Post by *Spanglestar on Jul 7, 2008 13:22:09 GMT -5
Warriors: Joined Paths: Book 5: A Decision
Hawkstar walked over to Flamefur. “Good evening Flamefur. How would you like to come to the Gathering tonight?” she mewed.
“Sure,” replied the orange tom. He nuzzled Hawkstar and stretched his shoulders. “Today has been a long day,” he sighed and gazed at his leader and purred.
Hawkstar was about to dip her head when she realized that he couldn't see her. She remembered the story of Jayfeather of ThunderClan, how he could sense things. Her pelt prickled. What would it be like to be blind? Hawkstar wondered.
"Flamefur, I'm sorry. I don't know what it's like being blind. If I knew..." her voice trailed off. "If I hadn't promised Silverstream, you would be my Deputy. I'm not scared to have a blind cat as deputy. But if we switched and you became Deputy, you would have her as your Deputy, all right?" Hawkstar sat down after making her long speech. She looked up at Flamefur. He was so pretty. She blinked.
"Wildpath," she whispered into the water. Then she sighed.
"Yes, I would. And it's fine, I don't mind being blind. It's ok if SilverStream's your deputy." He sat beside her and nuzzled the beautiful she cat.
"Thank you, Flamefur," Hawkstar mewed quietly. "Wildpath," she mewed again. "You remind me of him."
"Who's Wildpath?" Flamefur rose to his paws and stared blankly at her. His eyes turned to slits, but they were still blank and grey. He tilted his head.
Hawkstar sighed.
"Wildpath was my mate. He was a golden tom with the brightest green eyes you've ever seen--" Hawkstar gasped as she realized her mistake. She shook her head calmly. "Sorry. He was very kind and brave. Our kits were Milkpelt and Stubbornheart in our first litter, and Centerpatch, Gloryflight, and Wonderstep in our second litter." (they are not here because I made them up) "I loved him like RiverClan loves water, only in a different way. A special way. He died saving me from a falling tree. You seem to have some of his qualities. That's what I like about you." Hawkstar flexed her shoulders, mad at Wildpath's death. "We shared a name. As kits and apprentices, we were always together. At our Apprentice ceremony, Mistystar told Twistedfur and Glacierpelt that we shall be named "path" for our Warrior names. And so we were. Wildpath and Hawkpath. And then I found out i was going to have kits." Hawkstar tilted her head and waited calmly for the blind warrior's reply.
Flamefur's eyes softened and he turned away. "So I'm not good enough." he muttered. He rolled his eyes. This happened everywhere he went. When he was a rogue, he was rejected for his blindness, and now he was no better then a mouse to already-have-a-mate Hawkstar who had to taunter him ruefully. He settled a little ways away from her and just stared. "I'm... so sorry," he murmured. Would he ever be special to any cat?
Hawkstar stiffened. "Flamefur," she called. "You're wrong. No cat could ever replace Wildpath. But I could still be your mate." Hawkstar's eyes danced. She really did like this cat. "That is, if you want."
"Of course, Hawkstar!" He purred, turning to her. "Thankyou!" He nudged his new mate and turned to the gathering that was starting soon.
Hawkstar knew that this new mate would be special. Very special Not as special as Wildpath, but they had known each other for longer. And Flamefur would come close to Wildpath, just not... But this stubborn cat would make a great mate. And Silverstream would make a great leader if Hawkstar had kits again. And she wasn't scared that the cats at the Gathering might think she was weak because her mate was blind. "Flamefur," she purred. It had a good ring. Should she tell the cats at the Gatheirng about her mate? No, she decided. Maybe Crowstar or Midnightstar alone though.
"Yes?" He gently purred, nuzzling her and staring back out at the gleaming water.
Hawkstar sighed. “I’m sorry. I have to go announce at the Gathering.”
Flamefur stayed on her mind throughout the Gathering at she was slightly distracted. But as she went to sleep, a shock greater to her than she had imagined, came true.
