Hey guys. I am so, so, so sorry for the wait. We had notes to do over the week and two essays this weekend…. But still I'm sorry=( Hopefully this makes up for it, it's longer and I think it's pretty good=) You tell me though;)
(Okay this is random but my dog just saw a cat in our neighbors house and I open the window so he could stare at it…I feel bad for him;))
Graywhisper: Thank you so much for your review. It really made my day when I read it! Those are pretty good titles=) I'll add them to the choices for you=) Yeah I had to look up some of that banter because I'm just bad at it;) I call Stormfur Storm all the time. Honestly in my mind that's his name, so I get where you're coming from=) Yeah I love Bramble there, but Brook is normally described as being calm and collected so you know;) Thank you so much for all of your compliments... it really does mean the world to me. Mark of Athena's pretty awesome! I don't know about you, but Piper annoys me and it has her POV so you have to deal with that, but other than that it was wicked. Cept for the ending. Worst cliffhanger ever…. Worse than ours I think. Wish I could lend my copy to you=( Good luck finding it! Just so you know, I had a great time at Disney=) It was a great trip, nothing like acting insane with three best friends=) Thanks so much and I hope you enjoy this chapter=)
Brambletail88- Glad you're loving the story!=) Thanks for the votes I'll let you guys know how everything stands at the end=) (Of the chapter) Thanks, Disney was awesome. And I'm sorry about not updating=( Hope you enjoy this anyway!
Arianna Flamepelt- Glad you found the new story and you like it=) Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Jayleaf1- I did have an awesome time at Disney, thanks! and it was Disney World, surprisingly I've never been to Disney Land… thanks for your vote I'll let you guys know how things stand at the end of the chapter=) Thanks for the prologue ideas, you inspired me=) So now you guys have a prologue! Yay! And thanks=) Hope you enjoy this!
Sunny- So I'm guessing you deleted your account? It kinda freaked me out when I checked my reviews again and it said Deleted Account Dead Forever… they're a tad bit dramatic huh? Well I hope you'll still follow us! Anyways on to your review: Glad you thought it was cute! I was going for the humor factor with Bramble=) Glad to know it worked. I'm happy you're enjoying all the fluff! You might get some more kits in the next one!=) Ah yes, kittens are adorable… it's too bad cats don't love being picked up and squeezed;) Yes! You should most definitely read Percy Jackson! The books are soooo good (movie not so much)! Heroes of Olympus are a little iffy but it's really just because the author changed his writing style and I liked the first one better. Ah well… I had a great time at Disney, thanks! Hope you enjoy this!
Chapter Four
I watch the sun set with weary eyes. It makes for an extraordinary sight to be sure, the red sun sinking down and staining the sky, the light pink following it and the cool blue-purple slowly creeping up.
But the journey's long walks have disheartened me and… I'm not sure if I'm prepared for what I will see back in the Clans. I have to keep reminding myself that coming back is not a good thing, and that things are very different from the way we left them.
"Stormfur!" I break out of my trance and look at Brook. As I do her annoyed expression softens, "I'm going to take first watch," she mews gently, "Try and get some sleep."
I want to protest but at her words my eyes start drooping. Slowly I nod, then I lay my head down and give in to blackness.
Whishing I could have a night for actual sleep, I sigh as bright white light swirls around me. When it clears I'm standing in a grassy meadow, with Feathertail in front of me.
"I just love your kits! They are so cute! And cuddly! And adorable! And they….."
I gaze around as she blabbers on and notice something odd. The meadow is blocked by a line of small trees to the left of me and to the right…. It fades out. I'm not kidding; the grass gets patchy and turns a dirty gray-white. The sparkling blue sky fades until it to reaches a gray-white shade, and in-between that…. Nothing. It's just a dirty gray-white color stretching on for eternity.
For some reason, I don't know why, the sight of it terrifies me. "What is that?!" I demand, my voice a yelp, breaking through my sister anecdote.
