The End of Time

Prologue-

They say that it is alright. I had no means. It was not my fault, Perhaps that it was even for the best. So tell me; Please explain why I always hear his screams in my dreams. Why I see his face around every corner. I've prayed to the Tribe of Endless hunting for years now that he may forgive me. Even now I have never been given an answer.

Although it was long ago, back when I was young and foolish, I remember that night perfectly.'

"Dust!" he shouted, his voice barely a whisper reaching her ears.

A sandy she-cat lifted her head, trying to look up at him through the wind and the rain. There was a terrible storm that night, one that would mark as one of the worst Times of Freed Water in all of the tribe's history. The cats kept their foot on the roots of the trees as streams of mud and water rushed between the rocks and down the mountainside. Even within the cave the weather had forced the tribe members to move to higher ground.

"Come quick, Dust!" the husky Tom repeated her name. "I've found the kits!"

A cold shock ran through her body. She saw clearly now. Pointing with his paw he led her eyes to a small cliff edge. Two small bodies huddled close together against a stone, they were clinging to the earth for their dear lives.
"Go, Wolf!" she wailed and jumped to the nearest slab of granite, slowly making her way up the cliff. If he replied, she didn't hear.

One jump to the next boulder, run across the oaks roots. There was a time where she slipped and lost her footing, taking a bit of energy to recover. One long leap after another and she felt as if she were going nowhere. It wasn't long until the kit-mother was breathing heavily, nature determined to wear her out.

Dust looked up again, to see how far away she was from them, when a strong gust of wind came. In perfect harmony a sound reached her ears. The two wails of her sons, a familiar ginger red body slid slightly over the edge, his foot touching nothing but air.

"I can't go anymore!" Wolf growled across the land, having reached a dead end.

A serge of panic struck through her, a cold strike of ice and the fury of a beating fire. The light ginger felt new power within her body and she sprinted across the land, past trees and over the slides. Cats came down from the skies to help carry her, the earth old longing to protect her children forbid her from stopping. She didn't slip. She didn't flinch.
It was soon that she reached her destination.

Her two sons; Stone hanging on to Sunset while the light named kit dangled over the edge, desprately trying to claw his way back up to safety.

A small cry rang out, "I can't hold on to him!"

She didn't have a moment to think, her body pushed itself forward and into the air, acting on pure instincts. Flying over, Dust bit the scruff of Stone, about to swipe her paw down and grab the other when the worst came.

A flash of lightning came down before them, blinding the she-cat. She drew back, letting lose of all grip and crying out. She saw nothing but the brightest white light. Dust threw herself to the ground, trying to recover, when her nightmare reached her for the first time.

The heart wrecking sound of Sunset's wails, his scream the loudest echo. She stood up and flew her eyes open, they were bloodshot and traces of blood trickled out. There, Stone lay on the ground, beaten down from the rain and dropped by his mother. Sunset was nowhere to be found.

"No..." Dust muttered, then cried: "No, no, NOO!" Her screams reached beyond the mountains, past the lake and the deepest gorges.

Wolf came not a few moments later, all but too soon.

Eventually, the storm passed, but it still clouds Dust's mind.

It will until the End of Time.

Chapter 1-

Her entire body jolted and for no more then a moment, there was no ground. She saw nothing but darkness as she flung her eyes open. She had to catch her breath. Where was she? What was going on? Was she dead?
The she-cat's vision cleared and her body tried to relaxed again. Her fur was fluffed up and warm laying in the dry comforts of the tribe's den; Where the prey-hunters, cave-guards, elders, and even the healer himself slept. Dust took let out a deep sigh. She felt unsure, queezy, and just about to claw the life at anything that might jump out at her. It was just a dream. Another dream. She had them so many times before, but they always came as a surprise to her.
The old one stood up and stretched her body out, feeling only a slight twinge of pain in her legs. Shaking the moss and feathers off her pelt, she glanced around the den one more time, seeing the familiar bodies of Cloud and Splash, the two huddled closely together; Along with a restless Rock near-by. He seemed to be running in his sleep and she couldn't help but have her whiskers twitched in amusement.
'The cats who had stayed up all night to watch the land and cave. she recalled, It must be sunrise. She decided then there should be no more sleep for her.

As soon as she stepped outside, the familiar mist of the waterfall confronted her and clinged to her pelt. The light peaked it's way into the cave, bringing different colors inside; Yellows, Blues, and Greens danced around the walls and on the floor. The air was humid, thanks to the Time of Restless Sun.

"Pleasant Mornings, Dust!" a familiar voice called out. "Would you like to have this rabbit with me?"
The light ginger turned her head. There sat Dawn, the silver and white kit-mother, A friendly smile was worn on her face. Dust nodded and padded over, laying down next to the younger she-cat and the catch of prey. She bit off a large piece and resisted biting down too hard on the delicacy, instead placing it gently in front of Dawn.
"Did you have a good night's sleep?" she asked carefully and ate her bite, then repeating Dust's actions.
"Good as I ever will." Dust joked lightly. Awkward silence came.

The two continued to eat until Dawn spoke up something, "You know, it's about high-time you joined the elders. Your way past the normal age that-"
"Nope!" the ginger tabby interrupted, "I owe this clan too much to retire now."
Dawn's green eyes gazed at her uncertainly before she forced a small smile and nodded. "If you say so." She knew it was useless to argue with Dust.
She was indeed past the normal age cats go to become an elder. There were times her muscles ached, but she refused to complain. Her voice had the hint of an ancient crack to it, but she constantly drank water to fix that problem. The one thing she couldn't hide, however, was the silver fur that tinged her muzzle. There was only one cat older then her who hadn't retired yet, and that was simply because he couldn't. Stoneteller was sworn to his duty for as long as he lived.

The silver tabby thought she had caught a gleam in the older cat's eye, but not before she heard a yowl coming from the entrance. "The morning hunters have returned." she let out a small purr and left Dust with the finished rabbit.

Through the cracks in the water came in a group of 6 cats. Dawn didn't hesitate to prod up to one in particular.
"Stone!" she meowed warmly, loud enough for the entire cave to hear. He licked her sweetly on the head as she rubbed up against him. Dust flicked her ears, glancing at the she-cat's belly. It wouldn't be long now before those kits of hers came. The thoughts arose in her mind, a small spark of anger in her heart. She didn't deserve to be carrying her grand children. She wasn't worthy, and she couldn't help but remind Stone of her disapproval every chance she had.

Almost like he planned to be on queue, the dark gray tom shot her a glance, as if to challenge her. Dust snorted and looked the other way. She knew she could never hate the kits in Dawn's belly, but she couldn't help but remember those words she had said not so long ago. It was in fact the day she found out she was carrying Stone's kits.

'THUD, CRUSH! The sounds repeated and the echos caused the entire tribe to turn there heads. Not a few moments later, cats were poking their bodies out of their heads, dazed and confused at what the sound was. They all knew where it came from, however, the Cave of Pointed Stones.

"What's going on?" Fish shouted out.
"Where's Stoneteller?" Snow followed, "Is he alright?"

After a few seconds of worried chatter, Coughing echoed out of the ancient tunnel and soon the shape of a gray tabby followed. He gazed at everyone, wild fear in his eyes. "Come everyone, now!" he urged. "The Tribe of Endless Hunting wishes for a telling. At Once!"