And So Too Do Mountains Fall [FrozenHawk]
Nov 11, 2019 13:05:35 GMT -5
Fawn, KARAZHAL, and 1 more like this
Post by BlooRey DVD on Nov 11, 2019 13:05:35 GMT -5
Hawkstar
may your dreams be larger than mountains
“I love you.”
His own voice echoed quietly in the confines of his mind. He could picture that evening perfectly, as he and Frozenrain had settled down to sleep. Silence had stretched between them for much of the night, not uncomfortable, but… Different. He’d felt it in his chest, the dull ache of words he couldn’t leave unspoken. Gentle blue eyes met his pale amber ones, and she smiled at him. Though she smiled, he could read a touch of sorrow in her features. One that surpassed what had grown to be normal for the pair since Minkfire’s disappearance.
Closing the distance between them, Hawkstar had wrapped his large, but age-weary frame around the she-cat that had become his heart over the moons they’d walked the path of life together. So many pawsteps, both forward and backward, had led them to where they stood now. And still, they were together. Still, they loved one another. And nothing, not even this night of grim acceptance, would shake their love and their faith. Touching his silvered muzzle to hers briefly before leaning his forehead against her, he’d sighed and let himself drift into a dreamless sleep, Frozenrain’s warmth tucked tightly to his frame.
When his eyes opened again, the night was still young. He could hear the gentle sounds of the dark, and he could feel a sense of peace. The day had been bright, an unusual warmth to the Leaf-fall air. And though the temperature had dropped overnight, Hawkstar had felt it in his bones, that the morning would bring with it another clear blue day. Whiskers twitched upon a rich sand-brown muzzle, and he wondered if the forecast he’d predicted would hold.
The night air called to him, yet.. Something called louder. Lowering his broad-shouldered frame to a seat, he curled his tail over big paws and waited, chest expanding in a satisfied breath. The night would wait, just as he had to. Though he felt as though he could run for days and never tire, he knew the time was not quite right. There was a piece of him missing. A piece that would find its way back to him soon if he spent a moment longer here.
Soft blue blinked open to greet the dark cavern. Tentatively, a gray and white furred muzzle lifted from the nest, casting out to the den entrance as though someone had called to her. Ears pricked forward in warm curiosity, finding not an empty space, but a familiar strong frame sitting alone just within the den’s mouth. Just as drawn to him now as she’d been in her youth, Frozenrain stood with a youthful grace she’d almost forgotten was possible. Dainty, yet confident steps closed the distance between them, and she took a seat next to her mate.
The cool brush of fur would take getting used to, but when she breathed in, she could still scent him among the freshness she’d only ever attributed to night. Blue met amber as he tipped his muzzle down to her, foreheads meeting again as the still air filled with a deep purr. For a moment, neither one moved. But a pawful of heartbeats later, without a word exchanged between them, they exited the shelter of the den to greet the outside world.
Moonlight filtered down from above, the silver light illuminating the surface of the Rock Pile as the pair strode forward, matching step for starry step. Claws curling over the ledge he’d grown so accustomed, Hawkstar shifted to butt his shoulder to hers and smile. She returned his youthful grin with her own, shaking her head at his antics. Shoulder to shoulder, their gaze stretched out upon the silver-spattered stones that had sheltered them for many moons. In that quiet moment, he felt it in his chest; a whisper of regret, a spark of longing.
But now was no time to mourn. Wordlessly, he glanced to Frozenrain once more, and the pair nodded to one another before bounding down the face of the Rock Pile with renewed vigor. Despite the flecks of sorrow in each of their chests, Frozenrain and Hawkstar felt a sense of right as their paws carried them passed dens they’d known so long. His tail twisted with hers as they walked, eyes flicking to the medicine cat den, where Sandblaze and Ebonyheart slept in peace.
The nursery, where new life bloomed.
The elder’s den, where old friends have since vacated, moved on.
The apprentice’s den, where the future of StoneClan rested.
And finally, the warrior’s den. A den into which they ducked inside.
For a moment, they looked upon the sleeping forms of those they’d come to consider family. Each sleeping soul held a place somewhere in the hearts of the matriarch and patriarch of StoneClan, evident in the quiet, shivering breath that escaped the pair. Finding strength in one another, they stepped forward, pausing next to the nests of Kestrelclaw and Meadowflight.
Lowering his nose to the sleeping form of first his nephew, then his niece, the big tom closed his eyes. Though no words were spoken, he knew that Frozenrain’s actions mirrored his, and that she too had left a piece of her heart, of her love, with the sibling pair.
Silent steps carried them to Vipertail, and then Herondive; the eldest of their children who had grown so much, come so far… Yet still had so long a path stretching out before them. They too received a touch of the nose, a piece of the heart. A starry tongue rasped unfelt over the ear of each of their children, before Hawkstar sought out Frozenain once more.
