Remember Me | A Warrior Cat Novella

Chapter 7

"Eaglewing.. I have something I need to tell you," Brightshadow purred, her light blue eyes sparkling.

"What is it?" he asked, drawing nearer to her.

"Well, I'm expecting your kits!" she exclaimed, beaming.

"Wow!! That's amazing!" Eaglewing broke out into a purr, snuggling into her.

Oaksplash stood, stunned at what he was seeing. He felt an immense wave of happiness, but it was then followed by an overwhelming feeling of loneliness. If he was alive, maybe that would be him. Maybe he would have been the one having kits, having a family.. but no, he was dead. He was gone. He was forgotton.

Soaring through the sky, the black tom dreaded returning to StarClan. He would have to face his father and Dappledleg. Just thinking about her made him wince with regret. He had been the one that roped her into this mess and now he had to find a way to tell her that he didn't want anything to do with it. Lost in thought; he didn't realise when he'd reached the glass border and bumped his head against it. He hissed in frustration before sighing and trying it again, this time successfully disappearing through the clear wall.

**********

Oaksplash had been pacing up and down in the glass border for what felt like moons. He knew he should return to StarClan and sort everything out, but something was stopping him. After all, it would be so easy just to go back and watch over his family instead of trying to fix all of his complicated problems. He could watch over Eaglewing's kits and make sure they were safe. That they wouldn't meet the same fate he had.

But then he thought about Dappledleg and how he'd already let her down- he couldn't do that to her again. He turned around and stood with his nose just touching the glass wall, this is it, he closed his eyes and took a step forward.

He opened them again to find himself back in the forest, the winding stone path stretched out in front of him.

"Oaksplash."

He whipped round to see Dappledleg, sitting with her back to the border, her tail wrapped round her paws neatly. "H-Hi," he mumbled, caught off guard.

"Where were you?" her hazel eyes were narrowed with confusion and worry. "I thought that.. that Darkleaf got to you or- or something."

"I'm sorry Dappledleg, I went to see Eaglewing again. I just wanted to get away from everything.." he stared at the ground, embarrassed that he'd fled from his problems like that. "He has a mate now.. and soon he'll- he'll have kits and-"

"You don't have to pretend to be happy for him," she mewed sympathetically. "I can see you're sad."

"I'm not pretending," he responded. "I want him to be happy, and I always knew he had a thing for Brightshadow but.. it just.. it hurts, y'know?"

"Yeah..." her eyes held grief in them and she lowered her head.

"I'm ashamed that I'm jealous. It's just, my life ended so quickly... and ever since I got here, everything's been so hectic. I just want a chance to enjoy life- I mean death."

Dappledleg laughed, "You're right and everything that happened in the dark forest-"

"Oh yeah, I'm so sorry about all that. I just-"

"No, I'm sorry," her eyes softened. "It's not your fault that they're against us, or that I saw her again. When I lashed out at you, I was just scared.. I don't want to be killed again, Ash got me the first time and I won't let her win again."

Oaksplash gave her a small nod, he opened his mouth to speak; but it felt too dry so he clamped it shut again. He couldn't meet her eyes, the guilt inside him was overpowering. Had he really been about to leave her to deal with this herself?