Warriors: Echo of Darkness

Chapter 21

My heart ached for Tigerlily as I walked through SoulClan's hunting grounds. I saw my brother Soul happily stalking a butterfly. It felt odd, they were the same age yet he was gigantic compared to him. Soul looked like a kit the age of just opening their eyes. When he approached his brother, Eve ran up to them, "We're all together!" 

"Is mother here?" I asked scanning the lush field. 

Soul nodded and beckoned over to a forest with his tail. He dipped his head, "Thanks, you guys wait here, I need to ask her something."

"Come see us soon brother!" Eve purred swishing her tail. "I want news on Ranger and Blue's kits when they're born!"

I nodded as I pelted for the forest. Something happened to catch my eye, "John! He's here!" I felt instant regret, "Was Scourge right? If I had not gone after the herb, would he be alive?"

He wanted to stay and chat with John, but it had to wait. He was going to ask Lunartail if she had seen Tigerlily, "She can go into StarClan, she must have seen her!"

I slowed down to a trot as I saw her black tail sweep over the backside of a tree stump. Her gaze was focused on a shallow pool of water. I called out to her and she turned around, "Nightmare! My kit!" 

"Hello mother." I purred running my ears under her chin. 

"You grow every time I see you." Lunartail meowed proudly. Her eyes were full of love, "Do you need something? You came in a hurry."

"I need you to take a message to Tigerlily. Have you seen her since you can travel between StarClan and SoulClan?" I asked hopefully. 

Lunartail froze, her eyes filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry Nightmare, but I cannot send a message."

"You can but you won't!" I hissed, "Why are the heavens trying to keep me apart from Tigerlily!?" 

She let out a long sigh, "You will meet again, just not now." 

"I won't be able to go to StarClan!" I said despairingly, "Please! Just tell her I love her and ask her to visit me in my dreams like you do."

"We don't visit you, you visit us." Lunartail murmured quietly, "You seem to be the only one who is able to come here without us summoning you." 

"T-Then how do I go to her? Or bring her here?" I asked with a pleading gaze. 

"It pains me to see you in this state but... Even though you're nearly grown up, there are things that I can't reveal to you yet." my mother meowed. 

"Fine! If you won't tell me, I'll find out myself!" I hissed storming off. "What about Hawkfrost? He used to be a Clan cat, maybe he will know." 

Lunartail watched sorrowfully as her son ran away. She warm fur brush against her own. She turned to her mate, "I hate to see him like this." she choked.

"I don't particularly enjoy it," Scourge grunted, "but it is necessary. I want him to follow the path of a leader, he won't be able to do that padding after that Tigerlily. It will make him afraid to defend himself from the Clans."

"He just wants to love. You of all cats should know that." Lunartail meowed rubbing her cheek against his shoulder. 

"I waited until I was dead to have kits. I didn't have time for a family, nor did I want one at the time." Scourge meowed, "I was bored after a while, then I happen to meet you."

Lunartail flattened her ears and let out an annoyed grumble, "Was I just entertainment?"

Instantly regretting his words, Scourge stiffened, "Of course not, I didn't want to have to worry about protecting you when I was fighting those mouse-hearts."