A Promise Broken So Soon [Open Death/Mourning Topic]

Lilyvalley
Warrior | ShadowClan | she/her

"If we did what was easy, then there wouldn't be anything to live for."

Lilyvalley had spent a lot of time in the nursery as of late, now that she was no longer an apprentice. She was there for Beetlekit. She was there for Swiftheart's kits.

And she had hoped to be there for Rainkit as well.

She had seen that little kit all by herself, with only 3 legs and teeth poking outside of her mouth. And she had promised her that she would never have to know what it was to be alone again. She had told that little kit that she would give her a family.

And Lilyvalley had truly meant those words. When Rainkit had gotten sick, Lilyvalley never left her side. She had begged Heatherberry to save her little one. It didn't matter how little time she had known this child, this was still her kit. And she loved her.

So when that little kit didn't wake up the next day, a part of Lilyvalley had died as well. She laid in the medicine den, curling around her little Rainkit, and she cried.

A lot of things could have been said about Lilyvalley, both good and bad. But she was still a mother. And she wanted nothing more than to take care of her family.

And this time, she had failed. And that hurt oh so much.

discord: karunamaya | timezone: edt | code (c) kieer | images: 1 2

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A Promise Broken So Soon [Open Death/Mourning Topic] Ea9Ylnv

Fuzzybelly was known to hover around. Technically an apprentice, he wasn't supposed to attempt to hunt alone or patrol alone. An ironic thing, given that the tomcat alone trained three medicine cats, eons ago, but he followed Leopardstar's word to the letter.

He turned his head to see Lilyvalley, curled around a small kit. The tom didn't have to get too close to realize what had happened, the smell–very faint, but one very distinct in his brain–told him everything he needed to know.

"It's not fair when they leave so young," the tom rumbled, a muted quality to his baritone voice. "You did everything you could. No one could ask for more."

He took a breath, his voice somber. "It doesn't make it hurt less."

Fuzzybelly stood by her, waiting if she needed a word, a friend, or both.

She remained in his memory simply as the most plaintive and poignant of a line of ghosts

Rainkit had been sick for some time, and though they had only ever met briefly, Juniperkit didn't forget about her. As the black she-kit wriggled into the medicine cat's den, she could sense something was wrong. There was a blanket of soft, hushed voices, and they never spoke in whispers unless it was something that they did not want to talk about at all. Green eyes widened with worry as she approached the pair of cats at the corner. Where was Rainkit? She had picked daisies for the kit too, small white flowers which were clamped in her jaw but quickly went flying as she asked where her friend was. There was something she couldn't understand in the air. It was almost like... grief.

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Quillsplash | Bird / Tom / ShadowClan T5 Warrior / #802318
Leopardwind / Tom / WindClan T4 Warrior / #cc9900
Milkkit / Tom / RiverClan Kit / #dbc6ad

Character Profiles | Open Litter

Lilyvalley
Warrior | ShadowClan | she/her

"If we did what was easy, then there wouldn't be anything to live for."

Fuzzybelly came in, and she assumed he was trying to comfort her. But just as he had said, even though she knew the words were true, it still hurt so much. She had such little time, being able to call Rainkit her own. But she had still loved the child so much. And she felt so helpless and lost. There were no words to describe this pain she felt, she just wanted her baby back.

Another set of pawsteps had entered the den, soft, but she could hear them. When Lilyvalley lifted her head, a tiny kit was standing there, staring at them, with daisies in her mouth. She instantly recognized the kit as one of Swiftheart's kits, and her heart broke even more. She didn't need to see this.

With one last lick atop her baby's head, Lilyvalley pried herself away from Rainkit, ushering Juniperkit out of the den. Every step away from Rainkit felt like thorns digging into her paws, like leaving her behind would mean losing her for good. But she wasn't going to put that on her niece, either.

Once they were away from the medicine den, Lilyvalley finally looked down at Juniperkit, hoping that her wet cheeks weren't too noticeable.

"Hey, baby." She couldn't help the way her voice cracked, or how gravelly it sounded. Hopefully Juniperkit didn't notice that, either. "D-did you need something? Those are some pretty flowers."

discord: karunamaya | timezone: edt | code (c) kieer | images: 1 2

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