Ashleaf paced back and forth across the Great Clearing, pawsteps thudding softly behind her. Anything could be happening in camp. This is all my fault, She thought dreadfully, I should have run when I had the chance! What's going to happen next?

She wondered how things were running back in camp. Did Pantherstep keep his oath or did he tell all the StormClan cats about their secret confrontation? Was Wisetail hunting with StarClan now, or was he alive? Were cats asking about her? Were they angry? Ashleaf's belly fluttered anxiously as she padded through the dusty earth.

Worst of all, what was happening to Loudpaw? Surely Rosestar, the cruel leader of MeadowClan wouldn't hurt her! No cat, not even the evillest, would hurt an innocent apprentice!

Ashleaf simply couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt. This apprentice had been taken and captured because of her. She also couldn't comprehend why a leader would hold an apprentice hostage! Rosestar, according to Snowsong and the other medicine cats, was supposedly the cat in the prophecy. The prophecy that meant Rosestar was supposed to be kind and loving. This cat, the one she had met, was nothing of the sort!

Pure sorrow washed over Ashleaf. Why? She thought, her heart aching, What have I or StormClan ever done to you?

After what felt like a moon of intense floods of emotions, she heard pawsteps approaching behind her. She stiffened and listened as the hushed voices of Snowsong and Pantherstep filled the clearing.

"She's a traitor, I tell you!" Pantherstep hissed from inside the grasses, coming closer with each heartbeat. "I don't know what that mange-pelt's been up to, but I swear upon StarClan something's not ri-"

"Shut your muzzle, would you?!" The soft but sharp voice of Snowsong snapped, "I can promise you our leader is no traitor, no more than you are yourself!"

This seemed to silence the bitter tom as the pair walked into the clearing. Ashleaf froze, her fur bristling with fear. Pantherstep's eyes burned into hers, fury radiating from them. "Well?" He snarled at last, "Explain yourself. I've had enough of this."

Ashleaf parted her jaws to speak, but Snowsong cut her off. "Before we begin, Pantherstep," She mewed sharply, "You must swear upon StarClan that what we say here is repeated to no cat. Ever."

"Fine," Pantherstep snapped, "Just get on with it."

An awkward silence filled the clearing. "Everything's under control at camp," Snowsong mewed, "But we don't have much time before Wisetail needs checking. So we must explain as much as we can as swiftly as we can. But Pantherstep, I beg of you to understand."

Pantherstep nodded briskly. Snowsong turned to Ashleaf and nodded to her solemnly to tell her it was time.

Ashleaf inhaled slowly, preparing herself for the reaction to come. Her heart throbbed in her chest. "When I awoke at the Moonstone a few sunrises ago, I awoke without any memory of the past life I had lived. I don't remember who any of you are, nor anything that happened before I woke."

A dead silence followed that seemed to last for seasons.

Pantherstep stared disbelievingly, amber eyes glittering and pupils mere specks. The meadow around them seemed to have stilled, not even a mouse stirred. The wind silenced and the first warriors of StarClan seemed to be glaring at them in shock, as if they, too, were surprised.

"This is a joke," Pantherstep whispered, voice hoarse and unreadable, "Tell me this is a joke."

"It's not," Snowsong sighed softly, "It appears that in the time we needed Ashleaf the most, StarClan takes away our only hope."

"Ashleaf," Pantherstep's eyes widened, noticing how Snowsong had addressed her by her warrior name, "You mean she didn't even get nine lives?!"

Snowsong's reply was laced with anguish and fear, "There's no way to tell. She doesn't remember!"

"This," Pantherstep hissed, "Is a disaster!" He stood up, gasping furiously for breath. He began to pace back and forth in the same path Ashleaf had trodden previously. "No, no, no, no, no, no!" He wailed. He turned to Ashleaf at last. "I never liked you." He growled, "But I always respected you and your tactics."

"No, you didn't," Snowsong muttered behind him.

Pantherstep shrugged off Snowsong's remark. "But I would have never wanted something like this to be afflicted onto you," He continued sadly, "I'm sorry this has happened."

Ashleaf, for the first time, realized that Pantherstep was actually being kind to her. "That's the nicest thing you've said to me since I woke up. Thank you." She sighed, pelt burning with embarrassment.

The black tom nodded curtly. "I knew something was wrong.  You've been acting strange since you've returned from the Moonstone. I apologize for attacking you, I just couldn't find any other explanation other than treachery."

"I forgive you," Ashleaf gulped.

