Let Sleep Take Me

[hedgie]

Riley sighed, his charcoal-tipped tail lashed out behind him in bordom. The golden tabby tom stood up and lightly padded across the open beams until he found the selected spot where he would sleep that night.

He curled up, front paws used as a pillow and his tail wrapped around him to keep him warm. Even in Greenleaf, some nights could still be cold.

Oh, how he wished for the warm nest he'd had next to Cedarfur. How he missed his old life, the life he hoped he could one day gain back. He wanted to go home, but some undescribable thing kept him from running headlong into camp.

Soon sleep came, and with it were his always-restless dreams.

[spike]

The tom kit slithered towards the sleeping rogue. The skies of his Clan felt unwelcoming compared to this cat. Briarkit recognized him from somewhere but his memory was not having a great time doing so. "Woh!" The kit exclaimed as he felt himself tumbling down. Into the dream he slipped and on his paws he landed with ease. The dream was dark and had no sign of action. A flick of his tail and Briarkit added the usual starry forest of StarClan for a scenary.

Now it's a waiting game, you rogue,[/u] he thought. Briarkit sat patiently in a bush with his emerald eyes intent on the clearing before him.[/color]

[hedgie]

It was always the same. He shot up like a bolt of lightning, but something was different. Where were the nameless, faceless cats that chased him all night and into the morning?

He couldn't see anything yet. It was too dark here for even a cat to see, but there was a bit of light off to his left and he blinbdly crept in that direction, confused at the sight.

"Who's there? You aren't here to chade me away like all those others? I don't want to run anymore. I don't want those dreams." He growled softly, until he saw a kit sitting at his paws.

"Um......do I know you?" He asked, head tilting towards his left side. This was not his ordinary dream.

[spike]

Briarkit instantly recognized the voice. "Lightwind!" he exclaimed before tackling the taller cat. "Oh, wow, I haven't seen hide or tail of you since you and Spottedtail left. I never thought I'd get to walk in your dream! This is so cool! Wait until I-!"

The kit cut the sentence short and stepped off of Riley. "No, I can't tell her," he said to himself. Now he was pacing around worriedly. "She would just go and freak out. Out of the blue her brother shows up to tell her about Lightwind. I haven't visited her in a moon. It'd be too much of a shock."

[hedgie]

"Lightwind? No one's called me that in moons!" He mewed, schok fading into a purr. "I never really wanted to change my name....I just didn't want cats asking me about those lies." He sighed. 'but I guess you can call me Lightwind. Riley Bones has never really fit."

So....this had to be Briarkit. Cedarfur had told him of his lost older brother when he'd been about 7 moons old. "I've always wanted to meet you."

"You could. Even if it'd be a shock, she needs to know I'm alright, doing as well as I can. Tell her I'll come back someday, that i never did those things they said I did. That I miss her. Oh! You don't even know how much I miss Cedarfur. It feels like it's been so long. Only four moons, but that's just like forever."

He studied the little cat. "You know I was framed, right?"

[spike]

Briarkit fluffed his fur and struck a pose. "Please, I know everything, Light- er, Riley. What a weird name." Briarkit sat and began grooming his chest. He stayed silent before looking up.

"So, Riley, you've really missed Cedarfur, huh? Never stopped by to see her though." The little tom's voice fell to a whisper. "She's forfed herself to forget, you know.She's been getting along fine but she doesn't talk of you any more. None of ShadowClan does." The kit lifted himself up again with new strength. "Cedarfur misses you. It was really hard on her to lose you and Spottedtail. When Emberstreak and Goldstep passed, she had you two. I didn't interfere with her life until you two were exiled."

He shook his head in disgust. "Rhey've all forgotten about you. A warrior of theirs, Foxfur, has kits in WindClan. That's what they think of now. Riley, you should really see Cedarfur. She's struggled a bit and seeing you again might help."

[hedgie]

"I couldn't stop by. I didn't know how soon was too soon to go back. I've been so restless since I was forced to leave. and i have these horrible dreams. I think the only place I'll feel safe is back in Shadowclan. And since you say that they've got omore important things to worry about, maybe I should go see her.
But what if I run into a patrol, and not her?"

I can't go back without hurting her anyway. Once she knows she the last of her litter alive..... he thought, shaking his head. "Does she know about Spottedtail? That he's dead too? I just couldn't do that to her."

