.. holds more pain than burying the dead.
There was no glory where they stood. Only the damp kiss of the wind over the water, spraying a thin cloud of mist against them. Firefly Cove hadn't changed significantly over the course of years, so the beach they graced would be familiar to her. Hawkstar didn't want to meet her on strange ground.. he wanted to meet her where the river and the trees truly met, where blood stained the sands red for generations. A place where no compromise could be met in life, but perhaps in death he could make a difference.
He carried with him an air of calmness, passive in his approach as he took a seat along the shoreline. Unlike cats who acted bigger than they were, he was acutely aware of his place... Truth be told, he was hesitant about even doing this. But he felt a RiverClan perspective might be important, away from the deception Magpiewisp spewed.
"Bumblestar.." Her name felt alien on his tongue, unreal as he observed the present-day leader. How she held herself, the confidence she oozed in every movement. What could he even offer a cat that surpassed his success in every way?
"It's time you received your fifth life, if you're interested."
"Hah!" Hawkstar shouldn't have been surprised to see him, but... His heart sank. Brokenstar was closer to the treeline, a near shadow among the meadow.
"Careful there, kid. His almighty wisdom led to the Clans losing themselves, 'n you just got ThunderClan back in stride. Take anything he says with a grain of salt."
Hawkstar sighed.
"I am not going to argue with you, Brokenstar. I recognize my failures and shortcomings and have paid for it tenth fold... have you?"
A rumbly growl.
"Moping in your own self-pity is hardly a price, but leave it to a fish to think their inaction is worthy of acknowledgement." Brokenstar snapped his tail, but instead of joining them he continued his way into the woods.
"Don't waste her time, boy."
"I don't want to waste her time, but your intrusion isn't helping!" For a change, Hawkstar’s fur ruffled - upset with this derailment. He knew all this, already. He wasn't going to deny the truth or prolong a losing argument. He had accepted his faults, watched his Clan suffer for his mistakes, had seen them rise again and fall and struggle to maintain stability. And he was tired.
Hawkstar hoped when the time came, he could speak to one of RiverClan’s new leaders. Fadingstar or the little lion... Give them a break from the hell they were enduring. But their star had yet reached the sky, so here he was. A lone figure in the face of an ageless wrath and an icon.
"The choice is yours, Bumblestar. All I offer is a life and the wisdom that itself brings, I'm not going to pretend I have much more to give." He dipped his head to her, awaiting her decision.
[ @
dino. ]
regret [p]