He could see the mounting sorrow in her gaze, as they step together to the nest of their youngest daughter. Snowfeather, who fought so hard to get where she lay now. Snowfeather, with so much to see in life. And so much left to endure.
Lingering a moment longer next to the white she-cat, Hawkstar found himself casting a silent prayer to the world around him. Something in his heart told him Minkfire was alive. That she would be okay. And for that he was grateful. Despite the distance between his daughter and himself… He cast a piece of himself to her, a goodbye he wished he could give her face to face.
Pale amber eyes landed upon blue again, something unseen pulling both their hearts back to the center of StoneClan territory. Traversing the sleeping forms with surreal grace, the mated figureheads paused momentarily at the entrance, glancing back to the slumbering denizens, the core of StoneClan.
Their children.
And then, side by side and tails intertwined, they greeted the moonlight once more. But they were alone no longer. Swaddled in a silver glow, three pairs of eyes belonging to three small starry figures shimmered with barely contained excitement. Frozenrain gasped at his side, her eyes turning to his, aglow with the question she could not voice. Yet he understood, and he tipped his head in silent confirmation as the kits burst forward to finally meet their mother.
Warmth blossomed in his heart as she fell to her knees, sides shivering with sobs of joy as the three star-speckled kits clambered over her, burying their noses into long, soft fur they were never able to experience in life. After a moment, Breezekit broke away, circling around her parents to draw their attention. One by one, the stars above seem to blink to life, revealing faces they’d not seen in moons, but that neither would ever forget.
Breezeflight. Dawnshadow. Frostface.
Eagletalon.
Frostkit was the first to move, leaping high into the air, his paws finding purchase on the beams of light cast down by the moon. Dawnkit beckoned the patriarch and matriarch forward, and together they took the first step. And as they stepped along the winding path to Silverpelt above, following the glittering paw steps left behind by their kits, their hearts filled with joy and bittersweet sorrow. But no longer a drop of regret. StoneClan would endure, of that each was certain: mountains may fall, but new ones would rise in their stead.
Though they were leaving family behind, they were also rejoining family. And they would wait. Wait for the moment they would guide the rest of their family home.
Because home was wherever they stood. Together.
His own voice echoed quietly in the confines of his mind. He could picture that evening perfectly, as he and Frozenrain had settled down to sleep. Silence had stretched between them for much of the night, not uncomfortable, but… Different. He’d felt it in his chest, the dull ache of words he couldn’t leave unspoken. Gentle blue eyes met his pale amber ones, and she smiled at him. Though she smiled, he could read a touch of sorrow in her features. One that surpassed what had grown to be normal for the pair since Minkfire’s disappearance.
Closing the distance between them, Hawkstar had wrapped his large, but age-weary frame around the she-cat that had become his heart over the moons they’d walked the path of life together. So many pawsteps, both forward and backward, had led them to where they stood now. And still, they were together. Still, they loved one another. And nothing, not even this night of grim acceptance, would shake their love and their faith. Touching his silvered muzzle to hers briefly before leaning his forehead against her, he’d sighed and let himself drift into a dreamless sleep, Frozenrain’s warmth tucked tightly to his frame.
When his eyes opened again, the night was still young. He could hear the gentle sounds of the dark, and he could feel a sense of peace. The day had been bright, an unusual warmth to the Leaf-fall air. And though the temperature had dropped overnight, Hawkstar had felt it in his bones, that the morning would bring with it another clear blue day. Whiskers twitched upon a rich sand-brown muzzle, and he wondered if the forecast he’d predicted would hold.
The night air called to him, yet.. Something called louder. Lowering his broad-shouldered frame to a seat, he curled his tail over big paws and waited, chest expanding in a satisfied breath. The night would wait, just as he had to. Though he felt as though he could run for days and never tire, he knew the time was not quite right. There was a piece of him missing. A piece that would find its way back to him soon if he spent a moment longer here.
Soft blue blinked open to greet the dark cavern. Tentatively, a gray and white furred muzzle lifted from the nest, casting out to the den entrance as though someone had called to her. Ears pricked forward in warm curiosity, finding not an empty space, but a familiar strong frame sitting alone just within the den’s mouth. Just as drawn to him now as she’d been in her youth, Frozenrain stood with a youthful grace she’d almost forgotten was possible. Dainty, yet confident steps closed the distance between them, and she took a seat next to her mate.
The cool brush of fur would take getting used to, but when she breathed in, she could still scent him among the freshness she’d only ever attributed to night. Blue met amber as he tipped his muzzle down to her, foreheads meeting again as the still air filled with a deep purr. For a moment, neither one moved. But a pawful of heartbeats later, without a word exchanged between them, they exited the shelter of the den to greet the outside world.
