Wishes in a Well

Swiftpaw padded toward his friends with an important air about him. "Guess what?" He flicked his tail back and forth impatiently.
"What?" Icepaw replied. Her white pelt glowed silver in the moonlight.
"Why don't we sneak out and explore?" Swiftpaw burst out, then slapped his tail over his mouth.
"That's a great idea!" Crowpaw jumped up excitedly.
"Uh, aren't we supposed to get permission?" Minnowpaw pointed out.
"Who cares?" Pouncepaw exclaimed. "Let's go!" He, Crowpaw, and Icepaw jumped up to join Swiftpaw. The four started out toward the entrance.
Icepaw turned back to Minnowpaw. "Aren't you coming?"
"No thanks." Minnowpaw dipped her head in embarrassment. "I'd rather not."
"Well, okay then..." Icepaw sighed and padded away. With one glance back at the silver tabby she-cat, before racing to catch up with the others.

"So, where are we going?" Icepaw asked loudly as the group crept through the undergrowth.
"I was thinking about going to the far edge of the territory, as long as we don't get caught because of you talking so loud." Swiftpaw narrowed his light green eyes at Icepaw, and the she-cat's gaze dropped to the ground.
"Don't be so harsh on her." Pouncepaw meowed, standing up for his friend. "You sound like a mentor, and you're not. Besides, she must feel uncomforable, being the only she-cat here."
"I do not!" Icepaw piped up, but remained silent the rest of the way.
"Look at that!" Crowpaw exclaimed. Towering above them was a big stone column with a wood stand above it and a steel cone hanging from a piece of rope.
"Let's go check it out!" Pouncepaw padded forward, then leaped onto the column.
"Woah!" Crowpaw eclaimed as he almost fell into the dark hole in the center of the stone circle.
Swiftpaw examined the hole. "I can't see the bottom." His eyes suddenly lit up. "Who's gonna jump down and see how deep it is?"
"I will!" Icepaw pushed forward, glaring at Swiftpaw. "I'll show you what I can do, even if I do talk too loud." She jumped into the hole.
The three toms milled around the hole, waiting. Then they heard a splash, and a screech of pain.
"Icepaw!" Without hesitation, Pouncepaw jumped after his friend. The other two followed close behind. They all landed in deep, deep water. Pouncepaw landed first, then Crowpaw landed on top of him, and Swiftpaw nearby.
"Icepaw?" Crowpaw called out into darkness.
A moan of pain came from the darkest corner. Pouncepaw swam over there awkwardly and pulled Icepaw onto his back.
"What happened?" Swiftpaw asked. No reply. "Icepaw?" Nothing. "ICEPAW!!" Still nothing.
"She's limp." Pouncepaw meowed worriedly. "She's still breathing, but it's shallow."
"What are we going to do?" Crowpaw asked in despair. "I wish we had never come here."

The next morning, Minnowpaw paced outside her den. He friends hadn't come back last night, and she was worried.
"Swiftpaw!" Winterclaw padded toward the den, calling his apprentice's name. "Swiftpaw? Where are you?"
"Don't hate me." Minnowpaw whispered.
"What?" Winterclaw asked.
"They're gone."
"Who?"
"Swiftpaw. And Icepaw and Pouncepaw and Crowpaw. They snuck out of camp last night, and theyhaven't returned."
"WHAT?" Winterclaw raced up the rocks to Jaystar's den, and disappeared inside. Soon he emerged and bounded back to Minnowpaw. "Where did they go?"
"I don't know." Minnowpaw admitted. "They said they wanted to explore."
"Thank you for the information." Winterclaw meowed, then raced off.
Minnowpaw looked up at the fast disappearing stars in Silerpelt. I wish I had never let them leave...