Moons Ago... The Cave of Stars (Beestripe, part 3)

Beestripe groaned. The pain in her pelt throbbed sickeningly.

"It's all right, now, Beestripe." the cat purred quietly.

Beestripe remembered. The battle, the attacker, and this cat, a strange rescuer.

"Who are you?" she mewed curiously.

The cat shook her head, and mewed, "That does not matter for now. What matters now is you."

Beestripe felt an awe fill her. This cat was wise, wise beyond a thousand years.

"Come," she whispered, and Beestripe obediently followed her.

They rounded a corner, and a burst of glowing moonlight nearly blinded Beestripe. She felt herself slip into a deep sleep. The light made all other things unconsious to her.

The kit mewled.

"Beestripe! Move out of the nursery!" a cat yowled, being swallowed up into the fierce battle.

Bitter memories came flooding back.

Beestripe threw herself into the battle, clawing everywhere at the attackers.

Yowls of pain filled the air. Then all was silent. Beestripe was falling, down into the darkness. Suddenly she stopped falling. She was in a sunny field filled with the scent of flowers. And something else.

A small kit, barely large enough to be an apprentice, crouched in the grass and pounced at a straying butterfly.

Then the kit turned toward her.

She gasped, "Fuzzykit?"

The kit turned away.

"No! Don't leave!" Beestripe yowled, clawing at the grass beneath her feet.

Suddenly she was in the cave again, the cold stone floor sending shivers up her spine.

The cat was gone, as was Fuzzykit.

"She's alive!" Beestripe murmmered.

Stars filled her eyes, and she collapsed on to the stone floor.

The sorrowful cat watched from a distance. Beestripe was gone to Star Clan.

Turning her fluffy tail away, her eyes glistened with joyful tears.

The cat vanished.