"Honeypaw, look up" Finchkit meowed. Honeypaw lifted her head, which felt heavy. Finchkit looked down at her, his cream splotches shining in the pool of tawny fur .

The kit was sitting atop a crooked tree, it's bark twisted over each thick layer. Branches leaned at the lake, its usually shimmering waters a glossy black. It towered over Honeypaw and the moonlight gave it an eerie glow.

"This tree has many stories to tell. Past and future" Finchkit said, laying a paw on the branch. Honeypaw looked rather confused,

"How do you know?" She asked. Nobody had explained StarClan much to her.

A small purr came from the kit's mouth, "We know almost everything". He dragged his paw across the branch, the bark flaking and peeling off. The flakes fell on the ground, surprisingly silently as if it were a feather.

The golden-brown tabby stared expectantly at the StarClan cat, who paid her no attention. Questions continued to spill down from her head into her mouth, it wasn't long until she'd pop.

"Do you... Do you have something to tell me?" She asked him. Finchkit's face turned to her but he seemed to be gazing at something beyond her, just out of reach.

"This is where the sun falls. It's up to you if you can catch it" Finchkit said at last.

"You can't catch the sun!" Honeypaw murmured, a perplexed look on her face. Finchkit didn't respond, he just gazed idly at this one, seemingly invisible object. She batted the air, unsure if she was near it or not. She soon gave up, resting her paws on the smooth earth. Her eyes softened. "What are you thinking about?"

Finchkit blinked, he came back into focus. His eyes were more glassy and more fragile than it ever had been. "My sisters" He sighed, "When I... When I died they didn't know I existed. They have gone on to live their life without knowing" He took a moment to sniff, "Without knowing they ever had a brother". He lifted a fawn paw to his eye, trying to soak a tear on his fur. Honeypaw's heart swelled with sympathy. Honeypaw wouldn't have cared if she died as a kit but if Sunpaw didn't know she existed... It pained her to think about it.

"When did you die?" Honeypaw pressed. The questions kept flowing. "What clan were you in? Were you in FernClan?"

"Enough!" The kit snapped, his miniature claws digging into the tree. He sighed, his face darkening. The moon had shifted away, removing any light there ever was. "That's enough questions".

The tabby attempted to climb the crooked tree, unsure of where to put each paw. She could see the outline of the kit fading away. A grim determination swept through her; she had to know answers. She stretched her paw out, suddenly grasping at air. She lost her footing and crashed down.

Honeypaw gasped, almost leaping out of her nest. The dream was replaying itself in her head. She squinted. In the apprentice den, Hollypaw lay on her front, her body slowly rising and falling. Chestnutpaw lay on his side nestled between Hollypaw and Honeypaw. He looked gentle as ever. Her heart warmed to see his dark chocolate fur glistening in the moonlight, his face relaxed and not tensed. She tore her eyes away at last from Chestnutpaw, slightly wishing she hadn't.

Sunpaw's nest was completely empty. There was no sign that she had ever been there. Honeypaw lay a paw onto the bedding- it was cold. She blinked, hoping to see her there once again. Where is she? Thought Honeypaw, stroking the place where she should be. Supposing there was a night patrol, she fell asleep, unsure whether to be comfortable or not.

----------

Dawn light shone into Honeypaw's eyes. Hissing slightly, she flipped over, shielding herself. As she spun, her paw met a muzzle, which made a grunting sound.

"Honeypaw" groaned Chestnutpaw, lifting his head groggily. Honeypaw winced as she heard his voice. She shuffled around, squinting to see the handsome tom in the shimmering light.

"I'm so sorry!" She meowed apologetically. Chestnutpaw nodded as if to accept the apology. Memories from last night flooded in. She whipped her head around to see a cinnamon pelt curled up in Sunpaw's nest as if nothing had happened.

"Dawn patrol!" Sprucefrost yowled, "Me, Chestnutpaw and Honeypaw"

Chestnutpaw grinned warmly at Honeypaw before padding out of the hollow tree. Smiling to herself, she went after him. The glossy green leaves glistened, bathing the clearing in a greenish-yellow light. Honeypaw stretched, planning to work harder than ever today. Though she'd been an apprentice for a while, this was her first border patrol. Chestnutpaw sat beside Sprucefrost, both of their brown pelts shimmered. Honeypaw marveled over how similar they looked.

"Are you ready to go?" Asked Sprucefrost, flashing a smile at the pair. The deputy's soft brown eyes shimmered in the dawn light, making him look rather charming. Honeypaw nodded eagerly. After meowing a goodbye to the camp, they raced on through the forest. As they bolted on, Honeypaw thought about the prophecies that she was given.

"Two connected will awaken death,
One neglected shall put them to rest,
A..... Will emerge from the mess"

Honeypaw huffed, wishing Acorncloud hadn't interrupted her slumber then.

The group slowed down near a wall of thorns that twisted around eachother. The sharp points grazed each stem, leaving a shadowy green liquid to ooze out.

"This is the DeathClan border"  Sprucefrost said, glancing at the barrier. If Hollypaw or Dusksong had been here, they would've added a snide comment. "Honeypaw knows everything about the border" They would've said, a smirk etched on their faces. Luckily, it was just her, Sprucefrost and Chestnutpaw... Handsome, sweet Chestnutpaw.

Honeypaw blinked in surprise at her thoughts; why was she obsessed with Chestnutpaw?

"And if you walk a but longer" Began the deputy, padding forwards, "You'll start to see the lake". He beamed at the apprentices, showing pearly fangs. They continued going forward, the glistening lake becoming more visible. The sky blended into the waters, which flowed towards an island, surrounded by oak trees. Sprucefrost picked up a stone with his jaws, then flinging it into the waters. As the pebble made contact, the water rippled circles across the lake. It was as if it had its own echo.

"Wouldn't that hurt the fish?" Questioned Chestnutpaw, voice thick in concern. Sprucefrost turned his soft, brown head. "Maybe" He meowed, "Even if it did, it's LakeClan fish, it won't hurt FernClan whatsoever"

Chestnutpaw frowned slightly, "But it still hurts someone" He protested. Honeypaw glanced at him. She noticed darker brown spots dotting his cheek and muzzle; she didn't notice this before. She noticed the way he opened his mouth to protest, his reasoning passionate and kind. She noticed how the flecks of gold danced in his eye, floating in stormy blue seas. She noticed that... She loved him

Hello! Kind of short chapter but it's decent I suppose. I'd love to hear some ships you may have (I generally love ships). I'm sure that you might be able to think of one now! Have a great day y'all and I'll see ya in the next one ♥️