Day of Honor

[Owlstar]

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Day of Honor
by ~Owlstar

Mourning Cry of a Wolf looked solemnly out of the cave, her sober eyes emotionless as she examined the outside of the cave. Her mother sat beside her, Day that Turns to Night's familiar dark fur brushing against Mourning's flank. The kitten turned her face to her mother's and peered into her emerald eyes, her gaze swam with sorrow and awe. It would be a day of great importance; it was palpable in the cool mountain air.
Behind the two she-cats, a young tom lounged in a nest of feathers. A picture of jealously was pasted on his hostile features and a low growl was humming between his parted lips. Mourning did not let her brother's negative attitude affect her, few such things did. She simply turned her furry gray head toward Sun in the Blue Sky. "It will be the same between us; I know you will miss me." She gave him a vacant smile, his anger flying over her head.
In response to her ignorance, he rose in a rage and stormed out of the den with his tail lashing. Mourning stared after him, her amber eyes wide with surprise at her brother's swift exit. She did not understand her brother's moods, of that sort of thing, she understood very little, though intellectually she could solve the most difficult riddle and figure out the most complex strategic formation.
"Why is he so angry, mama?" Her mew was quiet and innocent, honestly confused. Day just looked down at her with a patient smile. She didn't answer immediately, as she lifted her gaze from her daughter and back to the cave exit. "Won't you tell me? I do not understand him. I am cordial to him, but all he does is respond in anger."
Day sighed and licked the crest of Mourning's furry head. "My dear, it is not so simple as that. Sun doesn't perceive your abilities as a gift, but as an annoyance." Mourning was becoming even more confused as her mother spoke, what was there not to understand? Her intelligence was a gift and the honor she was being given was greater, so she heard. She did not know why he could not just be happy for her. "Sun will understand someday, but he is unhappy he will not be honored in this way."
"Oh, well, I suppose I understand. But I was clearly a better choice than he was, whatever I was chosen for, I am much smarter." She was not gloating, her eyes did not boast, she just stated a fact she knew to be true. Day just smiled but didn't turn to meet her gaze. Across the sheltered cave a lean black tom shifted his direction towards the nursery. His face was blank as he approached the small side cave. He slid in and sat next to Day that Turns to Night. Mourning looked up at her father warmly, he did not often come by, and he was always away on the grounds. He looked at her strangely now.
With her innocently intelligent eyes she stared at her father, smiling. "Hello, papa, how have you been?" Her bright eyes blinked as her father failed to respond in the proper amount of time. Shifting, she leaned back into position and she rotated her ears as if she had said nothing.
"Mourning," Her father, Darkness without Light, murmured. "Today, is a day of honor. We are very proud of you." Mourning's eyes swiveled toward Darkness and she gave him a curt nod. "Dragon that Soars Overhead will be here soon to escort you. Be polite and don't speak unless spoken too." His voice carried almost no emotion, most kits would be unnerved by the disconnected tone but Mourning did not understand. She heard the words but not the lack of emotion.
"Papa, what honor am I being given? Why must Dragon escort me away?" She looked honestly confused again; she had not heard the whispers that spread around the camp. All the shrouded looks and poorly concealed words had all past her. They called her strange, different, and weird, murmured words had been exchanged about her future. She stared at her parents, about to speak again but before she could, her mother pressed against her. Day's warm muzzle pressed against Mourning's thickly furred neck.
Day was sniffling, warm tears rolling down her cheeks as she clutched her daughter close to her body. Mourning was shocked by the sudden contact and she stiffened immediately, jerking backwards. Her mother pulled away slowly, watching her daughter with teary green eyes. "Oh, dear, when Dragon comes we won't see each other for quite a long time. I want you to know we love you." Though Day was overcome with emotion, Darkness was discreetly curling his lip. Mourning just blinked at the phrase.
Her father stood in front of her, his yellow eyes distant. "Mourning, you have been chosen. There will be many trials a head of you. You will be the next Healer. The Honorable Eagle will train you." The silence extended tensely, her parents shifting, staring at her with expectant eyes as the gears in her brain whirred behind her eyes. She had heard of the current healer, they said she was noble and benevolent, but she rarely left her shadowed cave and none came to her.
"Okay." Mourning said lamely, blinking in bewilderment, a new sensation for her. She was about to berate her parents with questions when Dragon that Soars Overhead arrived. He was the head Cave-guard and was monstrous. His body was formed of chiseled muscle, covered with thick, pitch black fur. Dragon's eyes gleamed in a shade of dark yellow. He was so large, he could barely squeeze into cramped den.
