Haunt » a tribe cat's tale

[ Prologue ]

      It was only the gentle breeze that stirred the old cat's frail body as he lay sprawled across the ground. His flank barely rose and fell as his breaths were rapidly becoming quieter and quieter. The tom's black-and-gray fur was lit with moonlight. He almost looked like a cat from the Tribe of Endless Hunting already. Stars glittered welcomingly in the night sky above, clear of any clouds that could potentially obscure his ancestors. Cats sat around him, their heads bowed with grief. They were preparing for his decease.

      "Star," he rasped, beckoning the white cat forward with a weak swish of his black tail.

      Star immediately sat upright, stiffly rising to her paws and padding toward the tom, her yellow eyes dull with grief. She nestled her head under his jaw, letting out a plaintive whimper.

      "Star, look at me," the dying tom croaked, opening his eyes. Star lifted her muzzle, meeting his gaze with bleary eyes. "Don't grieve for long. I've made that mistake..."

      She flattened her ears. "But you're the only family I have!" Her mew cracked with despair. "I've known you all my life!"

      An almost inaudible purr rumbled in Moon's chest. "Life goes on, my dear. Please, move on. For me."

      For a moment, the white she-cat looked like she was going to protest. But Star did not say anything, resting her chin on his bony shoulder. "For you, only..."

      Moon smiled, feeling his final breath leave his lungs. He stood up, no longer feeling old or tired or weak. Sadness numbly echoed in his chest, but it soon faded as he watched Yew move towards Star to comfort her. She will be fine without me, Moon reminded himself, following the starlit path.

He cast a final glance towards the tribemates he had grown up with and watched grow himself. Life would go on without him. The tom left the cave he had spent his life in, taking in a deep breath as he gazed at the nightly world beyond, where the other tribe inhabited the valley. He smiled wistfully as he padded along the gritty trail he was so familiar with. Everything seemed livelier to him now. It was as if the world sang with life. Moon smiled. Life would indeed go on, the tabby realized. His whiskers twitched with delight as he felt the chill of water on his paws. The deceased cat leapt onto the first stone with ease. He'd done this many times before. His paws finally reached soft soil. Moon's heartbeat quickened as he recognized a familiar, starry figure seated by the sacred blossom tree, waiting.

     Feeling young once more, he broke into a run. The tribe cat raced to meet his companion, feeling his eyes water with pure joy. "Sky!"

      Sky smiled. His lithe, small body was no longer disheveled and blood-stained. No, the cream-and-orange tom looked just as handsome as the evening they first met. Moon jerked his muzzle forward and pressed it deep into his mate's warm pelt, deeply inhaling his comforting scent.

      "It's been too long, my love," the valley cat purred lovingly, washing the cave cat's thick-furred ears.

      The black-and-silver tabby pressed himself closer to Sky. "Why did you ever have to go?" he asked softly, his voice tight with fresh grief.

      He shook his head. "Would you have ever adopted Star if our lived ended up differently?"

     Moon paused and frowned. The only reason he had adopted Star was because her mother was killed when the Tribe of Windswept Valley ambushed his tribe to avenge Sky's death. If Sky had not been killed by his father, Roar, everything would have been different. "No," he admitted softly.

      "Exactly," Sky purred, smiling warmly. "You proved that it is possible to move on."

      He shrugged. "I guess, but- the pale tom cut him off.

      "No buts!" The valley cat gave him a playful nudge before taking a step back and bounding away.

      Moon let out a yowl of protest and gave chase to the star-frosted tom. Sky darted around the blossom tree's trunk, much quicker than Moon. He was a prey-hunter, after all.

They ran in circles, never growing tired for they were cats of the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Sky and Moon were young and could be was reckless as they once were, all those years ago. The two star-crossed lovers would live in everlasting joy and peace, together, by their sacred tree where they first met.

Moon was overjoyed. Finally he and Sky were lifted from the worries of their tribes. They could embrace their love for all eternity. Although he felt guilty for leaving Star, he knew she would move on, with Yew.

Just as he once did.

[A/N]:
So here is the prologue of Haunt! I hope you liked it.
Prepare for feels because it's gonna be quite the trip!

For anyone who is wondering, Star will have her own short story book, but the name is to be determined.