Lasting Peace

Swiftnose slept quietly in the elder's den, with no one at his side. Since Rainspot's passing, he had been somewhat lonely. He sighed softly in his sleep, dreaming of starry cats who chatted and shared tongues with him. The old cat, though not the oldest in the Clan, had served for many, many moons as the medicine cat of ThunderClan. He had retired with full faith in his apprentice, Nightfire, who had done him well as the full medicine cat. Despite the recent outbreak of war, the forest was quiet and at peace for the moment. He trusted Dewstar to take good care of ThunderClan. After all, she wouldn't be leader if StarClan hadn't willed it.

Unfortunately, Swiftnose's health had been failing him lately. His joints were stiff and tired and his breaths were shallow. There wasn't much for his former apprentice to do other than make him comfortable in the time he had left. He wished he could have seen Nightfire take an apprentice, but with each day passing and fewer litters being born he doubted he'd see the day the medicine cat took on a youngster to train. He wasn't terribly upset, though; if Nightfire couldn't find one, then he didn't need one yet. So he was patient and decided to let Nightfire do as he pleased. If he needed help, he would ask him. It wasn't like the big tomcat to be stubborn and prideful when he needed help the most.

On this particular night, the StarClan cats that had visited him were familiar faces. The soft purrs of his mother and father reminded him of his kithood adventures and of all of his friends who were long gone. There was one friend of his, Dewstar herself, who had been around longer than he. He truly expected to outlive his leader. But that was not the case; Swiftnose's spirit pranced away with the spirits of his parents, away from the troubles and worries of the living world. The elder had passed peacefully in his sleep.