A Second Mother

Marshkit's P.O.V.:

I fluttered open my eyes near dawn. It was my third moon here in the real StarClan. I yawned widely and glanced over at my littermates. They were pressed snugly against Spottedleaf. I purred quietly to myself. My siblings were happy and safe at last. Spottedleaf had, in many ways, become our second mother. She slept with us every night, caught prey for us, and introduced us to the many kind StarClan cats.

I was surprised to find we weren't the only kits here. Lakekit had quickly become friends with she-cats named Nightkit and Mosskit. Stripedkit and I liked to play with a former black and white apprentice, Swiftpaw. He taught us warrior moves and even how to hunt.

I loved StarClan. We never went hungry, and there were always new and interesting cats to speak to. On occasion, I was even able to talk with Jayfeather, a friend of my mother's. He always shared news of ThunderClan and assured me that Dovewing was alright.

Even though StarClan was my home, and the cats here were like my family, I missed Dovewing dearly. I wished I could sleep by her side, or show her how well I could hunt now. I wished I could breathe in her scent and drink her sweet milk. I knew that one day, I would see her again, but that day seemed so far off. I felt as if a little piece of my heart had left with my mother. I hoped she missed me, too.

I padded out of our den and gazed at the sky. The sun would rise soon, and another beautiful day would begin. I sighed sadly and looked down at my paws. Every day was gorgeous here, filled with endless prey and warm green-leaf breezes, but in moments like these, I felt cold and alone. I never told my siblings this of course. I needed to be strong for them. I gulped down my despair. Dovewing will join us one day, I told myself, but the sadness raged on in my belly.

"Good morning, Marshkit," murmured a voice. I tilted my head up and saw Spottedleaf pad quietly to my side.

"Good morning," I responded as cheerfully as I could. I didn't want the she-cat to know how I was feeling. She tried so hard for us. It wouldn't be fair for her to know that, despite everything she did for us, a small part of me longed for my old nest in the nursery.

"You don't have to pretend, you know," she whispered, gazing into my pale green eyes. I sighed and looked down at my paws.

"I'm sorry, Spottedleaf," I muttered heartily.

"Sorry for what?" she meowed, sounding surprised.

I gulped. "I'm sorry that I miss ThunderClan."

Spottedleaf wrapped her tail around me, and pushed her nose gently against my ear. "Oh, little one," she breathed. "There is nothing to feel bad for. I miss ThunderClan, too."

"You do?" I wondered.

"Every day," she meowed. "Every cat misses their Clan and the loved ones they leave behind."

I breathed a sigh of relief and nuzzled against the tortoiseshell. "Thanks, Spottedleaf," I murmured. "I will miss Dovewing and Tigerheart everyday until they join StarClan, but I'm glad about one thing."

"And what is that?"

"That I have such a wonderful cat watching over us," I meowed happily into her fur. A deep purr rumbled in Spottedleaf's chest. "I love you, Spottedleaf!"

"I love you, too, little one," she murmured, "just as a mother loves her own kits." For the first time since I had joined the starry forest, I felt whole. The empty piece of my heart was healed. I purred as the sun rose above the trees.