My Silent One:
Speckletail's Lament for Her Final Kit
My newborn one.
Your eyes sealed shut.
Your ears lay flat.
Your pelt untouched.
That coat as pure as the full moon's glow.
Your name shall be for fallen snow.
Your sister my denmate.
Your brother a shade.
Though your fur not as golden.
My love shall not fade.
My awakened one.
I watch while you putter.
Your shining eyes soften our bramble casing.
Your squeaks of whimsy with boundaries uncluttered.
The sun sprints through the sky, I watch as you play.
I think of the warrior you'll grow into one day.
Though your eyes cerulean
With no lion's mane.
I promise, my child.
Love unburdened by plain.
The cries of a tom.
Smoke's scent hits our air.
The river our target.
I shall carry you there.
My jaw began slipping, upon the earth you did lay.
You were swaddled by fire the rest of the way.
My unfettered one.
That tom I owe dearly.
Know how much I still love you
Though my body grows weary.
My concerted one.
Cold brambles leave you squealing.
Burning flowers now scold him.
His paternity, it seems, more truly revealing.
Then cinders stroll in, motives hurtful yet true.
She pleads for a test, a rite of passage for you.
Flames call out your name.
Your white body unmoved.
The roar of a warrior.
Is now silenced for you.
My rejected one.
My eyes swollen with tears.
To see my kit prosper
Was a dream I held dear.
Though brutish Thunder refuses to help
Your future's in my paws. I shall train you myself.
My oblivious one.
Do you see not your denmates' scurry?
Can you hear not our pleas?
The tawny-winged demon, a danger is coming!
My baby, my baby, I beg you to see.
Those cruelty-dipped talons are headed for thee.
I rush to your aid.
The hawk's back I did rake.
I snap at those talons, my child they won't take.
But my little Snowkit. It still took you away.
My silent one.
In starlight you now lay.
Your gold brother now holds you.
With shimm'ring kits you now play.
It's all my fault. Me you should accuse.
If I was just quicker, I'd be there 'stead of you.
As I lay here unfeeding
With my friends falling prey
I hope one last breath.
Will bring me close to my babe.
Your sister migrating.
With your brother you play.
Though your coat now of starlight
My love shall not fade.