Flamefur sat ruefully by the edge of the island where Gatherings were held. Did Hawkstar really accept him as her mate? She had told him no one could replace Wildpath adn that they had been given the same warrior names because of their friendship. Maybe Midnightstar and him could have that relationship... but she was a clan leader, and she had already said that StarClan rarely excepted kits from female leaders. But Flamefur knew that if Hawkstar could bring Wildpath back and be his mate again, she would. Was the bright orange tom just a replacement? His tail wooshed lightly in the cool breeze and the icy water blew at his paws. "Maybe I should join ThunderClan," he muttered. His blind eyes gazed over the open sheet of black water against the Newleaf moonhigh. He turned towards the edge of the island that faced ThunderClan camp. A hunting patrol was wandering around the boundaries (he scented them and their prey) and he imagined himself in that patrol, side by side with Midnightstar. "I don't know!" he yowled blankly and randomly. Rising to his paws, he begged to himself. "Firestar, what would you do?" Flamefur's head drooped and he turned back to the gathering cats and sighed. Would he ever be accepted?
Midnightstar lifted her muzzle to taste the air. Recognizing the scent, she pushed on through the brush. Graceful and silent, Midnightstar padded to the edge of the island as the full white, glowing moon shone brightly in the star-studded wonderous sky. As she noticed the flame coloured tom, she halted, heart pounding. He already has a mate! He'll never accept you! A voice seemed to repeat over in her head. Forcing herself forward she sat beside the handsome tom. Laying her tail gently across his flank, she meowed affectionatly, "I-I know that you already have a mate, but..." Turning her voice to a longing whisper, Midnightstar mewed, "Flamefur..., Flamefur, I love you. I always have, even when we were apprentices. When you left I was devastated, but until now, I'd never had the courage to tell you. You mean more to me than any cat in all the clans. It would mean so much to me if you felt the same but... I, I could understand if you still love Hawkstar." Heart pulsing, she waited for his answer, fearful that he wouldn't feel the same.
"I love you, too, Midnightstar. I accept you as my mate. Hawkstar never loved me anyways." He turned blindly to her and nuzzle her. "If you accept me, I accept you. We were once best friends and will now be best friends forevermore." He purred warmly into her ear. "I am now a thunderclan cat." He suddenly shook wildly. "I don't know!" he yowled. "Why can't it be both of you?"
Hawkstar awoke with a shot and felt a strong pulsing. She got up and wondered what Flamefur was doing. That must have been after the Gathering. Midnightstar a traitor? She wondered. Flamepaw of ThunderClan?? What was going on? She sighed and tried to lie down, but collapsed. What was wrong with things recently? She wondered. Silently, she padded over to the medicine cat’s den to visit her daughter, Wonderstep.
The pretty mahogany tabby with one white pay and green eyes stepped out. “Hawkstar? Mother?” she narrowed her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
Hawkstar affectionately licked her daughter’s ear. “Oh, the old RiverClan leader has two things to ask of you. First of all, can you help the warrior Flamefur regain his sight? I don’t think he was always blind…” Hawkstar sighed, wondering again of Flamefur’s past.
Wonderstep nodded. “Technology in the Clans these days is strong. Us medicine cats thought of a blind poultice—using herbs for healing, strength, and others,” she mewed, frantically gathering herbs into a pile and chewing them.
“I’ll take them to Flamefur in the morning.” Hawkstar mewed.
Wonderstep nodded, spitting out a leaf. “Now what else was it that you were going to ask me?”
Hawkstar had almost forgotten. “Oh! Um,…Could I have a check-up please? I don’t feel at all well…” she mewed.
Wonderstep looked thoughtful. “Now what symptoms are you experiencing?” Wonderstep had an idea what was wrong with her mother, and was surprised that she didn’t recognize it.
Hawkstar groaned. “Grogginess, pains, aches, tempermental problems, panging…” she paused. “Wonderstep?” she rapidly got up and stared into her daughter’s eyes.
“Yes, Hawkstar! Yes! You’re going to have Flamefur’s kits!” Wonderstep did a little victory dance with her mother.
