"Rippleblaze and I shall be going to MarshClan and BlackClan to give our farewell, and then I want to walk around one last time. You all may do as you please. For the older members who have lived here a long time, I know it will hurt you to leave as well. Train, try to hunt, look around, do whatever. We shall be back before sundown and shall leave the territory before nightfall. If you have any questions, ask Nestflame or Birchstorm."
Dreamstar dipped her head then leaped off the LakeRock and padded to Rippleblaze. The two then padded out of the camp. She knew how hard it would be for Rippleblaze to not only leave his territory, but his old home. He had grown up in MarshClan, and after he stepped down as leader, to be Dreamstar's mate, he would still visit often.
The two cats padded to the border of MarshClan quickly, and climbed across the log bridge where Dreamstar thought she had lost Rippleblaze. That incident when Rippleblaze had fallen in almost cost them both their lives. it gave Rippleblaze all his new scars and his slight limp. He also couldn't see clearly.
They soon got to the MarshClan camp with no troubles. Dreamstar knew the camp well, though many would find that bad. MarshClan had given her shelter and protected her time after time. The two clans were very good allies. They spotted Quiverstar, Rippleblaze's old deputy, sharing tongue's with a pretty brown she-cat. He looked up as the LakeClan leader and her mate padded into the camp, almost like they lived there themselves. The younger tom mewed a hello, and stood up.
"Dreamstar! Rippleblaze! It's been a while hasn't it?"
They hadn't been able to tell MarshClan that they had found Rippleblaze and brought him back. Too much had happened.
"Yes. We would have come sooner, but so much as happened. We were able to find Rippleblaze."
Quiverstar smiled.
"I'm glad."
He touched his nose to Rippleblaze's, purring quietly.
"It's good to see you alive, friend."
Rippleblaze smiled.
"Yes. I'm very lucky to be alive. I was saved by a she-cat named Sola. I could barely walk, and I couldn't remember anything."
Quiverstar nodded.
"Dreamstar went through a lot for you. I hope you two are never separated again."
He smiled, and the she-cat padded up to him. Quiverstar glanced at her, and smiled. Dreamstar then realized she as expecting kits.
"This is my mate now, Willowfeather."
Rippleblaze purred.
"Congratulations."
Quiverstar smiled.
"I'm guessing you didn't just come to say hello? I saw the fire that happened. We would have come to help but... The fire was everywhere. Every piece of ground was covered in it. Did you all get out okay?"
She looked at Rippleblaze, and sighed.
"No. The whole clan died. But the fire didn't touch our camp. We were slaughtered by three cats we trusted. They were working with the Dark Forest. Only about 15 of us survived."
The other leader's eyes widened.
"I-i'm so sorry! That's horrible. Losing so many... and so many family."
Dreamstar nodded.
"We've gotten through it somehow. It still hurts. Everyone feels it everyday. The camp feels empty now. It's to large for so few cats. Same with our territory. We haven't even been able to patrol the whole area. It would take too many days. We're... Nestflame and I got a sign from StarClan. We're leaving."
Quiverstar gasped.
"What!? But the territory will grow back! And you'll gain numbers again!"
She shook her head sadly.
"The fires that touched our land was from the Dark Forest. Everything it touched will never regrow. Nothing can grow on that land anymore. It's dead. There's no prey either. We've been living off the island, but that isn't enough. We'll all die too if we don't leave. That's why we've come to say good-bye."
The tom looked away.
"We could have offered you hunting rights in parts of our territory if you needed prey. With an early new-leaf there is plenty of prey. You shouldn't have to starve! When are you leaving?"
Rippleblaze sighed.
"We couldn't take your prey. MarshClan is growing and needs the prey. Tonight."
The leader looked at Rippleblaze, troubled.
"MarshClan will always be your clan too, Rippleblaze. We would never turn you away if you needed help. You were our deputy for a long time, and also our leader. Our home, is yours. I will be sad to see you all go. For today only, at least get some prey. You look awfully thin, and you'll be stronger if your clan eats."
Rippleblaze dipped his head.
"Thank-you. You're too generous."
Dreamstar also nodded.
"We won't hunt for long. But I will tell my clan. Thank-you again Quiverstar. Maybe we'll meet again someday. If not, then in StarClan."
She brushed her muzzle against him, giving another silent thank-you for all he has done for her. They then turned, looked back once at the MarshClan camp, and padded out.
"Yes, hopefully one day in StarClan."
