sleeping on swift wings {open}

[Ebony]

He had not left the camp in many days, lost inside his own thoughts, too cautious and afraid to see what was happening beyond his own borders. There was a time, Whitestar remembered, when borders were the least of his concern. When, even, border patrols were for the sake of routine.

Though the old tom was distraught, he knew that he could not forget his Clan.Through death, sorrow, and separation, he knew that those that were loyal to him would remain with him--and those were the ones he needed most. He knew that it was to those cats he needed to show his faith and trust.

It had been many moons since Rain and Hailstep had left, taking with them the traitorous scum of StormClan. During those moons Whitestar had witnessed more and more cats leave, some in the dead of night, and some so blatantly that they had told it to his face...

The old black and white tom sighed, looking up from sand from between his toes. Though his heart still ached, angry and uncertainty was not something he could continue to give to his Clan. He knew that, deep down, he would never be as strong as he had once been, and that he would always feel the pain, but he was a leader... his Clan still needed him. He could not look to every cat as if they would betray him, they had stayed with him this long...

Swallowing the thorn in his throat, Whitestar curled up in his nest of moss and feathers. He tucked his nose under his tail and sighed, feeling a weight on his shoulders heavier than a boulder. Guilt ridden and forlorn, the tom held his eyes closed tight until he felt sleep come over him.


Dreams seemed to be the only place he could find peace within himself. The tom felt freer, lighter, here, traveling the familiar forest of red trees that looked no different than when he was a kit. The air was refreshing and cool, the moonlight dappling the ground with shadows. It seemed so bright that Whitestar was sure, if he had not seen the moon, he would have mistaken it for the early morn.

Stretching, he caught an unusual scent of another cat--but it smelled of musk and sand and rock, and the old tom did not feel threatened. He looked up with round yellow eyes, looking over the short, course grass for his pursuer.

A smiling young silver tabby leaped from a low branch, his tail waving in good humor.

"Glad you're feeling better," the young tom said, his bright green eyes glistening. "Because I have good news! Or, well, bad, but it's good news all the same." The silver tabby purred, and plopped down on his haunches, as Whitestar felt a smirk pull at the corner of his lips.

"Who are you?" he meowed, taking his turn to sit.

"Oh, that's right. Silverstar. I forgot."

Whitestar, certain now that he had not left the camp in search of a merry dream--instead, it was StarClan that was searching for him, perked his ears and leaned in.

"Then you have something to tell me?" he rasped, no longer feeling a smile on his face.

"Of course, of course. But don't look at me that way, I already said it was good." Silverstar flicked his tail, and smiled again, before looking toward the sky through the flickering branches of red maple.

"Past, present, and future will form the eternal way of life. That was once one, will become four, and what was once old will come anew...I guess that was all. I suppose you can figure it out." Before Whitestar could blink out of confusion, Silverstar leaped up a tree and was hidden among the branches--gone.


Shaken awake by a flea biting at his ear, Whitestar hurriedly got to his feet and scratched at it before it stung him anymore. Though guilt still hung around his shoulders, a better feeling coursed through him. There was a prophecy, he knew, and that meant things would be okay...

He padded from his den to see that sunlight streamed through the mouth of the cave, and the sweet smell of greenleaf wafted over the dull scent of stone. There were few cats about, he assumed most were hunting or patrolling, but he was glad to see there were still some that felt the cave was their home.

[Ebony]

{ CLOSED }

But I'm leaving it here for reference... x)