Pantherstep and Snowsong  both exchanged glances that Ashleaf couldn't read. At first, they had both looked shocked. But then, Snowsong's eyes softened, and Pantherstep met her gaze with a look of understanding.

This unsettled Ashleaf. Was there something the medicine cat and the warrior had exchanged? Was there something she didn't know?

"Pantherstep," Snowsong mewed, "I need to ask you a favor. Two, actually."

"Go on," Pantherstep flicked his tail impatiently.

"First, I must ask you not to repeat this conversation. Do not speak of it, ever, as long as there are Clanmates around. As I told Ashleaf, if you absolutely must mention anything, it shall be in private with Ashleaf or me. Also, you are to address her as Ashstar, her leader name, when other cats are watching. If any word gets loose of this, brother, I swear upon StarClan-"

"Alright, I get it!" Pantherstep hissed, "I won't tell anybody! But," He paused, eyes suddenly shining deviously, "What's in it for me?"

"Your right to be a part of StormClan!" Snowsong yowled back in disbelief, "You tried to kill your leader and I saw you! If you say a word, I'll tell the entire Clan how you betrayed her! And if they won't exile you, I'll do it myself!" She spat, obviously furious.

The two siblings glared at each other angrily, teeth bared and fur bristling. Snowsong's tail lashed furiously and a growl escaped Pantherstep's throat.

Ashleaf, horrified, leapt between the quarrel. "Stop!" She cried, "Don't fight over me! Please!"

Snowsong sat up, embarrassed. She licked her chest to hide her face. "I'm sorry. It's just I cannot tolerate such foolishness." Pantherstep let out a grunt. "Now, Pantherstep, will you keep this secret? This is more than about you. We've had too many losses and tragedies lately to inflict another burden on the Clan, and you know it. If the Clan finds out that Ashleaf has lost her memory, it will be nothing less than chaos."

Pantherstep gulped. He seemed to be with internal conflict with himself. He took a deep breath. "Fine." He grunted.

"Thank you," Snowsong exhaled, "But I do have one more favor to ask of you."

"StarClan help me," He groaned.

Snowsong ignored him. "Ashleaf is without any warrior training. She doesn't know how to hunt nor fight. She needs a cat to train her. If she is to lead a Clan, she needs at least the basic skills of an apprentice. Pantherstep, I need you to be her mentor."

"WHAT?!" Ashleaf and Pantherstep caterwauled in unison.

"I don't care how ignorant I am, I do not want to train with him!" Ashleaf yowled.

"Have you got bees in your brain?! I HAVE an apprentice!" Pantherstep hollered, "I hate her! I am not training Ashleaf!"

Snowsong sighed. "I knew this would be difficult. But you two have to resolve your differences. We cannot be led by a leader without skills. Pantherstep, you are the only warrior who knows her secret. As my brother, you are the only cat I trust with this honor."

The black and brown tom glared at his older sister furiously. "I guess I have no choice then," He growled, "If I don't, this Clan could be in greater jeopardy than it already is."

"Correct," She mewed softly.

"Fine then," He hissed, "But I can't promise you I'll like it."

"You don't have to," Ashleaf spoke up, half-annoyed, "And I can promise you that I will loath every second of this. But if you want StormClan to survive, you have to train me. We can make this work, Pantherstep, if you cooperate with me."

Pantherstep stared at her incredulously, "Wow," he mumbled, "Okay, then."

"Then this is settled," Snowsong announced, getting to her paws, "We must return to camp now. Wisetail needs a new poultice, and I need to re-check Mousepaw's wounds. Pantherstep, make sure Mudfoot eats her poppy seed tonight, will you?"

"Alright," Pantherstep sighed, standing up as well.

Ashleaf however, was not yet satisfied with the conversation. A haunting question still nagged at her, something she had been pondering for a while. "Before you go," She whispered, "I must ask you both something that's been bothering me."

"What is it?" Snowsong asked, turning around. Her amber eyes were filled with hope and surprise.

"What was I like?" She gulped, "Before I lost my memory? I've heard everyone tell me how I was such a strong, fierce warrior, but what was I like? I know I'm different now, but I'd like to know how I was before."

Snowsong's eyes widened. "Er..." Her whiskers twitched. Pantherstep's jaw hung open, speechless. "I loved you," She whispered with grief, "I loved you, very, very much. You were the closest friend I ever had." The white medicine cat turned and sniffed the air. "Now, we must be off. There's going to be a long recovery ahead of us."

Pantherstep and Snowsong turned tail and bounded out of the clearing. However, Ashleaf remained, dazed and crestfallen.

They never answered my question, she thought with anguish.