by Hopeflower » Mon Jan 02, 2012 4:51 pm
As dawn broke, Shadowstar emerged from her den in time to see the dawn patrol leaving camp. She turned her head slowly, taking in the whole camp, finding herself enjoying the relative stillness. Through the branches of the bush that made up the warriors' den, she could barely glimpse her sister's white flank, rising and falling steadily as Swanfeather breathed, curled up among the other warriors. The black and silver tabby leader found her gaze drawn upwards, to where the last visible stars were fading in the light of the day. I've protected her, she thought, remembering the days when Swanfeather, Swanpaw back then, had been teased mercilessly for her pelt. Even the warriors had expressed concern that Swanfeather wouldn't be able to creep up on prey because of her white fur. Shadowstar's whiskers twitched as she remembered the day Swanfeather had finally gotten fed up with the teasing and left camp before dawn. It had begun raining in the night and didn't stop all day; Swanfeather hadn't come back until sundown. her pelt had been nearly dripping with mud, but she'd been dragging the biggest rabbit Shadowstar had ever seen. Moonsong had been so proud.... Shaking herself from her memories, she watched as Falconflight settled by the base of the Highrock, ready to start sorting out the rest of the patrols. She'd chosen well when she'd named him deputy. As she turned away to resume surveying the camp, she didn't notice the look he shot her through slightly narrowed amber eyes.
Raven opened her eyes slowly. At first she wondered why Tiger wasn't curled up next to her; then the night before came rushing back, and another wave of grief crashed over her. He wouldn't have survived the cold night alone; he was too small. For a moment she stared blankly at the roots above her head, wondering if it was even worth getting up. Her mate was gone, killed on the Thunderpath...a skirmish with Clan cats had resulted in two of her kits being stillborn...her only surviving daughter had frozen to death during leafbare...and now Tiger was gone, probably dead too. She stayed there, sprawled on one side with her pelt tangled and muddy, feeling as if all the strength had been drained from her limbs.
Tiger felt his eyes open of their own will; he gave a huge squeaking yawn, tucked his nose under his paw, and mumbled something along the lines of "who turned on the sun?".
"Gotta have a little sadness once in a while so you know when the good times come."
"Talent is a pursued interest. In other words, anything that you're willing to practice, you can do." ~ Bob Ross
"The future is always uncertain and painful but it must be lived." ~ Unknown