|  | Webshadow |
A soft flurry sprinkled down from the lightening sky, speckling the dark marshes in flecks of white. Most of the snow had already been cleared from the hollow where ShadowClan made their home, dusted away as well as it could be to stave off the harshest of leaf-bare's chill, but the morning's shower was starting to accumulate on the frozen ground, on the roofs of the dens they had been so tirelessly working to repair. And as the sun crept higher into view, flushing the heavens with rose and amber, its gentle light reached down to touch that quiet camp. Suddenly, the fine powder was not just a bothersome cover; it took up a fine luster, the dawn casting an attractive sparkle throughout that reflected in the eyes of any cat that paused to breathe in the moment.
The rising light, however, meant the fading of ShadowClan's day. Their nocturne had ended, and the last of the night's patrols were returning to camp, exchanging brief words with Clanmate and kin as they retired for their nests and the dayguard roused to take up their posts at the mouth of camp.
One cat had not yet risen from his place of rest to return to proper shelter. The old tabby lay stretched on his side, letting the snowflakes collect on his dark pelt, pale eye roaming back and forth across the sky. He had not the energy nor the desire to move from his place. It was not particularly comfortable– the ground was hard and frigid, the chill crept into his bones and made him ache, it was so much warmer in the den... but he could see the sky. Webshadow's eye twitched, searching where the horizon remained darkest. A pawful of stars yet remained, dull from their far, far seat. Dull, but there.
A cloud of hot air billowed in front of his maw as a labored breath left him. That he was in ShadowClan's camp at all– Webshadow was astounded. He had thought for certain that he would join StarClan while they were at Highstones; it would have been more convenient, at least, considering how close they were. A part of him wished that he had, if only to spare him the pain of returning. Barely able to support himself, hoisted between the warriors capable and available to assist him. It was demeaning, and a toil, and he craved a burial beneath the rocks. As easy as it may have been, though... Webshadow could not say he regretted it. Not truly.
His eye flicked downward, swimming across the slowly moving forms of his Clanmates. If he was going to die, he was grateful that it was at home. Saddened, that it was an old, miserable, slow death– that he had not died a warrior. But then, he had never been fond of excitement. This suited him just fine.
Another tired breath clouded the air. No, this wasn't a sad affair. His mind became suddenly made up, and contentment washed over him, pleasant and warm and doing away with the chill from the melting snow. If he had to die, then this was a good way to do it. In the heart of ShadowClan's camp, his home, the only place he had ever held so dear; ravaged as it had been, by bloodshed and by the violence of the earth, it was more beautiful than he had ever seen it. He had spent his life fighting for it. It'd been a good fight he'd put up, and he would have stepped down from StarClan to defend ShadowClan again any day. An unsteady tremor of joy went through his heart.
He was only saddened that Swiftheart would be left in his wake; Honeylight, too, who'd done his best to care for him in his last moons. Even Iceheart, who he knew little about, but knew she was a good cat. Webshadow quietly prayed that they would no one would miss him too much, and mouthed a promise to watch over them and ensure their safety for as many moons as his spirit lingered in StarClan.
More than his grief though, Webshadow was ready to see his family again. Though he ached for the few friends that remained he would be leaving behind, his heart had ached for many, many moons more for those that had left before him. Different pinpoints, all cast throughout the stretch of Silverpelt– were they waiting on him? Even if they weren't, Webshadow wanted desperately to greet them. Oh, Froststar especially. For a moment, Webshadow closed his eye, and he could see the handsome, stony face, his pelt made luminous by stars. They would have an eternity together in their rest, and he could forget how unkind StarClan had been to separate them. Their kits, too, the ones he had never gotten to meet. Misery hit his heart, but a rattling breath pushed it away. He was on his way; he would see them again soon. He didn't have to mourn them much longer.
Webshadow's eye opened and slowly rolled to refocus on the sky above. The sun was properly risen, the world brightened by every warm color it had painted the sky in. Sunrise had always been his most favorite time of day, the quiet space between waking and sleep where few presences dared to intrude. And his most favorite memory came swimming to mind– a quiet golden morning, stillness broken only by his and Froststar's voices as the white tom instructed him how to solve a puzzle he'd fashioned.
A fond smile crept over his features, and as morning settled fully, comfortably in, Webshadow allowed his eye to close again. The next time it opened, he realized first that he could see fully again– his periphery returned, and as he blinked, he realized the depth that had returned to him. Such a vigor in his limbs, too; excited, Webshadow pushed himself upright. There was the briefest, kittish spark of hope that he had been revitalized, that death had not been granted him. But as he rose to stand, he noticed his paws had gotten caught– tipping his head downward, it was over his own body he had fallen on. His ears folded downward, but there was little time to feel sorrow. A chorus of greeting mews roused his attention, and gathered near the mouth of camp were all those he had loved and had lost. With one last look at his body– what had once been his body –Webshadow stepped away to follow them as they lead the way to Silverpelt. His feathery tail flagged in a farewell no one could see, and the dawn seemed a little brighter as Webshadow stepped up to find StarClan.
