Post by nimble on Jun 27, 2017 17:16:46 GMT -5
She was not oblivious to the weariness of her companions. Prey had been sparse at the foot of the mountain where the group had last rested, and there were many hungry bellies among them. But the restlessness that grew within her would not let Featherstep stop. We are close. She could feel it in her very bones.
"Featherstep," the deep mew sounded to her left, almost causing her to jump. She looked over. Beside her, the aptly named Thunder matched her pace.
"How is everyone?" she asked softly. The massive tom answered with a twitch of his long whiskers, "Tired." The she-cat nodded, feeling the ache in her own paws.
She glanced upwards to the stars the glistened faintly above. "Our ancestors will not lead us astray," she mewed with conviction, hoping to soothe Thunder's concern. We cannot lose faith.
The night sky was beginning to lighten, and Featherstep's lungs were beginning to burn when she caught a glimpse of a familiar gray-and-white pelt moving towards her. "Osprey," she greeted the young tom, unable to disguise her shortness of breath. The incline seemed to be growing steeper, and the air grew thinner as they climbed in altitude. The smaller prey-hunter looked at her sympathetically, but said nothing, his own panting filling the silence. Featherstep's mind and body grew numb. She hardly noticed the world around her, thoughts unfocused as their trek continued.
"Featherstep!" Osprey's voice broke her trance. She blinked, coming to a halt, sides heaving. The peak. They'd reached the peak. Relief seemed to stir within the Tribe as they gathered. Featherstep turned towards the cats, seeing a mixture of hope and confusion in their ranks. "We are...." She struggled to project her voice, taking a heartbeat to regain her breath. "Our journey is over!"
As she gazed out across the valley, a ghostly silver pelt brushed against her own. Feathertail. Thank you. The ancient cat's voice was but a whisper on the breeze, barely audible. Warmth spread beneath her fur, her heart pounding in her chest. The realization that her journey was finally at an end washed over her, and for the first time in forever, she felt the weight of the stars lifting from her shoulders. Blinking back tears, her eyes drifted to a shadowy forest of pines....
"Featherstep," the deep mew sounded to her left, almost causing her to jump. She looked over. Beside her, the aptly named Thunder matched her pace.
"How is everyone?" she asked softly. The massive tom answered with a twitch of his long whiskers, "Tired." The she-cat nodded, feeling the ache in her own paws.
She glanced upwards to the stars the glistened faintly above. "Our ancestors will not lead us astray," she mewed with conviction, hoping to soothe Thunder's concern. We cannot lose faith.
The night sky was beginning to lighten, and Featherstep's lungs were beginning to burn when she caught a glimpse of a familiar gray-and-white pelt moving towards her. "Osprey," she greeted the young tom, unable to disguise her shortness of breath. The incline seemed to be growing steeper, and the air grew thinner as they climbed in altitude. The smaller prey-hunter looked at her sympathetically, but said nothing, his own panting filling the silence. Featherstep's mind and body grew numb. She hardly noticed the world around her, thoughts unfocused as their trek continued.
"Featherstep!" Osprey's voice broke her trance. She blinked, coming to a halt, sides heaving. The peak. They'd reached the peak. Relief seemed to stir within the Tribe as they gathered. Featherstep turned towards the cats, seeing a mixture of hope and confusion in their ranks. "We are...." She struggled to project her voice, taking a heartbeat to regain her breath. "Our journey is over!"
As she gazed out across the valley, a ghostly silver pelt brushed against her own. Feathertail. Thank you. The ancient cat's voice was but a whisper on the breeze, barely audible. Warmth spread beneath her fur, her heart pounding in her chest. The realization that her journey was finally at an end washed over her, and for the first time in forever, she felt the weight of the stars lifting from her shoulders. Blinking back tears, her eyes drifted to a shadowy forest of pines....