Just click dat flag Darkclaw (left) and Pearlstar (right) When Pearlpaw was an apprentice, she knew that she one day wanted to lead Moonclan. But that didn’t stop her from having friends and falling in love just like any other cat. Her closest friend, Soulpaw, has to leave the clan, because Pearlpaw’s father, who was Moonclan’s current leader, was a bitter enemy of Soulpaw’s father. It shattered Pearlpaw to her core when Soulpaw left, because she realized - too late - that she loved him. It was a long time before she ever fell in love again - with her other friend Darkpaw, no less. Pearlwish and Darkclaw were inseparable as warriors, and eventually became mates. Until the day when Pearlwish’s brother, Pinenose, returned to the camp with terrible news: Darkclaw has died in the tunnels - he had been exploring, and the tunnels collapsed on him. Their only kit, Skykit, was a moon old at the time. When Pearlstar became leader, she made sure to protect her kit - and her clan - to the best of her ability, especially since she couldn’t protect her mate. When Skykit was 3 moons old, Pearlstar was in the woods when she stumbled across Soulpaw - he was known as Derek now. Overjoyed, she asked him to rejoin her in the clan, even though she knew that was impossible, because Pearlstar’s father was still in the Dark Forest, and had threatened to kill Pearlstar’s family if Derek returned to the clans. Still, Pearlstar and Derek became mates, though it was forbidden. Skykit grew to view him as her father. One day, when Pearlstar and Derek were exploring a strange underground cave, they stumble across a stranger, and find that the stranger is Darkclaw. Pearlstar doesn’t know how to feel, seeing her mate, who thought was dead, but indeed was very much alive. Pearlstar and Darkclaw are once again inseparable, breaking Derek’s heart. Pearlstar and Darkclaw return to the clan and to Skykit, who can’t contain her joy when she sees her father. But Derek can tell that Darkclaw seems sinister, and when he tells Pearlstar, she realizes that she agrees with him. One night, Derek follows Darkclaw to a cave where the ghost of Cedarstar, Pearlstar’s father, was waiting. Pearlstar arrives at the cave soon afterward. Darkclaw pleads with Pearlstar, saying that the only way he could have gotten out of the cave was to make an agreement with Cedarstar. Darkclaw and Derek get into a fight, and Derek shows his deep, dark secret.
"Never Be Alone" by Shawn Mendes
