~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Briarlight's POV~~

"Briarpaw, wake up!!!" Darkness... Out of darkness comes paws??? Two large dappled paws.

I hear a groan as light floods in my eyes, it's probably from me. "OHMISTARCLAN GET UP BRIARPAW ARE YOU LIKE DEAD?!?!?!" Blossomfall... but she sounds different, like younger...

"Maybe," I whisper in response to her. Well, I speak the truth. Hollyleaf's words come back to me, clear as before.

I know you must both be confused, but let me put you at ease...
I have bargained with StarClan so that the three of us get a second chance at life. You will begin as apprentices, no reason for you to be kits, and you have to stop darkness in whatever way you can. I will not be with you, for I will have already gone to the caves. Ashfur was meant to die that day. Please, do anything you can to lead us to paradise. Even if it kills you.

And on that happy note it all began to fade, as if I was just going to sleep. It was so calm and soothing I wanted to give in, but I fought it. I was afraid I would fade out of existence, but eventually I gave in.

My eyes slowly peel open, the light angrily rejecting them. I forced them, and a world of brightness flooded in. The greens of the ivy clinging onto the walls, the white-yellow rays of sun falling into my eyes, it all felt so... real.

In StarClan, I used to think everything was brighter, more colorful, well, just more. But it doesn't beat the real world in any way. The cascade of shapes, light & colors flowing into my eyes, nothing could.

I tilted my head over as Blossomfall's paw steps retreated, presumably out of the den. I didn't want to get up, my limbs still thought I was dead.

I flopped over, before noticing the strangest thing. My legs. They were normal. Not like my normal, with my legs limply trailing behind me. They were like any other cat's.

I gingerly tested one before the other, finding that both were sturdy and strong. My eyes grew in apprehension. I knew what was happening. I was young again. Longtail was still alive.

It was the day the tree fell.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hollyleaf's POV~~~

  I stared at him for a while. It felt so unreal, all of it. His rippling grey pelt, his nervous paws. His bright blue eyes...

I shook my head angrily. I did not like Ashfur. He was my enemy. He tried to ruin my life, and I killed him. Or should've. But looking at him now, I thought back to what I had earned from that.

Respect? Nope, everyone hated me. A secret? I let that one out. My home? I lived in a hole after that, I'm pretty sure not.

It was for pride, and it had cost me everything.

I retracted my claws. I wasn't going to kill him. I couldn't. So I did what I had to. I walked up to him.

My paws were shaking uncontrollably as I covered what should've been a short distance between me and Ashfur. Instead it felt like the longest stretch ever.

Once I finally reached the grey tom, he whipped around violently before growling, "What the Dark Forest- Oh, Hollyleaf," his face softened unexpectedly before he continued, "Sit down,"

My eyes widened in surprise. He doesn't know. Maybe I hadn't been the only thing refreshed here. I rested myself on the sandy beach, ignoring my discomfort.

"Can I trust you Hollyleaf?" He whispered, staring out into the sunset.

"I think so," I whispered laughing. It's not going to happen again Ashfur, I promise.

"Well then," he purred, a deep comforting rumble, "I need some help, there's something I've been hiding for a long time..."

My paws kneaded in the soft sand. My face grew hot with embarrassment. He liked me? I certainly didn't like him, well, maybe a little....

"You can't tell anyone," he meowed turning my way, his blue eyes wide with worry. "Because it would ruin me,"

"I-I won't," I whispered, trying to keep my nerves in check. Just say it, just say it....

"Ashfur!" A voice howled from the woods, "Night patrol wants you!"

The grey tom muttered a curse before answering, "Coming Dustpelt!"

He turned towards me and whispered, "Meet me here tonight, I'll tell you then," and with that he bounded into the forest, leaving me bewildered in the last rays of dusk.