Post by Rainy on Nov 30, 2009 21:38:34 GMT -6
Bronzepaw was curled into a ball, his flanks rising and falling with each breath, deep in sleep. It had been his first day as a medicine cat apprentice, and he certainly had been busy. But a good kind of busy, he enjoyed each task as a new, exciting challenge. He assumed he was too tired to dream, but he was wrong.
He woke in the Mooncave again. By the time the next half moon rolled around he would be able to find the sacred cave no problem. The mossy floor was a bit cold, but the familar, shining walls comforted him and he waited for Goldensea to appear. But the cat who came was a sleek-furred tabby-and-white queen. Her blue eyes gleamed as she approached him. "Bronzepaw, we meet at last. DO you know who I am?"
The young tom shook his head. "No, I'm sorry, I don't think I do. Have we met before?"
The she-cat bowed her head. "Yes, we have, but you were too young to remember it. I saw you a little over six moons ago. You were the most beautiful kit I had ever seen. I knew you were special then and there. But I also knew I wouldn't be around to see it. I am your mother, Bronzepaw. My name is Brightstar."
Bronzepaw gasped. "You were RiverClan's leader, Stonestar's mate! But... but..."
Brightstar nodded, grief and regret in her eyes. "Yes, Bronzepaw, he is your father. I never told him. I was fortunate enough to have some of my Clan behind me. I was afraid that if they knew I had Stonestar's kits too, it would convince them to leave me too. I had another queen raise you instead. I didn't live much longer after that. The birth weakened me and I lost my last life. I wish I could have told you sooner, but I was afraid you weren't ready. Can you ever forgive me?"
"Of course I can forgive you. How can I not? You're my mother, the she-cat I've been looking for in all my dreams until now, the blank face from my earliest memory. I now have a name to that face."
Brightstar purred, and stepped forward. Bronzepaw rushed at her, burying his nose in his mother's warm fur. "Why did you leave me?"
"I'm sorry, Bronzepaw, but I had to. But I'm here now, my dear son. I will always be here for you when you need me. Goldensea is doing a fine job." She licked her son between the ears.
"Yes, she is a great mentor. Can I tell the Clan? Does Stonestar know?"
Brightstar sighed. "You could, since TideClan has formed I am no longer worried they will break apart. But it won't change anything. And yes, he knows now. He was dissappointed at first, with me, not you. He is very proud of you too. Maybe he will visit you in dreams too."
Bronzepaw looked thoughtful. "I would like that. Wow, my parents were Clan leaders! But I won't tell. I don't need attention. I'm just glad I know now. Besides, Swiftwater took care of me the last several moons. She is very nice."
"It is such a shame Duskfall had to join us so soon. But she is strong, and there are suprises in store for her - not all good, I'm afraid, but she will go on. I must go, Bronzepaw. Listen to Goldensea and take care of your Clan. Whenever you are lost are scared and confused, you know where to come. The Mooncave is your second den, and StarClan is your second home. Until next time, sleep well my little one.." She licked her son's ear and faded away. Bronzepaw yawned and curled back up, and slipped into a deep sleep.
He woke in the Mooncave again. By the time the next half moon rolled around he would be able to find the sacred cave no problem. The mossy floor was a bit cold, but the familar, shining walls comforted him and he waited for Goldensea to appear. But the cat who came was a sleek-furred tabby-and-white queen. Her blue eyes gleamed as she approached him. "Bronzepaw, we meet at last. DO you know who I am?"
The young tom shook his head. "No, I'm sorry, I don't think I do. Have we met before?"
The she-cat bowed her head. "Yes, we have, but you were too young to remember it. I saw you a little over six moons ago. You were the most beautiful kit I had ever seen. I knew you were special then and there. But I also knew I wouldn't be around to see it. I am your mother, Bronzepaw. My name is Brightstar."
Bronzepaw gasped. "You were RiverClan's leader, Stonestar's mate! But... but..."
Brightstar nodded, grief and regret in her eyes. "Yes, Bronzepaw, he is your father. I never told him. I was fortunate enough to have some of my Clan behind me. I was afraid that if they knew I had Stonestar's kits too, it would convince them to leave me too. I had another queen raise you instead. I didn't live much longer after that. The birth weakened me and I lost my last life. I wish I could have told you sooner, but I was afraid you weren't ready. Can you ever forgive me?"
"Of course I can forgive you. How can I not? You're my mother, the she-cat I've been looking for in all my dreams until now, the blank face from my earliest memory. I now have a name to that face."
Brightstar purred, and stepped forward. Bronzepaw rushed at her, burying his nose in his mother's warm fur. "Why did you leave me?"
"I'm sorry, Bronzepaw, but I had to. But I'm here now, my dear son. I will always be here for you when you need me. Goldensea is doing a fine job." She licked her son between the ears.
"Yes, she is a great mentor. Can I tell the Clan? Does Stonestar know?"
Brightstar sighed. "You could, since TideClan has formed I am no longer worried they will break apart. But it won't change anything. And yes, he knows now. He was dissappointed at first, with me, not you. He is very proud of you too. Maybe he will visit you in dreams too."
Bronzepaw looked thoughtful. "I would like that. Wow, my parents were Clan leaders! But I won't tell. I don't need attention. I'm just glad I know now. Besides, Swiftwater took care of me the last several moons. She is very nice."
"It is such a shame Duskfall had to join us so soon. But she is strong, and there are suprises in store for her - not all good, I'm afraid, but she will go on. I must go, Bronzepaw. Listen to Goldensea and take care of your Clan. Whenever you are lost are scared and confused, you know where to come. The Mooncave is your second den, and StarClan is your second home. Until next time, sleep well my little one.." She licked her son's ear and faded away. Bronzepaw yawned and curled back up, and slipped into a deep sleep.
