Ravenwing...Oh, how I've missed you. Tears sprang into my eyes while writing this. Good trip down memory lane. :') So, I'll get right to Review Answers! (oh, and aren't you proud? Two chapters in two days xD)
Darkflight of DeathClan: Wow, lots to respond too! Now, Shrewpaw is already special enough, let's not get crazyy xD He might help in the battle...oops, I let slip a little hintyy xD Ah well, I guess you guys were expecting it anywhoo. I hope you know i love you too, and those songs! Skillet is my guilty pleasure (as is MLP, more on that later). I wish I could cont this into a series, but it's not looking like that. A third one would be stretching it :( So sorry deary.
Icestar0921: Ugh, happy endings. Lies. All lies! Happy endings just bring your hopes up, make you believe you can have one. In reality, you have to work and work until your back is crippled and bent to get your "happy ending". And is it really worth it? Sorry about that little depressing note, continuing to happy matters! The ending to this is going to be...tear-wrenching at the least xD
starbomb: Thank ee very much deary! Luvs you too :)
TearStainedAngel: aw shucks, I luv you too :D Again, glomp? A/D? D/P? Oh jeesus, I'm confused!
Mistyflower68: YOU are awesome! Keep reviewing! :)
Galefire: Wasn't it just awesome? I luvssss that song xD Hope you like this chapter!
kingszey: Whoah, that's creepy/cool...awesomeness, isn't it? That song...lasfjklasjfk! Your wish has been granted, for this is indeed a ThunderClan POV, though there isn't much on Thunder...anywhoo, I do read my reviewer's stories :) I am currently helping Sierra with her stories, and I am registered as a beta, so if you need anything, feel free to PM. I will go read that story of yours as soon as this chappie is up!
Ashheart15: Hehe, I was kidding deary :D Oh, I saw your reviews, don't you worry :)
Silvertail of Shoreclan: Aren't you mischevious xD And next Rosepaw POV is next chappie, so not long!
Sparrowclaw of ThunderClan: Hehe, I was wondering you was going to catch onto that subtle little hint. The plan shall be revealed...soon enough xD I do enjoy leaving you people hanging, I do indeed :)
Tatyana: I left hints of ThornxDapple in the last ThunderClan POV, which was the Gathering. Someone hasn't been reading very closely, now have you? ;) Just kidding, but I seriously did drop a few hints. And again, I wrote about Running and Black in the Gathering chappie. Black clearly says, "Snowpaw told us all about Featherpaw...". *blink*. That was a long and fascinating story on cats. I like that name, Murka. Hm, might just useee that xD
Viper3332: HEHE, I love getting under your skin. The romance thing is gonnnaaa be so fun, especially when you see what I have in store for you...getting excited just thinking about it!
Sierra of the Stars: ahhhhh! You didn't find any mistakes? OMG, best day of my life! (actually, I spelled "gentle" wrong once, but hey) Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you xD Mainies are coming back next chapter :) And normal people are boring! What's the fun of life if you aren't going to be a little crazy, eh? I also think I'm bordering on the edge of insane...
XxBlazestormXx: I just have one question. SnowxDark? Where on earth did you get that notion?
ON WITH THE LONG-AWAITED CHAPTER!
Chapter 20
Ravenwing
Ravenwing tossed restlessly in her nest, the sounds of the other warriors seeming to suffocate her. Standing, she pushed her way out of the stuffy den and into the clear night air. Gulping in deep breaths, she closed her eyes and savored the last images of her brief dream. Darkflight had been there, healthy and strong, running with her through a starlit forest just like they had seasons ago…
Gazing at the stars, she wondered if he was there, gazing down at her, seeing her pain. Getting to her paws, she padded to the apprentice den and poked her head in. Thornpaw and Rosepaw slept peacefully in their nests, her son's tail draped over his sister's shoulders gently. Purring lovingly, she withdrew her head and glanced at the moon again.
Shaking her head, Ravenwing slipped out of camp, nodding to Jaypelt sat sentry.
The cold snow crunched beneath her paws and numbed the tips of her claws. As she slipped towards her destination, she was taken back to another time, when the plants were green and growing and the earth was warm beneath her paws. Ravenwing halted at four mounds of earth, a spring breeze dancing between her ears.
"Robinpaw, Stonepelt, Lionclaw," she whispered as she moved towards the last, freshest one. Stopping, she stared at it for a long moment before choking the final name out. "Darkflight…"
I couldn't be any prouder of you…
For you, I would climb mountains and swim rivers…
I love you, Ravenwing…
Will you have me?
