Hey!!! I know it has been over a year since I updated my other story… but that's kinda on hold right now cuz I don't know where exactly I want to go with it. Sooo… instead I have this story for you. I started writing it right after Dawn, then kinda forgot about it.
It is, as you probably already know, about Frostfur, Speckletail, Shadepelt, and Loudbelly when they stayed behind. You'll also see Cody, Princess, Smudge, Ravenpaw, and Barley again.
I know there are a couple stories about this out there already. But mine's different.
Because they live.
Do I have you hooked yet? So, without further ado, let's get on with the story!!
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Four pairs of tear-filled eyes followed the progress of the Clans as they disappeared across the river and out of view. Four sighs were released at the same moment. The motionless body of the long-haired light brown RiverClan medicine cat was surrounded by four elderly cats, all mourning the loss of him, even though two of them were from ThunderClan. These cats had decided that they were too old and their paws too weary to travel unknown distances to their new home. So instead they were sitting a silent vigil for Mudfur.
A beautiful white queen broke the silence. "Speckletail and I are, um, going to, er, hunt," she decided, motioning to a pale tabby she-cat. The old queen grumbled and complained, but followed her Clanmate out.
A dark gray she-cat looked up gratefully at the ThunderClan elders. "Thank you, Frostfur. Be careful, though."
"We will be, Shadepelt. Don't worry. I hope our hunting skills are still sharp," Frostfur purred.
Once outside, the clump of reeds, Speckletail looked impatiently at Frostfur. "What was that for? We just had some fresh-kill!" Frostfur looked at the old she-cat.
"They need time alone to grieve for Mudfur. And besides, it's not like we've been full in a long time. Let's see if we can manage to catch something." The white she-cat crept off while Speckletail reluctantly followed.
xxxxxx
The four elders awoke to the roar of Twoleg monsters. Loudbelly, the dark brown RiverClan tom, hesitantly poked his head out of the shelter of reeds to make sure everything was safe.
"None of those monsters out here yet. Well, we have to bury Mudfur." Loudbelly reassured the she-cats. The sun was just beginning to rise over the mountains far in the distance. For a moment all four cats stared in the direction of WindClan territory, where the cats had headed the day before.
Loudbelly broke the silence. "Well, no use standing around here all day. Speckletail can help me bury Mudfur. Shadepelt, see if you and Frostfur can catch anything." Shadepelt and Frostfur found a spot by the river as Loudbelly and Speckletail went off.
"I'll go see if I can catch anything at Sunningrocks," Frostfur offered. The white she-cat hopped across the stepping stones and into a territory she knew well. After catching only a mouse, Frostfur started to head back to the RiverClan camp when she heard a cat call her name. Fur bristling and claws unsheathed, Frostfur turned around. Letting out a yowl of surprise, she rushed forward to meet the young tabby she-cat.
"Cody! Why are you coming back? And who have brought with you?" A light brown tabby she-cat and a black and white tom had appeared next to Cody. Cody's icy blue eyes lit up when she saw Frostfur.
"Frostfur!" She exclaimed. "These two are Princess, Firestar's sister, and Smudge. They wanted to see Firestar one last time." Frostfur looked down at her paws, her eyes brimming with tears.
"They've already left. Speckletail and two RiverClan elders are also staying behind. We felt we were too old to make the journey to our new home."
The light brown tabby she-cat, Princess, meowed quietly, "That's not all. All of us," she motioned to her companions, "had dreams from StarClan. A cat, her name was Bluestar, told us to 'meet with four cats who have yet to make the Great Journey.' Would that be you and your companions? Who is Bluestar, and what does she mean?"
Frostfur looked up, her eyes sparkling in admiration. "To receive a dream from StarClan is a great honor. You have been chosen for some reason. Bluestar was ThunderClan leader before Firestar. She…. she was a noble cat, a great friend, and an excellent leader. She often comes to cats in dreams."
Frostfur paused and sniffed the air. "Kit-scent. You shouldn't be away from your kits for so long."
Princess nodded in agreement. "You're right. I should be going. I'm wondering, though… were you a queen?"
Frostfur's eyes took on a distant look, as if remembering the past. "I bore many litters of kits when I was younger."
Princess looked thoughtful. "I have an idea. What if you and your companions come to my garden tomorrow morning? You can meet my kits, and I can get you some food and fresh water, if you'd like. And," the kittypet's eyes twinkled, "I even have some catnip."
Frostfur's lip curled at the thought of kittypet food, but it was no secret that they were starving. But she purred at the though of some catnip. Maybe it would make her feel young again….
"That would be nice. Well, I guess I should get going; Shadepelt's waiting for me. See you tomorrow!"
Cody, Princess, and Smudge mewed their goodbyes. Frostfur bounded back towards Sunningrocks, her step noticeably lighter.
xxxxxx
Frostfur found Shadepelt basking in the sun by the river's edge, her dark gray fur soaking up the sun. The RiverClan elder jumped up and grabbed the fish she had caught when she saw Frostfur leaping across the stepping stones with the energy of an apprentice.
Shadepelt followed the white queen to the camp, wondering what in StarClan had happened.
xxxxxx
"…. and that is why I'm so happy!" Frostfur had just explained the events of the morning to the other elders.
Speckletail let out a hiss. "Kittypet food! Yuck! I won't eat it unless StarClan themselves force it down my throat!" Then the fierce tabby's eyes began to soften. "But I can't resist kits, kittypet or otherwise. It's been so long since Snowkit…. since…." The old queen faltered, her amber eyes welling up with tears.
Frostfur pressed her white fur against Speckletail's tabby pelt as comfortingly as she could. She remembered what had happened to Snowkit as clearly as if it had been yesterday. Speckletail's last kit had been white-furred with blue eyes, and unfortunately had been deaf, like many kits that color. Frostfur knew she was lucky that she herself still had good hearing. Poor Snowkit had gotten snatched up by a hawk, and was never found. Speckletail had never fully gotten over it, and Frostfur, having been a mother herself, knew she probably never would.
Speckletail was a fierce cat, a fighter until the very end. She did, however, have a soft spot for kits. She might never give in to eating kittypet food, but she couldn't resist visiting kits.
Shadepelt and Loudbelly didn't say anything. They had no complaints, and agreed to visit the kittypets in the morning.
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So, that's the first chapter!! How'd you like it?? I'm not done the second chapter yet, so I've got to finish it and type it up, StarClan knows how long that could take.
Anyway, please review, and be honest!! Did you like it, or did you not :)