Echoflight dropped her squirrel on the fresh-kill pile, her mind busy with thoughts of Dawnmist. For the whole day, her mind had been thinking about her friend, even as she hunted and patrolled with her Clanmates. For the past moon, they had headed to the cave almost every night, returning tired and ruffled, but happy and peaceful. Helping Dawnmist had helped Echoflight too.

Echoflight had decided that she loved helping Dawnmist and wished that she could have more cats to help. They don't know about me, she reminded herself. Otherwise they'd come.

Dawnmist's behaviour had improved after Echoflight had helped her. Other cats began to notice too, inviting her to hunts and patrols more frequently and sharing tongues with her. Echoflight sometimes felt pangs of jealousy before she told herself sternly that Dawnmist could be everyone's friend. It's just that Dawnmist had been her first friend.

Echoflight pushed the bad thoughts to the back of her mind. What if I'm becoming bad? Jealousy is bad.

Echoflight shivered as the sun set and the moon began to creep into the sky. Echoflight crept to her nest, waiting for Dawnmist to come back from the evening patrol. But soon, it was moonhigh and still no sign of Dawnmist.

Now extremely worried, Echoflight left the den and sat at the camp entrance. They weren't going to sneak out today; Dawnmist had been put on watch and Echoflight had volunteered to sit with her. But the ginger she-cat wasn't here, and neither was her patrol. Goldenperch had led it with Dawnmist, Birchfall and Hollyleaf. Maybe they had run into trouble?

The moon was at its peak when the patrol finally trooped into camp, their pelts covered in blood and their eyes dark and haunted.

"What happened?" Echoflight demanded, jumping to her paws immediately.

Dawnmist was the least injured, to Echoflight's relief. Does that make me bad? I'm glad that the others are injured.

Goldenperch raised her weary head and mewed, "A badger happened. We were on our way back when it sprang out of the bush and attacked us. Dawnmist was the one who warned us. Without her, we would be dead."

Echoflight felt a tingle go through her. Dawnmist could have died. She ran forward and nuzzled her friend, sending her silent comfort.

"We're going to go see Jayfeather and Larkleaf," Goldenperch led the patrol to the medicine den, where Echoflight soon heard the medicine cat's voices.

Echoflight stayed on watch, but she wasn't really concentrating. She was frozen with worry for Dawnmist, who she had grown to love like a sister. If only Dawnmist had been my littermate, not Demonclaw. Speaking of Demonclaw...

Demonclaw had always been cruel, although they had been close when they were small kits, they had grown further and further apart. It had started with one particular incident though.

"Demonkit! Let's go play!" Echokit pawed her brother playfully.

Demonkit purred at her before darting out of the den. "Let's play outside!"

Echokit had sat in the den, worried. "What if mother or father finds out? We're not allowed to be outside when it's almost dark."

"It'll be fine," Demonkit dismissed it quickly. "It'll be fine."

"Alright, if you say so," Echokit edged out of the den nervously before perking up. "Butterfly! Chase it!"

Demonkit led the chase, his short legs carrying them deep into the ghostly woods. Echokit pressed against Demonkit as the butterfly evaded them once again. It was fully dark now.

"I'm scared," Echokit confided, feeling like Demonkit was the only one she could trust.

At once, Demonkit leapt backwards, his eyes filled with rage. "Only cowards are scared!"

"B-but," Echokit stammered.

Demonkit sniffed haughtily. "Apologize! Father would have your pelt!"

"Fine, I'm not scared," Echokit sighed. "Sorry."

Echokit waited a bit before speaking up. "But I am hungry."

Demonkit's eyes softened and he dashed into the woods, leaving Echokit alone. She trembled, feeling very afraid. At that moment, Demonkit came back, a small shrew struggling in his jaws.

"How did you catch that?" Echokit wondered.

"It was already injured," Demonkit confessed. "But it was still trying to escape me."

"Kill it! Can I kill it?" Echokit's mouth watered as she gazed at the prey.

"No!" Demonkit snarled, his claws unsheathed.

Echokit backed away, frightened of him. She watched as Demonkit sliced his claw across the shrew's stomach and watched its blood flow onto the ground.

"Stop! That's so cruel!" Echokit ran to his side.

"Cruel is good," Demonkit wouldn't even look at her.

"Please!" Echokit begged. "It doesn't deserve it!"

Strong sympathy for the shrew welled up in her, causing her to snatch it out of Demonkit's claws.

"Give it back!" Demonkit roared.

Echokit lifted her chin and bit the shrew's neck, killing it in a swift bite. "You can have it, I'm not hungry anyway," she growled and stalked away.

A sharp pain in her back made her yowl out. It was Demonkit, his claws digging into her fur.

"Stop it, you furball!" she cried.

"You deserve it," Demonkit finally looked at her and she winced as she saw his eyes becoming colder, darker and crueller.

Echoflight blinked, shaking herself out of her memories. What was that?

She didn't know why her mind had travelled to that day, but then it clicked. That was the day when she had started arguing with Demonclaw. The day that they had started to sever their relationship. The day that he had started to bully her; to attack and claw her without Goldenperch knowing. Echoflight gritted her teeth, anger growing in her.

How dare Goldenperch not help me? I was helpless as a kit. She was my mother! She was supposed to help!

Echoflight forced herself to relax, using Dawnmist's exercises until she felt better. Twenty, nineteen, eighteen, seventeen, sixteen, fifteen, fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.

When she felt calmer, a thought flashed across her mind and her gaze travelled to the medicine den, where Goldenperch was staying for the night. I should confront her. I need to talk to her.

But Echoflight turned away with a small sigh and banished the thought of her mother from her mind.

I shouldn't dwell in the past. Demonclaw is dead, and I killed him. That's all that matters.