Goodbye

I opened my eyes feebly. There was a pretty tortoiseshell was in the den. She was talking to Mothwing. There words were a buzz to my ears, and everything was becoming fainter.

I wanted to cry out in pain, but I could barely breathe. It seemed like the poison that was seeping through my body, poisoning my veins. I saw the tortoiseshell, Leafpool go over to Minnowkit.

Anger welled up inside me. This was all Minnowkit's fault! She was the one who made us sneak out of camp! She was the one who told us dared to run through that sticky green stuff! And then she made us drink the disgusting stuff! I realized that it was the green stuff that made us sick.

"Juniper berries are disgusting . . ." I heard Minnowkit murmur, before she fell asleep. She was released of the nightmare. The pain that consumed my thoughts, my every breath, and me. The fury was still growing. It was roaring, like one of the LionClan cats of old. Why did she get to be free, while I still suffered?

How could you Minnowkit? I thought forlornly, as the two medicine cats came to my side. I could barely feel the breath in my throat, and I felt myself get weaker. They were quickly inserting herbs, which I could barely distinguish down my throat. For the first time in days, I felt my throat ease up. No longer was I in pain.

The last thing I saw was the kind face of the ThunderClan apprentice medicine cat, staring over me, before the blackness consumed me. For the first time in sunrises, I was at peace.

I dreamt I was in a starlit clearing, filled with warriors I didn't recognize. But there was one I did know. A silvery gray she-cat, who was sitting in the center of the clearing. Before she died, she had been one of the warriors who were willing to come play with me sometimes.

"Feathertail!" I cried my voice high pitched with jubilation. I felt like I would never see her again. I was suddenly aware that I was no longer in pain. A shiver passed through me. Those light blue eyes stared at me solemly, and then I knew.

"I'm dying, aren't I?" I whispered, plainly aware of where I was now. I was in StarClan.

Feathertail nodded solemly. "I'm sorry Duskkit, but your time is now," Feathertail murmured, in that soft, gentle voice I had come to know over the first few moons of my life. Flashes of memory passed though my head, and I knew what had to be done.

"Feathertail?" I asked timidly, afraid of what the answer would be. "Can I . . . can I say goodbye?"

Feathertail, surprised by my question, turned to another silver warrior behind her, the silver warrior nodded, and then Feathertail nodded at me. "Hurry," she murmured gently.

My eyes fluttered open. Leafpool, nor Mothwing, was around. I knew my time was short, and I had to say what needed to be said.

"I forgive you Minnowkit." I murmured quietly, wishing I could share tongues with my sister one last time. But I knew that I didn't have that time, and my life was slipping away. This was goodbye.

And I wonder,

Where you are

And if the pain ends

When you die

I wonder

If there was

Some better way

To say

Goodbye