His somber eyes focused on Mourning, she was still looking confused though she was quickly recovering her wits. "Come." In one simple word the mood changed, Day and Darkness backed up and bowed their heads respectfully. Dragon slid out of the den and beckoned for Mourning to follow. Despite her normal disconnected personality, she couldn't help glancing back at her parents, worrying as normal kittens do; wondering what was going to happen.
It seemed the whole Tribe had gathered to see Mourning off. All were staring at her with curious eyes. As she passed, they bowed their heads in respect to her and raised a paw to Dragon as well. There was not a sound to be heard but the slight shift of fur. The walk seemed longer than it truly was. Mourning could feel their stares when they raised their faces; she tried to regain control of her emotions. But their bowed heads and respect was strange from the moons of whispers that she had received before. She hardly noticed when they reached the entrance of a long, winding cave.
"I will take you as far as the fork in the path. Then, you will have to choose." Dragon bobbed his head beneath the arched entrance but the ceiling rose and the cave guard wasn't vexed with his ears brushing against the ceiling.
They didn't speak as they trudged through the dank cave. The steady drip of water droplets echoed drearily. It was ink black, even with their eyes stretched wide they could hardly place their paws in front of them. At points it got narrow, her whiskers brushing the sides of the walls, and other times it was cavernous, like she was swimming in darkness. Mourning stumbled once or twice, her paws bruised and weary.
Somehow, Dragon knew when they reached the fork. He stopped abruptly, Mourning nearly bumped into his haunches. Everything was just as black before, an inkling of fear crept into her heart, the cave had gone quiet. Only the willowy breath of Mourning penetrating the thick darkness. The near-silence went on for what seemed like forever, the kitten's heart pounded rapidly. She felt she would cry out if Dragon did not speak up soon.
As if he heard her prayers, his bass voice echoed in the cavern. "Take the right path. I can go no deeper on holy ground. Then, you will hug the left wall until you reach the Star Water. Someday you will learn the other paths, but not today." Dragon that Soars Overhead pressed his warm nose to Mourning Cry of a Wolf's forehead. "Be brave, successor." The broad tom drew back, the soft tap of his paws on the stone floor receded into the distance.
Mourning stood there for a long time, her mind was regaining its previous composure. She was truly alone; the darkness began to hug to her, easing her mind of its previous panic. A deep breath escaped between her lips and she took her first step to the right. The dimpled rock wall caressed the side of her face and her active amber eyes slid closed. As she hugged the wall side, her heart rate lowered and her breathing slowed.
Her paws moved accurately across the worn ground as if she had trod on these paths a hundred times. She didn't let emotions cloud her, her fear had disappeared when the accusing eyes had left and bravery was put in place when she was alone. In her own way, she was almost happy in her solitude. The dark corridors appealed to her. It gave her precious time to think, but she didn't think of her distant family or worries for the future, she considered theories and strategy.
In the nursery, in the few moments when it was quiet, she would scratch out plans of ambush and invasion. None of them had understood the lines and circles and she had drawn up. Her brother had scratched them out each time he saw them. Mourning had never taken it personally; she had tirelessly redone it until Sun of Coming Dawn had given up on harassing her. Now, in the warm grip of darkness she rethought them, envisioning them in vivid colors.
It was the closest feeling of rapture she could experience when a strategy worked out in her head. The giddy sensations in her mind corrupted her outward focus and the wall was suddenly gone from the touch of her whiskers. Her eyes flew open, but they closed just as quickly as the piercing glow from the cave blinded her temporarily. A whimper of discomfort escaped her as her eyes slowly adjusted to the brightness.
She could make out a blurred outline of a cat in her compromised vision which slowly came into focus. Blinking rapidly, she recognized the cat instantly, she never forgot. Although she had been very young, the cat was obviously the Healer, the Holy one, prophet of the stars, Eagle that Perches on Rock. They were just names to Mourning; she deciphered no difference in rank only in ability. This she-cat radiated knowledge and Mourning instantly sank low to the ground pressing her nose against the cold stone.
The Healer turned to face the young cat, starlight shone on her enlightened face. A wispy smile played on her lips, it seemed to be there but it was hard to read. "Hello, Mourning." She purred a lovely ring in her ageless voice that sung of authority and tenderness. "No need for formalities in my cave. Please rise." Eagle rose from her place and strode to Mourning's side, her glowing blue eyes looking down affectionately at the successor.
