Our Farewell -Graysong and Phoenix-

[Ki]

"In my hands
A legacy of memories"

Phoenix's paws dragged against the frozen dirt. A soft white cloud rose from his mouth everytime he took a gasping breath. He had run the entire distance from the heart of WindClan to...wherever he was. Now he was gasping for breath. In the cool air, he felt as if he were overheated. The contrast of warm against cold made him all the more uncomfortable. Phoenix collapsed under a tree with a low moan.

Graysong was dead. She'd died just two days after giving birth to her kits.

Their kits.

Phoenix curled up in a tight ball. If he thought hard enough, he could see her: long and lithe with a beautiful gray and white pelt. Yellow eyes that seemed to calm everyone when they met their gaze. And a sweet, pure voice like that of a bird's song.

"I can hear you say my name
I can almost see your smile
Feel the warmth of your embrace"

The image of his mate was swept away by a freezing gust of wind. Light flecks of snow came with it. They clung to his orange tabby pelt for a few moments before melting into little droplets of water. Now Phoenix understood: Graysong hadn't abandoned him. She'd died. And that tom, the one who told him Graysong was dead then chased him out, was his own son. One of them at least.

"There is nothing but silence now
Around the one I love
Is this our farewell?"

He tried to think back. For so long he had tried to forget her. Now he just wanted to remember every single precious moment he had with her...

xxxx

Many, many moons before, during greenleaf, Phoenix paced along the border of WindClan territory. If he heard a noise or thought he smelled a WindClan cat other than the one he was waiting for, he dove into the brush that lined the territory. Only after a few tense moments would he come out of hiding. Finally, a gray she-cat appeared across the moor. She saw him, grinned, and sprinted towards him. Phoenix smiled dreamily. Graysong was so graceful. In a flash, she was at his side.

"There you are!" Phoenix purred. The two nuzzled against each other. Each cat drank in the other's scent and the feel of fur brushing against fur. "I've been worried that some patrol would spot me!"

Graysong giggled. "You're just paranoid, that's all."

Her mate only shrugged. "I get so lonely when we're not together." Phoenix's eyes shone with sadness. "Sometimes I regret leaving ThunderClan."

"Sweet darling, you worry to much
My child, see the sadness in your eyes"

"If you'd never left I probably wouldn't have ever said two words to you." Graysong replied as she nuzzled against him. Around strangers, especially cats from other Clans, she was very quiet and shy. "And, if I had, we wouldn't be able to do this. Not without feeling guilty at least." Her yellow eyes blinked at him playfully. "My mother wouldn't be so keen to help us, either."

"You are not alone in life
Although you might think
That you are"

She had a point. With another purr, he nuzzled against her again. "Perhaps. But I think StarClan meant for you and I to be together. We would have found a way." Phoenix's eyes shone. When they first meant, there was no intention of becoming mates. At first Phoenix had just been someone for Graysong to tell her woes to. Her father had recently died, and he had been her shoulder to cry on. But even after she'd gotten over the death, they'd kept on meeting. Until, eventually, Phoenix decided to confess that he loved her.

It was the best decision he'd ever made.

xxxx

A few moons later, Graysong came to meet him again. Her eyes sparkled with such happiness, he knew something great had happened. She greeted him with extreme enthusiasm, a low purr already rumbling in her throat.

"Well you're in a fantasic mood today!" Phoenix teased.

"Guess why." Graysong replied.

"Hm...your apprentice became a warrior?"

"No."

"You made a fantastic kill today?"

"Guess again!"

"Hmm...I don't know."

Graysong mewed, "I'm having kits!"

"I never thought
This day would come so soon"

Phoenix's eyes widened. A cool breeze swept through his fur, and somewhere a bird trilled. After a few moments, Phoenix jumped into the air and let out an overjoyed yowl. Graysong laughed at his reaction. Phoenix moved closer to his mate and began to purr loudly.

"You'll be the most beautiful queen in the whole nursery." he murmured.

"And you'll be the best father in the world." Graysong replied quietly.

xxxx

Phoenix felt anguish tear at his heart as he remembered the day the news had been delivered. How happy he'd been! Graysong was to have his kits. Too bad he hadn't known that it would be one of the last times he would ever see her again. If he could, he would go back and cherish every last second he had with her. He would have stayed with her as long as possible.

