The firm press of feathers against my side ripples through my dreams, and I feel them bring me up into the silent and beautiful skies. I purr, the sensation of flight strong and powerful. I'm free.

Free.

Falling.

Blood wells down my mouth as I'm suffocated by my own words, words I've said.

"No. I can't."

"I hope you end up in the Dark Forest."

"I'm sorry..."I say to Volcanoheart, but I know he can't hear me. Nor will he ever hear me again. My eyes jolt open like I've been hit by lightning.

Firepool is leaning on me, his gentle snores solid evidence that he is still stuck in his peaceful dreamland. Lilyfrost looks at me, her eyes glittering with sadness as I come out of the warrior's den.

"I'm sorry that Rabbitpaw and Brightpaw had their special day clustered up by all this." She says absentmindedly.

Foxfang and Rabbitpaw walk into the clearing, and Brightpaw is with Cobrastrike a little while off. Rabbitpaw has never once complained about the replacement mentor I know that will never be quite like Lionfur.

"So?" I ask him, and his sister by his side.

"We passed!" They say in unison.

It was the first of it's kind, the two of them hunting at night for their assessment. "I don't know how you're going to stay up for vigil." I purr.

"We get to sleep allll day." Rabbitpaw puffs out his chest, as if sleeping is the highest honor possible.

"Yeah!" Brightpaw adds, "And Sunshadow will actually consider Rabbitpaw as a mate when he's a warrior. Rabbitpaw looooves her."

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

The two engage in a violent, back-and-forth battle.

I purr, but then I notice that everyone has already come to the Hightree. I groan in mock disgust. "You kits are going to be late for your own warrior ceremonies."

They scamper ahead of me, and I remember a time when I was young and held life in such high regard, a time when I was truly like them. I miss those times. Why did they disappear so quickly?

Mothstar yells to the clan, "Silence, please!"

I look around, and then Rabbitpaw nudges me forwards. Deputy. Right.

I walk to my standard position, head held high. Mothstar calls my kits up, "Rabbitpaw, Brightpaw, step forwards. Do you promise to devote yourself to this clan and the warrior code for as long as you may live, to take the gift of warriorship and use it as a weapon sharp as unsheathed claws against evil?"

I can tell by everyone's reaction that the longer, fancier question is not something planned or expected.

Why my kits? Why now?

"I do."

"I do."

"Rabbitpaw, I name you Rabbitfoot. StarClan honors your luck and loyalty. Brightpaw, I name you Brightwish. StarClan honors your gentle nature and honesty. Rise as warriors of DragonClan!"

They watch with sparkling glee in their eyes as the whole clan chants their names. "BRIGHTWISH! RABBITFOOT! BRIGHTWISH! RABBITFOOT!"

"We have more to attend to. We have a loss among our ranks today- Ravenwing has died peacefully in her sleep. We wish her well as she travels to meet Tigerfang, Lionfur, and Hawktalon in StarClan."

The whole clan dips their heads gracefully.

"Amberkit will now be the medicine cat apprentice, Amberpaw. The ceremony was given last night at the Moonpool, so it's only fair his brother should be trained as well. Everkit, step forwards."

Everkit walks forwards, joining Rabbitfoot and Brightwish, not to mention his brother, Amberpaw. "Everkit, to take you on this journey, Rabbitfoot will be your mentor. May he pass down the skills Lionfur and Foxfang taught him."

They touch noses, and I watch respectfully as the two kits I gave birth to and the two I wish I could have stand together, praised by the whole clan as the chanting roars grow louder.

Firepool nudges me. "All grown up?"

If this is growing old, then I may be okay with it.