Cry to the Heavens [c]

Dawnfeather trilled lightly as she waltzed into camp, an imitation of birdsong coming from her maw. She’d gotten better at it, and it seemed almost as if the birds knew that when she was singing, she wasn’t hunting. She’d feel terrible if she tried to lull them into a false sense of security. She’d laid the squirrel she’d caught carefully across her back. It had fallen off once or twice, but as long as she could make bird noises at the birds, she was happy.

It was sun-high, that wonderful time of day when everycat rested for a bit in camp. Dawnfeather usually liked to talk to Smokema, help Beechaunt, maybe laugh a little with Prima, or enjoy some time with Beetlepaw, or some of the other apprentices she knew. Today, however, felt like a playing-with-kits day. Dawnfeather set the squirrel down on the fresh-kill pile and looked over at the nursery. A chilly breeze ruffled her long fur, and a very few of the leaves were just starting to show tendrils of color. Beautiful. She couldn’t wait for leaf-fall, but in a slow way.

She spied a silver kit, just outside the nursery. Hmm. Was he the one whose mother had finished her upwards spiral, silver stars shining in her fur? Dawnfeather headed over, a purr rumbling in her throat. She sat down near the kit, blue eyes sparkling. “Hello, little one. I’m Dawnfeather. You?”

Hollowkit looked up at this new cat with he his big eyes. Wow a warrior is talking to me! He was a bit shy with new cats especially cats who were older than him. He gulped.
“ H-hi I-I’m Hollowkit,” he struggled to mew. Hollowkit looked at his paws with embarrassment, he knew he’d grow out of his stutter but he was still got upset when the apprentices and other kits mocked him.

However Dawnfeather seemed kinder than most of other cats. His gaze transferred up to Dawnfeather and he gave her a slight smile.At least she bothered to talk to me. He thought. His fur rippled as another small breeze came and went.

“Nice to meet you, Hollowkit!” Dawnfeather purred softly. He stuttered, the poor thing, and Dawnfeather’s tail curled around the kit almost of its own accord as she remembered how… insensitive kits could be to others who were different from them. She was pretty sure that Hollowkit was the kit whose mother had passed on… poor thing. Still, she might be wrong. She hoped so.

“That’s a nice name, Hollowkit! Where’s your mother?” The golden molly tried to hide the tension she felt at the simple question. She couldn’t imagine growing up without Prima, Sparrowflight, Smokema, all the cats she knew were related to her and cared for her. “Hollow trees make nice sounds,” she commented with a smile.

Hollowkit smiled at the comment she made about his name. Though his face darkened at the thought of his mother. His mother… he never knew how she died. Hollowkit didn’t even remember who she was exactly. He just remembers a silver blur with a… soothing voice.
“I-I don’t k-know.” he meowed quitely. Hollowkit looked back at his paws and his tail drooped. He could feel Dawnfeather’s soft blue gaze on him as he lowered his head and made a little sigh. “I d-don’t remember h-her.” he mumbled. It was quiet enough he could her the wind rustle the trees and the shuffling of the few fallen leaves.

A few unshed tears gathered in Dawnfeather’s eyes at the kit’s words. She ducked her head. The world seemed to still for a moment, the gentle breeze blowing in her ears. She sympathized deeply with Hollowkit, though she’d never lost a family member. She just… she could feel the sharp, shooting pain and then the heavy stone that lodged in her chest. Poor thing… her paws shook, a bit, but then she steadied herself with a few deep breaths.

And then the realization hit her, that she’d, one day, lose everycat she cared about if she didn’t die first. Though she’d always known it, it had never hit her like this before, a wave, a flood knocking the breath out of her. The tears shone in her brilliant blue eyes again… and she made up her mind then and there. “She walks in the stars, little one. Far above she watches fondly over you as you sleep. That’s why we sleep at night, so our ancestors can watch over us as we slumber. But since she can’t be down here, I’ll watch over you by day, if you’re alright with that.” As she waited for his response… the images hit her, one after another. Herself… crying into Smokema’s limp form as the rain soaked both their pelts… sobbing into Beechaunt’s soft fur, as motion blurred around them… crying out as Prima lay unmoving… Hawkuncle, crumpled upon the ground as she froze, wide-eyed… Beetlepaw, fur tinged grey with old age as she groomed his fur one last time… one last time… she loved too much. She had too much to lose. But… she’d gladly add one more to love, if the kit agreed.

The kit looked back at the Dawnfeather whose glittering sapphire eyes were glossy and wet with tears. She looked like she was deep in her thoughts. She looked… distressed, and it made Hollowkit’s guts churn with unease. Oh no! I didn’t mean to make her cry… Hollowkit’s small gray paw rested on hers, hoping to make she-cat feel better. It’d be nice having some cat else around, some cat to talk too He thought. Hollowkit scooted himself closer to her.

“I-I’d like that,” he spoke softly. His gazed up at the sky thoughtfully and with wonder. Why would cats live in the sky? He shook his head dismissively. “And I-I’m sorry I didn’t m-mean to make you cry…” he mewed in his squeaky voice. “ I h-hope you still l-like me.” Hollowkit continued with worry and panic in his voice but being cut off by himself with a few calming breaths.

Dawnfeather purred softly at Hollowkit’s words. She’d rest easier, somehow, knowing the kit had someone to care about him. “It’s not your fault, Hollowkit,” she mewed softly, her heart breaking in sympathy. “I’ll always love you, no matter what happens. No matter how bad of a day you have, or if you mess something up real bad, I’ll always be here for you. You don’t have to worry about making me like you. That’s a constant, a given, like the pulsating flow of the river, with no stones to break its surface.” Her heart went out to him with every word he said… she curled her tail around him protectively. Perhaps she was being a bit impulsive with her decisions, but she had a feeling she wouldn’t regret this one.

… and maybe, just maybe… Beetlepaw and her…