This is another 'A Song To Suit The Scene' challenge, this time for CloudClan.
Enjoy!
-Song- Go the Distance from Disney's Hercules
/
I have often dreamed of a far-off place,
Where a great warm welcome will be waiting for me,
Where the crowds will cheer when they see my face,
And a voice keeps saying this where I'm meant to be!
/
A dark she-cat pounced on a fat squirrel, grinning madly. Picking up the furry rodent in her jaws, she trotted back to the camp. All four of her legs kicked up leaves and dirt, and the breeze ruffled her fur. Nothing like your first catch of the morning.
Greeted by the sight of her clanmates going about their day, she purred to herself. The she-cat dropped her catch on the fresh-kill pile, and turned to find her kin.
Her mother, father, brother and sister sat, basking in the warmth of the green-leaf sun. It was perfect. The warrior padded over to her family, who was waving her over, all smiles, and sat down with them. She laughed at her sister's snarky comments, chatted with her father about the flow of prey, and enjoyed the simple moment of togetherness.
Oh StarClan, if this was only the life that was meant for me.
/
"Briarlight?" Jayfeather prodded the sleeping she-cat, who stirred and sat up, blinking.
"What? Jayfeather, you just woke me in the middle of an amazing dream!" Briarlight pouted, dragging herself out of her nest.
The blind tom grunted. "There won't be any dreams left for you if you don't keep healthy. Excercise now, chat later. It's almost leaf-bare, and you are-" The she-cat cut him off.
"I know, I know. 'I'll get sick and weak and die.' I'm coming." Briarlight began to crawl out of the medicine den, Jayfeather following.
It was relatively early, and most of ThunderClan was still sleeping. The blind medicine cat tilted his head towards the forest. "We're taking a walk today." Briarlight nodded absentmindedly, disracted by thoughts of her dream. She stood in place, looking dazed.
Jayfeather turned around, noticing that she wasn't moving.
"Well, come on! If you wait around long enough, we'll have a hard time persuading Millie to let you go." The grey tabby lashed his tail impatiently. Briarlight dragged herself after him.
They made their way outside of camp, and the she-cat tipped her head. "Is there any reason for a walk?" Jayfeather hadn't taken her outside of the camp all that much lately.
The tom stared at her with his blind, milky eyes. "Well, you're always going on about wanting to do more than just your regular exercises, so here we are." He put a paw on a rotting log.
"After a few regular stretches, try and climb this," he challenged, smiling a little. Briarlight nodded, beginning her chest-clearing exercises. But can I really do that?
Yes. I can.
/
She clawed her way over to the rotting oak log. Her mind traveled back to the dream she'd had that morning, and she shook her head. I don't need all four of my legs.
/
I will find my way, I can go the distance
I'll be there someday if I can be strong
I know every mile will be worth my while
/
She took a deep breath of the fresh, cool leaf-fall air and latched one paw onto the log. Jayfeather stood beside her, ready to give her a boost if needed. With her other working leg, she lifted it up, hooking it on as well.
Now for the hard part.
With both forelegs gripping the log, Briarlight now had to get her paralyzed lower half up and over the log.
Her companion couldn't see her, but he was sure she was able to do it. "Remember, you have extra strong front paws. Use them!" He urged her on.
Briarlight slowly unhooked one paw, and moved it farther onto the log. Then, she did the same with her other.
/
I am on my way - I can go the distance!
I don't care how far - Somehow I'll be strong
/
Mouselength by mouselength, Briarlight made her way over the log. She barked out a triumphant laugh. Once over, however, her claws had nothing left to reach out to, and she slid to the ground in a heap.
Jayfeather scrambled over to oak log, using his tail to feel his way, and tried to untangle Briarlight. "And a moment of glory is interrupted by a fall...typical!" They laughed, both feeling like they'd accomplished something great.
/
I know every mile will be worth my while
/
Looking to the sky, which was bright and clear now, Briarlight sighed. "We'd better head back before Millie starts searching for us." Jayfeather nodded in agreement, and the two cats traipsed—and crawled—back to the ThunderClan camp.
Millie, upon seeing her daughter emerge from the forest dirty and ragged, almost shrieked in shock. But looking closer, at her bright, happy face that was radiating a gentle pride, she calmly padded over instead.
"What were you up to this morning?"
Briarlight smiled softly, slightly surprised at her mother's unusual reaction. "Jay feather took me out to try out a new excercise. I got over a log, Millie!"
Jayfeather nodded. "She's strong, that's for sure, " he dipped his head. "And I need to find Leafpool, she was supposed to find me some dried oak leaves." He turned to find the other cat, and Briarlight bade him farewell.
"I'll practise my climbing," she promised. The tom turned back, grinning.
"You'd better, especially during this leaf-fall. You could get sick!" He purred and walked away.
Millie jerked her head over to the fresh-kill pile. "Come, share some prey with me." Briarlight followed her mother to the well-stocked pile. It was made up of largely squirrels, as they were plentiful during this time of year.
As the two she-cats shared a meal, Bumblestripe and Blossomfall entered the camp with a few other warriors, prey in their jaws.
Briarlight waved her siblings over. "Whatcha got there, Blossomfall?"
Her sister beamed, but it was Bumblestripe who answered. "You should've seen it! She caught that robin right on the fly, midair! Crazy moves." Blossomfall embarrassedly smiled, dropping the bird and two mice on the pile.
Millie's eyes widened. "Really? I wish I could've seen it, Blossomfall."
This seemed to surprise everyone. Bumblestripe picked up the robin. "Well, why don't we share it then?" And like that, the four cats happily sat with each other, swapping tales and such. Even Greystripe meandered over and joined in.
Briarlight hung back from the conversation, simply observing. It was just like her dream, except it was real, with no fake joy or healed legs.
This is where I belong.
/
I would go most anywhere to find where I belong
/
Sweetly, Clearly.