Let's name him Thornkit…
I haven't quite grown my wings yet, so promise me you'll stay…
Words and emotions swirled through her chest and mind as she stood over the mound of earth separating her from her mate.
Then, she was running. Running, faster and faster and faster until her paws seemed to lift from the ground. The forest around her changed from leaf-bare to green-leaf once again, birds sang and the moon above was nearly full, just like that night so long ago.
Halting at last, Ravenwing found herself gazing at Sunningrocks. Climbing a large boulder, she settled herself down carefully, closing her eyes and letting her memories take her away.
"Ravenpaw, I love you. More than you think…"
"I love you too, Darkflight…"
Ravenwing opened her eyes again and sighed, breathing in the last wisps of her late mate's scent. "Darkflight…" she whispered. When Featherpaw had dragged is body into camp, when she had seen the ugly wound at his neck, Ravenwing had died a little inside.
Her mate, her one love, was gone forever. Forever. With Darkflight, forever had been so temporary, not long enough. But now, it stretched on and on, never ending. Where he once had been left a dull ache, throbbing in Ravenwing's chest.
Her thoughts wandered to their last conversation, before he had decided to go hunting alone.
"I love you, Ravenwing. I hope you know that," Darkflight meowed, pushing his head into her warm fur. Ravenwing laughed, nudging him with her nose.
"Go hunt you lazy mouse-brain," she purred, batting his head playfully. The tom laughed, bending down to give her a lick on the cheek.
"Just promise me you won't fly away while I'm gone. I haven't quite grown my wings yet," he murmured, leaning his head against hers. The sleek she-cat gave another, deeper purr, returning the lick on the cheek.
"I promise," she whispered.
Who would have known, she reflected sorrowfully. Who would have known he would be the one to soar away before she had the chance to say "I love you" one last time.
Another spike of grief stabbed at her causing tears to swell in her eyes. Sitting here, where he had first proclaimed his love, just brought back a new load of memories. Darkflight laughing and hunting, fighting and playing, joking and living. The way his eyes had lit up when he played with their kits, how he always gave her a lick on the head, every morning. While imperfect, Ravenwing thought he was as close to perfect as a cat could get.
Time, however, had dulled the pain a bit. Ravenwing knew she would see him in StarClan, though that did nothing to comfort her. She still wanted him here, with her. Brushing his fur against her, murmuring stories to her until she fell asleep, eating with her, teasing her. Darkflight…
Ravenwing sat on that boulder, reliving the memories, still fresh and raw in her mind, as the sun began rise. Heaving herself to her numb paws, she took one last look at the graveyard of memories. "I love you, Darkflight," she whispered painfully.
As she slipped back into the forest, she caught a wisp of his warm, familiar scent. Stopping, she breathed it in and let it surround her for a moment, erasing the agony for just a moment. Always and forever, the wind whispered.
Blinking her vivid eyes open, she glanced around. There. Right there. A shoot of green was just beginning to show and a warm breeze blew in her face once again. The sound of water dripping was suddenly loud and birds were bursting into full song once again.
Darkflight had brought green-leaf back again. Just when she most needed it.
"Always and forever," she purred as she continued, head held high for the first time in weeks.
I love you, too…
First order of business, the reviews. Holy aasfjkladjflkkl! 509 reviews? I just can't...no. I am...words just can't describe the feelings within me at the moment. In other words, thank you about a bajillion times you guys! I just...asfaskfjkla!
(sorry about the random letter spewing lately xD)
So, next order of business, who wants to see what Darkflight looks like in real life? You see, Darkflight's appearance was based off my own cat, Atticus Finch, so I will be putting a picture of him as my profile pic for a while so you can see how he looks :)
Nexxt, I'm scared. Scared beyond belief. I think...that I might...like...My Little Pony. Yeah. I know. It's horrible. I don't understand it. It's just, it's so modern and the characters are skillfully portrayed, the idea is new and fresh, the plots and scripts are original and I just...it's awesome. You can all thank (or blame) Spottedflame for getting me hooked. I just...no.
NOTICE: Progress on All I Want To Be is being a little delayed. I want to take a lot of time to plan it out really carefully. So, it may be taken down, but only for a little bit. I want to outline the plot carefully and to the most minute detail. I want it to be my best story yet!
And I think that is it...
Until next time, my dearies!
~Ciao, Monkey~