Snowpaw was confused about her emotions. She wasn't sure if she would miss her mentors or not.
            But whatever she felt, she knew that she felt anger. How dare her mentors try to make choices for her! She was more angry than sad. As of now, she was developing a hatred towards StarClan again.
            But when she saw Bear, she would forget about what she was dealing with, and all her worries would fade. Because when she was with him, it was like the world had stopped spinning. Snowpaw knew what the odd tingling in her paws and feeling in her chest was now. It was love. She was in love with Bear.
            Snowpaw felt Bear's thick coat brush against hers as she opened her eyes. She had moved her nest next to Bear's now since the log couldn't fit them both.
            "Good morning," Bear spoke, rasping his tongue against her cheek.
            Snowpaw purred and looked at Bear's leg. The wound was completely gone now, only a pale scar remaining. Nothing too noticeable.
            "How does my leg look?"
            "Fine, it's all better now," Snowpaw smiled.
            It was obvious that Bear loved her, especially how they gazed into each other's eyes and cared so greatly for one another.
            As Snowpaw stood, she sighed.
            "What's the matter?" Bear asked.
            "Your wound is all better...I guess we agreed that you could go now..."
            "Really? Wow, that's great!"
            Snowpaw's heart broke as she heard these words. She thought Bear cared for her, but obviously he didn't.
            "Why are you so sad?" Bear asked.
            "I just didn't want you to leave," Snowpaw sighed.
            "Leave? Well of course I'm leaving, but Snowpaw, you're coming with me," Bear said lightly.
            "R-really?"
            "What did you think I was going to let happen to my favorite she-cat? I wasn't just going to abandon you!"
            You have no idea Snowpaw thought to herself.
            "Are you ready to go?" Bear asked.
            No, this isn't right Snowpaw thought. She didn't know why she couldn't just go. It was as if she needed to stay here.
            "Not yet," Snowpaw said.
            "When did you want to leave then?" Bear asked, tilting his head.
            "I don't know why, but I feel like I belong here. This is my...home," Snowpaw said.
            "But Snowpaw, there are so much better things out there! This forest is empty and dead. Don't you want to explore?" Bear asked.
            "I-I guess," Snowpaw sighed.
            "Then let's go!"
            Snowpaw moved one foot forward, then stopped. "Can we just stay for a few more days? Please?"
            Bear sighed. "You really can't leave this place, can you? Fine, we can stay until there's a full moon. The next full moon will be in about seven sunrises. We'll stay until then."
            "Thank you, Bear!" Snowpaw shouted, licking the tom affectionately.
            Bear didn't seem to happy with the decision, but Snowpaw was glad that he cared about her.
            "What do you want to do?" Bear asked.
            Snowpaw shrugged. "Well, since I'm only going to be here a few more days, how about we climb the tallest tree in the forest?!"
            "Really? You want to do that?"
            Snowpaw nodded. "I know where it is! I pass by it a lot!"
            "Snowpaw, are you sure? Remember what happened last time you climbed a tree?"
            "I'm sure, Bear."
            "Alright," he said. "Lead the way."
            Snowpaw nodded and began to walk into the dim-lit forest. For some reason, it didn't seem as calm and happy as it did when her mentors were here. Now there was only dark in the forest, and only a tiny bit of sunlight filtered through the tall trees.
            As Snowpaw walked, she wondered if she had made the right decision about Bear. Was it a good decision to go off with him? Was he really that trustworthy?
            Of course he is Snowpaw thought to herself. He loves me, and that's what matters.
            Snowpaw still felt an odd feeling though...Why hadn't StarClan approved of him?
            As she walked, Snowpaw stopped at the largest tree in the forest. It reached into the sky and the branches hung proudly.
            "This is it?" Bear asked.
            Snowpaw nodded. With no words, she placed her first paw onto the branch. Then another, until all four paws were on the branch.
            Bear hesitated, then followed her.
            "These trees are dangerous," he warned.
            "That's what makes it fun," Snowpaw laughed. "I just want to get to the top to see the whole forest. I want to feel the wind in my face. I want to look down and see how far I've come. That'll be a story to tell."
            "Sure will," Bear grunted.
            Snowpaw followed him as they walked up branch by branch. Leaves concealed them from the rest of the forest, and they walked slowly and silently.
            Snowpaw had never done anything so big or so wild before. She was just a small runt born in a vicious clan that had been abandoned as a small kit. Who knew she could climb to the top of this tree? She was sure her siblings wouldn't.
            Flighkit. Icekit. She missed them terribly. She assumed they had apprentice names by now. She assumed they were alive, not abducted by MoonClan.
            Snowfeather. She missed her most of all. Snowpaw wanted to be just like her mother because she knew that when she had kits, she would treat them just as her mother did. Snowpaw smiled at this thought.
            Her father...Was he leader of BloodClan now? She hoped he was.
            "Are you okay?" Bear asked. Snowpaw's thoughts were suddenly interrupted.
            "Yeah, just thinking..."
            "About what?"
            "Bear, I haven't been completely honest with you."
            "What do you mean?"
            Snowpaw sighed. "Well, I guess you could say I'm a clan cat, but...I grew up in a really terrifying clan. I witnessed a purposeful death at three moons..."
            "Purposeful?"
            "In our clan, to prove you were ready to be a warrior, you had to kill another cat. It was usually a rogue they had found patrolling around."
            "That's not too bad," Bear said. "I was on my own at six moons."
            "I was on my own at five."
            "Huh?"
            "Remember how I mentioned my mother before? Well, she loved me very much. I had a brother and a sister who hated me. My father was deputy. They were all vicious and wanted to kill. My mother wasn't like that. She was downgraded to a nursery queen for the rest of her life because she refused to kill a cat. Then one day," Snowpaw cringed as she felt the tears coming on. "Our leader's son...he saved me. I was drowning and he died. And then my mother took me into the forest..."
            "Snowpaw are you alright?" Bear asked as he stepped onto another branch.
            "No. I woke up in the forest...it was a new one. My mother was gone. I almost died, but I lived. And that's how I ended up here."
            "You were ditched in this forest?"
            "No, another. I met these cats. I thought they would save me, but they tried to kill me. I ran away and have been here since."
            "Snowpaw, you have had a rough life," Bear sighed.
            "Some cats call me the abandoned warrior..."
            "Well no one will abandon you anymore. I promise," Bear said.
            "Thank you," Snowpaw smiled.
            When the sun began to set, Snowpaw knew she was almost at the top. She could feel the wind picking up, and then suddenly, she could see everything. The green trees glimmered in the golden sun. Snowpaw felt the wind blow against her pelt and she let out a smile.
            "Wow," Bear said.
            They stayed until the sun vanished and the moon and stars came out. Laying down on a large branch, the two huddled together, smiling.
            "Wow, Snowpaw. I didn't think you would make it," Bear laughed.
            "Of course I would!"
            "I'm just kidding. Good night."
            "Good night, Bear," Snowpaw smiled, licking his ear.
            There was a long silence, and Snowpaw finally spoke again. "Bear, do you love me?"
            "To the moon and back," Bear replied.
            "I love you too."