As the Sun Rises - a one-shot

As the Sun Rises~


Late evening settled over a forest and the first stars began to shine as two loners found a place to bed down for the night.

"Mama! Tell me again, tell me about the wild cats!" Fern bounded in circles around her mother, her small tabby tail waving wildy in excitement.

"Alright, alright," her mother purred. "Come settle down for bed and I'll tell you." She finished pawing leaves into a cozy nest at the base of a sheltering oak, and folded up into it.

Fern quickly curled up next to her mother. Her mother began. Fern listened to the stories about the nearby clans of cats and how they were comprised of fierce, loyal warriors, persevering through all trials and braving merciless enemies. She imagined herself as one of them, and the thought made her now-sleepy eyes grow bright again.

"Mama, if anything ever tried to hurt you, I'd turn into a warrior for you. I'd SLASH whatever hurt you! I don't know what I would do without you. That's why I wouldn't even let anything get to you," she mewed, hoping she sounded very bold and caring and that her mother would be proud of her.

"That's very sweet, dear," her mother replied. "But although we would all like to protect those we love from harm, sometimes we can't control what happens. Sometimes bad things happen, and we don't know why. But we have to carry on anyway, and fight like a warrior even after it seems like we've lost all hope. Hope is what gets you through. Every day there is new hope, just like every day the sun rises and brings us new light. Don't ever give up hope, love, and you will always be able to carry on like a warrior." She licked Fern's little ears affectionately, hoping her daughter understood.

Fern nodded, thinking about the warmth of the sun. Did hope feel the same way? Was it bright like the sun too? But before she could ask her mother those questions, she slipped into sleep. That night she dreamed of carrying on hope like a true warrior, defending her mother from all harm, all under the warm, determined glow of the sun.


One moon later~


It had happened so fast. Fern hardly realized what was going on until it was already over.

One moment there was only the darkness and silence of the night, and then so suddenly there was noise and light, stench and hot metal, a giant monster in the way, and then screeching and bumping and oh, the panic, and then it was all over, and everything faded back into silence and darkness, and Fern found herself sobbing into her mother's broken pelt on the edge of the Thunderpath.

Her mother... her sweet, sweet mama. All hurt and small and barely hanging on. They'd just been out hunting at night. This wasn't supposed to happen. Fern felt her insides twist and collapse into a dark pit of fear and grief.

"P-please don't g-go, mama," Fern sobbed into her mother's fur. "You can't go, you can't. Somebody has to help, somebody, oh mama, what am I gonna do without you?" That thought sent her into more sobs, her still-young voice rising almost into squeaks. Her mother was always going to be there. They were both going to be warriors! How was she supposed to do that now? And -- "I wanted to protect you, mama! I'm supposed to be a warrior for you! I can't - "

Her mother cut her off, wheezing out a pained reply. "Dear, dear, hush. Remember when I told you about how sometimes we can't control things, even bad things? Now, listen. When the light fades each night, like now, and just as you feel like all the hope is leaving you now, look up at the stars. They appear every night, right?"

Fern glanced up at the smattering of stars above her. "Yes," she sobbed.

"Do you know what they're doing?" her mother whispered.

"What are they doing?" Fern whispered back, trying to calm her panicked heart and absorb her mother's every word.

"They're reminding you of the countless suns left to rise, the infinite number of hopeful beginnings awaiting you," she coughed feebly, somehow managing a small smile for her daughter. "Now, go and find the clans of cats. They'll take you in, and you'll become a fierce and beautiful warrior. I know you will make me proud. Don't be afraid, my love. I will always be with you, and you will always find hope, just as the sun will always rise again." And with that, she closed her eyes, exhaled one last little breath, and was gone.

Fern pressed into the last of her precious mother's warmth as it faded into the stillness of the night. She still felt the emptiness of the darkness in her heart. But she also made a promise. "I will, mama. I will be your sun. And I will rise for you."~