שלום, my friends. How has life been going for you? I'm about to tell you the third part of my story. Please give courtesy to others and spam the review box now. Heterica Derpington appreciates your concern. Enjoy the story.
I awoke with a shiver. It was growing. I could feel the rift breaking. I saw a flash. It was a battle, a chaos so terrible no cat could describe. I realized this was taking place where I went to in my dreams.
Was that real? Is any of this real? How can I know? What if nothing exists and my mind is an illusion of itself. I feel a monstrous cold consuming me, as if heat brings no light. I can't imagine how I could live like this without companionship. I understand why I must now, if never, tell them.
What, though, should I tell them? It would seem to ridiculous to tell them up front. However, I must try, because the truth is setting them free. Perhaps, I am waiting for the dawn to turn into morning, and finally bring warmth to my body. Or, perhaps I am in hypothermia, falsely claiming to know warmth when I am being consumed by cold. Then, if I am true, my flame will be a light to others who have been blessed, and cursed.
I go to Stonepelt. He was right. The truth will save millions, and it will start with two, perhaps. Some may say this group is too small, but I say, were the ancient leaders not 5? Only 5 cats founded principles, customs, and rules we to this day stand on, and live by, protect, and yet they too most likely met criticism, but 10000 moons later, we stand on their tradition, and we are their posterity.
If this truth could have such an impact on us, then imagine the world soon. There would never be a doubt that we should be more enlightened. I tell him the story. The whole truth. He looks stunned.
He replies, "Greyfur, I am shocked. You mean to question StarClan's authority?"
I answer, "They have no power over our enemies. They too meet oblivion. They too die. Why should we praise them for having died? How does death make one wiser? Age is a vanity."
He goes blank. Then, he blows up at me. I feel very hurt. We don't speak for the entire rest of the afternoon. I start to collapse inside. If he doesn't believe, who will? My friend is reliable, always there. Why should I expose it, try to soar, if no one will go along. It was not long ago that we were the same in likings, in friends, and now, that is gone. How shall I live if none dare defy the standard for the only way? I feel dead, unliving. My friendship, no my whole way of life could be over. He has been the only one I could trust, and now he seemingly has abandoned me. Friendship is a vanity.
I could get angry at this forever, but I simply don't intend to make a fuss for too long, so I get back to business. I hunt and I have no luck. The world has seemed to abandon me. I feel… empty. The cold has invaded from the inside and outside. How long shall I survive. I'm all alone.
I suddenly slip into the nearby stream. I am swept away in the current. I feel it consuming me. This is perhaps fitting, because like the truth, I either fall into oblivion, or go with this new current, and wait for a calm pool. As my struggling turns in to weak slaps, I begin to think that StarClan will be my calm pool. I give in. It's nice ,warm water. It's so gentle… like a… paw…
I awaken to find a paw on my chest, it's gray. It's Stonepelt. I get up and gasp.
"I… thought you were gone!", I exclaim.
"So did I, and now I see what you mean. I thought you were nuts, but then I see what you mean. It's so clear. How could I not see it?", he exclaims.
"I suppose that's part of the realization."
Perhaps friendship is not a vanity, rather a foundation.
