GAH! Sorry about the delay! Without further ado, thank you to Pebbleshine for the suggestion for today's theme, "Breathe Again"!
3rd Person PoV
The camp was dead still, and it wasn't because it was a leaf-bare night. No one stirred within their den, and not a sound could be heard. That is, no sound besides the heavy breathing coming from Kestrelstar's den.
Within the leader's den, Kestrelstar was laying down and had Dovenose, and medicine cat, and Nightblaze, his mate, in front of him. His sides were heaving as he breathed heavily, every now and then shaking violently as he coughed. Blood was trickling out of his mouth, and the leader was exuding unhealthy heat.
"What do we do, Dovenose?" Nightblaze asked, her voice etched with worry and concern.
"I don't think we can do anything more, Nightblaze." Dovenose responded. "I gave him more than enough catmint all throughout the day." Her voice dropped low. "Blackcough is going to take his first life, tonight."
Kestrelstar's PoV
I gasped for air, but to no avail. My breath felt hot on my paws in front of me, and the coughing made my throat burn - or maybe that was the blood. Every part of my body ached as I lay here, limbs unmoving. My vision began to become cloudy. I tried to look to Nightblaze, my beloved mate, for reassurance, but I couldn't see her clearly. The edges of my vision started going dark as blurriness overtook everything. My breathing slowed, and started to become shallow.
Panic gripped every fiber of my being. No! I can't die! I can't leave Nightblaze alone! I need to rule the clan. Mousefoot isn't ready to be a leader yet. I can't… I can't…
Darkness. No feelings, no smells, no sounds, no tastes, and I couldn't see anything through the darkness as thick as sludge. Is this the waiting room of Starclan? If I was still alive, then my heart would be racing right now. But I'm not… I've failed my clan…
"No you haven't, Kestrelstar." A voice meowed sternly out of seemingly nowhere. That voice. It's so familiar…
"M-mother?" My voice cracked as I saw her. Despite the fact that all my senses were gone, I felt a faint longing aching in my chest. There she was, the beautiful cat who raised me ever since I was a kit.
"Kestrelstar, you have not failed your clan. If anything, you have made it stronger. Now you know what death feels like, and you know that it's painful, not just for the cat dying, but for the cats close to them as well. Kestrelstar, you're stronger now." Her eyes were stern, but they also had the familiar tenderness that all mothers have.
"Why am I here?" I asked, unable to compose myself any longer.
"I am here to take a life away. Remember what I gave you?"
"Protection, correct? Protection so that I can protect my clan through hardships." I replied.
"Very good. Now then… Have you learned how to protect your clan?" My mother's eyes flashed with challenge.
I shifted my paws. "I-I don't know, to be honest. I've only been leader for a couple moons…" I looked down to avoid her eyes.
"I think you have." She assured me.
"What do you mean?" I asked, somewhat baffled and confused by her response. But she didn't reply, this time. Instead, she padded up to me and placed her nose on mine. With a jolt, every single sense rushed back into me. I could feel the chill of the leaf-bare night, I could smell the catmint on me, I could taste the blood in my mouth, and I could see etherial projections of every single cat that is important to me; the whole clan.
I turned back to look at my mother, but she was gone. Only her voice remained.
"Go, Kestrelstar. Lead your clan!"
And my whole body went limp, and my vision blacked out.
3rd Person PoV
"He's stirring!" Nightblaze meowed, excitement and relief in her voice. Only a moment later, Kestrelstar's eyes flitted open, and he sat up with a grunt.
"How do you feel? Sore? Achy?" Dovenose asked as soon as his eyes fell on her.
Kestrelstar purred. "I feel better than ever!"
"But you just died!" Nightblaze pointed out in confusion. Kestrelstar stood and licked her muzzle.
"I love you, Nightblaze." He responded. Then he padded out of his den, followed by Dovenose and Nightblaze.
Dawn broke out over the camp. Cats started emerging from their dens, many looking up in awe as their previously sickly leader was now sitting, healthier than ever. Nightblaze came to sit beside him, and as she looked into his eyes, she could see not only pride, but a twinkle of understanding as well.
I'm very proud of this one. Please leave reviews and suggestions for the next theme, "Memory"!