Quiverstar turned and licked Willowfeather's head, watching his old friends leave for the last time.
::---::
Dreamstar and Rippleblaze then made their way to BlackClan. She had fought many battles here, against the old BlackClan. She had fought against Eagleheart, Eaglestar then, her old friend. She eventually came around and came back to LakeClan. Then it was Thornstar. Finally, Fierystar. The very young tom was unnaturally vicious, and had trained Birchstorm to be a fierce warrior. Birchstorm hadn't remembered his home, and became a true BlackClan warrior. Then he finally remembered who he was. Now BlackClan was led by Erol. He was mates with Sunnyblade, the kit of Rosedawn, the old LakeClan medicine cat, and Icycurrent, the old BlackClan deputy.
They padded close to the camp, and saw Erol pad out.
"Erol!"
The younger tom looked at them surprised, then padded over, Sunnyblade and Icycurrent behind him.
"It's good to see you! How are you all after that fire?"
Dreamstar smiled.
"Almost all of us were killed by cats of the Dark Forest. The fire that happened was also caused by them. Our territory will never grow back, so we must leave. We have come to say good-bye."
Erol dipped his head.
"That is horrible. We will definitely miss you, but we wish you good luck on your journey to a new home."
Sunnyblade nodded.
"I hope the traveling is well."
Icycurrent smiled, though his eyes still held the sadness over Rosedawn. The young medicine cat had truly changed him, and he had truly loved her. Losing a true love hurts.
"Thank-you. We wish you well with BlackClan. Maybe someday we will meet again."
Erol smiled and watch the mates pad away to go look around their ruined territory one last time.
::---::
As Dreamstar and Rippleblaze padded back to the clan, the stopped. They had looked around some of the main points of LakeClan territory, and it pained Dreamstar so much to leave. She had grown up here. She remembered when she was only a warrior and Cloudriver and her had become mates. It had been near the lake, and Hawkclaw had attacked Dreamstar, Dreamriver then. Cloudriver had fought bravely back. This territory was her home. She had spent so much time with Soaringheart, her second mate, around this territory. Fought so many battles, and had learned every crevice and hole that was here. This was where she grew up and then led... her home. She shook her head, and padding into the camp. They had told the clan that they could hunt on parts of MarshClan's territory, so now they had full stomachs. She leaped up onto the LakeRock for the last time.
"My clan! It is time to leave! Go to Nestflame to get traveling herbs, then we head out."
She looked at the LakeRock and the whole camp. Her last time here, too. She sighed and joined her clanmates in getting the traveling herbs, before they all left the camp.
Then, they were on there way. Trying to find a new home, a new place to live.
7 comments:
Nettle looked around the camp that had for such a short time, been her home. She had never known it as the life filled place it had been, but he would still miss it. A white she-cat she had come to know as Frostysky padded up to her.
"Your kits are still too young to walk and you cannot carry them both, here." she smiled and picked up Blossomkit, whose bright orange kit-fluff glinted off the sunlight, she would never know of this territory, not ever think of it as her home.
"Thank-you." Nettle dipped her head respectfully and picked up Pinekit in her mouth. Saying one last goodbye to the territory she had so shortly called her home.
~-~Nettle~-~
Sweetpaw looked about to cry. She turned to Crowpaw and blinked a few times. "I wish we didn't have to go, but I don't want to stay here either, it's too painful. Everyone we lost..."
~-~Sweetpaw~-~
Nestflame brought the herbs in his mouth, looking around at the small group of cats. It would not be hard for them to travel, he just wished they knew where they were going.
~-~Nestflame~-~
Ferretcloud's eyes were full sympathy, having known the camp for only a short amount of time. Her gaze drifted to the trees, charred black and burnt by the previous fire. She pictured vaguely how it seemed when the leaves were lush and green, and understood with a pang of guilt how the cats must feel.
Kestrelkit's tail twitched to the side nervously. He hadn't gone on a large journey for moons, and when he had, it wasn't as enjoyable as he had thought. Now, when he was faced with yet another journey, he had to make sure every mistake made before was fixed. At least somehow.
