Cursed Division

Chapter 8

Afternoon sunlight lit the clearing. Sunlight streamed through the canopy of the left over trees that had survived the fire. It had been two days sense the final battle. Several PeaceLeaf cats had died. They had all had funerals and were buried and the left over corpses of their enemies were disposed of. Patrols had been in and out cleaning debris from the forest and it had taken several cats to rebuild the camp. It was halfway done now. Every PeaceLeaf cat including the ones who lived further astray in the forest had gathered with the camp cats in the clearing today. Everyone was gathered around, sitting side by side facing the PeaceLeaf Guardian. She was beginning to make her speech in tribute to all the brave cats they'd lost.
"Welcome everyone. I am glad you could all make it today despite your exhausted and wounded state." the Guardian began casting glances at the most battered cats.
"I called this meeting to pay tribute to all we've lost as well as all we've accomplished. But I'm not going to be the one making the speech. Our savior and most powerful warrior, Midnight will take the speech from here."
Midnight who sat in the front of the crowd looked shocked. She clearly did not expect this. Regardless, she padded to the front of the clearing to take the Guardian's place, head high.
Midnight dipped her head to the crowd.
"Greetings friends. I'm glad to have stood by your side and fought for our peace and freedom. But I'm not your savior. I'm just another normal cat, but one who was blessed by the heavens. Also may we thank them for their bravery and courage. May our days forevermore bring peace. Though we won this battle, it also brought great loss. I ask that we all remain silent for our fallen."
Silence rang around the clearing and cats bowed their heads in respect. After a moment's silence, Midnight continued.
"Now I will name all the good and brave cats we have lost:
MintLeaf
Bark
Pine
Shiver
StoneFrost
Rainbow
Shimmer
Sparkle
TwistedFoot
SwiftRunner
SpottedTail
Sorrel
Borris
Bracken
Frizzle
Willow
MallowFur
OneEar
Azzad
DrizzleToe
SteamTuft
StarryFur
Leon
Gorse
Reena
ShatteredClaw
CloudLeaf
and Jelena".
Everyone began to murmur the name of the fallen.
"I can't believe a kit burned to death." someone whispered from the crowd.
"Leon was my brother." Leandro murmured from the crowd. Midnight cast him a sympathetic glance
"Reena was my daughter." a she-cat from the crowd croaked.
"Rainbow was my best friend." ThunderHeart sighed.
"StoneFrost was my half brother." CrookedTail growled.
Midnight saw CrookedTail's brother, Crow nuzzle his brother then gaze down at his paws, sheathing and unsheathing them as if imagining his half brother's killer was beneath his claws.
"We all lost so much, even majority of our home. But with the blessings of the heavens and the hard work of our cats, PeaceLeaf will be rebuilt. We will be whole again. This is all just the aftermath of a very dark time. It will pass and sunshine will gleam within our hearts. We will survive. Don't forget that we are PeaceLeaf. We are strong!"
The crowd yowled in agreement.
Purring, Midnight let her gaze travel to PeaceLeaf's healer.
"With Althea's talent in healing, all our wounds will fade."
"I've something to say!" a young she-cat called from the crowd. Midnight let her green gaze travel over to a young calico.
Midnight nodded in acknowledgement for her to speak.
The calico cleared her throat. "Seeing how bloody this battle was really affected me, seeing how badly our cats are wounded hurts me as if I was trapped under thorn sharp claws. I have interest in curing our friends. I've always had a fascination with healing. You can ask Althea, I always am under her paws asking about the different herbs and remedies."
"It's true." Althea purred from the crowd.
"What are you getting at, EchoMist." the Guardian asked.
EchoMist shifted her paws.
"I ask if I can become a healer."
Silence rang around the clearing.
"And give up your position to fight?" the Guardian pressed, shock and curiosity piercing her gaze.
EchoMist nodded.
"Why do you choose this path?"
"Because I'd like to save lives and help PeaceLeaf in another way. When Althea passes, I'd like to lead the next generation of healers. I'd like to bring new lives into this world."
The PeaceLeaf Guardian nodded then turned to Althea.
"Are you okay with taking on a trainee?"
Althea nodded. "Of course, I wouldn't mind the help and company."
The Guardian blinked. "It's settled then. EchoMist, you will be taken on by Althea and train under her as she guides your pawsteps into the destiny planned for you."
EchoMist flicked her tail happily.
"Oh thank you so much!"
The Guardian purred.
"Anyways." Midnight continued. "All I have to say is that I'm proud to be a PeaceLeaf cat and I hope you all will fully welcome and accept me now."
Supportive cheers sounded below.
"Of course we'll support you!"
"You deserve the world!"
"Why wouldn't we accept you? You saved us all!"
"I'll always support you, Midnight!"
"We owe our lives to you!"
All the supportive yowls made her shrink back in embarrassment.
I don't deserve this much praise. I did just as good as any cat.
Despite the embarrassment at being the center of attention and praised, she kept her head high and flicked her tail gratefully.
"Th-thank you all. It means a lot that you support me like this. Thank you for your trust and kindness. I will continue to serve PeaceLeaf for as long as I got air in my body and blood pumping through my veins."
Meows of approval sounded all around the clearing and from the corner of the crowd she could see Leandro giving her a nod of acceptance and approval.
Midnight purred.
I feel a good future here for PeaceLeaf. We will rebuild our camp in good time and the forest will grow back. Better yet, I see promise for me and Leandro.
Casting a glance to a happy couple at the other corner of the crowd, Midnight chuckled.
Not to mention, I can see some spicy stuff going on with Hawk and PaleMoon. I think we could all settle happily here. Pine may be dead and that's a great loss but I know Ember will take care of him. Flare doesn't seem happy though.
Flare sat away from everyone and had her chin rested on her paws, eyes damp with emotion.
Midnight made her way through the crowd and across the clearing and settled down beside the small ginger kitten.