Her carefree look fades at once. "It's the edge…" Fetahertail says slowly in the manner of one handling a delicate topic.
"The edge of what?" I ask shakily.
"Of…. Nothingness."
"Nothingness?" I repeat my eyes wide, "What in StarClan's name is nothingness?!"
"Well…" my sister mews delicately, "Not all cats have an… afterlife. In between the cats that do, you have nothingness. The cats that don't have a StarClan or Tribe of Endless Hunting go to nothingness."
"And do what?" I ask, unable to imagine a more boring existence.
Feathertail gives a bitter snort, "They don't do anything. They come here, and they fade."
I stare at my sister uncomprehendingly for a moment before the awful truth dawns on me. I mutter a few obscenities in shock.
"It's a fate that awaits us all." Feathertail mews with a blank face.
"What?" I ask in horror.
"Eventually, no matter how long you force yourself to exist, your essence merely fades away and you become nothingness."
"Let's talk about something else." I mew immediately trying to rid myself of this horrible knowledge. "Can we go somewhere else?"
"No…" Feathertail mews sadly. "We're in nothingness right now, so I can only appear on the edge of StarClan."
"Jayfeather's never mentioned anything like this when he's visited us!" I mew quickly.
"Jayfeather's never seen this. Medicine cat can appear anywhere they want in StarClan, normally where their mentor shows them on their first visit. Besides… Jayfeather's case is… delicate."
I shake my head quickly, not even wanting to get into that mess.
"I'm sorry brother…. What do you wish to talk about?" Feathertail asks gently.
"How far away are we?" I ask, addressing the trees to my left.
"Perhaps a half-moon's journey if we can hurry…. Why? Do you grow weary of me already?"
"Oh no…. I just…. I'm tired of this walking and I fear what I must face when we finally arrive."
To my surprise Feathertail grins widely, her eyes sparkling. "I think it's rather like our journey you know." She replies.
I smile for a moment and reminisce, "The journey that started everything," I mew after a few beats of silence.
"That it did," she agrees, "that it did."
"Do you know if the Clans are all right?" I ask softly making her smile fade.
"No… when I left…. They were weak and fighting amongst themselves, fear and discord was spreading. But I have had no news since I arrived in the Tribe of Endless Hunting. I am sorry." Feathertail mew gently.
I feel my stomach clench as an idea dawns on me, "But then we don't know what we're walking into…. The Dark Forest could have taken over a Clan… or all the Clans!"
"No we'd know if that had happened, trust me on that dear brother." She mews with an uncharacteristically dark look on her gentle face.
"Okay….." I mew casting around for a change in subject.
"We should be coming across a pass soon," Feathertail mews abruptly, "then maybe three days journey to the mouth of the valley, another two to get through it and then the small forest. We'll be home in no time whether or not you're ready for it. I would start preparing your act, the kits will know if you don't. They are rather perceptive."
"Get that from Brook." I mutter, "I could never read cats."
"You can say that again." Feathertail snorts. I pull a face at her and she grins innocently at me. Looks like nothing's changed.
"Okay that was uncalled for." I mew before she can get into her stride.
"Yeah but it was true." She shoots back. Too late.
"Whatever," I mutter walking over to the trees, "Is the horse place still there? Can we spend some time there if we need?"
"As far as I know it shouldn't be a problem." She replies with a shrug.
"Good… I don't want to overwork the kits…."
"They'll be fine and if not we can just carry them."
"Still though… a rest and a meal wouldn't go amiss."
"Why do you talk like that?"
I pause and give my sister a look. "Like you don't talk weird? Plus you got all philosophical when you died. I think that's weirder."
"Fair enough." Feathertail replies inclining her head.
"I miss you, you know." I mew quietly as we sit under the shade of some pines. She gives me a very sad smile.
"I'm so sorry I had to leave… perhaps it was better this way. I died a hero not an infidel."
"I would have understood… what with me and Brook. But I miss you."
