Ashwings legacy

Prologue

   Rocks crumbled all around the queen as she held her newborn kitten close. The battle overhead had caused the tunnels to become unstable and she was too weak from giving birth to stand, let alone run. Tears streamed down her eyes as she licked her kittens fur. I'm so sorry little one... I couldn't give you a proper life... she wondered what would have happened had she stayed with the clans, but deep down she already knew. Her kitten would be alive to grow in this world, cruel though it is. She thought of her brothers, and how they would've loved her son.
   Her thoughts were scattered as the tunnel entrance collapsed, crumbling into a wall of rocks and dirt. There really is no escape now... she thought grimly. All she had ever wanted was to bring more life into this world, and now that she had, he wouldn't even see the light of day. More rocks fell beside them, and she instinctively curled around her son to protect him from the falling debris. She winced in pain as rocks hit her body, but the pain was nothing compared to the thought her little kitten, only a few moments old, never being able to grow and live. She stared at her kitten until they were both completely consumed by darkness.

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She opened her eyes, squinting against the sunlight beaming down on her. She didn't have to question where she was, she already knew. So this is Starclan, she got to her paws and looked down, her kitten was still curled up beneath her, and her heart broke all over again at the sight of him. He didn't deserve to be here, he deserved to be in a nursery, sleeping peacefully beside his mother in a soft, comfortable nest. "Hollyleaf." A voice broke her from her thoughts and her gaze shot up.
   A tall, broad shouldered she-cat with blueish gray fur stared into her eyes, her expression unreadable until she looked down at the kitten, her expression becoming one of sadness and pity. "This poor kitten, robbed of the life it rightfully deserved..." she said, her tail dropping sadly.
   Hollyleaf lowered her head in grief, tears forming at her eyes again. I know... she meant to say out loud, but her throat wouldn't open to let the words out. She held her gaze to the kitten as the she-cat spoke again. "However, there is a way you can give him somewhat of a life." Hollyleaf looked up at her, confused and dumbfounded.
   What does she mean? She questioned in her head, staring at the stranger, waiting for her to continue. "We can forge a connection between him and the living world that will allow him to age and grow here in Starclan," she started before adding with a more serious tone, "at the cost of your spirit. Do you understand what I'm telling you Hollyleaf?"
   Hollyleaf looked at her in disbelief, she could give her son a chance at life, but her own soul would cease to exist. I must do this, for him... for all of them! This is my repentance, my atonement for my sins. She convinced herself. She locked eyes with the stranger with renewed conviction. "I understand, and I accept that. I will do it." She says, her voice strong and clear once more.
   The she-cat nodded, "very well." She says before walking up to Hollyleaf.
   The stranger touched noses with Hollyleaf, and she immediately felt empty, hollow, like something inside her was suddenly missing. The she-cat then touched noses with the kitten, his fur moved and his ear twitched, but remain fast asleep. The stranger turned to Hollyleaf again. "You don't have much time, will you name him?"
   Hollyleaf gazed at her son, knowing she wouldn't be with him for much longer. She leaned down and nuzzled him for the last time. "Yes. I shall name him... Ashkit, for he is my way of repenting for my mistake." She says with the last of her strength.
   She keeps nuzzling her son, focusing on the warmth of his fur until she succumbs to complete and total nothingness.