[Abyss]

Nightpetal

Stoneclan Elder

Greenleaf 28 - The longest day of greenleaf, and temperatures are moderate. Pleasant. [Nighttime]


It was rare that the old tom had an eventful day. In recent moons, it seemed he only had them when it was for “business” reasons, such as checking if he needed any pain herbs or felt aching in his bones. There weren’t very many kits to come request stories from the other Elders or himself, and many Apprentices were busy with training. Warriors were out scouting the territory, ensuring the safety of the borders. Everyone was busy.

But today had been different. Today he had visitors, and many visitors at that. Hailpaw, Ashpaw, and Sandpaw had come to visit him in the morning before a training session, merely nuzzling him, wishing him a good day, and heading out. It was a small gesture, but an appreciated one nonetheless from his newest grandkits. Next had been Birdstar himself, which had been a welcomed surprise. The two had spent a little while just speaking. About his choice of Deputy, about Leadership, about life. A meaningful and comforting conversation with the young Leader that he was thankful to of had. Ebonyheart had come as well, doing her usual check-ins, but had also spent a little bit of time just chatting with him, talking about the two newest additions to the Elder den: Skunkspots and Valiantstride. That, too, had been a nice talk with the little Medicine Cat, who still amazed him in many ways even now. He spoke with the two newest Elders, as well as the ones he spent his days with already. They spoke of things they often spoke of in the past: grandkits, children, being young again, Starclan, politics.

But today these conversations had been...different. More meaningful. He had almost felt even more engaged in them than usual, as though he was just having a rather punctual day. A day of good luck when it came to heartfelt conversations with any number of cats.

But this wasn’t all. The day itself had just felt strange. He wasn’t sure what it was. Perhaps the number of visitors he had received had caught him off-guard. Perhaps he was just having a good day. Or perhaps he was just being given a brief break from the usual aches and cramps of an old man. Amusing to think of, really.

And then he heard it. A voice. It was distant, but it was there. When asking the other Elders if they heard it, they weren’t sure what he meant. He hadn’t heard exactly what this voice said, nor whose voice it was, but it was odd. Something that never happened before. Assuming he was just hearing things, he went on with his day.

Only to hear it again later, only slightly louder. It was a slightly higher pitched voice, and it sounded so familiar, yet he couldn’t quite pinpoint who it was or the source.

Each time he heard it, it grew only just barely louder, but he could never distinguish who it was that he was hearing.

As the sun fell over the mountains, the just-barely-full moon rising from the other side of the valley, the old grayed tom lay in his nest, partially stretched out. He had managed to fall into a comfortable sleep right as the sky began to turn its many shades of orange. Normally, he would have remained asleep until dawn. But the voice sounded out, waking him from his slumber.

The tom’s eyes slowly fluttered open, the darkness of the den only somewhat lit by the moon’s light casted from the camp entrance. Glancing at the others, he found them all to be asleep, as expected. Then he heard it.

“Night-”

He heard only the word Night. It sounded as though more had been said, but he couldn’t discern it. With a small yawn, the black tom stood from his nest, taking a few steps out of the den to peer around camp. Not a soul was in sight, with the exception of the one or two cats who stood on guard. There was a moment where he considered turning around and going back to sleep, but a sudden feeling of restlessness dawned on him.

Large paws took him towards the camp entrance, passing the guards who oddly didn’t even offer him a glance. Though, he remembered the days of being a guard during the night. Not a fun time, especially if you were busy during the day.

Although casual strolls with no destination were nice, he did have somewhere he wanted to go, at least briefly. His instincts led him to the Sky Springs not too far from camp. Perhaps a quick drink would let him return to camp and allow him to sleep again.

Large black paws reached the edge of one of the pools as he closed his eyes, crouching slightly and leaning down to take small sips from the pool. Although he could feel the coolness of the water traveling down his throat, he almost felt as though he wasn’t drinking anything. Confused, his eyes opened, only for them to grow wide in a mixture of shock and even more confusion.

His fur was not accented with gray, as he knew it. His pelt was not as rough as it typically was, but rather flowing and with a soft appearance. His eyes, usually described as dull these days, were vibrant yellow. Was he dreaming after all?

“Nights-” Tufted ears perked, his head raising and gaze turning. The voice, it had come from the direction of camp. Even though he felt that inner need to rush forward and ensure that this was not an intruder, he almost fell lulled, his steps somewhat slow as he moved forward. His pace was casual as he neared the large stones that formed the clan’s camp.

Passing through the camp entrance once more, he scanned the camp once again to find no signs of life. With a slight tilt of his head, his body turned, approaching the Warriors den rather than the Elders’. Upon entering, it took hardly any time to catch sight of a familiar form. Crow-wing.

“Son, I need to spea-” He had reached out a paw, intending to nudge the black tom, but he found that his paw made no contact. It almost seemed to go through him.

A realization suddenly dawned on the tom, one that at first he was extremely shocked by. But acceptance replaced surprise quickly.