"Hey." Midnight greeted.
Flare didn't respond.
"Don't you want to come join everyone? The other kits are over there." Midnight pointed her nose to the giggling kittens who tussled around the grown cat's paws.
Flare turned away.
"Flare."
"My brother was burned to death." she muttered.
Midnight fought for words to comfort the young she-cat but nothing came.
"PeaceLeaf was supposed to be peaceful. All those deaths-"
"Were at the paws of DeathBlood cats." Midnight interrupted.
Flare shifted and glared at her.
"Yes and that's the problem. I was left to die Midnight! All the other nursing mothers saved themselves and their kittens first. I was left in a collapsing den! I barley made it out alive!"
"Oh come on." Midnight soothed. "I'm sure they didn't leave you in there."
"They did! I was there!" Flare hissed.
"Pine was the only one who tried to save me before the den collapsed! I eventually made it through a small gap but by the time I did, Pine was already dead! The mothers left him too, left him in a fire to die, all alone!"
They wouldn't do that.
She didn't want to call the kit a liar.
"You're just upset." Midnight soothed
"No, Midnight! I'm broken!" Flare wailed.
Flare didn't sound like the young cheerful kitten she once knew, she sounded like a different cat who's heart had been shattered into a million pieces.
Flare began to weep. She buried her face in her paws.
Midnight crouched down beside her and wrapped her tail around the young she-cat's fragile body.
"When I was your age, I watched both my parents and brother die in front of me. I know how it feels. My entire family was torn to shreds at the claws of a DeathBlood cat who I haven't seen since. I've searched for him since he forced me to live in DeathBlood. I assume he's dead. I never got to avenge my family's death and I doubt I ever will. I've been broken all my life but I've stood tall and fought like a warrior. You can do the same. I believe in you Flare. You aren't alone and never will be. You've got me, Hawk, all the PeaceLeaf cats. We are here whenever you need us. We can and will comfort you in times of need. Everyone here has lost someone in the recent battle or some other time in their life, some earlier than others. No kitten should see death at such a young age. I'm sorry Flare."
Flare lifted her small ginger head, eyes clouded with tears.
"Thank you Midnight. I-i love you."
Flare buried her face deep in Midnight's chest. She licked the young cat's ears in return and purred.
"I love you too, little one."
Flare continued to let out small cries as Midnight soothed her with gentle strokes of her tongue.
I'm here Flare, I'm here. I may have lost Pine and your mother but no matter what, I will do everything and anything I can to make sure you live the best and fullest life you possibly can. That's a promise.