Warriors #2 - Attack of the Clones

Emotions & Politics

"Must be difficult, having sworn your life to Dawnclan." Heathersun mewed, curled up on Blueflash's back.

"Not being able to visit the places you like or do the things you like."

"Or be with the cats I love," Skypaw murmured self-consciously, staring out into the horizon as the sun rose after a long night.

Heathersun stared at him for a moment.

"Are you allowed to love?" she asked.

"I thought that was forbidden for a Dawnclan Knight."

"Well, attachment is forbidden."

"Possession is forbidden."

"Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is central to a knight's life." Skypaw retorted, feeling a huge lump of ice cascade down his stomach as he said the words.

He yearned to be with the beautiful she-cat.

But really, deep down, he was afraid of leaving everything behind in order to stay with her.

He still remembered how difficult it was for him to fit in, to train as a knight, or the chance that had been given to him had required another knight's sacrifice.

"So, you might say we are encouraged to love," he concluded.

A smile, a small yet sad appeared on Heathersun's face before vanishing as quickly as it came.

"You've changed so much, Sky."

"Ah, you haven't changed a bit." Skypaw purred softly.

"You're exactly the way I remember in my dreams."

The lush forests of clan Mossflower soon appeared in the distance. It was hard to believe that there was once a war here, for all the cats seen below looked peaceful, and there was no sign of a long-gone battle.

Blueflash swerved right, landing neatly on the flat plains of the landing platform.

"You know, I wasn't the youngest queen ever elected, but now that I think back on it, I'm not sure I was old enough." Heathersun mewed as they went into the royal cave and toward the meeting hall.

"I'm not sure I was ready."

"But I heard you did well for moons, Heathersun." Skypaw retorted. "Why did you step down as leader?"

"Did well?" Heathersun laughed bitterly.

"I lost my clan once."

"You got it back." Skypaw mewed.

"Well, Sky, no cat deserves such a huge role when they are inexperienced and not ready."

"Just like I was when Owlstar passed down her leadership to me." Heathersun meowed, her mind remembering the worst moments of her life.

Where every cat taunted and showered her with insults before her clan was stabilized.

What made things worse, was that Owlstar died shortly of greencough after her leadership ceremony, so there was no one to ask for advice.

She had no time to grieve, no time to enjoy her kithood.

"I changed the rules after I got back Mossflower." Heathersun stared at a group of kittens pouncing on each other in the sweet-smelling grass, with nothing to worry about as they enjoyed their games.

"I felt like cats who actually deserve the rank of leader had no chance of becoming one, unless you were in relation with the royals."

"So, now, the cats of Mossflower could choose whichever cat deserves to be the leader."