starlight pervades [o]

[SCARlett]

Light was on all sides—more light than his eyes could behold. The grey tabby squinted, blinded by the radiance and yet unable to identify its source for this was not the warm sunlight he had fallen asleep in. His tail curled close to his body, and the fur along his spine stiffened while claws slipped from their sheath. Of course, all of this was useless. Though his senses told him to be wary, he could not attack an enemy he could not see, and so all this feeling of anxiety went to waste, serving no purpose but to set him on edge.

“What in the hell is going on?”

“Didn’t your mother and I teach you better manners than that, River?”

“Talon?”

From the white light, a cat molded itself, crafting brown tabby fur and hawk-yellow eyes from the luminance. As strong and majestic as he had been in the days of his prime, the tomcat approached his son who cast bewildered eyes on the starlight dancing in his fur. Disbelief was evident on River’s face, and for a moment, neither cat—living or dead—spoke.

“I’m dreaming.” It was the only conclusion that made sense, and to this, the starry cat gave a nod of agreement.

“You are,” he concurred, but as the silver tabby relaxed, a mischievous smile ghosted across his face. “But that doesn’t mean I’m any less real.”

River stared, boring olive eyes into the apparition of his father. The statement didn’t make sense, but then again, the entire situation seemed like a paradox. How could he be dreaming but encounter a real cat? How could the ghost of his long dead father be real? The skepticism must have shown on his face for the other tabby tom gave a quiet hiss of impatience and continued.

“I am with StarClan, River. And one day, you will join us.”

“When I’m dead?”

“Yes, when you’re dead.”

“No thank you. I think I’m losing my mind.”

Talon scowled with annoyance, and his living son marveled at how real the expression was. Though the image of his father danced with the glowing dust of a million stars, every whisker was crafted to perfection. Perhaps he really was losing his mind, but even so, if this was the only time he would see his father again, what was he achieving in irritating the hell out of the old man?

“Is mother—is Fly with you?” He was almost scared to ask. Asking the question conceded truth in what the apparition was saying, after all.

“Yes, she is, but according to you, we’re all out of our minds so I guess she’s not.” Death had not stripped Talon of his quick temper, it seems, and River couldn’t suppress an amused smirk. Perhaps the StarClan cat realized this. Hastily, he continued in an attempt to regain his dignity. “I didn’t come to you to speak of petty matters but to give you warning.”

“Warning?”

“Pay attention to your dreams.”

“What kind of warning is that?”

Swathed in starlight, the old cat gave a final hiss of annoyance and reached out to bat his son with a paw, and as the limb made contact, River felt a rush of warmth and power jolt through his body. But before he could fully recover from the experience, the ghost of his father was turning away and returning to the blinding light from which he came.

“Remember me and what I’ve said, River. Though I can’t imagine why, you are the one they have chosen.”

“Wait!” With a start, the grey cat leaped forward, trying in vain to follow his quickly vanishing ancestor. As the tip of Talon’s tail merged into starlight, River bunched his muscles for one last try.

He leaped.

And fell into the icy cold current of the river surrounding Sunningrocks. The dream was over.

A torrent of curses burst from the tomcat’s mouth, but he instinctively righted his direction and struck out, managing to reach shore without much hassle. The dream was leaving him, and though vague scents remained on the gentle zephyrs, the only light that surrounded him came from the one and only sun.

[Willow]

Blaze trotted through the thick, green foliage near the river. Little animals scurried out in front of her and caught her orange eyes but she didn't pursue them. She had already eaten her fill of prey earlier in the day. And besides, she wanted to get to the Sunningrocks as soon as possible. This forest was not near as interesting as the warm, flat rocks. She needed to relax for a bit, something she hardly ever did.

Oh, but she was not alone on her want to relax on the warm rocks. There was another cat there already by the smell of things. A splash and a yowl confirmed this. Blaze surged forward to see if the cat needed any help but to her amazement, he was an even stronger swimmer than herself. He looked mystified and dazed, though.

"Hey! I've never seen anyone other than myself swim like that!" she began excitedly and bounced over to him. "How'd you fall? You look really dazed. You hit your head? What's your name? I'm Blaze!" The typical torrent of words rushed out of her mouth. She had no concept of danger. None at all.