I know, I know, this is supposed to be a book of oneshots, not continual stories. However, I was a little bit unsatisfied with how the first oneshot ended, so I decided to write a part two to the previous. One where something better happens to Cole instead of a horrifying nightmare where he is, to say the least, terrified of Zane for the rest of his life.

I am quite cruel to myself in some ways and far too kind in others. Writing the first oneshot was a cruel one, and it helped me (sort of) to bend my fear of the dark a little. Writing this continued story, however... I'm starting to shed my fear far more than the first one did.

I know, it is kinda stupid that I'm afraid of the dark, even if I think it's only temporary. I'm not a nyctophobe, though, it's not that severe. I recall having short episodes of a temporary fear of the dark when I was younger, and for some reason it comes back to me occasionally.

On that note... let's get into the story that helped to ease my current fear of the dark!

   Cole found himself alone in the darkness. He could barely see the outline of thick tree trunks around him. Glowing red mushrooms lined the tree trunks, and a musky scent filled the air.

   Oh no, not this again, Cole thought, remembering this same dark forest that haunted him every night. This forest again! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!

   A silent breeze passed the Earth Elemental, carrying the fresh scent of blood.

   No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no -

   A white pelt flashed in the darkness, outlined in highlighted red. Ghastly pale eyes stared back at Cole, leaking blood instead of tears. Sharp and torn claws glistening in blood scraped against the forest floor. A ragged tail torn with heavy bleeding wounds twitched in and out of Cole's range of sight.

   Please don't kill me! Cole screamed inwardly, his fur standing on edge. Please, try to understand...

   The bleeding, torn body of his best friend stepped out, leaking a pool of blood where he stood. The air itself now smelled of blood and filled Cole's senses. The white cat's forehead held a gash that bled a consistently flowing river of blood. On his muzzle a smaller gash bled over his bared fangs, which were drooping in red that flowed off his chin. His torn ears were pulled back and flattened, also dripping blood down to the pool underneath his paws. It was a horrendous sight to behold, making Cole slowly go a bit insane with all the red entering his eyes at once.

   This was the cat of his nightmares.

   YOU CANNOT STOP ME, Zane hissed, spurting out a bit of blood from his mouth. YOU HAVE BROUGHT THIS UPON YOURSELF. The dead corpse raised his dripping chin. WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO DIE FOR MY PERFECT REVENGE?

   For some odd reason, at that moment something snapped inside Cole. His emotions flooded out of his control and his body language acted for itself.

   "You know what? You know what, Zane? Go ahead. Go ahead and kill me. I have nothing left to lose - the best friend I know is gone forever. If you say I did this to you, then go ahead and kill me already, you slow, hesitant, stupid little falcon!"

   Cole collapsed to the floor shaking and sobbing uncontrollably. His legs could no longer hold him upright; the flood of emotions had become an unbearable tsunami that weighed him down and chained him securely to the floor. His gasping sobs became the only thing he could hear, and all of his memories of and with Zane - the one he knew and loved as a brother - flashed in front of tightly shut eyes.

   Cole sobbed on the floor and time seemed to stop for an hour, until Zane finally spoke, a strange stillness in his ragged, gurgling voice.

   I NEVER SAID THAT, he breathed, sounding surprised. WOULD I EVER SAY THAT TO YOU? YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND. MY BROTHER.

   "Yes, you said that to me," Cole's voice cracked. "You - you accused me... it's my fault..."

   I CHOSE TO DIE, Zane growled. His voice was losing its gurgle, though his figure was still blood-red and lifeless. YOUR FEAR MUST HAVE TAKEN AHOLD OF YOU. I CHOSE TO DIE - TO SAVE YOU. MY FRIENDS. MY FAMILY.

   Cole dared to look up at Zane. The pool of blood below him looked less murky now, the blood dripping from his body falling gently, like light rain.

   YOU WERE AFRAID OF ME, Zane whispered in a hollow voice. He stretched out a bloodied forepaw, some of the claws still torn. LET ME HELP YOU...

   Cole was skeptical about the paw; although he knew the claws were unsheathed and couldn't be sheathed in this state, they and the bloodstains gave him horrid flashbacks of the day Zane died... Could he trust this Zane? Was he imagining this, or was it really Zane's ghost he was talking to in his dreams?

   Let me help you, Cole. The voice he recognized cut its way through softly, above all else. It was never your fault. The responsibility was mine and mine alone. Cole's heart ached. Was that... Zane's real voice? He desperately wished for it not to be a trick of the mind and to actually be the Zane he knew.

   Cole reached out to the bloodied paw with his own outstretched paw, and twisted it so the pads of both paws faced each other. "Zane..." he breathed. "Is that... really you?"

   Their paws touched, bloodstained white over earth brown. Cole felt his fear and grief melt into subdued peace, felt his muscles and tensed limbs relax. A soothing cold breeze brushed his fur lightly.

   Zane finally appeared to Cole once more, but with all the scars and blood cleansed off his bright snowy pelt. His eyes shone as they once did, calm and reassuring, and a warm smile that opposed his Element was stretched across his face. Something silver and faint stood at his shoulders - were those wings?

   Thank you for understanding, Zane called, his mouth moving as humans' mouths would. You have finally conquered your fear. I believe Kai would need your help now.

   "Kai?" Cole could tell from the flame-colored cat's distressed green eyes, his frazzled pelt, and his constant unsheathing and sheathing of claws that he was traumatized as well, but he never thought the Fire Elemental would be traumatized as bad as Cole. For once in a long time, he felt sorry for the poor cat.

   I must return, Zane said distractedly. His wings spread like a bird's - no, like a falcon's, they unfolded almost majestically. His pale blue eyes rested on Cole for a moment before he gave Cole a small smile. I must return. And if you believe in me, I will.

   Something cold touched Cole's muzzle, and to his dismay Zane disappeared. Cole woke up in a small forest, and he blinked a couple times to check that he wasn't dreaming anymore. The air was cold. He dabbed at his muzzle gently with a paw, then brought it down so he could look at what he had dabbed onto his pad.

   A six-pointed snowflake.

And that's the official end of this oneshot, I promise. No more. I'll shove in random other ideas later, and I think I should put one that was a small idea separate from but still part of the Old Draft of ITWC. Yeah, I think I'll try to put that next. I'll come up with a better title than the one I gave it when I wrote it, so it won't sound so far off.

Fun fact: I wrote this continuation of a oneshot about a week ago.

Another fun fact: I wrote my next idea (from the Old Draft) while I was on vacation in Taiwan. It felt weird writing on another side of the world from most of the people I knew and from most Wattpad writers (I think? They never responded within five hours after I sent a comment or something, so I kinda assumed that), but I met a lot of new users during my vacation and got my digital talons on a new Warriors fanfiction book, so it was 100% worth it.

It's kinda late right now, so I'll sign off.

Cya, and until the next chapter, peace out!

P. S. Whooo, I've been on a long spree of writing chapters in multiple books. I'm glad I like writing.