-- "When I return, think better of me"--

       Maplepaw had calmed down quite a bit while she talked with Bramblestar in his den. Her pelt still had an itchy feeling to it like she had to go and kill something.

       "Do you think you'll be okay? Answer me honestly Maplepaw." Bramblestar meowed as Maplepaw nodded solemnly.

      "I will be okay. It will just take time." Bramblestar nodded at Maplepaw's words, rising to his paws to lead her out.

       Once Bramblestar and Maplepaw were in the clearing, Ripplepaw came running to Maplepaw- breathless.

        "Maplepaw! You didn't do anything mousebrained did you?" He asked between pants. "I was worried about what you might have done."

       Bramblestar exchanged a look of suspicion to Maplepaw and Ripplepaw, but quickly pushed it aside.

       "Don't worry about me Ripplepaw, though Bramblestar, do you know where Breezepaw might be?" She asked her paws prickling with worry for not only Jayfeather, but Breezepaw as well.

       "Yeah, she went out with a patrol not along ago." Bramblestar meowed in reply. Maplepaw sighed in relief, though her pelt still felt stiff as a pine tree.

       "Would you mind if I went on a hunting patrol. I could bring Molewhisker, Dovewing, Ripplepaw, and Emberpetal could tag along." Maplepaw meowed as a rumble of laughter rose from the three cats.

      "Your not quite there yet Maplepaw. But it won't be long seeing as how you're almost of age." Bramblestar meowed, nodding his approval of the patrol. "Fetch the cats you said and have Emberpetal lead."

      With a nod Maplepaw and Ripplepaw ran off to gather up the cats. Maplepaw still felt uncomfortable. Maybe it was greef, sadness, the fear of loneliness that was soon to come. She wondered.

      "You know Maplepaw. You're stronger than I bet you take yourself to be." Ripplepaw meowed as they ran to the warrior's den.

      "I don't take myself to be any kind of 'strong'." Maplepaw meowed as she approached Molewhisker and Dovewing.

      "See, that's exactly what I mean. Every cat in the clan agrees you have everything in you to be a leader. It's only natural for me to think of you as powerful." Ripplepaw meowed as Maplepaw flicked her tail signaling for him to hush.

      "Molewhisker, Dovewing. I have Bramblestar's permission to gather the hunting patrol. Emberpetal is leading I came to fetch you." Maplepaw meowed, dipping her head to the warriors she respected.

      "Where do you go off organizing your own patrols?!" Molewhisker hissed as he thrashed his tail at the small apprentice.

      "I am sorry to have angered you, Molewhisker. I have only done as the clan leader asked. Now can we please do a hunting patrol." She asked, her voice, posture, face, everything calm and collected as the angry tom spit his words out trying to faze her.

       "Molewhisker, you need to take it easy on Maplepaw. The greef of Jayfeather's rising death is enough for her right now." Dovewing meowed in a hushed whisper to Molewhisker who only huffed in annoyance.

      -

   Padding back to camp with a large thrush in her jaws, Maplepaw felt a small amount of stiffness leave her pelt. Maybe hunting was a good idea.

       Placing all their prey in the fresh kill pile, Maplepaw grabbed a small mouse close to the bottom, padding off tword the medicine cat's den.

      "Hey Maplepaw!" Quickly turning around, she gave Ripplepaw a questioning look. "Once your done with that, could you meet me in the training hallow?" Without giving Maplepaw time to reply, Ripplepaw had already run off to his mentor who was waiting for him.

      As Maplepaw entered the medicine cat's den, the strange smell she had scented earlier was more clear. It reminded her of rotten meat- no, maybe it was the strong metallic smell of blood and rotten meat.

      "Jayfeather, Silverwhisp?" Asking for the two medicine cat's with her mouth full of mouse, she could see Jayfeather huddled in the corner of the den with Silverwhisp leaning over him. Her head was very close to his body, she now worried his condition may have become more serious. She dropped the mouse walking closer to the two.

      "Hey, Silverwhisp?" She asked, but there came no answer until she grabbed her sholder from behind- she seemed to jult awake, or maybe she was in shock. "Uh, Silverwhisp? StarClan! What is that horrid blood smell!" Maplepaw hissed as Silverwhisp stiffened.

      "I-I'm s-sorry Maplepaw!" Silverwhisp meowed, her voice shook as she lifted herself up from the ground, revealing a bloody mess of what was left of Jayfeather.

      What happened!? Jayfeather said he would be fine for a while! What happened to him!?

      "What did you do?" Maplepaw asked, her teeth clamped down to keep her from yowling loud enough for StarClan to hear.

      "I-I though it would be best to end his suffering. I'm so s-sorry Maplepaw! He looked like he was in pain!" Maplepaw shook her head.

      "No. No."

      "I'm so sorry Maplepaw!"

      "You killed him, just because you wanted to!?" Maplepaw screeched, unable to now control her fury. "How fox hearted can you be Silverwhisp!?" Maplepaw spat all her greef, and now her new addition of loneliness. Yes, she knew Jayfeather was in pain, and yes she knew he was suffering for her and her clans sake. But he didn't need to die yet!

      "I'm sorry I really am Maplepaw!" Silverwhisp said pleading with the apprentice, but Maplepaw simply shook her head over and over and over. Unable to see the truth. Jayfeather was gone.

Jayfeather was gone. Gone. Why did she feel so alone?