Before I fall (LoonxNight) PG-13 {Private}

[Cloud of Diamonds]

He felt particularly alone today. His only friends were close by, but that did not comfort him. For they were only in his mind.

Laughter. Scoldings from his mother and theirs. Pouncing on each other before bed. His first catch - a water vole - and Duckstripe right beside him with hers - a rabbit - and beaming like a ray of sunlight. Him smiling back at her.

Memories.

Ach, what was he thinking. Things were one way now, and they would always be that way. The black and white tom had argued this to himself a million times. Why could he not accept it?

Because I don't want to let go, he answered himself miserably. Idiot. He should be happy. Well, no, he shouldn't. No one said he should.

And that, he thought, was precisely the problem. There was no one to order him and reassure him that things were over. No cat to tell him, ultimately, that his old life was gone.

Pausing in his thoughts, the stocky tom looked up and around the southern border, his face neutral, then alarmed. A FogClanner. He had just caught the scent of a FogClanner. In PineClan territory.

Great.

He would have to chase them out, probably. And who knew, they might even be Cranetail's friend. Or even his crush. He would feel horrible if that were the case and he ever found out. But he had to do his job. At least he would be civil to them.

Suddenly springing up and running, he quickly caught sight of the little black she-cat he'd scented and stopped in front of her.

"State your business, FogClanner." He meowed in what was an attempt at a stern voice but came out as neutral-ish and halfhearted.

Was that fox he scented?

[Nightfall]

<sup>Owlstar, her beloved and benevolent leader, was gone.

Though it had been quite a while ago, Nightstream still wasn't over the fact that Owlstar was gone.

Ever since Owlstar and her group had left, Nightstream had become moody and dark, at one point scaring several apprentices nearly right out of their pelts before surrendering the calm of the forest.

She would stay out here all day, only returning when Miststar was in her den. Sometimes, she'd just sleep out, under the stars.

Nightstream was so caught up in her thoughts she didn't realize that she had crossed onto PineClan territory, until a neutral and calm voice mewed. "State your business, FogClanner."

"Oh!" Nightstream was surprised. She hadn't even noticed PineClan scent, though now the stench filled her nostrils.

"I apologize." She started diplomatically. "I was thinking. I guess I was thinking hard enough not to know where I was going!" She laughed gently. "If you don't mind, I'll head right back to my --" Nightstream was cut off by a deep growl.

She spun around to find herself face-to-face with a large fox. Nightstream didn't have time to react before the fox snatched her by her neck and began shaking her around like a toy. It then threw her
into a large tree.

She felt her head crack as her back slammed into the tree. Blood was leaking from her jaws and nose. She writhed in agony. The fox was getting closer. The PineClan warrior was still just standng there in shock.

So... This is how I die... How foolish.

The fox kept getting closer. Closing her eyes, Nightstream whispered one final wish to StarClan.

StarClan, bring Owlstar back to her former glory!

The fox's jaws closed around her neck. And the pain stopped forever.</sup>

[Cloud of Diamonds]

For moments, the earth stood still. The world stopped. His world stopped. He could not accept what had just happened. It...he...was still standing there, watching as the animal ripped and tore the black she-cat's body, eating it with relish.

He had never seen anything so horrible, so vile. The fox was thin and mangy, clearly intent on its meal. Backing away slowly for a few steps, he lost control and fled into the bushes, eyes huge, pupils slits, heart pounding. He had seen a cat die. He. Had. Seen. Her. Die.

He did know how long he hunched there, reeling from the shock of it, mind blank, before they came.

"Hey, mousebrain."
"Loonstep?"

Two voices. She-cats. Clanmates. Alive. That was obvious, but right now it seemed a miracle. A fragile miracle.

"Come on, fluffhead. Why are you looking like you were just told you're going to die?"

"Not me." His own voice was weak and husky, distorted by shock and pain. "Her. The FogClanner. She died." The words were heavy, unwelcome. Forbidding. True.

Ashstorm gasped in fright while Swallowpelt merely frowned and said, "What FogClanner? What are you going on abou..." The large, scarred warrior had glanced over to where the fox was licking its lips and padding off, leaving only a half-there corpse, its sides and legs partially eaten. This jarred even Swallowpelt. She gulped and swallowed, then hardened her voice. "We will take her back to her Clan - it is the proper thing to do. Ashstorm and I will carry her - you go tell Gingerstar, she'll want to know." Still in horrified disbelief, Loonstep dazedly muttered a thanks and began padding slowly off, rocking awkwardly, tripping a lot.

Ashstorm looked at the older warrior with terrified green eyes. The former ForestClanner looked back, grim but expectant. In an almost kind voice, knowing what young cat was probably thinking, she mewed, "They will not attack us; after all, to them she is in StarClan now." Swallowpelt snorted. But she quickly sobered up as she lifted the warrior half off the ground by the remaining fur on her neck, while Ashstorm, trembling, took hold of the black FogClanner's tail in her jaws.

Together they began their terrible journey to the camp of FogClan, dragging what once been Nightstream between them.