He hoped Charfur wasn't too disappointed when he turned back to him empty-pawed. But he surprisingly didn't look angry; instead he had a look of understanding softening his features.
                          
 "Come on Snowpaw, sit with me."
                          
Snowpaw followed a little confused as they sat on the root where the robin had been perched moments before. Charfur sat silently beside him and Snowpaw looked up at his mentor expectantly. Spit it out, he muttered in his head.
                          
"I know what this feels like," Charfur began slowly. Snowpaw didn't answer he just waited for him to continue.
                          
"This feeling of complete loss. Like nothing's going to be the same, like the world has failed you, turned against you and buried you deep in the ground." Charfur's fur spiked along his spine and his eyes focused on something far away as he remembered something Snowpaw didn't know about. He shook his head as if to clear it and continued.
                          
"When I was really young, just getting ready to become an apprentice actually, I lost my father," he said quietly. He didn't look at the younger cat beside him. "He... he was a great warrior, but he was killed when the clans came together to attack the cougar that was terrorizing RubyClan."
                          
Snowpaw felt reproachful. That's not the same! He narrowed his eyes and tried to keep his mouth shut, but anger bubbled to the surface.
                          
"You have no idea what this is like!" his voice rose in irritation. Charfur looked suddenly at him, surprise lighting his eyes. "You lost your father, sure, but you still had your mother at least! You still had family, you still had someone to love and to be reassured by!" His skin felt hot under his fur.
                          
"Don't forget you still have Emberpaw-" Charfur began, but Snowpaw interrupted him.
                          
"It's just not the same thing!" he yowled and stood facing his mentor. "This is completely different! Your father died like a real warrior, fighting for his Clan. Both of my parents didn't need to die such pointless deaths."
                          
"I know," Charfur looked away, his eyes clouding.
                          
"Did you even find more territory to hunt in?" Snowpaw asked sceptically, remembering the whole point of their mission.
                          
"Not really," the grey warrior began hesitantly. "There really was too much snow, we barely knew where we were placing our paws. It was too hard to find new hunting grounds up there." 
                          
Charfur's ears drooped sadly and his pelt dulled. Snowpaw felt hollow. He hated it, but he couldn't help feeling bad for Charfur. He tried to push the feeling away; he was mad at him! But his anger fizzled out as his mentor looked at him, his green eyes were swimming with wretchedness. 
                          
"I've failed you," the grey warrior whispered. He looked down at the ground and scuffed the snow distractedly off the tree root. 
                          
Snowpaw felt horrified that his mentor could feel like that. He had always seemed so strong to him, and to see him so broken choked Snowpaw, and he was unable to speak. You didn't fail me! I've failed you!
                          
Charfur stood and began to pad slowly back to camp. Snowpaw opened his mouth to call him back, but nothing came out. He wanted to scream above the treetops, but only breath escaped his lips. Charfur disappeared behind a bush and Snowpaw was left alone and cold. 
                          
He stared at the ground and narrowed his eyes. Why am I such a failure? I should have been there! I should have been able to save Yellowleaf and Sunpelt! He clawed at the bark in frustration, splinters spraying in the air. 
                          
He trotted angrily into the forest to clear his head. He felt so useless. Snowpaw tried his best to catch something to bring back to the gully. He had to feel like he was able to provide, able to do anything for his clanmates.