Fernfreckle's Dream

Chapter 17

The sun is slowly rising over Flowerclan camp. Fernfreckle hadn't slept a wink. Knowing that his mate would soon be gone was too much to bear. He loved him, and he sacrificed his old life for him. And now, soon enough, he'll be gone in a blink of an eye. 

How could he sleep when he knew the time with the tom he loved was limited? 

He sighs, rolling onto his side after being on his back for hours, doing nothing but thinking and blankly staring at the ceiling. 

I can't believe I'm going to lose him... he thought. Right after the birth of our kits, too...

He looks over Darkstar, who's peacefully curled up and fast asleep. He feels his heart soften for him. 

What could I do to make these the happiest moons of his life...? 

He thought, long and hard. And then... It clicked. 

He quickly but carefully got onto his paws, making sure not to wake up his sleeping mate. With a flick of his tail, he ran out of the den and out into the forest, letting his pelt soak in the morning sunlight. He sprinted as fast as he could, enjoying the breeze running through him.

He eventually reached his destination of Mossclan camp, calmly letting himself in. He rushed over to Plumfall's den and knocked on the side. 

"Plumfall? Are you awake?" 

A bit of rustling around is heard from the inside until the senior warrior poked her head out of the entrance. 

"Ughh, I am now..." she mewed tiredly. "Why are you up this early? Dawn patrol?" 

"No, I just want your help with something. Can you get Hollygaze too?" 

"Uhhh... Sure. Cherrypaw can probably watch the medicine den when she's away." 

"Thanks. I'll meet you at the dividing rivers, okay?" 

Plumfall nods at him, and slowly works her way outside. Fernfreckle dashes off to the rivers, unable to keep still for long. 

Once he gets there, he sits neatly beside the flowing streams, just starting  to melt out of it's icy state. He waits for a few minutes before Plumfall and Hollygaze show up. 

"What's all this about..?" Hollygaze murmured. 

"Okay, so..." Fernfreckle started. "I found out a few moons ago, the day my kits were born to be exact, that Darkstar has Alzheimer's and has only a few moons left to live." 

His two friends stared at him with shock. 

"Oh, Fernfreckle... I'm so sorry..." Plumfall mumbled.

"What I want to do is make his last moons the best moons of his life," he declared. "I want to do something special for him. For US. But I would like you two to help me, as you are my best friends." 

"What do you need us to do?" asked Hollygaze. 

"I would like you to gather up some water from the rivers," he meowed. "Try and get as much bioluminescence as you can. Some fresh bedding and flowers would be great too. And for Plumfall, I would like you to help me dig something up." 

"What is it?" Plumfall cocked her head to the side. 

"Just follow my lead," Fernfreckle said, crouching beside a large birch tree. "We have a lot of digging to do." 

****

At last, the sun has almost completely set. Hours of work brought Fernfreckle and his friends a result to be proud of. 

"Thank you so much guys," he purred. "You don't know how much this means to me." 

"I can't feel my paws," Plumfall complained. "But I would've done the same for Deerdawn." 

"And I would've for Cottonleaf as well," Hollygaze agreed. "Even though I didn't do any digging." 

"I'll bring a bunch of fresh kill for you two tomorrow. But for now, I gotta show Darkstar all this." Fernfreckle leaped up and down with excitement. 

"You two have fun," Hollygaze laughed. 

"We will!" Fernfreckle called back, discovering himself already running to Flowerclan camp to retrieve Darkstar. He skidded into camp and was immediately granted by the tom himself. 

"Where have you been all day?" Darkstar asked, slight worry in his voice. "Applestorm said he saw you run off early this morning... I was just about to send out a search patrol!" 

"Oh..." Fernfreckle felt himself slightly shrink with guilt. He forgot to tell anyone where he was going. "My bad...  But I want you to come with me if you aren't busy right now. I have something to show you." 

"Alright..?" Darkstar nervously followed Fernfreckle, right on his tail. "Where are you taking me?" 

"Somewhere special," Fernfreckle smiled. 

After a few minutes of walking, he led Darkstar to the birch tree. Right underneath the trunk is a small hole, the perfect size for a cat to get through. 

"After you," he smirks. 

"What is going on?" Darkstar blinked at the hole. 

"Just trust me." 

He sighs. "You know I trust you, Ferny." He slides into the hole, disappearing from sight. Fernfreckle squeezes in behind him. 

They had slipped inside a large burrow, the ground soft and smooth. There's a large bundle of moss, perfectly sized for two cats, with colorful flowers embedded into it. Beside the bedding is a circular pool, softly emitting a gentle and clear blue. A small hole in the ceiling allows moonlight to shine down on it for a finishing touch. 

Darkstar's eyes widen. 

"This place is gorgeous..." he whispered. "...You did this?" 

"I had Plumfall and Hollygaze help," he admitted. 

Darkstar slowly walks up to the pool and dips his paw in it. Tiny freckles of light blue faintly glow underneath him. 

"Do you like it?" Fernfreckle padded up beside him. Darkstar looks at him, a glint of amusement in his eyes. Out of nowhere, he shoves Fernfreckle into the pool, and he lands into it with a big splash and a large emit of light. He yelps as his body sinks underwater, but he quickly paddles his way back up for air. 

"Heyyyy..." Fernfreckle spat as Darkstar started to laugh. 

"I LOVE this place! It seems like an awful good area to get buried." 

"Oh, shut up," Fernfreckle playfully smirks and pulls Darkstar into the water with him. The two of them play and splash at each other, both laughing the whole time. Darkstar latches onto Fernfreckle's ear and drags him under, both of them kicking at each other. 

After a few minutes of playing, Darkstar starts to slow down. 

"Wanna rest?" Fernfreckle asked. Darkstar wearily nods and slowly lifts himself out of the water. He shakes off and collapses into the bedding, making sure to leave room for Fernfreckle, who follows right behind him. 

"I'm glad you like this place..." Fernfreckle murmured. "I'd do anything for you, really." 

"What if we got buried here?" Darkstar asked. "This place is special..." 

"I mean..." Fernfreckle remembers back to Darkstar's limited time. Was he aware? Or had he forgotten and was just bringing this up for no reason? 

He cleared his throat. 

"I'll be sure to tell Phloxberry and Chestnutflight that." 

"Thank you," Darkstar purred, pulling Fernfreckle onto his stomach. "I love you, Ferny." 

He felt himself start to relax. He closed his eyes and rested his cheek on him. 

"I love you too..."