Moonlight filtered down from above, the silver light illuminating the surface of the Rock Pile as the pair strode forward, matching step for starry step. Claws curling over the ledge he’d grown so accustomed, Hawkstar shifted to butt his shoulder to hers and smile. She returned his youthful grin with her own, shaking her head at his antics. Shoulder to shoulder, their gaze stretched out upon the silver-spattered stones that had sheltered them for many moons. In that quiet moment, he felt it in his chest; a whisper of regret, a spark of longing.
But now was no time to mourn. Wordlessly, he glanced to Frozenrain once more, and the pair nodded to one another before bounding down the face of the Rock Pile with renewed vigor. Despite the flecks of sorrow in each of their chests, Frozenrain and Hawkstar felt a sense of right as their paws carried them passed dens they’d known so long. His tail twisted with hers as they walked, eyes flicking to the medicine cat den, where Sandblaze and Ebonyheart slept in peace.
The nursery, where new life bloomed.
The elder’s den, where old friends have since vacated, moved on.
The apprentice’s den, where the future of StoneClan rested.
And finally, the warrior’s den. A den into which they ducked inside.
For a moment, they looked upon the sleeping forms of those they’d come to consider family. Each sleeping soul held a place somewhere in the hearts of the matriarch and patriarch of StoneClan, evident in the quiet, shivering breath that escaped the pair. Finding strength in one another, they stepped forward, pausing next to the nests of Kestrelclaw and Meadowflight.
Lowering his nose to the sleeping form of first his nephew, then his niece, the big tom closed his eyes. Though no words were spoken, he knew that Frozenrain’s actions mirrored his, and that she too had left a piece of her heart, of her love, with the sibling pair.
Silent steps carried them to Vipertail, and then Herondive; the eldest of their children who had grown so much, come so far… Yet still had so long a path stretching out before them. They too received a touch of the nose, a piece of the heart. A starry tongue rasped unfelt over the ear of each of their children, before Hawkstar sought out Frozenain once more.
He could see the mounting sorrow in her gaze, as they step together to the nest of their youngest daughter. Snowfeather, who fought so hard to get where she lay now. Snowfeather, with so much to see in life. And so much left to endure.
Lingering a moment longer next to the white she-cat, Hawkstar found himself casting a silent prayer to the world around him. Something in his heart told him Minkfire was alive. That she would be okay. And for that he was grateful. Despite the distance between his daughter and himself… He cast a piece of himself to her, a goodbye he wished he could give her face to face.
Pale amber eyes landed upon blue again, something unseen pulling both their hearts back to the center of StoneClan territory. Traversing the sleeping forms with surreal grace, the mated figureheads paused momentarily at the entrance, glancing back to the slumbering denizens, the core of StoneClan.
Their children.
And then, side by side and tails intertwined, they greeted the moonlight once more. But they were alone no longer. Swaddled in a silver glow, three pairs of eyes belonging to three small starry figures shimmered with barely contained excitement. Frozenrain gasped at his side, her eyes turning to his, aglow with the question she could not voice. Yet he understood, and he tipped his head in silent confirmation as the kits burst forward to finally meet their mother.
Warmth blossomed in his heart as she fell to her knees, sides shivering with sobs of joy as the three star-speckled kits clambered over her, burying their noses into long, soft fur they were never able to experience in life. After a moment, Breezekit broke away, circling around her parents to draw their attention. One by one, the stars above seem to blink to life, revealing faces they’d not seen in moons, but that neither would ever forget.
Breezeflight. Dawnshadow. Frostface.
Eagletalon.
Frostkit was the first to move, leaping high into the air, his paws finding purchase on the beams of light cast down by the moon. Dawnkit beckoned the patriarch and matriarch forward, and together they took the first step. And as they stepped along the winding path to Silverpelt above, following the glittering paw steps left behind by their kits, their hearts filled with joy and bittersweet sorrow. But no longer a drop of regret. StoneClan would endure, of that each was certain: mountains may fall, but new ones would rise in their stead.
Though they were leaving family behind, they were also rejoining family. And they would wait. Wait for the moment they would guide the rest of their family home.
Because home was wherever they stood. Together.
leader of stoneclan
and may you have the courage
to scale their summits
to scale their summits
Note: 115 moons
Leaf-fall 23 A sunny day grants the valley a last bit of warmth, with a cloudless sky and little wind to bring down temperatures.
Leaf-fall 23 A sunny day grants the valley a last bit of warmth, with a cloudless sky and little wind to bring down temperatures.
Thank you, all of you, for entrusting me with StoneClan's care six whole years ago. It's been an incredible journey, a journey of surprises, laughs, and sorrows. And I've loved every moment of it. It's time for me to hand it off though, to someone I know will do incredible things. My baby has lived his life, and he is moving on happily. I have more words to say, but they'll have to wait, I'm choking up here XD So for now, signing off. So much love to you all <3
Taxx @zen Ghost the Undead Goddess