Just a Promise

Ju st a Pr om is e

by Ph oe nix Fl ig ht

"Rainpaw?"

"Yes, Sister?"

"Promise me something."

"Hmmm?"

"Promise me that you'll never leave me alone."

"Haven't I already made that promise?"

"Mistfall? Sister?" my mew rings through the still night air.

"Rainstorm?" Mistfall's drowzy voice answers, wavering slightly. Her pale cream pelt slides through the lichens of the medicine cat den, and her light blue eyes look as if they're still adjusting to the darkness of moonhigh. "What d'you need?" she yawns, her white teeth flashing.

"Remember that promise we made as apprentices? Right after you changed from warrior to medicine cat?" I ask hesitantly.

She stares blankly at me, then lets out a trill. "Oh, I remember! You'll never leave me, yeah, that one." She waves her tail and blinks. "Honestly, I'm surprised you still remember it."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean!" I huff, glaring at her.

"You're really forgetful." Mistfall purrs. "Remember the time you forgot to assign patrols? Cats were running around, so confused because they didn't know what patrols to go on! It was hilarious!" Her one dark paw reaches toward me, a gesture that always let me know she was only joking.

I can't stifle a small laugh. "C'mon! How could I forget a promise, fluff-brain? Especially one with my own sister." I nudge her shoulder with my paw, and she tackles me, laughing. Then her cream fur slips away from me, and I get back to my paws. I wave my long, feathery tail as a good-bye, and she does the same. We turn and pad back to our respective dens.

In the warriors' den, I curl back up beside Tigerstripe. He mumbles a protest. "Five more minutes, mom..."

I stifle a purr and soon, listening to the soft breathing and snoring of my Clanmates, drift off into a peaceful sleep.

~

"Mistfall! I need more catmint." my mentor Darkstripe calls from where he's sitting. "Take a couple warriors to Twolegplace and get some, if you would." he meows.

I nod briskly and step out into the calming daylight. The sky is really pretty today, and the clouds look scattered and distant, a few tiny ones straying from the bigger ones.

A memory replays in my mind. I remember when Rainstorm and I left the camp as kits and explored the forest. We were fine when we returned, and I had a huge clump of catmint in my mouth, Rainstorm with a mouse. Rosewind, our mother, was worried sick about us. We had tried to tell her we were fine, but she ordered us to go to Crowflight, the medicine cat when Darkstripe was an apprentice. I wonder if that's how the clouds will be... just the little ones straying, then returning...

An irritable yowl shakes me from my thoughts. "Mistfall! Catmint!"

-tbc-