A Lost Cause

An Alderheart Fanfiction. Spoilers for Thunder and Shadow!
"No, leave us alone!" Alderheart started awake to hear a cat crying out. "I beg you! Please." His ears pricked with alarm as he listened. What's going on?

"Don't hurt her!" The cat continued to wail; though her voice had gotten softer. It's Twigpaw, he thought dazedly. ''Is she having a nightmare? Or is something else going on?'' Alderheart started to get up, but a voice interrupted him.

"Where do you think you're going?" Leafpool, also awoken by the cries, was watching him intently. Her amber gaze glinted as a moonbeam struck her face.

Alderheart flinched, and snuck a guilty glance at Jayfeather's sleeping form, in the back of the den. He shifted on his paws. "I. . . I have, uh, things to do."

Leafpool let out a small sigh. "You're going to see Twigpaw, aren't you?" She twitched her ears, but Twigpaw's wails had faded. "There's no need to lie about it."

"Jayfeather doesn't really like her." Alderheart pointed out, dropping his gaze.

"Twigpaw is young," Leafpool murmured. "And you are, too. These things take time, Alderheart." She closed her eyes for a moment. "Go, if you must."

Alderheart bowed his head. "Thank you." He rushed out of his den, and over to the apprentice's, nodding to Brackenfur, who stood guard at the enterance. Alderheart poked his noise in the entrance, feeling his heart crack.

Twigpaw was alone; the older apprentices were out night hunting. The gray she-cat was curled in her nest, trembling, letting out little sobs.

I need to talk to her. Alderheart took a quiet step forward. What should I say?