaw spoke.

            The tom then took in his last breath and died. "Our kits," Skycloud whispered.

            "YOU! YOU CAUSED THIS!" Lilypaw yowled at Skycloud, running away. Skycloud did not move a muscle though. Instead, she stared at the two dead mates together.

            "It was never meant to be," Mosspaw heard Skycloud's own voice now, and everything faded, returning to StarClan.

            "He-he died?!" Mosspaw gasped.

            Skycloud nodded. "When I gazed at Thorndapple and Blacktail dead beside each other, that's when I knew. That's when I knew that it wasn't meant to be, and that they had belonged to each other all along."

            "But your kits."

            "We will see that memory later, but now you know. Now you know how much pain and suffering I went through my whole life, wanting a tom I could never have. I never got him even when he was mine."

            "I'm so sorry," Mosspaw spoke.

            "Don't be, Mosspaw. We still have not learned about your father, and that is a different story to come. I'll see you soon. Continue walking. You'll come to Moonpool soon."

            Mosspaw nodded as Skycloud and StarClan faded, and he woke up in the night. He gazed into the stars, realizing how much his mother had gone through. Had the same been with Mossclaw too? Mosspaw hoped not.