Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 21:26:42 GMT -5
We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.
Pinewhisker's heart stuttered as she faced her ancestors, their pelts glittering with starshine and reminiscence. This is amazing! She thought, awestruck by the happiness she felt, and the nostalgia. It was as though she felt whole again. All those she had lost were now reunited, a family in the stars, the scent of all five territories rushing in at her like unsheathed claws. Memories flashed through her head, though some were not her own. She felt wind rushing through her fur, hot stone beneath her paws, water lapping at her flanks, claws sinking into bark, soft breezes sifting through pines...One cat parted from the ranks, approaching her calmly. Pinewhisker immediately recognized his grey fur and white eyes.
"Dimstar..." She murmured, hurt creeping into her heart like poison. He should never have died. She thought uncomfortably. The tom just gazed at her impassively, reaching out and touching her head with his muzzle.
"With this life I give you honesty. Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters."
Pinewhisker felt a river of tranquility erase all sense of doubt and deceit. She felt pure, like the very starlight illuminating the clearing before her.
"Thank you." She whispered, as he moved to the side.
The next cat to approach made her heart leap. Mudspots! She wanted to rush forward and greet him, but her paws felt rooted to the ground. The white and brown tom looked so young and strong with no evidence of sickness or old age, pelt shining brighter than the moon. His voice was clear and confident, as if he was back living the days of his youth.
"With this life I give you aspiration. Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and, above all, don't let anyone limit your dreams."
Pinewhisker felt as free as a lone cloud in a world of blue, pushing onward towards some unforeseen destination in a world of opportunity. Mudspots stepped back, falling in beside Dimstar. The ginger she-cat sighed. A silver tabby she-cat approached her, the feline's blue-green eyes searching Pinewhisker's gaze deeply. Lilywish. Pinewhisker thought.
"With this life I give you mercy. Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names."
Pinewhisker felt hurt and betrayal pierce her heart, only to fade away into a forgotten feud. Forgiveness washed in like a long-deserved rain, calming, relinquishing the scorching pains of hate. When Pinewhisker blinked open her eyes, she saw Lilywish walking away and was shocked to see a small, long furred black and white she-cat pad up, amber eyes overflowing with confidence.
"Ravenstar?" Pinewhisker questioned in awe. The black and white she-cat just stared ahead simply, words slipping articulately, effortlessly from her jaws.
"With this life I give you decisiveness. Choose a course of action you believe to be right, and back it."
Pinewhisker wasn't prepared for the ferocity of her fourth life, and it would have dropped her to the ground if she could move, but her limbs were frozen in place. Guilt ripped at her pelt like an eagle's talons, the pain of remorse soon muted by a strong, constant heat of confidence. Ravenstar dipped her head, falling in beside Lilywish. How much more of this is there? Pinewhisker thought to herself, heart fluttering like the wings of a hummingbird.
Pinewhisker blinked and was soon greeted with a half ginger, half black, face. She remembered the tortoiseshell she-cat. Halfmask was one of the most selfless cats she had ever met. The odd-eyed Nightclan warrior's voice was loud and embracing.
"With this life I give you beneficence. Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need."
The crimson she-cat felt a satisfying glow tingling from the tip of her ears to her toes. It resembled the heat of a strong, leafbare sun; a welcoming warmth in an icy, cold world. Pinewhisker dipped her head to the she-cat, watching a tall, dark red she-cat appear before her, the familiar cat's light green eyes piercing into Pinewhisker's soul. Firejay. The she-cat noted, recognizing the young warrior who had been claimed by greencough along with Mudspots, Lilywish, and Driftpaw.
"With this life I give you compassion. Compassion brings us to a stop, and for a moment we rise above ourselves."
As Firejay leaned in, Pinewhisker felt a small flame kindled in her chest, burning hot with love and tenderness to her clanmates, her land, her ancestors. Empathy towards the families of dead and dying, sympathy for troubled souls...Firejay turned away, her tail brushing Pinewhiskers shoulder as she left. It felt like ages before his familiar blue-grey pelt parted the crowds of Starclan. His sharp blue eyes reeled her in, moreso than the scar on his throat and his muscular form. Roughthroat. The deputy she had grown so fond in her earlier years.
"With this life I give you loyalty. True loyalty takes moons to build, and only seconds to destroy. Look out for those who look out for you."
Agony ripped through her body, as if every ounce of blood in her veins was lava, as if all of Starclan was using her as a scratching post. Pinewhisker clenched her jaws tightly, stifling a yowl of anguish. Her lungs felt empty, and though she gasped for breath, it felt like all the air in the world had run out. Memories of Roughthroat's sacrifices and pain flashed before her eyes, all his sufferings in the name of loyalty. As soon as it had started, the life had ended, and the feeling soon diminished to a dull aching. Pinewhisker shook unsteadily, staring down at the ground. No more... She cried to herself, muscles sore and weak from what felt like torment.
When she looked up, she was slightly shocked to see her past apprentice, Fernclaw. The brown she-cat gazed longingly at Pinewhisker, her amber eyes delving deep into the she-cat's heart.
"I miss you..." Pinewhisker rasped. Fernclaw nodded, speaking softly, her voice rich with love.
"With this life I give you courage. Resist fear, master it."
Pinewhisker felt as though her entire pelt caught on fire as the brown she-cat leaned forward. Pinewhisker's limbs burning with determination and adrenaline as Fernclaw's memories flared violently before her eyes, claws flashing, enemies screeching. She found herself plummeting into water, bubbles exploding around her, darkness and cold engulfing her. She felt teeth tear at her pelt, glimpsing a red pointed snout and fierce yellow eyes before her vision began dissipating to black, pain fading.
She gasped as Fernclaw pulled away, sharing one last glance at her old apprentice. Guilt strangled her heart, sadness tightening her throat. Pinewhisker wanted to gaze into her soft amber eyes for eternity, though she knew she had a clan to look after. Their clan. Fernclaw's brown pelt could be seen standing beside Roughthroat, and Pinewhisker caught herself searching the ranks for the cat who would give her the final life. Where are you, mother? Father? Brother? She pondered, her green gaze scouring the ranks of starry-pelted warriors. Happiness flooded over her as she noticed a familiar ginger pelt padding forward. She gazed deep into Cedarheart's green eyes.
"Father..." She rasped, throat tightening. He silenced her with an understanding look. The ginger tom spoke softly, his voice shaking with emotion.
"With this life I give you love. Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain."
Cedarheart fondly rested his muzzle on his daughters head. She almost collapsed as love, fierce as a pride of lions, rushed through her veins, filling her heart and soul with warmth and fearlessness. Cedarheart's memories overpowered hers, images flashing through her mind of her mother and brother, of her...Recollections of Pinewhisker's childhood flashed through her mind, good memories making her chest ache wistfully. The feeling dwindled to a comforting tenderness.
"I've never stopped loving you, my little star." Cedarheart murmured. Pinewhisker's heart exploded. She never wanted to leave him, ever.
"I love you so, so much." She choked.
"Safe travels, Pinestar." Cedarheart rasped. "We will always be here for you."
Out of the corner of her eye, Pinestar noticed two brown figures: a queen and her kit. Mother...brother... She smiled softly. All of the gathered cats chanted her new title proudly, the chorus of mews from all five clans rejuvenating her strength and spirits. Thank you. She thought calmly. Pinestar felt moons older, brimming with understanding and determination. The new leader closed her eyes, sinking into darkness and silence.
I won't let you down. I promise.
51 Moons - Leader - NightClan
PIneStaR