Mourning eased up slowly, her amber eyes gliding through the spacious cavern. Stars danced along the walls and on the tall stalagmites. It was stunning beautiful, everything was bathed in Holy light. Not only was it gorgeous, the temperature was drastically higher. Jade green moss grew on the floor, cushioning her sore paws. But the springy material tapered off into smooth stone. A hollow was there, filled with water, and fed by cool glacial melt. In the pool, a thousand stars glittered.
Wordlessly, Eagle tapped Mourning on the shoulder and led her to the pool side. The young she-cat's eyes were wide in wonderment. It was even more dazzling up close. Mourning was suddenly parched and yearned to drink from the cool waters. She licked her lips, hardly able to focus when Eagle began to speak.
"Mourning Cry of a Wolf, you have been chosen by the heavens to learn the ways of the stars. You will learn to breath with our ancestors, become connected to their whims, until one day you join them." Eagle sank her paws into the shimmering waters, pressing her pink pads into the fine silt on the pool's bottom. Lifting her striped paw, she pressed it against Mourning's head. "With this bond, the stars will bond to you; share the knowledge of days past. But there is much to learn."
In other scenarios, she would have responded with dull reply of her confidence in her current intelligence. But the profound moment made her hold her tongue. She felt the icy moisture sink into her fur and inch across her skin. It stole the breath from her lungs. Her mind race as the sensations went from the top of her ears to the tip of her tail. Somewhere in the exhilarating experience, Eagle told her to drink, and with quivering whiskers she dipped her muzzle towards the shining pool.
She hesitated, before lapping up the crystalline water. It was like a punch in the gut. Ice landed in her core and freezing tendrils extended throughout her body. But as she warmed, the taste on her tongue was pure and delicious. She yearned to drink more, nothing called to her more than the starry pool. Mourning could have drunk the water forever, but she would still want more. But before she could go for another swallow, Eagle's tail went in front of her.
"The pull of the waters is strong in you. But you must not drink from the pool unless you need to commune with the spirits." Mourning was distraught, eyeing the water with a hungry stare. The healer purred in amusement and pressed her nose against the youth's head. "When I was young, I felt the same. You still have much to learn." She turned, her lithe body sliding along the water's shimmering edge. Her blue eyes glowed in the light.
At this point, Mourning's tongue got the better of her. "Learn of what? I know many things already. I have learned how to ambush a force that invades the cave and I have solved ever riddle Midnight that Cloaks the Moon has given me. I even briefly studied the to-be's fighting and hunting techniques." Her breath was still breathy from her experience, but she spoke in an even tone.
Eagle seemed amused by this and chuckled quietly, while Mourning stared at her intently a flicker of bewilderment shone in her eyes. "Dear, that isn't important here, strategies and hunting. Here, you are no smarter than a newborn kit." The youth had a moment of frustration, a swift expression of anger tainting her features. Eagle didn't seem to notice, her tail swishing on the stone. "But you will learn, I believe in you."
Mourning curled up on the cool stone and studied the water, weighing what she had said. The quiet between them wasn't uncomfortable; each was contemplating and wondering in their own spaces. Steadily, the stars in the water began to fade from the pool and the enchantment was fading for her. Eagle rose as the last glittering spot faded from pool. "Come with me, Mourning."
She rose and followed her teacher from the side of the pool, her eyelids were getting heavy from the evenings excitement. Her head was in a tizzy and sleep began to invade her mind, muddling her quick wit. They filed through a winding path until they came into a small, but cozy cave.
There was a strange luminescent plant that lit up the cave slightly. It highlighted a pair of luxurious nests, made of the velvety moss and soft downy feathers. "The best for your first day." Eagle purred to her and went over to her own nest, nosing the moss in a delicate manner before lying on the plushy bed. "If you have any worries, don't hesitate to wake…" Her voice trailed off before the last word, she had already fallen asleep.
Mourning watched her for a moment, her face blank, and came over to her resting place. It was a perfect nest; it wasn't too soft and didn't have any sticks or thorns in it. She eased into it, a sudden tiredness washing over her. It had been a magical day. After it was all over, some would miss their families or long for warmth of their mother's fur. But Mourning didn't think like that, as she slipped into slumber, she only thought of strategy.