i could really use a wish right now (closed)

Nothing seemed to matter anymore.

When Dovesight had passed, something cracked inside of Kitespring's psyche. If Martenpaw's death didn't break her enough, the death of her last sister was the straw that broke the camel's back. When she ran away from the Twolegs, she didn't know why she did it. Perhaps it was just because she had a duty to be there for her clan, that she didn't have anything else that kept her going in life. Even her imagination, which was a place of freedom for her, seemed to turn against her, giving her visions of her father, her brothers and sisters, Sleepypaw, and many others, calling her worthless and useless. She knew they weren't there, that they weren't really saying it, but it didn't matter. Their words still hurt all the same.

Perhaps she could look for Poppyshine. She had suffered as much as Kitespring did, and they did have a close bond once upon a time. Still... it had been moons, and Poppyshine had her own problems to deal with, so could she deal with another problem? As she thought about it, she tried putting herself in Poppyshine's paws - which was much harder to do in her emotional state. As she noticed Poppyshine in the distance, she padded towards the RiverClan deputy. "H-hi," she said, unable to stop herself from stuttering. "Just w-wanted to... h-hang out. I think."

Kitespring smiled softly at Poppyshine. Her affection meant a lot to Kitespring, even if she could never really say it to her face. And now was a worse time than ever before. "Well... I... I th-think I'm doing..." She was going to say well, even though that was a blatant lie. After all, she didn't really want to worry Poppyshine. However, she remembered her talking to Dovesight, how they kept on hiding their pain from each other because they didn't want the other to worry, and that she couldn't make the same mistake with Poppyshine.

"W-well... I've been b-better." She still didn't know if her shivering was just from the leaf-bare cold, or if it also was because of her losing one of the last cats that she cared deeply for. Now... now it was... just Poppyshine, wasn't it? "I'd b-be a l-l-liar i-if I s-said D-Dovey's death d-didn't h-hurt me. B-but I-I'm t-trying to m-move f-forward. I-I know t-that s-she's h-happy w-with Mom and D-Dad, a-and my b-brothers and s-sisters and S-Sleepycloud... but s-still..."

The russet she-cat noticed her tail twining around Poppyshine's. "Oh, sorry about that. I didn't mean to intrude in your personal space, Poppyshine. Guess... my tail got carried away." Perhaps it was because Poppyshine was the only cat she felt... was close the right word? Perhaps it was? It seemed like Poppyshine and Kitespring were living back in the old days. Stars, so much has changed since then.

The physical comfort from Poppyshine made her feel warm, and not just because of the cold air. She remembered when they first really interacted, when Kitespring fell into the river as an apprentice during the Apprentice Games, and Poppyshine helped pick her up. She was honestly surprised by the calico she-cat's kind gestures back then. Even now, the kindness and compassion bundled up in a cat like her, after she lost so much... she didn't deserve to have so many members of her family and friends dead.

"T-thanks, Poppyshine," she whimpered, her eyes beginning to water. "I... I really... appreciate you... being here... with me. I... I don't know why... but just being with you here..." Kitespring moved her tail back towards Poppyshine's. "It helps... numb the pain... a little." She gazed up at the sun, which was starting to set. The last time she had gazed at sundown with Poppyshine, they were gazing it from Sunningrocks. She could still remember the warm sunlight on her fur back then, even though it was a long time ago, and she couldn't help but think of the beauty of it all.

And that, even after all these moons, she still had someone who cared for her here.