"We had no time to say goodbye
How can the world just carry on?
I feel so lost when you're not at my side"

Despite the pain, he continued to think back. All the way to those final meetings. Up until he last saw her...

"But there is nothing but silence now
Around the one I love
Is this our farewell?

xxxx

"So, does your Clan know yet?" The future parents were strolling along the border together. They walked close enough to let their pelts brush against each other with each step they took. Phoenix hoped no one would come this far out. If they did, there would be no mistaking what sort of relationship existed between the two of them.

"Yes," Graysong replied, "they know. My mother joked about how I'm following in her pawsteps." A small smile came on to her face.

Phoenix chuckled. "I doubt we'll have as many litters as your mother." Suddenly another thought came to his mind. He mewed, "Graysong, promise me you'll take extra care of yourself these next two moons."

Graysong stopped and blinked at him with her yellow eyes. "Of course, Phoenix. I don't want anything happening to our kits." She fell into step beside him again. She purred, "But nothing will go wrong. You'll see."

"Sweet darling, you worry too much
My child, see the sadness in your eyes
You are not alone in life
Although you might think
That you are"

xxxx

Phoenix let out an anguished yowl. How wrong she'd been! His poor, sweet Graysong! His poor kits! They'd grown up as orphans! No mother or father to speak of! Maybe, once he got over the shock and pain, he'd find that tom again. That smoky gray tom that had his eyes. He would tell him who he was, and they could have a relationship at last. Phoenix could meet the tom's littermates too, his other kits...

But for now, he had to mourn. He had to grieve. Phoenix set a paw over his muzzle to shield his eyes from the world and from the icy winds and snow. All this time he'd been so angry at her. For leaving him, for abandoning him. Well, Graysong had left him. Unwillingly. She'd been pulled from life by the cruel claws of death. Leaving him to fend for himself in a lonely world.

xxxx

"So he finally found out, then?" Cloudheart was sitting beside his friend in the skies of WindClan. Graysong's eyes were on her mate, her ears drawn back tightly.

"He looks so sad." Hailkit mewed. Her three kits, Goldenkit, Rowankit, and Hailkit said beside her. All had died shortly after birth, leaving their brother Smokekit as the only survivor. "He really loved you, didn't he Mother?"

Graysong nodded her head slowly. "He wanted to meet you so badly..."

"He can still meet Smokepaw." Goldenkit mewed.

"Kits, Cloudheart...can I be alone? Please?" Graysong mewed quietly.

"Of course." Cloudheart mewed. "Come on, little ones." Even if they were technically about twelve or thirteen moons old, he still couldn't help but call them 'little ones.' They didn't seem to mind thankfully. The three kits nuzzled against their mother before bounding after Cloudheart.

Graysong sighed as her friend led her kits away. She looked down at Phoenix, who had summoned the strength to trudge towards the shelter and safety of the Loners Barn. Look what she'd reduced him to. A lonely, frightened shell of the cat he'd once been. Why couldn't she just have summoned the strength to confess the father? Perhaps, if had been her final wish, Ravenstar would have allowed him into the Clan. If only to stay near his single kit and be close to him..

"So sorry
Your world is tumbling down"

She tried to ease the fall of the snow. Her fellow StarClan cats had sent the snow storm to show their disapproval of the recent arguments between the Clans. But she knew that Phoenix needed help getting back. The snow, as well as his own sorrow, was getting to him. The snowfall let up a bit, but not by much. Graysong silently urged him onwards. She padded above him through the skies. Finally, she watched as he slipped into the warmth and safety of the Loners Barn.

"I will watch you through these nights
Rest your head and go to sleep
Because, my child
This is not our farewell"

Graysong smiled briefly. Phoenix would be fine for the night. He'd lay down and sleep, then in the morning catch a plump mouse or two. She turned and padded across the skies towards the WindClan camp. She would check on her son as well. In the morning she'd watch after Phoenix. Though she missed him, she knew eventually he would die. Then he would join her, and their kits, in StarClan.

"This is not..."

"Sleep well, Phoenix." Graysong murmured as she looked back. "I love you."

"...our farewell..."

[spike]

*sniffle* This makes me tempted to write a story for Eaglewing's opinion on the whole thing!

[Ki]

You should! >3

The rivalry continues!!!!!!

...sorta

[Kitty]

Awww. *sniffle*

Cloudheart made an appearance! =O