KnowingPaw Curled his bushy tail around his paws, sighing in the fresh night air. “You know you should be sleeping by now, KnowingPaw.” His mentor, HuntedWhisker, meowed from behind him. KnowingPaw jumped, his eyes wide from being startled.

“Well, nobody told me to, so I didn’t- didn’t think I needed to.” KnowingPaw guiltily stammered the excuse he made up in advanced, which he planned to rehearse it perfectly if he was confronted. HuntedWhisker blinked at the apprentice and sighed.

“Is something on your mind?” HuntedWhisker prompted. KnowingPaw began to shake his head, but instead lowered it and put his ears back. This was his mentor, maybe it would be safe to tell him his secret. KnowingPaw thought. He opened his jaws to speak, but was interrupted by CoyoteStar. “You two should be sleeping.” His deep, scarred mew sounded tired as well.

“Well, that’s what I was telling him.” HuntedWhisker began.

“You need to be sleeping too, HuntedWhisker.” CoyoteStar grumbled. “Besides, I’m sure this apprentice has his reasons to be awake, so you don’t need to sacrifice your rest for him. I can tell… He’s got a lot on his mind.” CoyoteStar reasoned. HuntedWhisker stared nervously at CoyoteStar’s unamused expression

“Alright.” HuntedWhisker sighed as he lifted himself to his paws, “But you’d better go to sleep soon, apprentice.” He called as he pushed between KnowingPaw and the leader. CoyoteStar gave KnowingPaw a stare that might as well be him saying, “I know your secret, and I do not like it.” KnowingPaw swallowed nervously as the leader turned back to his den, probably to plan out KnowingPaw’s fate. KnowingPaw stood up and stepped back towards the apprentice den, before turning and bounding into the entrance.

“KnowingPaw?” MushroomPaw squeaked slowly, her voice heavy with tiredness. KnowingPaw was climbing in to his nest, which was right besides MushroomPaw’s, so even if he was being quiet, she could still hear him.

“Sorry MushroomPaw.” KnowingPaw whispered, “I just came to my nest late, that’s all.” Still, MushroomPaw stared.

“Why’d you wait so long? I’d assume you’d be tired after the day of your apprentice ceremony!” MushroomPaw cried in a hushed voice.

“It’s just- I had a thought, and I decided to think it.” KnowingPaw meowed silently as he curled up in his nest. He watched MushroomPaw laugh, most likely as silently as she could, at his wording.

“Well, hopefully you finish thinking it in time to fall asleep.” MushroomPaw smiled to him before lowering her head and covering her nose with her tail. KnowingPaw watched MushroomPaw for a bit, admiring her beautiful pelt and elegant shape. He noticed he was staring and blinked, then rested his head on his paws. Does CoyoteStar know? KnowingPaw thought, nervous. He probably does, I bet StarClan in reading my mind right now and giving it right back to him. KnowingPaw’s mind went through all the terrible ways CoyoteStar could punish him, because CoyoteStar isn’t usually a very forgiving cat.

He awoke on his back, then remembered his dreaming. He lifted himself to his paws and groaned, the cold leafbare air stung his nose like icy claws. He could tell the temperature dropped significantly since the previous day, meaning the worst of leafbare may be coming. The frosted, near frozen grass crunched under KnowingPaw’s steps, sending cold shocks up his paw pads. “SHE’S NOT OPENING HER EYES!” He heard a cat yell. “BERRYBUSH!” It sounded like it was ThunderStretch, FallClan’s only queen. KnowingPaw turned to run to the nursery, ignoring the cold gnawing at his paws. He pushed through the nursery’s entrance. Inside ThunderStretch was staring wildly down at a still kit, her tail curled around another one. “Get BerryBush!” ThunderStretch pleaded, her eyes filling with tears. KnowingPaw took a step back, he was not knowing in this situation. BerryBush thundered from behind KnowingPaw, the force of her stride nearly knocked him off his paws. StarPaw came bounding in behind her mentor, confusion and concern clouded her face, though her expression was mild compared to ThunderStretch’s wild expression. BerryBush crouched over the still kit, seemingly examining every little piece of fur. BerryBush’s ears slid back as she slowly stood up. Horror grew across ThunderStretch’s face. “She’s not breathing… I don’t think she’s going to make it.” BerryBush solemnly spoke. “ColdKit is dead.”