Quartz and Lyre were panting by the time they reached the entrance of the stone clearing and wall of ferns. Lyre wasn't told why they’d stopped here instead of going back.

  The Bobtail immediately vanished behind the entrance, and Lyre, who was behind, soon followed after her.

  In the center, surrounded by the clear water, id a pretty she-cat with strange markings. She was rge and weirdly muscur. Cowering in the corner were two cats; Calico, who was occasionally nodding off while sleepily muttering intelligible threats, and Soot, whose eyes were so wide they looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets.

  The she-cat in question had a dark grayish-brown coat with bck and almost-bck patterns that looked like spots all across her body, but were way too rge and uneven. There were a few bck stripes on the legs, and short, thick stripes along the short tail. Her back was facing the entrance, so her face was invisible. What looked like stripes came from the front of her face and to the back of her head.

  Lyre didn’t know if it was fear or the fact that he sprinted all they way back here, but his heart was racing. The humidity was definitely still there, since the air still felt hot; though that also could just be him.

  Quartz’s cws scrabbled the stone as she scrambled to a stop. “You’re alive!” She gasped.

  The cat shot upwards and rolled to her other side, staring at the Bobtail with a shocked expression. The center of her face was a long, bck marking with two stripes on the side of her face. White fur lined her eyes, and the white muzzle was gaped open. The rest of her underbelly looked white as well.

  Her gray-green eyes teared up before she leapt down and slightly bent down to nuzzle against the side of Quartz’s face.

  And even though Soot was frowning, the two’s purrs were still a bit quiet.

  You could technically leave now while Quartz is distracted. The voice whispered, as if now aware of her hidden ability.

  Lyre found himself staring at the rge she-cat as she conversed with Quartz. Are they…friends? He wondered before slowly turning and walking out of sight.

  He was about to disappear behind one of the ferns when the she-cat stopped talking. He stiffened as nearly soundless pawsteps came up from behind him, then stopped. “Hey!” He screeched as a sudden blow forced him to colpse uncomfortably on his belly, and the cat pinned him pyfully.

  The weight suddenly shifted, and he was able to get up and turn to face the culprit. It was the she-cat, who looked the complete opposite of pyful and full of glee. She was staring straight at the colr.

  She probably would’ve had the same reaction if it were Quartz… Lyre blinked. Now that the concern about the colr was resolved, he could continue on his way…he just needed this she-cat to stop staring at him and the colr.

  “I haven’t seen you before,” she meowed.

  Go on. Tell her you’re not here to converse. The voice sneered.

  To make matters worse, Quartz joined her friend and frowned. “Uhm. That’s because…you haven’t. This is Lyre. He just showed up one night and stayed with us for a bit.”

  Lyre nodded quickly.

  “Hi, Lyre. My name’s…uh…just call me Molly.” The she-cat’s gaze warmed as she smiled. She studied him through slightly narrowed eyes. “You look like you rushed to groom yourself after getting a dip in some water.” She blinked at the gash on his cheek. “Oh goodness…how’d that happen?”

  Lyre’s heart sank. Come on. I have other, more important things to worry about. He let out a small sigh of exasperation. “...I got in a fight.” He mumbled, looking down at his paws.

  “Wow! With who?” The she-cat genuinely sounded thrilled. That gave one thing away about her.

  “He’ll tell you when he’s ready.” Quartz interrupted. “Come on, you’ve been stuck for so long, you haven’t seen the way things have changed. Follow me!” She bounded back inside.

  Molly tilted her head at Lyre, who looked back up at her. “You look like your mind is spinning.”

  Is it? He lifted his paw to feel around his face, while being careful of the wound.

  Molly chuckled. “You’re silly.” The warm gaze faded again as she looked at the colr. “And stupid for putting that thing on. You seriously haven’t heard of The Petrifier?”

  “...kinda. Quartz told me a bit about him.” He stammered.

  She scoffed. “He’s a huge jerk. He turned me to stone and added some more to make me look like some kind of statue. If I see him again…” She flexed her cws.

  Ha!

  Lyre pushed away the voice again, and snuffled a spark of realization realization. To prevent him thoughts from distracting him, he turned away. “I’m sorry, but I really have to get going. You can’t come with me.” He turned, struggling himself not to gnce at her one st time before trotting away.

  Wow, I can’t believe that actually worked… He sped up and followed the route they took to get to the rge pond.

  Back on the other side of the bridge, Root was pying with the wolf pup until they spotted Lyre. They took a few pawsteps over to him and sniffed him. “Another cat!” Their eyes shone.

  Lyre stared at them as both his eyes and his patience began narrowing. He only wished to take the wolf to far. “Root. When we reach that river, I want you to follow it all the way to the left and never turn back.”