"As do I…. and I miss being alive. Being dead can get so horribly boring. There are perks though… you get a much clearer view of the world when you can see all of it."
"Yes well you have fun with that. I'll take my narrow view of the world." I mew ruefully and Feathertail laughs, sounding like the river we used to play at as kits.
"Yes I thought you would…. I sense mother…" she smiles slightly, "She's coming."
I stare in confusion as a bright silver light glows through the trees, it comes closer and suddenly a silver tabby is standing next to Feathertail. She has Feathertail's sparkling green eyes and a warm smile.
"Oh Stormfur," she mews, her voice constricted, "Look how you've grown…"
My mouth falls open and I feel tears start in my throat, "Mother?" I whisper, my voice a gasp.
"Yes my dear." She replies, smiling softly. "I wish I could have raised you both… and I'm afraid you've inherited our interesting luck with love."
She has a sparkle in her eye as I grin, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Silverstream nods and mews, "Brook's a lovely girl, and your kits – Graystripe will be absolutely delighted."
"I hope so..." I murmur.
Silverstream mews softly, "Well I know I am… I can't wait for you to bring them to me when you arrive to Clans." She looks around and sighs slightly, "I am sorry this has been so short but I must return to StarClan… I will see both again soon I hope?"
"Of course mother." I mew eagerly. She smiles at me again and walks back through the trees.
"Well?" Feathertail mews softly looking shrewdly at me.
"I just met my mother…" I mew in shock. "Why now?" I ask wonderingly. "Why not earlier?"
"I don't know…" Feathertail replies. "But at least you could meet her? Sleep for a bit now, you're tired."
I shrug and let the world around me grow dark. When Brook does wake me for watch, it is with an odd feeling that I rise and stand at the entrance to the small cave.
I feel inside of me a tremendous joy and yet an aching longing and pain. I've met my mother for the first time and I've seen a glimpse into the life Feathertail and I could have had… she might needn't have died. Yet if we never came to the mountains I'd never have met Brook.
I shake my head as a headache sets in, I can't think about this or question it now. It's far too late… I watch the moon as clouds ripple across it and its light is hidden. A few minutes later, the clouds are gone and moonlight prevails.
I lean my head against the cool, smooth stone and breathe in the mountain air. All around me are the gentle sounds of the world sleeping. It calms me and as I come to a conclusion.
I can't change the past, but I can help save the future. What will come, will come and I shall have to face it when it does.
Soooo what did you think? Not sure where the nothingness came from… just kinda happened. And I thought it would be sweet form Stormy to see his mom=) I thought it kinda sucks that he never got to meet her.
Okay so Titles: Fading Shadows has two votes and so does Empty Warnings, the others Dark Waters, Dawn Echoes, and Soft Echoes have zero. However you still have four more chapters to review on and vote and you can P.M. me with votes too. You can also vote multiple times if there's some you're torn between or you really, really like one. Also Graywhisper suggested two more: Silent Warnings and Hushed Secrets.
I reuse title options, so if the title you wanted didn't make it for book Five it might be books Six's title. And just to let you know out original plan was to do a full arc (six books) and that's what I'll stick with. However I keep coming across writings Echo and I did for the series that never made it to the books, so I might start a "book" of them so I can still be updating if I get writers block.
What do you think? I don't know if we're technically allowed to do that, and I'm kind of afraid of getting in trouble so I'll think about it.
So Book five update;) we now have a prologue! Yay! Shout out to jayleaf1 for inspiring me=) You also now have 30 chapters and I have no idea how to end… so any ideas or anything you want to see (anything at all) let me know because I actually do have writer's block with this…. Or would it be plot block? Hmm… either way it's annoying.
Quote time! "I need another story, something to get off my chest, my life get's kinda boring, need something that I can confess" ~Secrets by OneRepublic
Yeah so I think I've wasted enough time and I should go study for my math test…
Review please loves=)
~Midnight