Post by blade on Mar 28, 2009 13:43:49 GMT -8
A gibbous moon floated in the sky, partially round; as if a giant creature had eaten a chunk. Though high and mighty, Moonhigh had not yet come. Its light shed a brilliant beam on the dark cavern of cold stone below. For a leaf-fall night, the temperature was perfect, not to warm, mainly a little on the nippy side, but certainly better then roasting in a desert. Paused at the yawning mouth of the cave, a tabby feline waited. She appeared strong for her age, muscles ruffling her thick agouti pelt. Her dark bands gleamed in the lunar glow. About 24 moons if one had to guess, yet her gaze held the sorrow of moons. She delicately lifted a paw and began to pad gingerly down into the darkness of the cave where she was swallowed up completely.She bravely stepped into the darkness. "Swiftleaf?", "Am I doing the right thing?", she wondered inwardly. Without a second thought, she strode deeper into the tunnels, unknowing of what nightmares lay ahead. The stone felt strangely soft on her paws, as if she were padding on sandy ground. A slight warm breeze seemed to be emanating from it, like the excelling of a giant creature. She continued on, whiskers guiding her until she reached a large enclosure. Suddenly, a dazzling ray of light hit the space, blinding her with untold brilliance. When the light began to dim, she noticed it came from a hole in the ceiling, shining directly onto a large stone, glittering like a gem. Following an instinct she had never used, she felt her eyelids grow heavier, as if weighted down by lead weights. Her ocean-hued orbs closed, leaving her in the blackness of sleep. She awoke in a crouched position, numb with cold and fear. Her surrounding had changed drastically. What had once been a cavern of stone was now grass under paw. She was close to a large lake that was reflecting stars. The she-cat blinked in surprise. Instead of revealing ordinary stars, each star looked like, well, a cat! Confused, she spun around, finally seeing the StarClan cats for the first time. There coats were neatly groomed, radiant with stars. A flicker of light, like fire and ice, showed in their luminous orbs. There was no malice, only a solemn dignity. "Welcome Aquafang", "Are you ready to accept the responsibility of the clan?" The cats spoke as if they had rehearsed it before. Aquafang swallowed hard. "I will do what I can", she promised. From the ranks of starry felines, a gingery gold she-cat padded foreword. Her eyes sparkled with fun and her face was displaying undimmed delight. A look of recognition crossed Aquafang's features. "Aurorapaw!", she mewed with joy, but there was sadness too. Young Aurorapaw had never made a warrior, having died too soon. She came to a halt in front of Aquafang, periwinkle orbs filled with boundless excitement. "With this life, I give you faith and optimism!", she chirruped. "Use it for leading your clan through tough times." She dipped her head and touched noses with Aquafang. Aquafang was unprepared for the jolt that electrified her; not of pain, she could handle that, but of joy. An unquenchable zest for life flooded her senses, making her as giddy as a kit. She felt as if she stood on a cloud of positive energy, untouched by the pain and fear that threatened to pull her down; aloft and carefree, like the wheeling swallows over StreamClan territory. It was then that she realized the truth about Aurorapaw, that even when downhearted, there was always part of her mind that was untouched by pain or fear. Even when lying on her deathbed, Aurorapaw remained happy, never having fully backed down into suffering. When the tidal wave of emotions passed, the young apprentice had slowly backed away from Aquafang with a quick wink.