Whiteriver's Truth

Chapter 23

The sunlight of dawn beat down on Whiteriver's face making her wake up from what felt like a long sleep.
"Good morning." Bravepelt meowed as he dropped a plump mouse in front of her face.
"Thank you." She meowed as she took her first bite into it.
Harley walked over to them. "So are you leaving this morning?" He asked with disappointment.
"Some cats think we shouldn't have even left so we really have to." Bravepelt explained.
"Well, now you know where I live if you ever want to visit." He lowered his head.
Whiteriver stood up, licking her jaws as she finished the mouse. "This will probably be the only time we can see you. I'm sorry." She meowed.
"Really? You can't just come for one day?" He pleaded.
"If we leave again, we'll risk being kicked out of the clan and I can't do that." She said.
"But then you can just come live with us." He pleaded once more.
She shook her head. "I'm sorry, but no."
He looked down at the ground and then back up at her. "Okay." Was all he said before turning around and walking away with his tail drooping behind him.
"So should we get going?" Bravepelt asked.
"Shouldn't we go say goodbye to One-eye first. She did give us a place to stay after all, it'll be rude just to leave." She responded.
"I guess you're right."
They made their way to the queen's den, jumping over the bushes that made their surrounding walls.
"Good morning." One-eye purred, stopping from grooming herself for just a moment.
"Do you wanna go play warriors with us?" Aster squeaked.
"Why are you always so obsessed with Clans. You haven't even been in one." Crow growled at her sister.
"Because I think it's cool." She huffed back.
"We can't stay to play. We gotta head back now." Whiteriver explained to the kits.
Aster's eyes lit up. "Can I come with you?" She squeaked.
"Oh no you can't." One-eye hissed, getting in between her kit and Whiteriver. "You're staying where I can see you."
"It's best if you stay with your mom." Whiteriver meowed to the kit.
Harley then showed up again. "Let them go with them, One-eye." He said.
She turned to him with shock. "W-what? Why?"
"Because they'll be with me." He said. He turned his gaze towards the warriors. "I'm coming with you and I'm not taking no for an answer this time." He meowed.
"But I can't have you leave. I need you as much as Aster and Crow need you." One-eye whined.
"I have to. You know how sad I've been since the last time I saw Riverleap. I can't leave my daughter now. Not when I just got a piece of the true love back." He meowed.
"But I'm too old to sustain myself." His mother whined again.
"Which means you're too old to take care of Aster and Crow. They are getting old enough to leave you anyways. You complain about it all the time." He told her.
"But who will take care of me?"
"There are many other cats around here that can help. I promise you're not alone." He meowed, pushing his head into her neck.
She looked blankly into the distance for a while before she sighed. "Alright." She meowed.
Harley stepped away. "I promise they'll be taken care of." He purred.
"Please don't forget me." She pleaded.
"You're my mother. I never could." He meowed.
"I love you so much, Harley. You have become an amazing cat."
"I'll always love you." He meowed back, clearly holding back tears.
Crow and Aster ran over to her. "We love you too, mama." They said in sync.
"I'll miss you guys." She meowed, finally letting a slight sob come out. She wrapped her body around her kits and they stood there silently for a moment until they broke away. "Stay safe you guys."
"I promise they will be." Whiteriver promised stepping slightly forward.
"Thank you." She nodded to them and then with one last glance to all her kits, she turned around and disappeared into the darkness of her den.
"Are you sure this is the right decision?" Bravepelt asked him.
"You can tell how old she is right? And besides, the cats around here all know each other. They'll hunt for her, but she'll finally have some peace instead of worry about two kits." He explained.
"Okay, well it's a bit of a walk to get back so we better get going now so we can get as far as possible before the sun sets." Whiteriver said.
"Alright. Lead the way." He meowed.

***

     The travel had been quicker on the way back, despite having two curious kits now joining them. They crossed the path in the twoleg place and jumped onto the fence. Bravepelt and Whiteriver placed each kit down on the fence and peered into the forest.
   "Once we jump down we'll be in ThunderClan territory." She muttered to herself.
   "And then I'll be a warrior." Aster squeaked.
   "It doesn't work like that." Whiteriver chuckled, giving the kit a lick on the head.
   "You seem worried." Harley said, placing his tail on her back.
   She sighed. "I'm just scared of what will happen. We never told anyone we were leaving and now we have came back with new cats." She explained to him.
   "I'm sure they'll understand." He meowed, giving her a look of encouragement.
   Just then, she saw Bravepelt jump down and the two sisters followed him.
   "Well I guess we gotta go now." He meowed, jumping down after them ad they waited for them to join.
   She took another deep breath and then jumped down landing swiftly on her paws.
   "There is nothing to worry about." Bravepelt whispered to herself as he rubbed himself on her.
   "Okay." She breathed and they walked into the forest, the leaves taking away the light from the sun and sheltering them.