He had known that this day was approaching. If he was truthful, he had been ready for it. Expecting it. He had many discussions with his fellow Elders about Starclan, and what they believed it may be like to go there. Some of them thought it would be as simple as falling asleep and waking up among the stars. Some thought that your ancestors would reach down their giant starry paws and lift you from the ground, bringing you up to join them. Others just didn’t know, nor did they have any guesses. They wished to wait until their day came to learn how it happened.

A slightly narrowed gaze peered down at his own paws, his expression a mixture of both understanding and sadness. Now was not the time.

Yellow pools lifted once more, looking down at the sleeping form of his oldest son before him. Next to him was Stormcloud. And Raventalon. And Quietwind. And Sparrowlight. And Rimetooth. And Grayfang and Hazelfoot. It was amazing how such important things could bypass the mind without a second thought. It was amazing to him, now that he set his sights upon their sleeping forms, how many cats within this den alone were family to him. Sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, nephews, nieces. How had he forgotten just how big his family had grown over time?

With the smallest of smiles, the Maine Coon reached down his head and touched his large black nose to each of their foreheads, not leaving out a single cat that was a part of his family. But even after his nose had touched each one of them, it did not stop there. No, there were so many cats that he couldn’t leave behind without a goodbye.

Beetlejaw, that little rascal. He still remembered the day that he picked on the young three-legged tom about she-cats and finding a family. He still remembered that feeling, that clutch in his heart, when he had begun seeing Beetlejaw as not just a Warrior, but another son. Cobrashadow, such a sharp-tongued tom who was growing older just as he had. Granted, he didn’t speak to the tabby as often as he now wished he would have in recent moons. But that did not stop him from seeing him as a brother. Herondive, another somewhat older she-cat who he had known for a good portion of his life. He...he hadn’t spoken with her much either.

Looking at all these cats, Nightpetal suddenly realized just how many cats within that den alone he had once talked to almost on the daily. But, with his old age, paired with the lives of others moving with or without him, he hadn’t spoken to them in what felt like ages. He felt his chest clench at this thought. He was never one of those cats to dwell on regrets. He didn’t like thinking of his past mistakes.

But this…..this hit him hard.

“I’m so sorry...” His whisper was not heard, nor would it have been heard if he had spoken louder. But looking at all of those Warriors, many that he had watched grow from kithood, he knew he had to say it.

Merged with the darkness, the black tom turned and exited the Warriors den, turning now towards the Apprentice den. Peering inside, he saw many sleeping bodies, all that he recognized. Some of them were his grandkits. Others were just kits that, not too long ago, would curl up in his nest with him and fall asleep to his stories. A smile formed on his face.

“I want all of you to keep going to the Elders den. Speak with the Elders, ask for stories, take a nap with them. You young ones are never a bother in our eyes. Seeing your faces brings us more happiness than you know.” He leaned down, giving a ghostly nuzzle to Hailpaw, Ashpaw, and Sandpaw who were curled up in a small circle of bodies.

He did wish to stay, and look over his grandkits and all of the young Apprentices he had come to see as extensions of his family. But he had more cats to see. His next destination was the Nursery, where his daughter Ripplepool lay curled in her nest. She was an amazing mother, and he would forever be proud of her for all she had done for the clan. He nuzzled her as well, but he continued to feel it grow.

That sadness, that growing ache, that his contact with these cats could not be felt. He could nuzzle them all he wished, but they would not nuzzle back.

He now turned to the Medicine Cat den. Walking inside, he took a moment to look around. It was different than the last time he had seen it. The new Medicine Cat must have rearranged everything, decorated differently. She differentiated herself from Sandblaze, and this brought a smile to his face. Large paws took him forward, approaching where the fluffy black she-cat lay.

Ebonyheart. The daughter he never had, yet was often told she looked as though she could be. She was one of the many cats that he had watched grow. He had been there when Rabbitfur had her in the Nursery. He had watched her grow, raised as a proper young lady just like her mother. He had watched her be promoted from a Kit to an Apprentice, Sandblaze taking her under his wing. And, just recently, he had watched as she took over where her mentor no longer stood, becoming the new official Stoneclan Medicine Cat.

Starclan, he was proud of her. She had come so far, and still had a long way to go. He knew that she could do it.

He leaned forward, nuzzling his face against the side of hers. “I hope we can see each other again soon, my daughter.”

His second to last destination. The Leader’s den. In his usual circumstances, there was no way he ever would have been able to climb to the top of the stone pile. He would never have made it, even if he had wanted to try. But he found himself bounding up the stones easily, reaching the top as though it was something he had done often. Looking inside, he spotted that familiar gray pelt. Another smile pulled at his jaws as he took a seat next to the sleeping form of Birdstar.

“You were another one, you know. One of the little ones that I watched grow. You grew every day, even if it may have felt slow in your own eyes. You grew into a cat that any parent would be proud of.” A smile pulled at his jaws. “No matter what, never give up on the clan or on yourself. You may not have any previous experience, but that doesn’t make you any less of a Leader. And I know that you will serve Stoneclan well. Lead them to greatness, just as Hawkstar did.”

Looking down at the young tom, a feeling similar to the one he felt at Ebonyheart’s side returned.

