CH. 18: Weight of the World

Lilly lay in the living room of her house, a paw on her favorite toy duck, and looked around as Project Runway played on the television in the den behind her. She looked in, seeing her Mommah and Mommy sitting in there, and sighed. Her Mommy was on the computer, and they were both really into the show, while Flopsie slept on the rug between them. Lilly wished she could join them, but knew that if she woke her sister up she would get in trouble. So she stayed where she was.

Maybe I've got some food left? she wondered, padding over to her bowl. No. It was still empty. She sighed and curled back up with her duck to take a nap.

She woke up in a forest. Why am I here? she wondered to herself, but shrugged and bounded forward, Oh well! Play time! she bounded to play in a stream she could see in the near distance.

Before she could make it there, however, a large white shape appeared out of nowhere, a smaller golden shape beside it.

"Hello Lilly." the white shape said, its voice deep and masculine.

Lilly skidded to a halt as she realized what it was, a large, pure-white wolf with stars in it's pelt, "L-Lupus?" she whispered in awe.

The white wolf tilted his head and nodded, "Yes. And this is Sylvestris."

Lilly looked back at the golden she-cat, "Are you the cat goddess?"

The she-cat laughed, "You could call it that." she said, "I am the beginning of all small cats. However, I am not as known to the felines as Lupus is to the canines."

Lilly frowned, "They do not honor their beginning?"

She smiled at her sadly, "The cats honor those they had known in life, they obey StarClan, as they should. You obey Lupus because you know of Lupus. My descendants do not know of me. I prefer them to honor those that went before, it gives them something real to look up to. Canines like yourself prefer to honor your celestial founders."

Lilly frowned, but nodded nontheless, "So... why are you two here?"

Lupus stepped forward, "You will be very important in the near future."

Lilly frowned, "Me? Why me?"

Lupus and Sylvestris laughed, "You are the only one that can unite our races." Sylvestris stated, her pure gold tail wrapped perfectly around her front paws.

Lilly frowned, "How am I supposed to do that?"

Lupus got real close to her face, "You can speak both Felis and Canis. To unite them, we need an animal able to communicate, an animal with purity of heart, and an animal with strength."

Lilly's eyes widened, "But... How?"

Sylvestris laughed, "Remember Sissy, and all she taught to you, and you will do well."

"How-"

"You will know." Lupus said, "Now, continue, I know how you love your water."

Lilly gulped and nodded, "Okay."

Her heart was still beating fast as they disappeared, and as she padded toward the stream, for the first time she was not sure that she wanted to splash. She looked into the water at her reflection, the tan and black swirling together in her mind, as her dream faded.

"Lilly! Wake up! It's snowing! Lilly!" Lilly yawned and looked up into Flopsie's excited face, and she thumped her tail. Snow was fun, yes. But would she be able to enjoy it, with the weight of the world on her shoulders?

A/N: Yeah, it's short, but it's very weighty, so that makes up for it, right? Well, this one gave a lot away.

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ALSO! I have my first book of Island Of Warriors began, for those of you who were asking about it! =]