"Sunpaw, we've been looking forever, she's probably not even here..."

    "Foxpaw, if you're going to complain you can leave."

    "But Lionclaw!"

    Sunpaw and Lionclaw both looked to Foxpaw irritatedly. He blushed under his red fur. "Sorry. Whatever."

    "No no, you're right," Sunpaw muttered. "She's probably far gone. I just... I just wanted her to be there for Fiery if he... If it's too late..." He stared at the ground, and Runningpaw touched his tail to his.

    Foxpaw and Lionclaw both realized whatever Sunpaw had said was personal, so they both continued to call out, "Snowy! Snowy!"

    They were now on the opposite side of their territory than the barn. On this side there was another field, although there were a few more trees around there, and even a small river.

    "Maybe she's over there," Lionclaw suggested.

    Sunpaw shrugged glumly. "I don't even know anymore." The temperature noticeably dropped.

    "Snowy," he called softly, "If you're there, your brother Fiery is dying at the old barn. He needs you. So... please help him."

    They quietly waited. But no one seemed to hear.

    <><><>

    Dark... Dark. I can't see...

    Flashes of the barn roof. Blurry images of wood.

    I can't... Get up... Everything hurts.

    Fiery blearily tried to open his eyes, but everything was blurry. His entire body was aching, and there was a sharp pain in his chest.

    "S-Sunpaw..." He coughed. "I... can't... move."

    "It's okay, Fiery. I'm here."

    The voice was softer, different from Sunpaw's. Fiery blinked and tried to focus. "S-Sunpaw..."

    "Fiery... It's me, Snowy."

Fiery coughed again, blinking several times. He could see the blurry white cat in front of him. Her blue eyes were full of concern.

"...Snowy...?" He whispered, trying to regulate his breathing. "Snowy..."

"Yes, Fiery, it's me," she whispered back. "I missed you a lot. You're going to be okay."

"Snowy," he repeated, a bit clearer this time. He coughed again.

He blinked several times, and he realized there was another cat in the room. "Who... Is that..." He coughed. "Sunpaw?"

"It's me, Fiery," he said softly.

There was a pause, then Snowy said, "I heard your call, Sunpaw."

<><><>

Sunpaw took a deep breath, trying to fight his tears. Fiery was limp on the ground, and his eyes were partially shut. He kept mumbling to himself.

"Sunpaw..." Fiery coughed. "I- I'm sorry... for getting mad at you..."

"Fiery, you don't have to-"

"It's okay- Sunpaw," he whispered.

His eyes closed.

Snowy inhaled quickly. "Fiery."

Sunpaw turned to her. "It's okay. My- My brother is coming here with a medicine cat."

She squinted at him through her blue eyes. "Medicine cat? Like- from a clan?"

Sunpaw hesitated. "...Yes. From a clan." Before Snowy could respond, he said, "I know Fiery doesn't like the clans, and you don't either, but without a medicine cat he's going to die."

Snowy blinked twice and nodded.

Together, they waited.

Finally, when Lushheart came in with Runningpaw, carrying a bundle of herbs and ointments, and when Fiery's uneven breathing became steady, Sunpaw knew everything would be alright.

<><><>

Sunpaw, Runningpaw, and Lushheart walked into camp in silence. They had just wished Snowy and a dreary Fiery goodbye, and hope that they would see each other again

Several cats stared at Sunpaw and Runningpaw.

Including Nettlestar. He was standing next to Willowfoot, who looked annoyed.

    "Why is he here?" Nettlestar growled. "Didn't you run off to be a rogue?"

    Sunpaw stared at him in surprise. Never in his life had he heard Nettlestar speak like that before, let alone to him.

    "I prefer the term 'loner'," Sunpaw growled back.

A few cats peeked out of their dens to watch what was happening. Nettlestar flattened his ears.

"Rogue, loner, fox-heart, same thing!" He snapped. "Why are you here?"

"Well, I believe I was never exiled, so I have every right to be back here. After all... I did save you all."

Several cats blinked and murmured to each other.

Nettlestar jeered at him. "Right," he sneered. "Why would a filthy rogue like you ever 'save' somebody?"

"Well," Lionclaw spoke up from the small crowd. "This is technically his clan. He was born here."

"Or was he?" Nettlestar spat. "Or was he born a 'loner'? I bet you all didn't know his real parents were filthy rogues! Willowfoot thought it was a good idea to bring impure blood into our clan..." He growled at Willowfoot. "You mouse-brain."

Most of the cats looked shocked or horrified, but a few still looked like they were trying to remember who Sunpaw was.

"And that doesn't make a difference."

Runningpaw stepped forward, lashing his silver tail. "So what if he was born outside the clan? So what if he doesn't have 'pure-blood'? So what if he doesn't live up to your standards?"

He stepped closer to Nettlestar, looking him in the eye. "He's my brother, and that's what matters."

Nettlestar yowled, leaping towards Runningpaw, but a wall of fire appeared between them. Nettlestar shrieked and jumped back.

"Don't you dare," Sunpaw growled.

The fire parted, allowing Willowfoot to step through, then closed once more. The fire grew larger, cutting off Nettlestar from the clan.

Nettlestar yowled again. "Stop it! Stop it!"

Sunpaw paused, then the fire vanished, leaving a ring of black ash in the ground around the leader. Nettlestar glowered at him.

"Don't call my mother a mouse-brain," said Sunpaw, stepping forward.

"Don't shame loners for not being born in a clan," he said, stepping closer.

He stopped at the edge of the black ring. "And don't be a fox-heart to me or my family, ever again."

Nettlestar hissed. Then his pupils expanded so they were no longer menacing slits. "If those rogues hadn't killed Pinescar, he would still be alive."

Sunpaw narrowed his eyes. "Did every single rogue in the world try to kill him?"

Nettlestar's tail twitched, and he lowered his head.

"No. They didn't," said Sunpaw. "Just because someone isn't born in a clan does not mean they're bad. You need to understand that."

Nettlestar stared at him, his eyes wide.

"...I'm sorry."

Nettlestar closed his eyes. "I'm sorry. I just miss Pinescar... so much."

    Sunpaw blinked rapidly. "Nettlestar," he said.

    "I'm sorry, Sunpaw. I'm so, so sorry."

    "Nettlestar... It's okay."

    <><><>

    Okay! So this is sort of the end. I'm probably gonna add like two more chapters? I don't know. This chapter had a weird ending didn't it... Ha.