Rainystripe was aching when she woke up. Her muscles were abandoning ship, and her senses felt as though they were all clogged with moss. Her paws ached as though she had run for days, and her belly squirmed as though filled with a dozen kits, not only.. One? Two? Rainystripe sighed in exasperation, knowing that her sick mind was simply dodging down rabbit trails, and that in all her wondering, she wouldn't really get any answers for them all.
"Rainystripe? Is that you?" Darkstorm's mew echoed next to her.
Rainystripe's eyes flew open, and the Medicine Cave came into a clouded focus. Darkstorm came into focus, his dark tabby pelt brushing against hers.
"Yes, it's me." She sighed. Darkstorm would be able to smell her it he wasn't sick. She sneezed. And she would have been able to feel his presance without the sickness as well.
Darkstorm coughed, but continued to talk, which was good, because lately he had been mumbling incessently. "Leafsong says that I am getting better, I am almost well enough to return to my warrior duties!"
Rainystripe felt a small pang of sadness. She wouldn't be returning to her warrior/deputy duties anytime soon. Sure, bringing new kits into the clan was good, but she missed romping free through the pines, and being able to jump and hunt and battle train.
"...And then Sharpfang charged back into camp, with you unconcious on his back." Darkstorm smiled as he concluded his tale. "I was worried for you," He nuzzled her ear affectionatly.
Rainystripe purred, but she felt a twang of guilt. She had only been thinking of herself when she went hunting. "I'm sorry for being so selfish, I could have injured the kits. It was a dumb thing to do."
Darkstorm laughed. "I think I know how you feel, Rainystripe. I have been feeling so useless, just lying about here. That has to be close to what you feel."
"You are so perfect," Rainystripe purred.
***
Sharpfang paced in the moonlight. His black pelt shone in a ghostly way, and his amber eyes sparked. 'How are you so blind?' Gingerthorn's voice rang in his ears, so loud that he looked to the side to make sure she wasn't standing there beside him. 'Can't you see that they love each other?' He shook his head, trying to get her words out of his head. It's not true. She could learn to love me. I just have to be true. I can't doubt. He decided to go visit Rainystripe in the healing cave. His paws stealthily crept down the short tunnel, careful not to disturb the sick sleeping warriors.
"...That has to be close what you feel." Sharpfang identified Darkstorm's voice.
He heard Rainystripe purr. "You are so perfect."
Sharpfang backed away, his tail twitching with hatred. How could they? Were they really in love as Gingerthorn had said? He crawled out of the cave, his head spinning.
Sharpfang glanced toward the moon and silverpelt. "Can't you guide me? I am the deputy, after all." He growled. Don't they care? When Rainystripe had presented their ancestors as heavenly beings that watched over them, Sharpfang had accepted it, it had just seemed so right. "But where are you now?" He whispered.
"We are here, Sharpfang."
Sharpfang's head whipped around, looking for the source of the voice. "Where are you?"
A soft giggled sprinkled over the night air. "You can't always see us, Sharpfang, but we are here. Watching you, guiding your paws."
"But if I can't see you, how will you guide?" Sharpfang spat.
The disembodied voice twinkled on. "Oh dear Sharpfang. Our ways are not yours. We send signs, we send dreams. The occasional voice. Or.. Sometimes Starclan sends a messenger." A body came into being, standing in front of him. A silvery she-cat stood there, blue eyes sparkling like the stars. Looking as though she was woven from moonbeams, the she-cat stepped toward him. "Do you doubt our guidence so?"
Sharpfang sank to his knees, and closed his eyes. "I apologize. Its.. Just so hard to accept. I was a loner for so long. I hate depending on anyone."
"Rise, Sharpfang. It is all friends here."
He stood. "Who are you?"
She skipped lightly away, circling him, curling her tail. "Starsong." she purred.
Sharpfang smiled, feeling happier than he had in days. "Then hello, Starsong. As you already know, I am Sharpfang." He winked.
"I have to go now, Sharpfang." She said, her bright eyes dimming slightly. "I will guide you from the stars." She stepped away, and walked into the air.
Sharpfang was speechless. "...Wait!"
Starsong stopped, her foot paused, halfway to the sky. "Yes?" Her clear blue eyes turned on him, filling him with their light.
"When will I see you again?"
She smiled, seeming to light up the night sky. "Soon."