  Root’s eyes went dull instantly. “...oh. I forgot what you said. But I’m only a yearling.”

  “I understand, but that’s just the way it has to be. Sorry.” Lyre felt a weird pain in his chest as the wolf’s tail drooped. A part of him didn’t like seeing Root this way; knowing they were going to be left on their own, possibly to die alone. Just like Velvet.

  The only thing is, I’m not doing that. Lyre told himself. I don’t want the past to repeat itself. And I’d better hurry too, before Quartz confronts me again.

  “I still enjoyed your company while it sted.” They gently pced a paw on his shoulder. “Wherever you go, I hope you’ll enjoy that life. We will enjoy ours.” The yearling walked over to the wolf pup and stood beside it.

  Lyre looked at the wolf pup. “You’re still coming with me.” He meowed.

  “If Root can’t come, neither can I.” It lifted its chin.

  Lyre walked over to the pup, feeling Root’s light emerald eyes boring down on him. “I don’t think you have a choice.” He leaned over to grab its scruff, but it snapped at him, causing him to flinch backwards.

  “Cat, I’m sorry, but this is the only memory of my family left.” Root expined gently. “They’d be better off with someone who would know how to raise it.”

  Lyre considered what would’ve happened if he gave the colr back to Quartz. He didn’t like having to think about making choices like this, especially if Quartz still trusts him.

  Then he thought about whether or not he truly cared about Root. They were insufferable, but helped lighten the mood. He was going to let go of all of that, and for what? What is driving him to force the wolf pup to stay by his side, take The Stone Colr, and push away the one wolf who actually liked him?

  He couldn't remember. It was all fuzzy. Something about wolves…he knew he disliked them. You’re acting as if nearly getting swept away in that river erased your memories. Lyre said to himself. So then why can’t you remember it? He tried thinking about the short conversation when Slip brought Quartz. I said something about “the truth”...the truth about what I did to Velvet?

  “I say we leave now!” The wolf pup’s growl almost startled Lyre.

  Root murmured something in its ear, and the two began inching away.

  As he struggled to remember, Lyre shut his eyes as he crouched down. He pictured Slip, and the way his mere presence used to invoke a deep fear within him; the image of Whirlwind, his father, and how secretive yet caring he was for him; and…a beige she-cat with cobalt blue and red-orange eyes.

  Oh…her. How could I forget about her? Splinter, I…I’m sorry. I vowed to never forget you. I remembered it vividly when crouched over the one part of your body that was visible. How could I forget…

  He slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurred with tears. He stared at the light brown dirt, reminiscing the moments when she would nd awkwardly after missing a leap. The same memories that always showed up appeared once more. How she supported his decisions. If she were alive right now, she’d understand that what I’m doing is…right. I’m doing the right thing- I have been doing the right thing all this time. And I already let a few cats doubt me.

  Lyre held out a paw in front of his face. But no more. I don’t care what this Petrifier or whatever he is. I don’t care if I lose Quartz’s trust. His stomach clenched after he said that, and more at what followed. Getting rid of…leaving Root… He couldn't finish his sentence.

  My mind is wandering all over the pce. I don’t know what to do. He colpsed in defeat. I hate how easily I let it wander. He lifted his gaze forward to see nothing. He turned to his left, and saw the two silhouettes of wolves slowly vanishing into the fog, before becoming nothing but blurred shapes.

  Lyre, are you really going to let this happen? What about the sacrifices you made to get this far? You toughed out a month-long period of the strongest feelings of grief you felt. If you let these two leave now, you’ll be left with nothing.

  You’re the one to talk…mocking me earlier and trying to get me to attack Quartz. Lyre scratched at the colr, his cws scraping against the solid material. Obviously nothing happened. I just wish none of this happened and I could just live a normal life again.

  Hate to break it to you, but I don’t do wish-granting.

  Lyre forced himself upwards and wiped away tears that refused to fall. He only got so far, and since he wasn’t allowed to give up, he knew a great struggle was inevitable. He also knew he wasn't going to be able to live a normal life anyway. Maybe I would be better off if I don’t tell anyone else about this. Quartz will eventually figure out on her own that her brother…and my father…is dead.

  But you’ll still need to expin the scar and that wolf pup. The voice pointed out. How are you going to do that?

  With a slow swish of his tail, Lyre absent-mindedly reached to touch the colr. I’ll lie. I don’t want to, but I have to so cats can trust me. If that doesn’t work… he removed his paw as he shook his head.

  He was becoming less and less like himself the longer he wore this colr, and all he can do about it is accept that whoever or whatever he was becoming, he has to accept it.

  Yes, that’s the spirit. When you’re done, I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about me. It was no surprise the voice was happy about this.

  I’m not, and I don’t even know if I should be. Lyre took a deep breath, then went the direction Root and the wolf pup went.