[poppy]

 

Originally Posted by sol.

 

LILYCREEK

Silversnow.

The rawness of loss had yet to fade. Lilycreek doubted it would ever fade. One did not simply forget their child, much less one they had formed a bond with.

Silversnow.

It was Sproutkit all over again. Her little Sprout, who was so far away from her. Playing among the stars. He had died moons ago, and it was only recently that she could think about her son without feeling the need to shatter the sky into pieces.

Silversnow.

Moons. It had taken moons for her to heal. Would it take even longer for her to heal from this? She had four moons with Sproutkit- Silversnow had been with her ever since Sproutkit's death. That was what? Seven, eight moons ago? Almost twice the time.

Lilycreek was beginning to think she would never heal. That she'd go about becoming bitter and vengeful for the rest of her life. Because she had lost too much in this world.

Sproutkit. Rosemarypaw. Codkit and Coldkit, whom she hadn't even had time to know. Adderscale. Pearlshine, Blackfin, Cindernose, Sugarbee. Willowkit. Pineflower. Bluebellpaw. Mother. Father. Codpaw. Lynxkit. Snowypaw. Spottedspirit. Koipool. Goosecurl. All of the cats she loved, all the ones she had lost.

Every time she lost one, a piece of her heart seemed to shatter with them.

Silversnow.

But as a familiar call broke over camp, Lilycreek found herself moving instinctively. Her other kid, Briarpaw. The queen wearily dragged herself outside. Had Briar found something? Did something happen-

Oh. Dully, the queen stared at Antlerstreak's body. Briar's father. Lilycreek stared at Briarpaw, frowning. What was he doing so close to an edge? Antlerstreak wasn't blind. Painfully ignorant to his children, nerve-grating and reckless, but not blind. Or perhaps the tom had been more useless than Lilycreek gave him credit for.

But, Lilycreek just padded over to Briarpaw, and wrapped her in a hug. Silently, she rested her cheek on the apprentice's head, stroking her back with her tail rhythmically. There was nothing else she could do, nothing she could offer. She did not like Antlerstreak one bit; but Briarpaw did. She loved her father, so much.

So much more than he deserved.

But the queen did nothing, just continued to gently hug her daughter, resting her cheek onto of the apprentice's head. If Stonepaw would allow her, she'd pull him close as well. [ @carmen ]

There was no room in her heart to grief for Antlerstreak, no room to sympathize for him. But there was always space for Briar. "It's okay." She whispered softly. "You can cry. It's going to be okay, my little Briar. You've been so strong."


[apologies for the icky post.]

@carmen

Briarpaw almost wailed with relief as Lilycreek made an appearance, wobbling slightly as she clung to her brother. Lilycreek's embrace made the apprentice sag, crumpling against the molly, still holding on to Stonepaw as she pressed her face into Lily's ginger and white fur. This cat that was like a mother to her held her close, and the words that the queen uttered struck Briarpaw right in the heart. Lily's going to be here. Forever and always. You don't have to be strong right now.

She could be strong later.

The thought was followed by the apprentice letting out a low sob, her chest aching with the suppressed wails as she buried herself against the forever queen's fur, anguish and grief sending cold shocks throughout her body. Her sobs were muffled, and her shoulders shook. "Dad..." She blubbered hoarsely, paws shaking as she blindly fumbled for her brother. To make sure he was still there. That he wasn't shattering or being crowded.

[so sorry for the shorter post, I'm trying to knock out all replies out tonight since I'm going on a small break on the 12-14 and want a clean slate for when I return!! ]