"Maplestar, there was a rock slide and.." The deputy trailed off, looking sad. Maplestar felt extremely scared. "You need to come..." Maplestar shot a worried look at her kits, Rockfoot and Hollywhisker.

"Follow me," she called to them. The pair raced after her and the deputy. When they got to the site, Maplestar let out a strangled gasp of terror and sadness. The rocks did not hide the reddened by blood black fur. Shadeclaw. Ignoring the sense of dread, Maplestar removed the nearest rock. Sure enough, it was her mate. Maplestar already knew he was dead. The pool of blood told her as much. The deputy was giving her a 'I'm sorry' look. "Don't be," She murmured. "It's not your fault." She looked at her mate's body again. She laid her head on his back, not caring if it stained her chin.

"Should we do something?" Hollywhisker asked, tears forming at her eyes.

"We can't he's dead," Rockfoot replied. Hollywhisker shot him a look.

"You don't think I know that?" She questioned, her voice quivering. "You don't appear to be sad. Why are you never sad?!"

"I show grief different to you," he replied simply. "It's quite a common thing."

"So you're saying I'm dumb?"

"In a way, Yes."

"You piece of Foxdung."

~~~~~

Meanwhile, in the dark woods, four apprentices were playing. Three siblings, one, a friend. Snakepaw was watching her brother and sister play-fighting. "I wish I had siblings," Earthpaw murmured quietly. She then glanced at Snakepaw and smiled.

"You don't like being an only-kit? I wouldn't have imagined that," Snakepaw remarked. "Sure, siblings are nice, but they just annoy you sometimes, ya know what I mean?" Earthpaw nodded.

"I imagined as much. That other apprentice is kinda cute dontcha think?" Snakepaw felt a slight stab of jealousy, but ignored it.

"Yeah, I guess, she's just not really my type." Snakepaw realized something. "Look at us, two 'paws talking about warrior-things." Earthpaw laughed. A cute, high, laugh.

"Yeah, I guess," she said smiling.