"Yes," Specklefur nodded. Hesitantly, she mewed, "I love you," giving him a goodbye lick on the muzzle.
"I've counted five thorns in this no-good moss!" Adderflight bickered. "And it was dripping wet! I swear, I'll scratch that apprentice next time he comes in here!"
Silverstripe found herself in a cool, grassy clearing. The same place she had been when Ebonykit had spoken to her. As she saw the black kit come forward, Silverstripe felt all her rage and sadness come out. "Why?! Why are you doing this to me?! All I want is for him to love me!! Why must you create so much pain for me?!" Tears streamed Silverstripe's face, and her sides racked.
Ebonykit placed her tail gently on Silverstripe's shoulder. "His decisions are not ours to make, Silverstripe," Ebonykit mewed softly.
Roughly Silverstripe pushed her sister away. "Don't touch me! You just don't want to get involved!" Silverstripe hissed. "You've never been in love," she went on bitterly. "You couldn't possibly understand!"
In the waking world, tears slipped out of her eyes and onto the moss.