Dark River

He closed his eyes, imagining he could still smell her scent drifting from the tunnel entrance. He knew that was impossible. A mudslide blocked the way now. It marked the end of the most precious friendship he’d ever known.

“Good-bye, Heatherpaw,” he whispered into the tunnel, hoping the wind would carry his words through the darkness, picturing her waiting at the other end…

There will be no borders between us in StarClan. He remembered the moment they’d shared in the tunnels when he’d thought they might die. The intensity of it still throbbed in his paws.

How could he turn his back on their friendship?

He had to.

So must she.

A half-moon hung in the sky as Lionpaw headed home through the shadowy forest. The wind brushed the treetops, and the ferns crackled as they slowly began to unfurl bright new leaves.

Fur brushed his flank.

Lionpaw jumped, tail bristling.

“We’re proud of you.” Tigerstar’s mew drifted on the evening air. Lionpaw turned his head and saw the dark warrior’s shimmering outline and his amber eyes glowing in the twilight.

A second pelt brushed his other flank. Hawkfrost.

“You made the right decision,” the tabby warrior told him.

He nudged Lionpaw with his shoulder, and Lionpaw shivered at his ghostly touch.

“I’ve lost my best friend,” he murmured. “I never thought I would feel so empty.”

“Friendship is worthless,” Tigerstar growled. “You have learned an important lesson, one that I could never have taught you. But I will teach you much more. There’ll come a day when you’ll be so powerful, you’ll have no need of friends.

And when that day comes, I promise you will never regret that you chose to be a warrior.”