Warriors: Burnttail's Regret (Complete)

Chapter 15

 It's been a few days since Snake left ShadowClan and since her siblings became apprentices. Burnttail could hardly get himself to go on patrols or get out of the warriors' den lately, and his thoughts were stuck on Snake and wondering if it was his fault that the she-cat left ShadowClan.

 Burnttail followed Smokedream back to camp, holding his head low. He turned his head and saw the place where he argued with Snake when he was an apprentice, and he saw the scene in front of him once again. He closed his eyes and looked away, lowering his ears.

 Smokedream sighed and turned around. ''Burnttail, listen. I know that you're upset that Snake left ShadowClan, we all are. But it's her choice. You just have to move on and accept it.''

 ''But.. it's my fault she left, isn't it?'' Burnttail opened his eyes. ''If only I would've talked with her earlier and apologize.. maybe she would still be in ShadowClan.''

 Smokedream flinched in surprise, but he shook his head. ''No, Burnttail. It was her choice and hers only. She could've chose to stay in ShadowClan, but instead she decided to leave. You didn't tell her to leave, Burnttail, so it's not your fault.''

 ''I guess.'' Burnttail whispered, then turned and padded towards the warriors' den, still holding his head low. He layed down and looked around the camp, memories flooding him once again.

 He remembered when he first stepped out of the nursery with Snake. When they asked Stormfleck and Prickleshadow, who were still apprentices at the time, a bunch of questions ,and when Sootblossom told them more about the other Clans and twolegs. He flinched when he remembered how worried Snake was when he came back in camp with an injury at his left eye because Jaggedriver clawed him.

 Burnttail closed his eyes tightly. I can't bear this anymore! Everywhere I look, I just remember memories I had with Snake, and no matter what Smokedream says, I know that it's only my fault that Snake left us. I made ShadowClan lose a warrior because I was so stubborn! I don't think they deserve to have me as a warrior..

 Suddenly, Burnttail froze when he realized what he just thought about. He opened his eyes and looked around. I'm not.. really happy here, actually. This camp is only giving me memories. And it's good memories, but.. I spent most of my time here with Snake, and now that she left to be a rogue because of me.. is ShadowClan even truly my home anymore? It doesn't feel like it.. but I can't just leave, right?

 Right? Burnttail sighed. Snake did leave, though.. and ShadowClan took me in when I was abandoned by my mother as a kit, but I can't be happy here.. not with the thought that I made ShadowClan lose a warrior. They don't deserve me, but should I really just.. leave?

 Burnttail got up and looked towards the leader's den, hesitant. He could either leave ShadowClan, the Clan that took him in, but where he doesn't feel at home anymore, or he could leave and try to find a new home, if that could be possible. Burnttail looked at his paws, then sighed and padded towards the leader's den. I'm no use here. All I'm good at is going in ThunderClan's territory and making ShadowClan lose warriors.

 Burnttail hesitated, then twitched his ears as he approached the leader's den. ''Bumblestar?''

 ''Come in!'' Bumblestar meowed. Burnttail hesitated, then padded in the leader's den and sat down, looking at his leader.

 ''What is it, Burnttail?'' Bumblestar tilted his head. ''Is there something you wish to tell me?''

 ''Er.. yes, actually.'' Burnttail meowed, then hesitated again. ''I.. wish to leave ShadowClan. I'm sorry.''

 Bumblestar flinched and stared at him in shock. ''W-What? Why?''

 ''I'm just.. not happy here.'' Burnttail sighed and lowered his head. ''It's all my fault that Snake left! If only I wouldn't have went in ThunderClan's territory, then the argument wouldn't have happened.. or, I could've talked with Snake earlier and then, if we were friends again, maybe she..''