"Cats of PineClan," The she-cat called from the large flat rock near her den as Lightningstream sat at its base, "This cat wishes to join us. He will now be known as Brightpaw." Willowstar scanned the crowd…. and her eyes landed on the more obvious choice.
"Shadowflash," She called, "You have received excellent training from Lightningstream." The Deputy sat up a little straighter, eyes shining with pride, "I trust you will pass down all she's taught you to Brightpaw."
The Clan erupted in cheers and Lightningstream's heart spiked with sadness as she watched the two tom's touch nose. Her paws tingled and she wanted nothing then to nuzzle the orange and white tom, purring with joy. She couldn't do that, as far as the tom was concerned Lightningstream was a stranger….his new Deputy and Clanmate, nothing more.
Her attention shifted as Willowstar approached her.
"I've told the medicine cat about you thinking Brightpaw might be your missing kit and she agreed to consult with ShimmerClan." Willowstar flicked an ear before her eyes softened, noticing how troubled her friend was.
"Hey," She started softly, loosely placing her tail on the she-cat's shoulder, "let's go hunting to take your mind off things."
Her kithood friend nodded and, after a brief word to a trusted warrior to keep an eye on the Clan, they were off.
It was late evening by the time the two she-cats arrived back, pushing through the tunnel guarding camp with prey in their jaws. After dropping their catches on the fresh-kill pile, the two she-cats went to their dens for a good night's sleep.
Lightningstream blinked open her silver-blue eyes, feeling cold as her racing heart ached with sadness. She shuddered, wishing she hadn't dreamed about that horrible day seasons ago her first born son had gone missing.
Her three kits had gone out to play and she'd called them back as it started raining, just a light drizzle at first before becoming a heavy, swift downpour with fat, freezing raindrops. After the storm, she and her Clan frantically searched but, despite the efforts of PineClan's best trackers, it seemed the heavy, relentless storm had washed away any trances of her kit.
The slender, dark gray, she-cat walked to Willowstar's den. The air was cool as if it might rain again and her whiskers twitched. Pushing through the curtain of moss, she saw Willowstar talking to the medicine cat. They stopped as she walked in and the sliver, gray streaked, she-cat flashed her a small smile as Lightningstream stepped further in.
"Lightningstream!" Willowstar exclaimed cheerfully and she found her heart beating quicker with hope. "Dappleleaf was describing the dream she received last night."
The slender, dark gray, she-cat listened, eyes wide, about the bright, flowing river of flame and a bright orange tom darting swiftly between the thin trees, moving so fast he was just a blur of eye-catching brightness.
Once the small cat was done, Lightningstream swallowed.
"I-I had the same dream," She admitted in an awed whisper, "I d-didn't dare hope." Her paws and voice shock as tears sprang to her eyes.
"I know hope is hard to hold on to." Willowstar placed a comforting paw on her friend's shoulder and gave a small, watery smile as they looked at each other.
"My baby's back!" She said, overjoyed and relieved her gut-feeling was correct.
When Flamepaw hastily returned from training, Lightningstream wrapped a paw around his back, pulling him close and purring loudly as his scent wreathed around her. Flamepaw's tail swayed happily as both vowed never to let each other go again.