Warriors: A Dark Sun

Chapter 36

Back to Lilymist.

Lilymist watched as Aban stopped in front of Olivenose. The strange tom spoke of her in his fortune, but not by name. She looked at her paws and smiled ever so slightly. Aban wandered through the Clan then stopped back in front of Icestar.

"Fascinating life you have. Secrets here, love here, regret here." Aban turned and looked at Duskflower when he said regret. Lilymist felt bad for the poor she cat, but by now it was too late to help with anything.

"Thank you Aban. I have one more favour to ask. Will you cross the river and ask the same thing to the cats living there?" Icestar eagerly asked the traveler. Aban nodded and seemed excited to learn more about Clan life. Lilymist secretly worried about the tom. ThunderClan was aggressive towards outsiders. Aban would have to act really stupid to get in their ranks.

"Then you shall leave at once. Olivenose, Berrysplash and Skygaze will be your escorts." Icestar beckoned the three forward with her tail. "All others will continue with the repairs. I want Sunfrost and Lilymist to go look for Adderblaze and Cloudpaw. Sunfrost knows Adderblaze well and Lilymist knows Cloudpaw." Lilymist sat up and cranes her neck up to find Sunfrost. She spotted him and padded over. He was saying goodbye to his kits. How could I ever want to leave them? They nodded to each other then padded into the forest. Sunfrost was keeping his pace slow so that Lilymist could keep up. They followed the scent trail to the battle training hollow. Adderblaze was there with Cloudpaw, sitting and talking. Lilymist strained her ears to hear them better.

"...I'm Duskflower. What do you say to me?" Adderblaze asked the small tom sitting in front of him. Cloudpaw looked up at him.

"I'm sorry...mother. You love me so much, but you hurt me and I won't forget that." Cloudpaw quietly mewled, his eyes shiny and sad. Lilymist and Sunfrost sat there listening until Adderblaze had acted out Cloudpaw's entire family. Cloudpaw looked stronger, mentally by the time they were done.

"Thank you." Cloudpaw meowed and stretched up to lick Adderblaze's nose. The toms sat there in silence, Adderblaze's head resting on Cloudpaw's. Lilymist was touched by the scene and it melted her heart. The toms walked towards the bush they were hiding in and Sunfrost flicked his tail, warning her to stand up.

"How long have you been there?" Cloudpaw asked calmly. His fur looked ruffled and Adderblaze still towered over the young tom. Cloudpaw was only up to his shoulder, but he would grow.

"Not long. We were out looking for you." Sunfrost replied. Lilymist saw a flicker of panic in Cloudpaw's eyes and Adderblaze quickly looked down.

"I can't go back." Cloudpaw mewled like a kit. Adderblaze looked forward again, but he placed his tail on Cloudpaw's back. The white apprentice's fur flattened and he nodded.

"I'm ready." Cloudpaw breathed. Sunfrost and Lilymist led them back to camp through the brittle trees and the dead grass. No one said a word as they walked. By the time they got back, it was almost sundown. Lilymist followed Sunfrost into the camp. Instantly Grayheart looked up, hoping to see his son. He walked towards the toms as they entered, but Adderblaze warned him to stay back with a quick glance.

"May I use the Tallstone?" Cloudpaw quietly asked Icestar. Icestar hesitated then nodded slowly. Cloudpaw jumped onto the Tallstone and Adderblaze followed him up. Lilymist could see that their tails were twined.

"As you all know I am the son of Duskflower and Grayheart. I am the brother of Frostpaw, Reedpaw and Featherpaw. I was once the brother of Ravenkit." Cloudpaw announced to the Clan. Duskflower let out a choking sound at the mention of Ravenkit.

"I have something to say to them and I want the Clan to hear it." Cloudpaw looked to his side and Adderblaze nodded with encouragement. Cloudpaw took a deep breath and searched the crowd.

"Reedpaw, I will always know that you were once my brother. You bullied me as a kit, you never treated me fairly and I cannot forgive you. Featherpaw, you sided with Ravenkit and Reedpaw in tormenting me, you were never truly my sister." Cloudpaw meowed, his eyes cold and guiltless. "I can consider Frostpaw my sister because she never hurt me. That does not mean I forgive the rest of you though." Frostpaw looked up at her brother, surprise and pride lighting her pale eyes. The silver swirled she cat looked over at her brother and sister, arrogance faintly flickering in her gaze. 

"Grayheart was a bystander and he knew what was going on so I cannot accept him as my father. Duskflower. I'm sorry I wish I could have loved you, I truly do, but you hurt me. Both mentally and physically. You have called me a runt and useless. You have hit me with your claws unsheathed. For that, I cannot love you and I deny you as my mother. From now on you are nothing but a Clanmate to me." Cloudpaw yowled with fury. His yellow eyes gleamed with courage and fire when he spoke to his mother. Lilymist looked at Duskflower and watched as she lowered her head in defeat. Grayheart, who was sitting beside his mate, slouched down in acceptance and  regret. Featherpaw and Reedpaw looked embarrassed and they were looking at each other with sadness. Only Frostpaw sat up in pride, her chest puffed out and her eyes gleaming like pools of water with fallen stars. Cloudpaw stood on top the Tallstone beside Adderblaze, the breeze swirling his fur around, but he just stood there watching the Clan as they grieved for the broken family. The wind quickened and Lilymist looked up at the toms on the Tallstone. They were clinging on to each other to stop one another from falling. They cared deeply about each other and everyone could see that

  "How can you move forward if you
             keep regretting the past?"

                                                                                                    -Unknown