Hawkstar had never felt so happy in her life! She couldn’t wait to announce to good news to her Clan and her mate!
Hawkstar walked over to Flamefur. “Good evening Flamefur. How would you like to come to the Gathering tonight?” she mewed.
“Sure,” replied the orange tom. He nuzzled Hawkstar and stretched his shoulders. “Today has been a long day,” he sighed and gazed at his leader and purred.
Hawkstar was about to dip her head when she realized that he couldn't see her. She remembered the story of Jayfeather of ThunderClan, how he could sense things. Her pelt prickled. What would it be like to be blind? Hawkstar wondered.
"Flamefur, I'm sorry. I don't know what it's like being blind. If I knew..." her voice trailed off. "If I hadn't promised Silverstream, you would be my Deputy. I'm not scared to have a blind cat as deputy. But if we switched and you became Deputy, you would have her as your Deputy, all right?" Hawkstar sat down after making her long speech. She looked up at Flamefur. He was so pretty. She blinked.
"Wildpath," she whispered into the water. Then she sighed.
"Yes, I would. And it's fine, I don't mind being blind. It's ok if SilverStream's your deputy." He sat beside her and nuzzled the beautiful she cat.
"Thank you, Flamefur," Hawkstar mewed quietly. "Wildpath," she mewed again. "You remind me of him."
"Who's Wildpath?" Flamefur rose to his paws and stared blankly at her. His eyes turned to slits, but they were still blank and grey. He tilted his head.
Hawkstar sighed.
"Wildpath was my mate. He was a golden tom with the brightest green eyes you've ever seen--" Hawkstar gasped as she realized her mistake. She shook her head calmly. "Sorry. He was very kind and brave. Our kits were Milkpelt and Stubbornheart in our first litter, and Centerpatch, Gloryflight, and Wonderstep in our second litter." (they are not here because I made them up) "I loved him like RiverClan loves water, only in a different way. A special way. He died saving me from a falling tree. You seem to have some of his qualities. That's what I like about you." Hawkstar flexed her shoulders, mad at Wildpath's death. "We shared a name. As kits and apprentices, we were always together. At our Apprentice ceremony, Mistystar told Twistedfur and Glacierpelt that we shall be named "path" for our Warrior names. And so we were. Wildpath and Hawkpath. And then I found out i was going to have kits." Hawkstar tilted her head and waited calmly for the blind warrior's reply.
Flamefur's eyes softened and he turned away. "So I'm not good enough." he muttered. He rolled his eyes. This happened everywhere he went. When he was a rogue, he was rejected for his blindness, and now he was no better then a mouse to already-have-a-mate Hawkstar who had to taunter him ruefully. He settled a little ways away from her and just stared. "I'm... so sorry," he murmured. Would he ever be special to any cat?
Hawkstar stiffened. "Flamefur," she called. "You're wrong. No cat could ever replace Wildpath. But I could still be your mate." Hawkstar's eyes danced. She really did like this cat. "That is, if you want."
"Of course, Hawkstar!" He purred, turning to her. "Thankyou!" He nudged his new mate and turned to the gathering that was starting soon.
Hawkstar knew that this new mate would be special. Very special Not as special as Wildpath, but they had known each other for longer. And Flamefur would come close to Wildpath, just not... But this stubborn cat would make a great mate. And Silverstream would make a great leader if Hawkstar had kits again. And she wasn't scared that the cats at the Gathering might think she was weak because her mate was blind. "Flamefur," she purred. It had a good ring. Should she tell the cats at the Gatheirng about her mate? No, she decided. Maybe Crowstar or Midnightstar alone though.
"Yes?" He gently purred, nuzzling her and staring back out at the gleaming water.
Hawkstar sighed. “I’m sorry. I have to go announce at the Gathering.”
Flamefur stayed on her mind throughout the Gathering at she was slightly distracted. But as she went to sleep, a shock greater to her than she had imagined, came true.
