Sitting vigil at the cave entrance with Berryheart and Stoneclaw was not how I imagined the ideal way to spend my night. Mistyclan was in a frenzy, ever since cats had started to realise that the new deputy had not yet been named. Lots of opinions were thrown about how long Mistystar was dragging it out, none were good.

Now, as I sat with the cat that had broken my heart and the brother who never loved me, I wished I could be anywhere else but in front of a gaping cave entrance that lead to a separated clan.

Nearly drifting off into my thoughts, I snapped awake as a light-ginger she-cat approached us, "Stoneclaw, we have business to attend to. You remember, my dear?"

I rolled my eyes, making sure Cream couldn't see. Did she really think my brother would fall for such an elaborate ruse for him to break his silence? What a mouse-bain.

Shock penetrated me as Stoneclaw replied smoothly, "'Course not, you go ahead. I will follow soon."

As soon as the ex-rogue slipped out of camp and into the shadows of the trees, my brother turned to me, "Honeypaw, you are to speak no word of this to Mistystar tomorrow morning. Understand?"

I felt fury rise up inside of me, "It's Honeydrop now. And, no, I won't tell her in the morning, I'll tell her right now!"

Standing up, my tail lashing, I made to go but was stopped when Berryheart laid his tail on my spine, his voice soothing, "Hold on, what's this all about?"

Annoyance flickered in Stoneclaw's eyes but when he spoke, it was with a tone of sympathy, "Ah, you're Cream's adoptive son. You must want to have some part in this. Come with me and I will tell you."

Berryheart, who was normally so calm, seemed agitated and curious, "Tell me now. We can't leave our vigil."

Stoneclaw was amused, "We've already broken plenty of rules by just talking. Who cares about one more?"

Before Berryheart can agree, I interrupt, "I care that you're not telling me anything and yet you still call me your sister!"

My brother finally looked directly at me, "Yes, you're my sister, but that means you must definitely want to support me in this matter, won't you?"

His whiskers quivered, "Be a dear sister and join me, or not. I don't care, so long as you never tell anyone. I'm your brother, after all."

I felt my heart beat speed up. If I did this, would my brother truly love me? Oh how I needed it right now, with Cloudypaw barely talking to me and the cat I love treating me like a stranger.

Berryheart looked back and forth between us before directly addressing Stoneclaw, "I'll go. Cream is my foster mother and there is no way I can ever repay her for how she found me and took care of me."

Both of them were leaving me! 

Maybe I was the mouse-brain. 

For a second, my heart broke a little bit more but I patched it up with hopeful thoughts. Maybe if I agreed and went along with Stoneclaw, Berryheart would love me again! I hated how hard it was to move on.

My brother stood up, glancing at me one last time, "Let's go."

Before the toms could take their first step, I jumped up, fur bristling with uncertainty, "I'm coming."

Berryheart seemed startled but was it just me or did his eyes glint with gratefulness?

Stoneclaw purred, as if he had expected it, "Dear sister, looks like you might be of some use after all."

A/N

And so the plot thickens—— 

sorry for the filler chapter