Fernfreckle's Dream

Chapter 18

WARNING: This chapter involves the topics of slightly detailed self harm. Viewer discretion is advised. You have been warned. 

Shortly after the rescue patrol returned with the stolen cats, leafbare came to an end. The leaves grew back on the trees that lost them, and fresh kill started becoming easier to catch. Time was ticking. 

Ivypetal seemed to be very good at caring for the kits. She took over as their watcher after Twilight died. She was old, but she had a lot of stories to tell as an elder. Their time in the nursery will soon come to an end though, as they're just a moon away from becoming apprentices. Fernfreckle was excited for them. He wondered who they'd receive as mentors, and what their warrior names would end up being. He still remembered his moons as an apprentice.  He wasn't one for very long, but the memories he had made him smile. 

"So, are you three excited to become apprentices?" he asked them. He's paying them his daily visit in the nursery. 

"YEAH!" Cricketkit shouted. "I'm gonna be the best warrior Flowerclan has ever seen!" 

"Oh yeah? What about me?" Falconkit asked. 

"We can be the best warriors TOGETHER!" Cricketkit threw himself at his brother, the two of them falling to the ground and playfully wrestling with each other. 

"Aren't you gonna join them?" Fernfreckle laughed at Batkit. 

"I would, but it makes my body hurt," she sighs. "I can't wrestle without being super sore." 

"Oh, no worries." He pats the top of her head. 

Maybe it's because she's so scrawny... Perhaps she hasn't been eating enough? Maybe I should get Phloxberry or Chestnutflight to check her out. 

"F-Fernfreckle..?" 

Almost as if she could tell that he was thinking about her, Phloxberry appeared. 

"Yes?" 

"It's.. It's time." 

"What..?" 

"Darkstar. I-It's time." 

He took a few seconds to process the words before realizing what the medicine cat meant. 

Time had run out. 

Fernfreckle sprung to his feet and bolted off, leaving Phloxberry and the kits behind. He burst into the medicine den without warning. 

"I was expecting you," Chestnutflight meowed, almost as if he weren't phased at all by anything. 

"How could I not be here??" Fernfreckle panted, his voice already starting to break. "Where is he??"

Chestnutflight points to Darkstar, who's curled up in some bedding. His breathing is shallow and weak, and he looks as if he hasn't properly rested in moons. 

"DARKSTAR!" Fernfreckle rushes up to him and cradles him immediately. He felt light. Chestnutflight is heard seeing his way out, giving the couple some time alone. 

Darkstar opens his eyes and looks up at him. They're the same gentle gray, but the brightness in them seemed to have faded. 

"W.. Who are you..?" 

Fernfreckle feels his heart break, and he doesn't even try and stop the tears from rolling down his cheeks. 

 "I'm here, just.. r-relax..." 

He holds him a little closer. His breathing starts to weaken even more, and his eyes slowly darted around the den. 

"C.. Can you tell Fernfreckle I love him?"