Flamefur sat ruefully by the edge of the island where Gatherings were held. Did Hawkstar really accept him as her mate? She had told him no one could replace Wildpath adn that they had been given the same warrior names because of their friendship. Maybe Midnightstar and him could have that relationship... but she was a clan leader, and she had already said that StarClan rarely excepted kits from female leaders. But Flamefur knew that if Hawkstar could bring Wildpath back and be his mate again, she would. Was the bright orange tom just a replacement? His tail wooshed lightly in the cool breeze and the icy water blew at his paws. "Maybe I should join ThunderClan," he muttered. His blind eyes gazed over the open sheet of black water against the Newleaf moonhigh. He turned towards the edge of the island that faced ThunderClan camp. A hunting patrol was wandering around the boundaries (he scented them and their prey) and he imagined himself in that patrol, side by side with Midnightstar. "I don't know!" he yowled blankly and randomly. Rising to his paws, he begged to himself. "Firestar, what would you do?" Flamefur's head drooped and he turned back to the gathering cats and sighed. Would he ever be accepted?
Midnightstar lifted her muzzle to taste the air. Recognizing the scent, she pushed on through the brush. Graceful and silent, Midnightstar padded to the edge of the island as the full white, glowing moon shone brightly in the star-studded wonderous sky. As she noticed the flame coloured tom, she halted, heart pounding. He already has a mate! He'll never accept you! A voice seemed to repeat over in her head. Forcing herself forward she sat beside the handsome tom. Laying her tail gently across his flank, she meowed affectionatly, "I-I know that you already have a mate, but..." Turning her voice to a longing whisper, Midnightstar mewed, "Flamefur..., Flamefur, I love you. I always have, even when we were apprentices. When you left I was devastated, but until now, I'd never had the courage to tell you. You mean more to me than any cat in all the clans. It would mean so much to me if you felt the same but... I, I could understand if you still love Hawkstar." Heart pulsing, she waited for his answer, fearful that he wouldn't feel the same.
"I love you, too, Midnightstar. I accept you as my mate. Hawkstar never loved me anyways." He turned blindly to her and nuzzle her. "If you accept me, I accept you. We were once best friends and will now be best friends forevermore." He purred warmly into her ear. "I am now a thunderclan cat." He suddenly shook wildly. "I don't know!" he yowled. "Why can't it be both of you?"
Hawkstar awoke with a shot and felt a strong pulsing. She got up and wondered what Flamefur was doing. That must have been after the Gathering. Midnightstar a traitor? She wondered. Flamepaw of ThunderClan?? What was going on? She sighed and tried to lie down, but collapsed. What was wrong with things recently? She wondered. Silently, she padded over to the medicine cat’s den to visit her daughter, Wonderstep.
The pretty mahogany tabby with one white pay and green eyes stepped out. “Hawkstar? Mother?” she narrowed her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
Hawkstar affectionately licked her daughter’s ear. “Oh, the old RiverClan leader has two things to ask of you. First of all, can you help the warrior Flamefur regain his sight? I don’t think he was always blind…” Hawkstar sighed, wondering again of Flamefur’s past.
Wonderstep nodded. “Technology in the Clans these days is strong. Us medicine cats thought of a blind poultice—using herbs for healing, strength, and others,” she mewed, frantically gathering herbs into a pile and chewing them.
“I’ll take them to Flamefur in the morning.” Hawkstar mewed.
Wonderstep nodded, spitting out a leaf. “Now what else was it that you were going to ask me?”
Hawkstar had almost forgotten. “Oh! Um,…Could I have a check-up please? I don’t feel at all well…” she mewed.
Wonderstep looked thoughtful. “Now what symptoms are you experiencing?” Wonderstep had an idea what was wrong with her mother, and was surprised that she didn’t recognize it.
Hawkstar groaned. “Grogginess, pains, aches, tempermental problems, panging…” she paused. “Wonderstep?” she rapidly got up and stared into her daughter’s eyes.
“Yes, Hawkstar! Yes! You’re going to have Flamefur’s kits!” Wonderstep did a little victory dance with her mother.
Hawkstar had never felt so happy in her life! She couldn’t wait to announce to good news to her Clan and her mate!
