"Okay, little one," Dawn purred cheerily. The fully-grown she-cat led a small she-kit around the camp. "That's where all the tender-paws sleep. You'll be one of those someday."
"Cool!" the kit chirped, bouncing up and down. "I can't wait! I'll be the best Diamond ever!"
Dawn laughed. "I'm certain. Over there is where all the amazing, talented, strong Diamonds sleep after they are promoted to full members." She waved her tail in the den's direction, and the she-kit's eyes grew huge.
"Wow," she exclaimed. "It's so big!"
"Yeah, we've had to make it bigger since the summer. A lot more cats are around now that the weather's nice."
"Whoa! Look over there! What's that?"
"Oh, you mean the leader's den? That's where Fleet stays. He's a good leader. Keeps the little kits like you under a close watch," Dawn purred, poking the she-kit's forehead with her nose. "Maybe you'll be leader someday, too. Can you imagine it? All those cats, yowling your name..."
"All hail, Snow, mighty, talented, and beautiful leader of the Diamonds!" she cried, prancing around Dawn with a huge grin. "You can be my second!"
Dawn smiled. "I'd be honored," she purred, licking Snow's nose.
"Hey!" she giggled. "I'm the leader!"
"Not quite yet, little one. The forest cats have been leaving us alone since last winter. I'm sure Fleet will be around for a good long time. You'll have to wait in line, just like Jag."
Snow looked over at the fluffy white tom-cat who was sitting up on the top of the scrap heap. "Fleet's so weird. All he ever does is sit and watch everyone. It's kinda creepy." She wrinkled her nose up at the leader, who noticed her and gave her a smile. "And then there's that one gold cat with the stripes. Now he is weird looking."
"Well," Dawn chided gently, "he likes to watch everyone. That's his job. And the golden tabby is Lion. Fleet's advisor. He's really smart. Now go run home to your mother, little one. I've got to talk to the leader."
"Okay!" Snow answered, bounding away enthusiastically. "Mom! I've got so much to tell you!"
Dawn padded up to the base of the scrap pile, and Fleet jumped down to greet her.
"Snow liked the tour, I'd guess," the white leader purred, sitting down and motioning for Dawn to do the same.
"She did, very much," Dawn replied, sitting across from her old friend. While they hadn't spoken much in the past, the she-cat had proven to be a good friend and a helpful advisor, as well as a playmate for all of the new kits.
"That's good, that's good."
There was a moment of silence before Dawn spoke again. "Do you ever miss Socks? I only knew her when I was a tender-paw."
Fleet sighed, looking up at a blackbird crossing the blue of the early autumn sky. "All the time," he answered. "It'll be two years this winter. Maybe I'll find a feather for her." His eyes dropped to his paws. "I don't even know if she liked feathers."
Did she love me? Did I love her? he wondered bleakly, his gaze dropping to his paws. I don't know. I'll never know, not until I join her in the stars. But I'm stuck down here, all alone, leading her cats. Her Diamonds, not mine. Stars, I'm so confused...
"It doesn't matter," Dawn replied. "It's the thought that counts."
"I guess you're right."
"Well, I'm sure you have business to attend to," Dawn said, rising back to her paws. "I'm sorry to have bothered you."
Fleet looked up at the endless expanse of blue, dotted with puffy white clouds.
A familiar scent filled his nose, and he swore he saw a brown tabby in the corner of his eye. "Don't be," he said with a wry smile, but Dawn had already left.
AN: Thanks to everyone who everyone who stuck this hunk o' junk out to the end! Again, I'm incredibly sorry I didn't post the ending months ago. I was feeling lousy about it, but I should have just sucked it up and finished anyway! Anyway, it's over now. c: If you're really lucky, there might might might be a prequel about Socks and her backstory eventually. I'm really bad at just sitting down and writing, but it was actually Socks that sparked this entire story. I wanted to write about her instead, but alas. Too much darkness in her life for a school assignment. :D
Anyway! Thank you again for reading and (possibly) reviewing/following/favoriting this! Cookies for all!