[spike]

"I have always told her you two have faired well but I never told her the truth. I know what happened to Spottedtail. I walk with StarClan as he does, Riley. Spottedtail being in StarClan does mean he is better off. The life of a rogue is no good. You would know. I have never told her the truth yet I have never lied. Since I did not know your whereabouts, I was not lying."

The kit snorted and lowered his ears. "Listen to me. Being in StarClan for too long, I swear. I sound like such an elder. Anyways, Riley, it's good to see you but I can't tell her about you. It's not my place. I can say you are alive but it would be up to you to see her. And don't go saying that telling her about Spottedtail will hurt her. Having you two gone was equal to death. The least you can do is give her some knowledge that at least one sibling lives. She lost mom, dad, Spottedtail, and me. I may walk her dreams, but it's not the same."

[hedgie]

"Maybe...maybe. Yeah...I'll go find her. I don't think either of us can stand this any longer. If I run into a patrol....so what? I'm fine, and I'm as healthy as I can be." He nodded sharply and uncurled his tail from his paws.

"I should go now...so, I guess it would be wise to let you go now. It was nice talking to you, Briarkit." He sighed. This wouldn't be a mistake. It felt right, but there was still fear.

((Is Cedarfur busy, or could you start a thread with her in it so he can see her again?))

[spike]

((Well, she needs to get up. I'll have Runningfrost send her out on a hunting patrol. Maybe Eagleflight can join her.))

"Wait!" Briarkit whined. "I don't get to get out of StarClan often. Just tell me one thing, Riley. Will you be careful? It's Cedarfur we're talking about. She's a nice cat but you know how she acts. She has trouble with emotions sometimes. I can't talk to her except through dreams and I can't help you with what you'll say. I've been there to take care of Cedarfur since she lost you two."

His eyes now narrowed on his brother. "I may be a kit, Riley, but I will not have her hurt again. You have to be careful. She'll be thrilled but do not make it seem like it's a 'see-me-once' deal. Don't trick her."

[hedgie]

"I wouldn't do that to her. I'll either go back to camp with her and prove my innocence, or come and visit often." Riley mewed soflty, dragging his left front paw in a circle.

"I'll be as careful as I can. I'm not known for being reckless, you know." He purred sadly. "You can always come and talk to me. You keep the nightmares away, Briarkit."

[spike]

Briarkit did a classical kit move: tilted his head to the side in a confused look. "Nightmares?" he inquired. "What nightmares, Riley? I didn't hear about that. What goes on in them? I sat through Cedarfur's nightmares once. She always had nightmares about mom's words. You don't know much but Emberstreak always liked talking about me even if I was gone. You know how Cedarfur is. She easily feels guilt. So her dreams were pretty sad. But what about yours? Maybe I can help, being a dream-wanderer myself."

[hedgie]

"It's always really, really dark. So dark I can't even see. Then, these wierd, shadowy cats come out of nowhere and start chasing me and all I can hear are thier paws, all I can feel is their breath on my heels, and all I can see is this little speck of light ahead...but I never reach it. It gets closer every time...but
I never get there." Riley sighedm staring at the ground. "I've had them ever since I....left."

[spike]

Briarkit winced to hear it. "Sounds bad," he muttered. 'Lots of cats have bad dreams until something is cleared. I guess your concious is pretty heavy. Well, for now, I'll keep visiting your dreams to keep it away. Cedarfur can wait. Once we figure out what causes those dreams, I won't have to keep seeing you. Knowing my sister, she's probably still asleep but you can take a risk and head down to ShadowClan territory. Get some water and get some prey. You'll be there a while waiting. She's the cat that walks slow."

Briarkit stood and brushed against Riley's fur. "I missed you, brother. It was nice watching you from StarClan but it's even better walking your dreams. I'll see you next time you sleep, okay?"

[hedgie]

"I don't know what it has to be heavy about." Riley muttered sourly, then brushed the feeling away with a shake of his entire body, from nose to tail tip. "i just hope we figure it out soon. i can't keep you around forever. You have Starclan things to do." He curled up and rested his head upon his paws once again.

"I've missed you too, my brother. I'll see you soon then." He purred and was soon awake, away from that darkened dream land.

((Ready to wake up Cedarfur? I'll have him waiting wherever you send her.))