Solace
(n.) comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness.

"Sparrowkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Sparrowpaw. Your mentor will be Citrinemoon. I hope Citrinemoon will pass down all she knows on to you." Lapwingstar announced with seriousness from the tall branch.

Citrinemoon could not possibly hide her pride and happiness as she stood up from the crowd. She walked confidently towards Sparrowpaw, meeting his eyes as a bright smile lit up his face.

She had got the chance to become Sparrowpaw's mentor... She sent a grateful glance to Lapwingstar as he gave her a confident grin.

"Citrinemoon, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Berrybush, and you have shown yourself to be wise and courageous. You will be the mentor of Sparrowpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Sparrowpaw." Lapwingstar continued his announcement.

Sparrowpaw rushed over to Citrinemoon and buried his face into his mother's fur. Wrapping her tail around her son, a matching smile appeared on her face as well. The apprentice pulled away from her mother to touch her nose gently with his. The deputy could feel his warm breath and the chattering of the crowd seemed so far away.

She recalled how it felt like to be called by Citrinepaw when she first became an apprentice. It was a mix of pride and happiness after the thunderstorm. It was a taste of sweetness that lingered in her throat. She felt like she had proved to the world how she could survive the hardship without a great family.

When life gave her lemons, she threw them back. She could fight against everything that challenged her and win in the end because heroes always won.

Not anymore. She did not win. She lost almost everything.

What was she fighting for all along? A happy family? A loving mate? Or the glory of her clan?

She realized that she didn't have an answer.

"Mentor, when are we going to start the first training section?" Pretending to be deadly serious with his new task, Sparrowpaw pulled up a straight face and asked. However, he ended up failing since a small laugh escaped from his mouth. Giving up the thought of being stern, he giggled shyly and jumped around his mentor in excitement.

The fawn she-cat broke away from her thoughts and glanced at the thrilled kit in front of her, a small smile appeared on her face. She pulled up a serious face as well and mocked his tone, "Sure, only if you behave."

The small brown cat stopped instantly. He returned to his original spot quietly and looked at his mentor with big, watery eyes. He pleaded, "Please? I will be the best apprentice. I promise."

The level of cuteness could not be handled as Citrinemoon broke into a genuine smile. She purred, "You will always be the best apprentice in my heart. What about starting after sunhigh?"

"Yes!" The shout was so loud that it echoed in the camp.

~

With the setting of the sun came a sky of fire, the colour of orange gold being painted across the blue sky. The lights danced on the two cats' pelts as they paddled silently under the burning flame.

The area was so peaceful that only the sound of pawsteps echoed in their ears. It was a beautiful image that Citrinemoon would love to remember forever, a temporary paradise filled with peace and harmony. The fallen leaves whispered against their paws. Was that a greeting or a song of despair?

She would never know. The coming disaster seemed so far, yet it might be dangerously slow. It might be a well-hidden predator in the dark, waiting for the best chance to strike.

What if it attacked in the next heartbeat and took away the only thing that kept her together, who was currently next to her?

She waved her stupid thought away before it could bother her further. She was supposed to be enjoying the beautiful view instead of worrying about her future.

"Mistlekit is very kind and patient. I like playing with her a lot."

The fawn she-cat was not prepared for the sentence that suddenly appeared out of thin air. She blinked slowly as she pulled away from her thoughts, trying to focus.

She stuttered, "W-what did you just say-?"

The smaller tom stepped forward and looked into her eyes with confusion.

He repeated, "I said that Mistlekit was very kind and patient. I liked playing with her a lot."

Mistlekit? Was Doeheart trying to use Mistlekit to seduce Sparrowpaw? What was she planning to do? Should I be concerned?

The brown tom did not seem to notice Citrinemoon's frown and continued, "She really wants to be a great warrior in the future as well, like me. I think she needs your help. Mum, you are the best warrior in ShadowClan. Can you please help her as well? You can be the mentor of both of us and we can have lots of fun together. Then, in the future, Mistlekit and I can both be the best warriors in this clan. You will be so proud of us!"

"Stop, Sparrowpaw. Listen," Citrinemoon stopped walking and sat on the leaves, glancing straight into the tom's eyes.

She said with a stern tone, "Stay away from Mistlekit. Doeheart as well. Do you understand?"

Sparrowpaw flinched at the sentence, clearly did not expect his mother to react like this. He tilted his head slightly and asked, "But why?"

Citrinemoon did not respond. She looked into the distance, seeing how the orange colour slowly swallowed the blue sky as she stood. The shadow behind her stretched and became darker on the ground, making her look... mysterious and filled with secrets.

Seeing that his mentor had no intention of replying, the small tom asked again as his squeaky voice was laced with worry, "Mum, are you okay? Did I upset you? Is there something that you haven't told me? Is that what makes you so upset? Is that something related to my father or my grandfather?"

Silence.

The last sentence uncovered a part in her heart that she never wished to know. How she wanted to mend everything, yet she hopelessly failed.

More silence followed.

"It's fine, mum. You don't have to tell me," Sparrowpaw moved closer to the deputy as he leaned against her, offering all the warmth and love that he could possibly give.

"But, if you need me, I will always be here for you. I will never leave you, mum. This is a promise." He said confidently and seriously as he tried to wrap his smaller tail around Citrinemoon.

Citrinemoon did not realise that her body had begun to tremble.

"You don't have to be strong anymore, mum," his breath tickled her left ear as he tried his best to reach. He whispered, "I am here."

The sunset had never ever been so beautiful in Citrinemoon's eyes.