Whiteriver's Truth

Chapter 8

2 sunrises had past, it had been warm days making the snow melt and showing that Newleaf was just around the corner. Brightwhisker hadn't told anyone yet about the news she got the day she came home from being found buried in snow. She made it seem like none of it happened and went back to the preserved cat she has always been. The only cats that knew were Whitepaw, Bravepelt and Swiftfeather.
Whitepaw and Clovernose were making their way back to camp from a training session. The ground underneath was damp from the snow that remained. The sun above sent down rays of warmth to all the living things making Whitepaw feel happier than she had for a while.
When the two cats entered the camp, Swiftfeather came quickly over to them addressing Whitepaw. It looked like it was something urgent. "Mistyeye wants to see you. She's currently talking to Goldenstar, but you'll have to go now." She then turned her head to ground and sighed. "I don't know how much time is left." Then she hurried away.
Whitepaw made her way to the medicine den as Goldenstar emerged out of it. He gave her a nod as they passed each other so she returned the gesture. Mistyeye was sitting up slightly clearly waiting for her arrival. "You wanted to speak with me." She spoke as she got up closer.
"Yes." She bowed her head. "I know I promised your mother not to tell a soul, but I think you deserve the truth." She said.
Whitepaw became confused. There was nothing she thought any cat could keep from her especially her mother since she had gone when she was only a moon and a half old. "What is it?" She asked.
Mistyeye sighed. "The cat you knew as your father." She paused. "Isn't your real father." She finally huffed ending the sentence with a nasty cough.
Whitepaw stood there in shock unable to process what she just heard. "N-no. Silverdust is my father. That doesn't make sense." She turned her attention to her paws as she shuffled them slightly on the ground.
"Your mother didn't want any cat to know that..." She paused, coughing although she only paused to search for the right words to say. "Your real father is still alive. Your mother walks beyond StarClan to be with him and she's told me in my dreams."
"What do you mean beyond StarClan." She asked urgently hoping that what she thought wasn't true.
"Your mother." She chuckled which turned into a cough. "She was never meant to be a clan cat. She was loyal of course, but her heart always belonged somewhere else." She coughed again.
   "What do you mean?" Whitepaw now demanded.
   "Your father is a rogue that lives just past the twolegs place."
   "W-what? N-no, I can't be only half-clan born." Whitepaw was in disbelief.
   "His name is Harley." She finally said ending it with a cough. "He would love to meet you."
   "N-no..." She paused. "It's not true!" She spat turning away and running out of the medicine den.
She didn't know where she was running she just ran. Through the forest unaware of her surroundings. She felt like she had to run, but she didn't know where or why. She couldn't run from the truth as much as she wanted to. She didn't want to believe it. She believed she was full born ThunderClan cat, but now she knew that she wasn't. She felt ashamed of her family line now even though she knew it wasn't her fault.
Suddenly she stopped as her breath became more shallow. As she was catching her breath, she started to look around. She was near the RiverClan border and now she was glad she stopped. She would've fell into the river is she kept going.
She stepped out into the sunny open just beyond the forest. She sat down letting the sun hit her and the warmth made her problem suddenly seem to melt away. She closed her eyes and then took a deep breath in, then out. She opened them again and stared up into the sky. The clouds above floated so gently overhead and she suddenly wish she was sitting amongst them.
She turned her mind to food as she realized how hungry she had become. She knew it would distract her temporarily. She smelt the air around her until she could sense a vole nearby. It was hiding in a bush near the river so she knew she had to be careful. She crouched down keeping her tail slightly above the ground and her paw prints quiet and steady. Once she got close enough without the prey scenting her, she sprung in the air using her strength from her hind legs. She noticed that her injured foot no longer hurt which means should be made a warrior very soon. She landed on the vole and killed it with a swift bite to the neck.
The sun started getting lower in the sky and feeling more relaxed from the meal and the warm sun she decided that she should head back. She stood up with a stretch and started back.
As she got closer to the camp she started feeling more worried. What if they find out? She thought. What if then everyone she had always been loyal to would then turn away from her because of who her father really was. She suddenly became very angry with her mother for keeping it a secret and for breaking the warrior code.
As she walked into the camp, a new feeling of dread washed over her. What if Bravepelt found out? She loved him so much and she didn't want to lose him, but with his loyalty to the clan it only made sense for him to stop being friends with her.
Her thoughts were quickly disbanded when she saw the crowd of cats sombrely huddled around something that was lying in the middle of the clearing. In an instant, she knew it was Mistyeye lying there, still and cold. She spotted Swiftfeather standing a little off to the side and with a heavy heart, she decided to go over to comfort her.
"I'm so sorry, Swiftfeather." She meowed as she approached her.
The white she-cat turned her head quickly in surprise with her eyes wide, but she relaxed as she saw it was only Whitepaw. "It's okay, Whitepaw." She responded turning her attention back to the huddled cats.
   Whitepaw could now see the dark grey fur of the dead medicine cat amongst all the cats.
   "The day was going to come eventually."
   She didn't seem as sad as Whitepaw thought she would be. "Are you okay?" She asked quietly.
   "I'll be okay." She responded with a sigh. "The last thing she said to me before she passed was that she was proud of me and I couldn't be a more perfect medicine cat." She sighed again. "Once you had left I joined her side and we talked for a bit, but then we laird side by side so our pelts were touching and I could feel the steady rise and fall of her flank. It was so quiet and peaceful." She looked to the ground as she shifted her paws and her voice became a little more sad. "Then it stopped. She became still and I only got up to tell everyone else when I could no longer feel the heat of her body."
   Whitepaw felt sad for her, but didn't know what to say. She sighed before she said what she thought would help. "Well you're an amazing medicine cat and I know you'll be just as great as she ever was." She meowed with a smile.
   "Thank you, Whitepaw." Swiftfeather purred, giving her a quick lick on her ear. She then got up and walked over to where the dead medicine cat laid and pushed her muzzle into her fluffy neck.