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Tysm!!!

Honeyfern’s Promise:

Honeyfern purred, pressing her dappled pelt against Berrynose’s cream one in response to his words. “You’ll make a good mother one day,” he’d mewed, and watching the kits playing, she couldn’t help but hope it’d prove true. Glancing down at the sunlight slipping over the rocks, she let out a soft sigh, the warmth from basking rocks seeping into her paws. A slight laugh slipped out as she watched the kits argue and try to out do one another. “Promise that will be us one day?” Berrynose asked, licking her shoulder as he flicked his tail towards Mousefur and Purdy. “Two grumpy elders telling one another stories about the good old days?” She loosed a purr in response.
“I promise,” she whispered, relaxing at his question. They were in it for the long game. Peering over the edge at Briarkit who was showing off her balancing skills to her siblings, her eyes widened at the dark shadow rising behind the small kit. Honeyfern tensed and let out a yowl of warning to the other cats, barely noticing Lionblaze’s amber eyes flashing. Shoving Berrynose out of the way, she leapt off the rocks, a pale brown streak through the air as she threw herself between the kit and the snake. Pushing Briarkit away, her blue eyes, still sparkling with adrenaline, were only met with the snake’s glittering white fangs as they sank into her shoulder. A piercing scream forced its way out of her as fire rose up. Flooding her blood, her very veins. Forcing her burning muscles to move, she sprang back, managing to scream, “Help!”
Her blue eyes turned glassy with terror as Berrynose leapt to the ground beside her, “Don’t leave me,” he whispered, panic edging his mew. She didn’t respond, breath coming in shallow, painful pants. She didn’t take in Sorreltail’s fear filled shout or the pounding pawsteps as Brackenfur and Cinderheart rushed towards her. The pain was overriding her every thought, drowning out her other senses.
“No…no…no…” she saw Sorreltail leaning on Brackenfur for support on the edges of her vision, being blocked out by the red creeping in. She cried out again, her blue eyes searching Berrynose’s yellow ones for some hint of hope. Distracted by Leafpool’s shout she looked away, barely reassured by Berrynose’s unintelligible smile. She writhed, an anguished scream tearing through her. “Help me,” she begged. Burning. Fire. Burning. Fire. Flames. “My blood is on fire! Help me please! It hurts so much!” She cried, searching for Leafpool’s usually reassuring presence only to find her backing away.
“Do something!” Berrynose shouted at the medicine cat. “One of you do something.” He pleaded to the cluster of cats. Honeyfern’s back arched in agony, eyes beginning to glaze over. She didn’t notice Sorreltail’s disbelieving cry or Leafpool’s apology, focused on the pain. End it. End it. End it. I can’t live like this. The thought cut through her screaming temple. End it. End it. End it. An endless roar. Another cry tore through her, lips moving silently. “We would’ve had wonderful kits together,” Berrynose’s murmur drew her back, “Just as strong and beautiful as you.” We still can, she wanted to say. We can still be the grumpy old elders, forcing bothersome apprentices to get us pray. She wanted to scream it, shout it, but all she could do was lay there and listen to the flames crackling through her. “And one day, I’ll see you in StarClan.” A rasping noise pushed it’s way out of her throat. I don’t want to see you in StarClan. I’m still here! She tried to say as the burning eased, leaving ice in its wake. “You saved Briarkit’s life,” he went on, voice breaking. “And every cat in StarClan will honor you for it.” He whispered, bending down to lick her on the head. A long sigh escaped her as she went still, darkness taking over.

A voice whispered in the shadows, “It is not your time Honeyfern,” it said softly, “We will welcome you one day but not now. Tell Leafpool the truth needs to be spoken, that it is the only way.” A million questioned brimmed but she found she could not speak. “Fulfill your promise,” it whispered, “And Leafpool will fulfill hers.” Another voice spoke, muffled.
“She…breathing…waking..safe…” A familiar voice cut through the darkness and a thread of light appeared. She looked between it and the darkness, pulled in both directions. Hesitating between this life and the next. She took a cautious step forward, feeling a gentle shove from behind her. She reached a slender paw out towards the beam, it flared to life as she made contact, pulling her away.

“Honeyfern,” the pleading voice woke her. “Please wake up,” it begged. Her blue eyes flew open, met with Poppyfrost’s amber ones. Flying around the clearing, she tracked Cinderheart’s deep blue eyes, widening in shock and joy. A surprised shout of joy slipped out of Cinderheart as she raced out of the away. Honeyfern struggled to raise her head, muscles screaming. “How long has it been,” she rasped.
“Three nights,” she whispered, “We’ve taken turns sitting with you. Leafpool refused to help but you were still breathing.” Noticing Honeyfern’s searching gaze, she continued, “We finally managed to convince him to leave and get some prey, figures it’d be when you woke up.” Honeyfern’s dry lips cracked in a smile at the thought. She looked around again, finally seeing the one cat she’d been looking for.
“Berrynose,” she whispered, heart breaking at the despairing look in his eyes.
“You’re alive,” he whispered, voice laced with disbelief as he raced across the clearing.
“I had a promise,” she whispered, eyes glowing. “Someone kept me to it.”