“I am not your father. You are not related to me by blood. But…..that won’t stop me from seeing you as a son, as well.”

He leaned forward, pressing his nose gently against the gray tom’s forehead. “Thank you for visiting me on my last day.”

There was just one place left.

He returned to the den he had seen as home for so many moons now. The den he had laid in, watching as cats grew. The den he had watched so many ceremonies from. The den he had truly gotten to know cats like Ebonyheart in.

He looked down at each of the cats before him. Bunnytail. Rabbitfur. Hareleap. Skunkspots. Sandblaze. Valiantstride. Lifelong friends that he had known since he was young, which felt like an eternity ago. He had spent every day with some of these cats, others only just recently joining them in the den. But the amount of time he had spent with them didn’t change anything. Each and every one of them were his best friends, cats he would never have given up for anything in the world.

“I know you guys will be mad at me, for leaving the day you finally came to join me, ” he spoke, looking to the black and white she-cat and the golden tabby tom who slept in their own nests. “Even though it would be nice to get to talk to you and see you again, I want you to stay here as long as you can. Cherish your families, cherish the clan. Cherish each other. That goes for the rest of you, too, “ he stated, looking at all the other Elders he had spent his moons with. “But...when you do decide to join me, I promise I will be there waiting for you. All of you.”

His heart ached. So much. Saying goodbye to these cats...it was the hardest thing he had ever done. He did wish he could stay, stay with them longer. Stay and gossip with Rabbitfur and Bunnytail. Stay and talk about Ebonyheart with Sandblaze. Stay and talk with Valiantstride about how they both were just about as old as dirt. Stay.

But it was his time.

“Nightshade~”

Black ears perked and yellow eyes grew wide. That voice…

His head slowly turned, peering out into the camp. There was a light, a faint white glow, that made the camp suddenly light up.

His pawsteps were slow, but they brought him outside of the den. He watched as the light, merely a faded shape, came slowly down from the sky. Normally he wouldn’t have been able to look directly at this light, but he had been granted his proper eyesight back this night.

As the light reached the ground at the center of camp, it slowly began to take shape.

His heart stopped.

Petalwish.

There she was, right in front of him. That beautiful silver bengal coat, adorned with little bright stars. That graceful slender figure. That long tail she always used for balance. That adorable little nose. And those stunning, captivating blue eyes. Eyes he had not seen in so many moons. Eyes he had only been able to see in his dreams.

Tears began to well in the tom’s eyes. He hadn’t seen his mate in so long...the last time he had seen her, she was….

He was frozen in place, emotion weighing so heavily on his shoulders that he felt as though he would never move again.

A smile appeared on that gorgeous face, and that lullaby-like voice spoke, filling his ears like the most elegant song. “We finally meet again...my love.”

It was as if Starclan had lifted everything off of his back in that moment. Old age, aching bones, fragile muscles, emotions. It all faded away. He had never leapt or ran so far or so quickly.

The two collided in a pile of tears, their paws and legs wrapped around one another, their heads interlocked in an embrace. They spoke no words, but they felt everything. In that moment, nothing else existed. Not Stoneclan. Not the other clans. Not the valley. Not even the ground they stood on. Only each other.

“I’ve missed you…..so much, ” his voice was quiet and emotional, bogged down by the tears that wove through the furs on his cheeks. He, in all his life, had never experienced so much emotion in one second.

He had been emotional when each litter of his kits was born. He had been emotional when each litter of grandkits was born. He had been emotional at the loss of Hawkstar, and Frozenrain, and Smokestar. But none of them could compare to what he felt the way he felt now, embracing the mate that he had not seen or touched in so many moons. The mate that never once left his mind. The mate that he had spent his entire life loving with his whole being, even after she had joined Starclan that day.

“It’s ok...we can be together now.” Her voice, so sweet like the most ripe of berries, was just as clouded with emotion as his was. They both had waited so long for this moment to come. And it was finally here.

It was a struggle to pull away, but he had to see those eyes. Those eyes that he got lost in almost daily back when. She was just as beautiful as he remembered her, if not more, if it was possible.

“I love you.” Her words were said with a smile as a tear fell from one of those beautiful pools.

“And I love you.” He pressed his forehead against hers, attempting to push back what he felt but utterly failing. “I have always loved you...”

He wasn’t sure how long they stayed in that position. It was a surprise the sun wasn’t coming up by the time they pulled away.

“Everyone is waiting for you.”

His eyes widened as he looked at her.

“Hawkstar, Frozenrain, and their kits. Smokestar. Your parents. All of them.”

His voice caught in his throat, but a large smile pulled at his jaws. Their foreheads met again, and both of them began to fade, a ball of light forming around them. A light that lit up the camp like the sun itself. This light touched each and every one of his clanmates.

His children. His grandchildren. Ebonyheart. Valiantstride. Bunnytail and Rabbitfur. Birdstar. All of them.

The light began to rise, slowly disappearing as it grew higher in the sky.

That night, another star appeared in the sky.

Nightpetal had finally been reunited with Petalwish.

And he...finally...joined Starclan.

3353 | Tags