Post by Taxx on Nov 10, 2019 12:06:34 GMT -5
Teller of the Mountain Sky
It was cold, the bite of the Time of Frozen Water numbing the tips of his ears and his nose; Skyteller buried his muzzle in his paws to warm his nose, his eyes opening to blink at the petite form of Peregrine curled into his side. She was sleeping, curled a bit loosely against him and her breath slow and steady. Skyteller glanced down at her, somewhat surprised at her presence here; why wasn't she in her own nest? But the content he felt as he gazed down at her, her fur turned pale by the moonlight, could not be denied.
He remembered suddenly that it wasn't the Time of Frozen Water- why was it so cold outside? Just a few days ago he had treated the she-cat for the injuries sustained in her fall, and it had certainly been quite warm outside. Was he dreaming? A glance down again at the prey-hunter and a purr broke from his chest almost without thought, and he shuffled a bit closer, laying his head down again and curling his tail over Peregrine's flank.
He had just closed his eyes, and suddenly there was restless scrabbling against his other side, tiny paws pummeling his ribs, and his amber gaze whipped around to see the kit; the little one froze as he looked down at it, eyes wide, with mischief burning in their depths. "Gray Rock Cast in Shadow," he heard himself speak sternly, even as his eyes softened. "You are supposed to be asleep."
"Why?" the kit squeaked, the eyes shining back at him remarkably like Peregrine’s, the lanky frame and oversized ears equally similar. Her fur was longer, though- and colored russet like his own.
”Kits need their sleep! Right, dad?” piped up another voice, and then there was a second kit draped over his middle, staring down at the first.
“That’s right,” he agreed almost absentmindedly. “Come on, you two. Curl up together now…” Sound faded, though he could still tell he was talking- suddenly viewing the scene from the outside as the young kits piled together, their gazes still fixed on the dream-him as he kept talking. It had to be a dream. A vision. Perhaps a hint of what was to come?
“That’s exactly what it is,” purred a voice at his shoulder, and Skyteller’s heart suddenly beat faster as he turned to gaze down at Night. Her dark fur was flecked with starlight, almost as if in tribute to her name. She looked back at him, warm green eyes steady. “You have another chance. Every cat deserves to love. Take this one, and make the most of it.”
He was unable to speak, a lump in his throat; Night reached up to lick his cheek before she was suddenly fading away- and Skyteller woke in his nest. But not alone, as he’d expected to at first. Peregrine was still there, dozing at his side, her chest rising in a steady motion. Skyteller pulled in a breath and let it out quietly. It’d been so long since he’d seen Night, and having her come to him in a vision had been wonderful. Having her come to give her blessing on him loving another cat? Even more so. He would always love her, and mourn her death, but she was gone. And now he had a chance to start new with Peregrine- if she was willing.
Resting his head on his paws again, eyes sliding closed, Skyteller slowly drifted back to sleep with the images of the two young kits- his and Peregrine’s- still on his mind. One day, perhaps, he’d get to meet them in the waking world too.
He remembered suddenly that it wasn't the Time of Frozen Water- why was it so cold outside? Just a few days ago he had treated the she-cat for the injuries sustained in her fall, and it had certainly been quite warm outside. Was he dreaming? A glance down again at the prey-hunter and a purr broke from his chest almost without thought, and he shuffled a bit closer, laying his head down again and curling his tail over Peregrine's flank.
He had just closed his eyes, and suddenly there was restless scrabbling against his other side, tiny paws pummeling his ribs, and his amber gaze whipped around to see the kit; the little one froze as he looked down at it, eyes wide, with mischief burning in their depths. "Gray Rock Cast in Shadow," he heard himself speak sternly, even as his eyes softened. "You are supposed to be asleep."
"Why?" the kit squeaked, the eyes shining back at him remarkably like Peregrine’s, the lanky frame and oversized ears equally similar. Her fur was longer, though- and colored russet like his own.
”Kits need their sleep! Right, dad?” piped up another voice, and then there was a second kit draped over his middle, staring down at the first.
“That’s right,” he agreed almost absentmindedly. “Come on, you two. Curl up together now…” Sound faded, though he could still tell he was talking- suddenly viewing the scene from the outside as the young kits piled together, their gazes still fixed on the dream-him as he kept talking. It had to be a dream. A vision. Perhaps a hint of what was to come?
“That’s exactly what it is,” purred a voice at his shoulder, and Skyteller’s heart suddenly beat faster as he turned to gaze down at Night. Her dark fur was flecked with starlight, almost as if in tribute to her name. She looked back at him, warm green eyes steady. “You have another chance. Every cat deserves to love. Take this one, and make the most of it.”
He was unable to speak, a lump in his throat; Night reached up to lick his cheek before she was suddenly fading away- and Skyteller woke in his nest. But not alone, as he’d expected to at first. Peregrine was still there, dozing at his side, her chest rising in a steady motion. Skyteller pulled in a breath and let it out quietly. It’d been so long since he’d seen Night, and having her come to him in a vision had been wonderful. Having her come to give her blessing on him loving another cat? Even more so. He would always love her, and mourn her death, but she was gone. And now he had a chance to start new with Peregrine- if she was willing.
Resting his head on his paws again, eyes sliding closed, Skyteller slowly drifted back to sleep with the images of the two young kits- his and Peregrine’s- still on his mind. One day, perhaps, he’d get to meet them in the waking world too.
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Tribe of Forgotten Waters