Dreamstar closed her eyes briefly. She was getting old, as she had been alive for seasons. She found it hard to believe that she could even remember her kit days when so much had happened in between. She remembered the day her brother, Jaykit, died. She had received a prophecy... She had always tried to be the strong one for her brother, Skyblade, and her. Especially after their father, Watercloud, died. Then their mother, Moonlily passed on too. She had been deputy when Moonlily had died. The old deputy, and Dreamstar's uncle, Flameriver, had died when another clan had attacked them. Now she was old, and a leader. She looked at the few kits that were in the clan. They would never know the beauty of this territory. Never be able to go fishing, or just swim. They would never defend it with their life. But they would defend their new territory. How Dreamstar longed that she could have kits again. But she was scared if she did, that her age would affect them. She knew that even though her heart longed for the little bundles, it would be safer for all of them if she didn't. All she could do now was care for the clan as if they were her kits. She still had Grayshadow anyways. Soaringheart's kit. But she wished that her other kits could be there too. Markstar. He had shown such courage in his life. He had died too young. Been a warrior at 8 moons, then leader at 9... He had had no time to even have the foolishness of a young warrior. Never had the time to laugh with his friends and just play-fight with them, practicing battle moves for when they became warriors. When Dreamstar made him a warrior, she had no doubt that he was ready, even at 8 moons. He had fought off a full grown fox when Dreamstar had been injured. He had a warriors heart, and Dreamstar only wanted him to be ready for when she died. So much responsibility put on such a young cat. She now doubts that he wouldn't have been able to handle it if it wasn't for Strongspirit's help... Dreamstar had nursed Strongspirit and her sister, and Markstar and her had been litter-mates, but not kin. That bond grew so then they became mates. Markstar had deserved a long life with her. To have earned his warrior name with her. Markspirit and Strongspirit. Dreamstar now realized she should have never made her son leader. Yes, it was StarClan's will, but he could have been leader later. StarClan chose him at the wrong time. They then called Dreamstar back to the living, and Markstar was sent to StarClan. She looked at Crowpaw, almost identical to his father, Markstar. The young tom had his father's traits too. The loyalness, the will to help others. He would make a great warrior.
Even though Dreamstar was old, and any cat her age would be an elder by now, she couldn't bear to step down as leader. There were no cats ready to take her place. Not even Birchstorm, who would be a loyal deputy, especially after everything he's been through. But leader, it was not his destiny. She then looked at Rippleblaze. The tom was old too, with his muzzle already very gray. He should have been an elder too, but he wouldn't agree to it if Dreamstar was still leading. It had been seasons ago now when she had first been helped at Rippleblaze's camp. When he was still deputy. They fought as one now, almost like one body. Dreamstar knew that when it was their time, they would die together too. They would do everything together, so they never had to be separated again. And when they did die, they would be with their family again. But she knew they were strong cats, and they wouldn't die so easily even in their age. They'd keep fighting. But one day, Dreamstar would have to choose a leader, and she'd retire. But first she had to lead her clan to their new home.
:~~Dreamstar:
Crowpaw nodded.
"Maybe... maybe we'll find Strongspirit on our journey."
:~~Crowpaw:
Sweetpaw tried to smile "I guess, I don't think she's dead. At least I hope she's not." she shuffled her paws "I just hope that this new territory will be away from Evil Clans and Dark Forest cats."
~-~Sweetpaw~-~
Crowpaw nodded.
"She wouldn't leave us. Not that easily..."
:~~Crowpaw:
"But, what if she can't. Maybe she's injured, or Lost, or both."
~-~Sweetpaw~-~
Blossomkit squeaked, blinking open pure green eyes. Everything seemed to bright and blurry, everything was moving to quickly. She began to cry, wanting the comforting scent of her mother and not this strange she-cat.
Soon, she was set down on dirt where she could barely stand. A brown tabby tom, who must have been her littermate, was passed to the strange she-cat and her mother took her.
"Mama I'm hungry." she cried wanting to drink some milk. It had been almost two hours since she'd last eaten. Her mother purred, and sighed "Blossomkit, we really don't have the time..."
Blossomkit wailed "No... I'm hungry now!"
"Just wait a minute okay?!" Nettle snapped. The harshness in her voice caused Blossomkit to squeak, hiding in her mother's soft cloud-like fur.
~-~Nettle~-~
Falconstone padded next to Frostysky, who held Nettle's little kit in her mouth. They were very small, but were doing okay on the journey, for kits barely a few days old.
"I miss our kits..." He whispered to Frostysky "Remember when they were born?"
Frostysky shot him a look "Remember how they died Falconstone?" she winced "Just don't." she sped up, finding herself beside Nestflame, who seemed wrapped up in thought and didn't notice her.
~-~Frostysky/Falconstone~-~
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