Seppuku

Epilogue

As Nettleskip sat outside the PineClan nursery, her expression was blank, her heart weighing with grief.

It had been three moons since the clan had discovered his body. Nettleskip was among the patrol that brought him back to camp, and she wished she hadn't been.

She remembered vividly being part of a search party for him, it had been three days since his disappearance. It was Duskpelt that suggested they check near the cliffs at the end of their territory. Looking down, Nettleskip could still clearly see her littermate's mangled body, they couldn't tell if he had been killed by the force of the impact, or from blood loss through the wounds the sharp stones had caused.

Either way, he was dead, and Nettleskip could only blame herself.

If only she'd have been more caring, more accepting of him. It took her far too long to realize he had no disease, no ill intent. He was simply different. Every day, Nettleskip thought that if she had been more understanding, and stood with him, like a sister should, he might've still been alive.

She heaved a long sigh, and glanced over at the three bundles of fur playing together in the middle of the camp.

Her kits.

They had been born recently, and any happiness she experienced now was because of them. They were so cheerful, playful, precious to her... Nettleskip only wished he could've met them.

There were two toms and a she-kit. A grey and white tom with green eyes named Badgerkit, a grey tabby she-kit with deep blue eyes named Bluekit, and a white tom with sky blue eyes named Twistedkit.

Nettleskip remembered feeling relieved when Rainpuddle agreed to naming the toms after Twistedsky and Badgerstripe, and discovered that he, too, regretted being a bystander.

Pigeonleap and Cloversplash, the two young new warriors, walked into camp with prey in their mouths. Nettleskip noticed Pigeonleap had the same dull look in his eyes that she did. She felt even more guilt at that, Pigeonleap had stayed by Twistedsky's side, he had more of a right to be grieving than she did.

Nettleskip knew that now, there was nothing she could change about the past. But, maybe, she could make the future better because of it.

"Kits! Come here for a moment!" Nettleskip called, and immediately the three of them came running.

"Are we in trouble?" Bluekit asked sweetly.

Nettleskip licked the top of her head. "No, of course not honey. I just have to talk to you three, that's all. You did nothing wrong." The kits gave each other confused looks, but sat and listened to their mother.

"I just want you to know, that whatever kind of cats you turn out to be, you'll always be my kits. Even if the whole clan were to turn against you, I would always love you and be on your side. So don't be afraid to tell me anything, I'll always listen and try to understand." Nettleskip knew that she was only confusing the kits by saying this, but she felt if had to be done.

Twistedkit placed his smaller paw on hers. "Nettleskip, are you okay?" He asked.

He must've seen the pain etched upon her face, that was present too often. Looking into his eyes, Nettleskip knew why she named him what she did. Those eyes, they were his. He had her brother's eyes.

She couldn't hold everything in anymore. "Twistedsky! I'm so so sorry! I was such a terrible sister! I miss you!" Nettleskip yowled to the sky, part of her hoping he could hear from StarClan. She caught the attention of many cats in the clan, but she didn't care.

"Hey, Nettleskip, it's okay, it's okay..." Rainpuddle said as he wrapped his tail around her. Nettleskip hadn't even heard him walk over, her mind was so wracked with grief.

She leaned into her mate, relaxing to his soothing words that she'd stopped listening to, and was just hearing.

~

Nettleskip opened her eyes to see she wasn't in the nursery where she originally fell asleep, and instead was in a lush, vibrant, beautiful forest. Is this StarClan?

"Nettleskip." Nettleskip turned around at the sound of that familiar voice, to be met with the cat she missed so much.

It was Twistedsky. His pale tabby pelt was starry, his sky blue eyes bright as when they were kits. Nettleskip couldn't help it, she ran towards him, purring loudly and nuzzling him. "Twistedsky! I missed you so, so much!"

Suddenly, she stopped, and took a step back. What was she doing? He probably hates me! I know I would.

"I-I'm sorry." She said. "I'm so sorry, Twistedsky, I... I... what I did to you... I was such a terrible sister, I..."

"Nettleskip." Twistedsky interrupted, and to her surprise, his voice was warm and caring. "It's okay. You didn't know what you were doing. I forgive you. You're my sister, I could never hate you."

Nettleskip was shocked. "But why? I was so horrible to you...."

"But I know you're not a bad cat." Twistedsky meowed. "I've been watching over you- Badgerstripe has been too. Please, try to be happy with your family, your kits need you to be strong."

Nettleskip nodded. "Of course, I will."

Twistedsky started to fade away, and as did the forest around them.

Nettleskip's eyes shot open, and she was back in her nest, curled around her three kits.

She felt as if a weight was lifted from her shoulders, he forgave me.

That night, Nettleskip swore to herself that she would never stand for a cat being singled out for their differences ever again. She would stand up for what was right, and especially for the cats she cared about.

Thank you, Twistedsky.