Stand in the Rain ~ Morning Tribute

thumb|214px|right'A moon went by after Splashpaw's'' death, and the Clan kept mourning. Especially Morningpaw. She died before we settled our differences...'''

Cloudwhisker was losing a lot of weight. She looked like a squirrel in leaf-bare: skinny, fragile, and weak. Morningpaw's mother wasn't being put on any patrols anymore, and the frail she-cat looked as if she was going to die.

She never slows down...

She doesn't know why but she knows that when she's all alone...

It feels like it's all coming down...

Everynight, before going to sleep, Morningpaw would pray to StarClan and for her mother.

'''But the prayers were not taking on much affect. '''

She won't turn around...

The shadows are long and she fears if she cries...

That first tear, the tears will not stop...

Raining down...

'''"Cloudwhisker!" Morningpaw called one day. "Would you like to come out hunting with me?"'''

'''Cloudwhisker poked her head out of the warriors' den and shook her head. "No, darling. I'm not in the mood."'''

'''"You're never in the mood..." Morningpaw mumbled and followed Stormface and the patrol consisiting of Thistlespike, Clovernose, Tunnelheart, and Keblepaw, Tunnelheart's new apprentice.'''

So stand in the rain...

Stand your ground...

Stand up when it's all crashing down...

You stand through the pain...

You won't drown...

'''"We'll hunt near Fourtrees." Stormface announced and led the way down the ravine, through the trees, and into the clearing.'''

That clearing.

And one day what's lost can be found...

You stand in the rain...

She won't make a sound...

Alone in a fight with herself...

'''Morningpaw was in the tree line, afraid to move another pawstep and go out into the open. The patrol went on, but Thistlespike turned his head.'''

'''"Hey, Morningpaw! Come on out here! Don't worry, I'll protect you." The spikey gray tom beckoned Morningpaw with his tail, and, reluctantly, Morningpaw followed slowly.'''

And the fears, whispering...

If she stands, she'll fall down...

'''She reached her clanmate and stayed close to his side. So close, their fur brushed. Morningpaw's head reached Thistlespike's shoulder. The two cats followed the rest of the patrol across the clearing. The stale scent of blood was growing stronger, and Morningpaw caught a swift glance of the place where Splashpaw's blood fell.'''

She wants to be found...

The only way out is through everything...

She's running from...

Wants to give up, and lie down...

'''"Splashpaw, I miss you." She whispered looking up at the sky.'''

'I love you,'' A voice whispered. It was vaguely farmiliar. Morningpaw kept walking, and she caught a vague glimpse of two figures near the tree line.'''