Challenge: Slipping Away

Word Count (min. 300): 422

Rating: K+ for death

Goodbye

Honeytail let out a wheezing cough. It was inevitable; she was dying.

I've lived a good, long life, but now it's my time to go, she thought to herself.

She'd lived through leaf-bare many times, but this one would be her final. Her simple cough had turned bad and the twolegs had destroyed their only supply of catmint. Darkleaf had tried everything to help the cats with greencough, but his supply of chickweed was limited and Honeytail insisted that the warriors and kits received their share before her.

After all, warriors were more important than elders.

The golden elder let out a sigh. Her own kit, Sunfur had lost her life to greencough just two sunrises before. At least I'll be able to see her in StarClan.

She thought back to the times when Sunfur was an innocent, mewling kit. She and her brother would make up the most interesting games.

I think I'll miss Duskfall the most. He will be the one that will struggle the most with the fact that I'm gone.

Honeytail shook her head. No, she thought, I will miss Cloudpaw the most. The little white and grey apprentice always visited her and removed her ticks. He was always so cheerful and even though he was no longer a kit, Cloudpaw would always love to hear her stories.

He reminded her of Smokewing, her closest brother. He would always make a bad situation seem good with his unusual sense of humour and his cheerful comments.

She was one of five, but two of her siblings did not make it past their first moon. She, Smokekit and Tansykit were the only survivors from her mother's litter after the shortage of food during their first leaf-bare.

Tansypaw had died from her injuries after a border skirmish. She had died bragging for she had battled a warrior and despite gaining some life-threatening injuries, she had not backed down. She did not give up. I always admired Tansypaw's spirit.

Her dear brother Smokewing had actually made it to warrior-hood alongside her after moons of pranks and games. They trained together and became warriors together.

But alas, she was destined to be alone because he soon died, eating a bad piece of prey.

I can't wait to see Smokewing! I will miss everyone here, but I can't wait to see my family. I will no longer be alone.

With a final sigh of happiness, Honeytail closed her eyes.

Goodbye…

Honeytail let out a final purr and let the darkness take over her body.