2 moons had passed since Eclipsepaw had made her first friend. The clan was steadily declining, and more than half the clan was sick at this point. Several had died, as well. LynxClan was facing extinction.

On that fateful morning, Eclipsepaw was avoiding eye contact with everyone. She knew what they expected from her, but she just couldn't deliver. She wasn't the cat they thought she was. 

Avalanchepaw pressed against her side, her silent supporter as they padded across the stone cave to the entrance. After what had happened, she needed to get out. 

The walk seemed to last an eternity before they finally made it outside. Snowflakes fell gently to the bright white ground, the landscape blinding save for the dark grey mountainside. A biting wind stung Eclipsepaw's eyes and she blinked rapidly before turning her face away from it.

She silently began picking her way down the rocky trail, hugging the wall so as not to fall. Below her, trees blanketed the world. LynxClan didn't live far enough from the forest on the side of the mountain that they couldn't go there to hunt, although it was a dangerous trek. 

Avalanchepaw followed her, and they didn't speak until they reached the trees.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he murmured. 

She didn't answer, thoughts racing through her head. To tell the truth, she was scared. There was only one way out for her, but was it worth it? 

With a deep breath, she turned around and blurted it out.

"I want to leave."

Her friend blinked, taking a step back. "What?" His voice was barely a whisper. 

Eclipsepaw felt as if her heart was going to crumble inside her chest. She wanted to drop to the ground and curl up into a ball, but she forced herself to continue. "I can't do this anymore. I can't help them." Her voice cracked. "I just....can't."

"Then we'll leave together." 

When she looked up, Avalanchepaw was standing tall, his eyes hard with determination. The wind ruffled the thick fur around his neck, making him look majestic in the sunlight. 

It nearly broke her. 

"No, no." She shook her head. "You can't go with me. You need to stay, have a life here."

His tail lashed in anger. "You're my life here!" Hurt bled from his eyes. "I don't want you to leave me."

Without another word, Eclipsepaw turned her back. "Don't try and stop me." Her words were flat, all emotion gone from her voice. Every step she took felt like moving mountains. It took everything she had just to lift her paws. 

Behind her, Avalanchepaw was sitting with his head down. He didn't make an effort to stop her.

Good.

She had almost disappeared behind the tall tree trunks when she heard him. 

"I'll wait for you!" Avalanchepaw called. "However long it takes, when you come back I'll be here!"

It made her stop, and she glanced over her shoulder to take one last glance; acknowledge that she heard him. She would let him think what he wanted of that action. Let him think that she was promising to come back, or maybe apologizing. 

Then she was gone, forcing herself to run through the forest.

Goodbye, my friend. I'm truly sorry.