"You don't have long. I'm sorry." Willowfur, the medicine cat, had told her that; the words should have paralyzed her, at least caused some negative emotion. But all Juniperheart felt a bit of excitement, a bit of longing.
The old cream and black tabby she-cat blinked slowly, looking up though a small hole in the medicine den at the stars. She tried to smile, but a cough shook her body, unable to breathe for a moment. Her chest soon cleared and she looked up again, focusing on a group of stars.
"I'm coming soon my friends," she whispered, her voice hoarse with age and from the sickness. "I've missed you. I can't wait to tell you about everything." Juniperheart blinked slowly, seeming to see a group of cats instead of the stars. There was a brown and cream tom with sharp yellow eyes, looking down at her with a proud gaze: her father, Oakstar.
"I followed in your footsteps," she said. "After you died, Redstar made me his deputy. I once thought I'd give anything to be that young, spirited she-cat, but now all I want is to see you again." A grey she-cat with black patches was sitting next to Oakstar, easily recognized by the black fur around her blue eyes, like a raccoon's. She was smiling, pressing herself against her mate.
"Cindermask, my beloved mother," Juniperheart whispered. "I miss you so much. I never wanted you to leave, but not even love can stop you from aging." A black tom and a sandy brown she-cat apprentice with a white chest and darker tabby stripes, both with the same yellow eyes as their father, were playing nearby, happy smiles on their faces: her brother Adderclaw and sister Blazepaw.
"Oh, I remember all the times we had together," Juniperheart sighed slightly. "I'm thankful that Adderclaw and I got to grow old together. You look so young, healthy now. And Blazepaw, my dear sister. There wasn't a day that I didn't hate the rogue cat for taking you from us. I can't wait to tell you about me everything that's happened." Finally, Juniperheart seemed to lock eyes the final cat: a dark brown tom with black tiger stripes and dark green eyes filled with love.
"My love," Juniperheart whispered, barely able to form the works as she began to lose her breath. "Woodfang, my mate. I'm sorry I couldn't give you kits. I wanted to; I wanted to be a mother, but I was unable to do so. You died from sickness, leaving me behind. Oh I want to be with you." Juniperheart closed her eyes, all her happy memories with her family coming back to her.
When she opened them again, she blinked slowly, confused. She looked at herself; her for was soft again, her eyesight clear. She turned. They were all there: Oakstar, Cindermask, Blazepaw, Adderclaw, and Woodfang; her former mentor Gingerfoot and best friend Silverflower; all her fallen clanmates and friends from other clans. She ran forward, immediately greeted by Woodfang.
"My love," she whispered. "I've missed you so much." Woodfang smiled, "Welcome to Starclan my darling."