Fade to black [o]

Gingerroot’s body felt so heavy lately. He hadn’t gone to the nursery in several days, the one-eyed tom felt his ribs and lungs groan with every breath. He blinked slowly.

This was the end, wasn’t it?

He barely stirred as he heard a breeze whistle through the den walls. Would this be his last breeze, his last day?

Numb. He faintly saw his fur move with the breeze but didn’t feel it. His vision was moving in and out, blurring at the edges.

“Gingerroot?”

His vision was improving. Gingerroot blinked both eyes. Wait, both eyes?

“Your father and I have missed you,” she said, her intense yellow eyes lit by stars. “It’s time. Time for you to come home.”

The tom looked around everywhere, finally locking eyes with a pretty red she-cat.

“Redfur?”

She looked like a new warrior; not the dying she-cat in his memory. Blazing fur, smoldering in starlight, an assured look in her gait and eyes.

Soon, a sandy light brown tom too walked from the edges of space. Wiry, compact, with eyes matching his own. He nuzzled Redfur, a goofy grin plastered on his face. “It’s been too long, son.”

A cough rattled his rib cage. “You too, Volefang?”

The wiry tom smiled back at him. “What kind of father doesn’t bring their son to StarClan?”

Gingerroot wheezed. “So… StarClan… I’m… going… to StarClan…”

“I’m proud of you, Gingerroot. You’ve done so much, you’ve given everything for ThunderClan.”

Gingerroot noticed that the stars that covered his mother’s paws crept towards him. The starry expanse opened, spilling out into the elder’s den. His paws grazed them as they spread underneath, and they felt like the softest bedding in the nursery.

“Stand up, stand on your paws. Come walk with us.”

“It’s been… hard… I can’t… stand up…”

“On stars, everyone can. Give it a try.”

He nodded weakly as he placed his paws on the starry earth. When he did, a wave of energy pulsed underneath, and Gingerroot felt the strength of LionClan in his veins. The weight of his body faded underneath him as he stepped into the skies. Gingerroot looked around, his eyes as big as saucers. To see with both eyes again! To walk with his paws in the earth, to feel the breeze and not the straining of scars in his skin from wars past.

“You’ve done well, Gingerroot. I couldn’t be more proud.”

“But what about ThunderClan?”

“We will watch and protect them from Silverpelt.”

Gingerroot looked at the elder’s den behind him, seeing his body sleeping eternal.

“Well… okay.”

The three walked into a sunhigh sky, leaving no trace of their presence, other than heavy paws that had walked their last now resting. ThunderClan may have lost an elder, but StarClan gained a warrior, and a family celebrated a reunion in the stars above.

Foxpaw actually wasn't too disappointed when she had gotten elder's duty, unlike most of her denmates. In fact, she was actually looking forward to it; Foxpaw hadn't actually seen the Gingerroot around camp all too often anymore. Just the idea of getting to listen to the elder's stories- even if she'd have to clean the den around him- was enough for a small smile to creep onto her face. She glanced over the fresh-kill pile; a mouse wouldn't hurt for the old tom. The prey chosen, she trotted toward the familiar fallen tree.

The den was as quiet as always; secluded somewhat from the rest of camp. "Hello," she simply greeted into the hollow, edging a pawstep in, as she looked over the den.

Gingerroot wasn't moving.

The prey fell to the ground, and Foxpaw rushed to the elder's side- Gingerroot wasn't- No, no, no. He couldn't leave Thunderclan yet; he must've been sleeping, otherwise-- all his stories, his advice, his kindly smile.. Foxpaw felt her legs weaken as the clawswipe of reason hit. His body held no rise and fall of breathing for Starclan knows how long.

..He had joined their ranks all alone. She realized a moment later, heart dropping again. The elder who had made a point to always visit the nursery, to cheer up the kits.. The tom who spent his time retired helping tired queens. The elder who, even when grieving his own past, still made time to listen to her problems.. Had passed alone.

Resolve lit her paws. Gingerroot at least deserved a proper vigil if he came to Starclan like that. She faltered- the tom's body was far lighter than it had appeared, and unnaturally cold. How long had he been like this..? She shook her head, forcing herself to refocus: she had a duty to complete. She kept long, careful strides as she struggled to keep Gingerroot from dragging across the ground.

Finally, though, she reached the clearing, and gently set the body down. His vigil would begin; she hoped Gingerroot's body would be clear enough to denote that without an announcement.