Chapter 19, Dawn
The dawn rose gray and unwelcoming over the forest. The birds were quiet, and the wind rustled through the oaks. A few forlorn, left over, leaves drifted onto the snow from clear patches.
In this quiet and sorrowful forest, a lone figure stood in the sandy hollow. It paced back and forth, and occasionally stopped to look toward the forest. The steep bank on the side seemed like the edge of a cliff, if viewed from afar. Moss and roots tenderly poked into the open air, as if surprised to find no soil there. By the agitated movements, the pacing, and the twitching of it's ears, a bystander could have told that the figure was waiting for someone. The movements of the forest around seemed hampered by the dreary morning, as if the forest was also waiting.
If one had looked more closely, one would have been surprised by the figure which lay waiting in the training hollow. The short white fur unexpectedly did not blend in with the snowy surroundings. The snow was covered by leaves, and there were frequent clear patches where the soil, moss, or rock showed through. The blue eyes were harsh for the soft fur and the elegant paws. The youth of the cat pacing back and forth might also have been surprising, for it did not reflect the movements of the figure. It would have been expected for a cat of that age to sit and fidget, perhaps try and catch some prey; but not pace.
Finally, Icepaw's long wait was rewarded by the appearance of the one she wished to see. A long gray tail, a lean figure, and dancing amber eyes approached swiftly. It's greeting was long in coming and quiet. "Icepaw." It was like a whisper.
Icepaw looked away from the amber eyes. "Snowpaw?" she asked quietly.
"She's coming. She'll be running as soon as she hears." Wolfsong said slowly.
It was silent for a moment and then she spoke again. "Oh Icepaw."
She wanted to lay down and stay still. She wanted to sit on the border forever, and not have to choose. Why couldn't she be happy in ThunderClan? "I'm sorry," she murmured.
"Don't ever be sorry. Don't ever look back. Don't ever miss me, because you know what?" Wolfsong's voice was breaking.
Icepaw's gaze was like lightning. There were no words for what she was dreading. There were no words for the bond that might break.
"I'll always be with you." For a minute Wolfsong just stared at the young cat who had come into her life and changed it. Icepaw had changed her life from an ambition, a thirst, a hunger; she had changed it from a want into something she could not describe.
It was time to let the bird fly. She would not keep it in a cage, chained by love.
"I love you Wolfsong." Icepaw said, pressing against her mentor's side.
"I love you too Icepaw. I'll always be with you." Her voice broke, finally.
"Promise?"
"Promise." she managed to say.
"Then I'll be waiting." Icepaw said sorrowfully.
"What'll you be waiting for, dear one?" Wolfsong asked.
"I'll be waiting for the chance to make you proud."
"I am, darling, I am. I've always been proud of you. Since the first minute I saw you." It was the truth; all of what she had said was the truth. I'll always be there for you, she swore in her mind.
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Snowpaw was running as soon as Forestpaw told her Wolfsong had gone to meet Icepaw. She knew what her sister was going to say. She knew everything. She had always known this moment would come, somehow. Her legs seemed to move without effort, despite the breeze and despite the hard stones her paws past over. She just had to get there in time to say goodbye. There was a desperate knot in her stomach as she glided through the perfect, gray, forest. What could she do if she didn't even get to say goodbye to her own sister? How could she live when the person she was closest to in the whole world had left and she hadn't even bid them farewell?
"Icepaw!" she yelled when she got the the clearing. Icepaw looked up from Wolfsong's side. There were no words. Her dark blue eyes said it all. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Snowpaw stepped forward. She actually smiled a little. Then she began. "Icepaw, don't ever listen to me again. Don't ever do something so stupid as to listen to me again."
Her mouth dropped open in surprise. Slowly, she moved her paw forward and placed it firmly on the moss. Snowpaw crossed it gently with her opposite paw.
"Live well, sister. Remember me." Snowpaw said solemnly.
"I will always remember you. I will try and see you every full moon. I promise." Icepaw said.
"Go home. I will see you when the moon is full." Snowpaw looked encouragingly at her. "Be safe."
"Aw, don't be so solemn." Icepaw cuffed her over the ear.
Snowpaw meowed in laughter. "Go on."
Icepaw was running as soon as she was out of sight. The wind was fluffing out her fur, making it look long like Snowpaw's.
She was heading home.
Sorry for the long update wait. Really. Very sorry. I'm going to focus on this and one other story from now on. So REVIEW! I actually cried when I wrote the line, I'll be waiting for the chance to make you proud. It was fun describing Snowpaw's desperate reaction.
SPOILER ALERT: The next chapter will include flashbacks in ShadowClan of what it was like for Snakepaw and the others after Icepaw left. Will they accept her back? It was hard the first time, it will be even harder now. Will Snakepaw blame her?
Bye!
~Iceshadow of ShadowClan~