That Special Place In My Heart - Chapter One
He wanted to live.
That's all Swiftpaw was asking for. Another life. Another chance to live. Another chance with Brightheart.
That's all he was asking for. It's all he ever wanted. Even if it meant he was going to be missing a leg, his face, an ear, he didn't care. He wanted a second chance. He wanted another shot. He wanted to turn his life around.
Was it too much to ask for?
Swiftpaw let his head rest beneath his paws, as he let out a heavy sigh as the unfairness of life got to him, finally. It was the time to snap. He didn't remember much about what happened after he just cried out to the waterfall in StarClan hunting grounds. He cried, and cried, and cried. The yowls only got louder, and his screams only echoed even more. He didn't stop for a long time, until finally his voice gave out, and all you could hear were the desperate, little whimpers of a small tom, sitting by a waterfall.
Swiftpaw breathed in the fresh scent of the grass beneath him, trying to calm down. All cats had their moments in StarClan where they just... lost it all. They just broke it in rage and confusion, and gave into their inner emotions. It was like a tornado underneath the flesh, one that was building up for years and years.
He let out a heavy breath, then slid his paws out from over his head, and closed his eyes at the harsh sunlight beaming down from the sky. Here in StarClan, it was always sunny. That was what Swiftpaw hated, there was never rain, hurricanes, thunderstorms, or even just a hazy day. Sun every single morning, and moon every single night. It got predictable, and very repetitive. Swiftpaw rolled over onto his back, playing with a tangled piece of grass.
Out of the corner of Swiftpaw's eye was a beautiful, small, graceful little butterfly, white with ginger spots. It was like no other; those were one of the perks of being in StarClan. You saw so many strange creatures, like these strange patterned butterflies. It landed on his nose, as he sneezed, and it flew off, straight into the flowers. He smiled, but the spots seemed familiar.
Brightheart.
His heart soon sunk. That she cat that had been zapped out of his life for such a long time, who was taken away unfairly by him. No matter how many times StarClan would explain why he had to leave, he would never forgive them. He loved Brightheart, nothing could change that. Even if Brightheart never knew it, he was always there.
When Bluestar renamed her Lostface. Swiftpaw was there. When Firestar named her Brightheart. Swiftpaw was there. When she took on Cloudtail as a mate. Swiftpaw was standing right there, as his heart was falling apart slowly. Then came the kits. Watching them grow up was the thing that tore Swiftpaw the most. Those would have been his kits. It pained him to watch over Brightheart, because her kits were always in her sight. It hurt to watch them, and it hurt to see them treat Cloudtail as a father. It ripped a little hole in his heart every time.
There must have been many, many holes in Swiftpaw's heart at that moment. He couldn't stop it. It pained him.
"Swiftpaw."
It wasn't a question, but a demand. A demand for his attention. "Hmm?"
Before stood him was a tall, muscular, and thick-furred golden tom. He loomed over Swiftpaw like a tree. "StarClan cats can sense waves of distress coming from anyone," he mewed calmly, sitting next to Swiftpaw as he uncomfortably scooted away.
"I-it's nothing, Lionheart, I'm fine," Swiftpaw mumbled, trying to get away so he could be by himself. But Lionheart only followed him as he moved away to the other side of the waterfall. Swiftpaw's ears flicked back in annoyance, as he glared back at the amber eyed tom following him. "I told you, I'm-"
"Just listen, please," Lionheart motioned his tail for Swiftpaw to sit. The black and white tom sat down reluctantly, the tip of his tail curling as the irritation got to him. Couldn't a cat mourn in peace?
"We know how you've been feeling in the past couple of moons. Pain, and nothing but. StarClan is supposed to be a pleasant place, where you can get away from your fears and pains for good. But it was never the case with you. If anything, it only caused more pain. And tell me son, why's that?" Swiftpaw was well aware Lionheart knew the answer. He flicked his ears again.
"Brightheart."
Swiftpaw had to say no more. Lionheart nodded, his eyes warm and understanding. "Every cat has a purpose in life when they're born. Your purpose was to love and watch out for Brightheart," he explained.
"Tell me something I don't know," Swiftpaw bit his lip. "Please."
"Let me finish. You completed your task, you saved her from the dogs. If you hadn't been there for her, Brightheart would have died in your place. You watched out for her. And you loved her. Because while cats are born with purposes, we always have to fulfill them. You fulfilled your purpose, so it was there no more. And I hate to say this to you, son, but it was also Cloudtail's purpose to love Brightheart," Lionheart mewed slowly, touching his tail gently on Swiftpaw's back.
Swiftpaw unsheathed his claws, tearing up the grass underneath him. "So why does Cloudtail get to live with her? Why not me?"
"That's what I've come here for, Swiftpaw."
Swiftpaw raised his head. "Huh?"
"Swiftpaw, you have been given a second chance."
The young tom didn't know what to say. "W-what?"
"Tell me son, any wish of yours. Any. Make a good choice," Lionheart mewed solemnly, his eyes meeting with Swiftpaw's.
Swiftpaw took a deep breath, and let his thoughts cloud his mind. "I wish that I was never killed. I wish that Brightheart loved me, and that our love would be everlasting, as I lived a happy life with her in ThunderClan, no matter how hard the times are."
Lionheart nodded. "So be it."
Swiftpaw didn't remember anything after that. However he did remember waking up, sticky blood dried at his fur with cobwebs on his back. A groan was all he could say, as he fell into a what-seemed-like an eternal sleep.
Author's Notes and Rambles - I've always been a hardcore shipper in BrightXSwift. It's just so adorable. And I do believe Swiftpaw's life was miserable in StarClan, it must have pained him to see Brightheart live on without him, and have kits with Cloudtail, that is, if they were in love. WHICH THEY PROBABLY WERE. So yeah. c: I do not own Warriors, all rights belong to Erin Hunter. R&R, and check out my poem on BrightXSwift if you ship it. Thanks!