I glanced back at Swallowstep, who was swerving through the thick pine trees, struggling to keep up with me.
He panted jokingly. I slowed down as we reached a sandy clearing where we could rest. We flopped down on the ground, panting. Swallowstep butted me in the side with his head.
I widened my eyes, acting like I was offended. I gasped, then turned serious.
Swallowstep looked horrified at what I just said, and I knew I had crossed the line. Swallowstep was a good friend of mine, nothing more. It didn't matter that I loved him with all of my heart, he just wanted to be friends. And on top of that, I was acutely aware of Frozenblaze always padding after him.
I mewed, looking down.
Swallowstep looked like he was about to say something, when I interrupted.
I meowed, changing the subject.
Swallowstep agreed. We padded through the tall pine trees of ShadowClan territory. I relished in the fact that Swallowstep let my walk close enough to him that our pelts brushed. I love him more than I can explain in words. His light brown tabby pelt rippled as he walked, and I looked at him in awe, just wishing that he would love me back. He seemed to make all the pain I had ever felt go away. You see, I have had worse luck than most when it comes to loved ones. My mother, Kinkfur, and my father, Smokefoot, were both killed by a group of rogues while they were out on a walk. My mentor, Russetfur was killed in a border skirmish with ThunderClan soon after I became a warrior, and my best friend, Hawkpath, died ironically at the talons of a hawk. She was protecting a kit, and the hawk picked her up instead. It couldn't handle her weight for long, so it dropped her. The fall killed her on sight.
But when I was with Swallowstep, the pain from all of my loss seemed to dissapear. That's what love is supposed to be like, right?
We reached the lake, and sat on the pebbly shore, hearing birds sing on top of the only sycamore tree in ShadowClan territory. We sat there in silence, just staring at the water. After staring at it for a while I saw it; the most amazing thing I had ever seen in my life.
As I was looking at the reflection of my dark gray pelt, and Swallowstep's light tabby pelt, when the water rippled, showing me a vision. The ripple cleared, and I was stunned at our reflections. We looked pretty much the same, except our muzzles were gray with age. In between us there sat two cats, who looked very similar to both me and Swallowstep. The first one was a she-cat with my dark gray fur, and Swallowstep's green eyes. The second one was a tom. He had Swallowstep's pelt, and my bright yellow eyes. They must be our kits, I realized with a jolt.
I was jolted out of my mesmerizing moment by a yowl that came from the direction of the camp. Me and Swallowstep exchanged a concerned glance, and raced off toward camp. We reached the bramble tunnel that let to the ShadowClan camp, and we were met by a surprise when we entered the tunnel.
A few cats were clustered around a lifeless black body near the medicine den. My sister, Quietstep, who was standing by the body, bounded over to me with a sad look in her eyes. Quietstep has never uttered a word in her life, but me and my brother, Batwing, always seemed to know what she was trying to say. Which is why the look in her yellow eyes was so disturbing.
Some of the cats that were gathered around the body shifted to look at me, giving my a clear view of he limp body of my brother.
I whispered, galloping over to Batwing's body. I begged, not wanting to accept that another one of my loved ones was dead. I shook his cold body with my paw, thinking to myself: He's just sleeping, he's just sleeping. There's no way that Batwing would leave me. I whispered, with one last attempt at waking him up. It didn't work, and I looked up at my Clanmates. They had pity in their eyes, as they knew of my hardships. came my hoarse mew. Batwing was training to be a medicine cat, so he couldn't have died from battle wounds.
Came Littlecloud's old voice.
I inquired mournfully.
This new information burned when it hit my ears. No cat that I have know had ever had a seizure. So why did it happen to one of the only cats I had left? Was StarClan really this cruel?
Burning with rage, I sprinted out of camp, and out to the clearing that Swallowstep and I were in earlier that day. The sun had set now, and the stars were out. Perfect. I thought. Now I can confront them.
I screeched, looking up at the stars. I broke off from my screaming at StarClan, when I heard the rustle of bushes behind me. Turning around, I saw that it was Swallowstep.
I mewed at him. At that moment, I heard the crushing of bushes from the opposite side of the clearing.
My eyes widened as I saw that a badger was ripping through the undergrowth and breaking into the clearing. Before I knew what was happening, the badger lumbered up to me, and swung its huge, flat paw right at my throat.
Pain ripped through my neck as the badgers claws hit their mark. I toppled to the ground, gurgling as I felt the blood leak from my body.
Through my blurred vision, I saw Swallowstep attack the badger with burning fury. He battered the black and white creature with a strange intensity that I had never seen in him before. I saw his blurry shape leap on top of the badger and latch onto its neck. I heard the sickening rip of flesh, as Swallowstep ripped the badger's throat out with a vicious ferocity. He watched the creatures fast death, then hurried over to me.
He mewed urgently.
I laughed, or at least I tried to laugh, wanting to make the situation as light as possible. What came out was a bubbly cough. I told him.
Swallowstep gave me an amused, yet sad look. He told me.
A warm feeling began to grow in my belly, despite the coldness of death that was beginning to settle in. I let out a warm gurgling purr. I told him, feeling the life slowly ooze out of me.
He told me.
I let out the loudest purr I could manage. Closing my eyes, I felt Swallowstep lay down beside me. This is a good way to go, if there is such a thing. I thought. I am close to the one I love, and he loves me too. What more could I ask for? This was my last thought before me and Batwing met up and made our journey to StarClan, together.
Stars shining bright above you, Night breezes seem to whisper,
Birds singin' in the sycamore tree, Dream a little dream of me.
Say and kiss me. Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me.
While I'm alone, I'm blue as can be, Dream a little dream of me.
Stars fading, but I linger on, dear.
Still craving your kiss, I'm longing to linger 'till dawn, dear.
Just saying this: Sweet dreams 'till sunbeams find you.
Sweet dreams that leave all your worries behind you.
But in your dream, whatever they be, dream a little dream of me.
Stars fading, but I linger on, dear.
Still craving your kiss, I'm longing to linger 'till dawn, dear.
Just saying this: Sweet dreams 'till sunbeams find you.
Sweet dreams that leave all your worries behind you.
But in your dream, whatever they be, dream a little dream of me.
Dream a little dream of me.
Of me.